The Grand Ole Opry continues to celebrate its 100th anniversary! And now it’s focusing on some of country music’s most legendary names.
The Opry has announced a series called “Opry 100 Honors.” It describes the honors as “a special show series that pays tribute to Opry legends who shaped country music. Each show highlights an icon who paved the way and features today’s artists telling the honoree’s stories, singing their unforgettable songs, and celebrating their lasting influence.”
And the first round of honorees is a veritable who’s who of Opry legends who are the cornerstones of country music.
Starting in May, the Grand Ole Opry will host a series of performances paying tribute to Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash and wife June Carter Cash and Charlie Daniels.
Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde Head Up Tribute to Loretta Lynn
The tribute series will kick off May 13 with a tribute to Loretta Lynn.
Opry members Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde will headline the tribute to the “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” They’ll be joined by Martina McBride. The celebration will also be a family affair. Lynn’s sister, Crystal Gayle, and granddaughter and American Idol favorite Emmy Russell will perform. The duo Twitty & Lynn, made up of Tre Twitty, grandson of Conway Twitty, and Tayla Lynn, granddaughter of Loretta Lynn are also scheduled to be part of the show.
Loretta Lynn first took the stage at The Grand Ole Opry on October 15th, 1960, according to Rolling Stone. Before her death in 2022, Lynn recalled that the only thing she could remember about that performance was tapping her foot the entire time she sang.
Lynn went on to set an Opry record by appearing at 17 consecutive shows.
And less than two years later, in September 1962, Loretta Lynn officially became a Grand Ole Opry member
Gatlin Brothers, Lainey Wilson & Cash Family Honor Johnny & June Carter Cash
The second concert in the series is also a family affair. On June 18, John Carter Cash and Ana Cristina Cash and The Tennessee Four will be among those honoring Johnny Cash and wife June Carter Cash. The Tennessee Four includes Johnny Cash’s grandson Thomas Gabriel on vocals. They’ll be joined by Opry member Lainey Wilson and the Gatlin Brothers.
According to the Grand Ole Opry, Cash first performed on the legendary stage in 1956. In 1968, he married his Opry duet partner June Carter.
Trace Adkins & Gretchen Wilson Among Those Honoring Charlie Daniels
On July 8, Opry members Trace Adkins, Jamey Johnson and Chris Young, will join country singer Gretchen Wilson in the third concert of the series. This one will pay tribute to “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” singer Charlie Daniels.
Daniels himself wasn’t inducted into the Grand Ole Opry until 2008, just 12 years before his death.
In 2015, Daniels told The Boot, “The first radio show I ever listened to was [the] Grand Ole Opry.. I was a baby.. and I was inspired by everybody on there.”
How to See Opry 100 Honors Performances In Person
The Grand Ole Opry says additional Opry 100 Honors shows will be announced soon.
In a press statement, Dan Rogers, Opry executive producer, said it’s “important to us to honor some of the iconic artists of the past who helped the Opry achieve worldwide acclaim and ensured the show’s longevity. We’re looking forward to this series featuring the music of artists who became household names and whose legacies the Opry will still be celebrating in another 100 years,”
Additional shows will be announced soon. You can get tickets here.
$5 of each ticket will benefit the Opry Trust Fund. That fund supports country music professionals in times of need, providing assistance with medical bills, emergencies and other hardships.
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The Grand Ole Opry Celebrates the Legends of Country Music