2023

The Grand Ole Opry and Opry NextStage announced today that Jelly Roll, genre-bending singer/songwriter and three-time CMT Music Awards-winner, will host “Opry NextStage Live” at Lava Cantina on May 10 at 2:30 p.m. CT in The Colony, Texas. The special Opry event will precede the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards on May 11, which takes place in neighboring Frisco, Texas, and will introduce the Opry NextStage Class of 2023. Artists featured on the lineup include Ashley Cooke, Jackson Dean, ERNEST, Chapel Hart, Corey Kent, Kameron Marlowe, Megan Moroney and Ian Munsick.  A limited number of general admission tickets are still available HERE. A portion of proceeds will benefit ACM Lifting Lives. “Opry NextStage Live” will also stream on the Opry’s television home, Circle Network, via Circle All Access Facebook and YouTube in addition to the Opry’s own Facebook and YouTube channels. “When the Opry asked me to make my debut, it was a dream come true,” said Jelly Roll. “The Opry is more than just a stage – it’s a community that supports up-and-coming artists. They understand the importance of nurturing new talent and giving them a platform to shine. I’ve seen firsthand how the Opry has helped grow the careers of so many artists, and it’s an honor to be a part of that tradition.”  “At the Opry, we take pride in providing a platform to fresh voices who are pushing the boundaries of country music, and Jelly Roll is a prime example of this ethos,” said Jordan Pettit. “Every time he plays the Opry stage, he showcases the broad range and exciting potential of country music. That’s why we’re thrilled to have him as the official host to introduce our new NextStage class, which features incredibly talented artists who are each bringing their own bold, unique style and voice to the genre.”  Since 2019, the NextStage program has showcased artists including Riley Green, Parker McCollum, Tenille Townes and Lainey Wilson, who all went on to earn ACM New Male and Female Artist of the Year trophies the year following their NextStage inclusion. This year, Wilson received the most nods for a female artist with six nominations including Female Artist of the Year. Other NextStage alumni include Priscilla Block, BRELAND, Callista Clark, Travis Denning, Tegan Marie, Niko Moon, Restless Road, Jameson Rodgers, Elvie Shane, Nate Smith, Morgan Wade, Hailey Whitters and Yola.

Capitol Records Multi-Platinum singer/songwriter/producer Jon Pardi was surprised last night during his performance in Indo, CA at country music’s premier festival Stagecoach, when his friend and Emmy-winning famed restaurateur, author Guy Fieri directed him and the attention of his thousands of cheering fans to a video where Opry member and Country Music Hall of Famer Alan Jackson appeared officially inviting the California native to become the newest member of the Opry. Click HERE to watch Alan’s invitation. “That mic stand represents the future of country music as well as its incredible history,” Dan Rogers, Opry executive producer, told the crowd after he sat the Opry mic stand down in front of a surprised Pardi. “This night will go down in history, too, both because Jon is the first artist invited to join the Opry on this stage and because he’s the first native Californian to get that call. What a great night!” “I moved to Nashville chasing a dream at 22 years old and now I’m here. I love you guys and I love country music. Thank you, everybody. This is an amazing night. I’ll never forget it,” said an emotional Pardi from stage before later in the night noting “I always wondered how this might happen if it was going to. I never imagined anything this great. That was incredible.” “There is no better representation of Northern California than you, man,” said Fieri backstage after the moment.Rogers added backstage, “For nearly a decade now, Jon Pardi has been adding something great to the show every single time he plays the Opry. For me personally, I’ll never forget the big sounds he brought to the Opry stage during the pandemic and the way he connected with audiences around the world via our livestream even when he was playing to an empty Opry House. I have no doubt there are good times ahead for all of us with Jon as a future Opry member.”Coming just a week after receiving his third consecutive ACM Album of the Year nomination (for being both artist and producer for Mr. Saturday Night), the invitation to become an Opry member was made even more special because it happened in his native home state of  California in front of his home state fans. Pardi will become the first native Californian to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. An official induction date will be announced soon. Since first hitting the country landscape, Jon Pardi has long since separated himself from the pack, carving a lane that was all his own by producing, writing, and singing songs he created from the melodies up, and earning praise for it. “Jon Pardi cut a path through modern country’s embrace of pop, hip-hop and EDM” (The New York Times) with “an emboldened work… a distilling of his sound into a more potent form that draws both vitality and assurance from his anything-but-sterile relationship to his tradition’s modern era” (NPR). With his “state-of-the-art blend of traditional instrumentation and progressive grooves that point to country’s future” (Rolling Stone), Pardi is “a leader among a growing number of artists bringing back fiddle, steel and twang” (People). “Even when he’s singing sad songs, he wants people to have a good time” (Associated Press).Named a “hero in the making” (Variety), Pardi has earned five No. 1s on country radio and is noted for his “long-lasting mark on the genre” (MusicRow) and his impressive ability to carve out his own path creating “the kind of country music multiple generations came to know, and love can still wok on a mass scale” (Variety). Filled with fiddle, twang and steel guitar, Pardi continues to “apply new ideas to country’s old sounds” (Los Angeles Times) and “bring authenticity back into Country music” (People).Among the artists scheduled to appear on the Opry in the coming weeks include Lauren Alaina, Bill Anderson, Deana Carter, Steven Curtis Chapman, The Isaacs, Chris Janson, Jamey Johnson, Ashley McBryde, Lorrie Morgan, The Oak Ridge Boys, Michael Ray, Ricky Skaggs, Jeannie Seely, Josh Turner, Rhonda Vincent, Carrie Underwood, The War and Treaty, and Lainey Wilson, among many others.

Cementing their game-changing duet in the history books of country music’s rich story song catalog today, HARDY and Lainey Wilson are #1 on the Mediabase country chart now with platinum-certified hit, “wait in the truck”. “I’m just so happy a song like this still has a place in country music” HARDY says. “Thanks to everyone involved for taking this song to the top, and for believing in this one”. “I’m so honored HARDY asked me to join him on a song that’s had an impact on so many people and shed light on a topic a lot of folks are scared to talk about” Lainey Wilson shares. “He is one of the most brilliant songwriters I’ve ever met and puts on one heck of a show. I can’t wait to be back out on the road together this fall!” “wait in the truck” earned three nominations at the 2023 ACM Awards for Song Of The Year, Music Event Of The Year, and Visual Media Of The Year. Named one of the Best Songs of 2022 by Los Angeles Times, Billboard, American Songwriter, Holler, Wide Open Country, and more, “wait in the truck” is a “soul-stirrer” (The Tennessean), “a harrowing tale of domestic violence and vigilante justice” (Rolling Stone) that’s made a lasting impact. Streamed over 219 million times and paired with a cinematic, CMT Collaborative Video of the Year Award-winning official music video, the collaboration saw buzz worthy performances at the 2022 CMA Awards and on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

The LBJ Foundation is delighted to announce that Eric Church, Sam Hunt, Elle King and Lyle Lovetthave signed on to play musical tributes to Willie Nelson as the LBJ Foundation gives Nelson its highest honor, the LBJ Liberty & Justice for All Award, at a gala Friday, May 12, at the LBJ Presidential Library. These musicians have been inspired by Nelson and share deep admiration for his musical talents and philanthropic efforts. “It’s a reflection of Willie’s impactful legacy that these extraordinary artists will be paying tribute to him,” says Larry Temple, chairman of the LBJ Foundation Board of Trustees. “We couldn’t be happier with how the evening is shaping up.” Net proceeds from the gala will benefit the newly established Willie Nelson Endowment for Uplifting Rural Communities at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, a part of The University of Texas at Austin. Nelson has long advocated for sustainable agriculture, worked to eliminate global food insecurity and assisted those affected by natural disasters. Farm Aid, perhaps his best-known cause, has raised more than $70 million in aid and helped increase awareness about the plight of family farms. The Willie Nelson Endowment will fund research and student fellowships focused on sustainable agriculture, eliminating hunger, resilient energy, sustainable water and natural disaster recovery to benefit rural communities. The endowment has received $100,000 sponsorships from President and Mrs. Johnson’s daughters, Lynda Johnson Robb and Luci Baines Johnson, as well as Texas retailer H-E-B, which is the largest private employer in Texas. “No three have cared more about rural Texas than LBJ, H-E-B and Willie Nelson,” says Luci Baines Johnson. “Please join us in getting ‘On the Road Again’ for rural America and continuing Willie’s legacy of helping farmers and those in need.” Ticket and sponsorship information is available at www.lbjaward.org.

After a five-year hiatus from touring in the United States as a collective, the stars of the iconic, hit television series “NASHVILLE” are returning with shows in Chicago and in Nashville. “NASHVILLE” The Reunion Tour will play Chicago’s Rosemont Theatre on Saturday, September 23 and the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Monday, September 25. “NASHVILLE” The Reunion Tour will see stars Clare Bowen, Charles Esten, Jonathan Jackson and Sam Palladio take to the stage to perform classic songs from the series as well as their own original material. The four artists will play the Ryman Auditorium on September 25, before kicking off a UK run starting on October 11 in Glasgow. Due to overwhelming demand and sold-out shows, additional dates were added to the UK tour, which will also travel to Birmingham, Manchester, London and Cardiff. In a special one-night event, Chris Carmack will join cast members Bowen, Esten, Jackson and Palladio for the concert in Chicago on September 23. Carmack has previously toured with his “NASHVILLE” castmates and currently stars in “Grey’s Anatomy” on ABC.  “NASHVILLE” became a TV phenomenon when it first debuted in 2012. Set against the backdrop of Nashville’s music scene the show followed the lives of Clare Bowen as Scarlett O’Connor, Chris Carmack as Will Lexington, Charles Esten as Deacon Claybourne, Jonathan Jackson as Avery Barkley and Sam Palladio as Gunnar Scott as country music superstars, up-and-coming performers and songwriters trying to get ahead in the business. The show’s popularity grew instantly reaching over 225 territories worldwide before its final season in 2018. Since its debut, the show has inspired 22 soundtracks, including a Christmas album, which collectively sold millions of album units and single-track downloads around the world. “NASHVILLE” was also critically lauded with multiple Emmy®, Golden Globe® and Critics Choice award nominations. The incredible cast of the series carry with them the spirit of Music City and will once again share the stage together to celebrate the magic of “NASHVILLE”. Tickets for Chicago and Nashville go on sale on Friday, April 21 at 10:00 am CST. Ticket information for all US and UK shows can be found at www.nashvillereuniontour.com.