In one of the most memorable Grand Ole Opry lineups, Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley took the stage together on Saturday, September 5. The two Opry members, and good friends, went through several of their biggest hits during the hour-long performance.
“I’m so honored to be here, on this stage,” Carrie said. “It’s still here. The circle is still unbroken. We’re here, and we’re just excited to play some music. It feels good to sing. I’ve been warming up backstage, and it feels good.”
Carrie kicked off the night with her debut single, “Jesus Take the Wheel,” from her freshman Some Hearts record, followed by “Ghosts on the Stereo,” “I Told You So,” and “Dirty Laundry.”
Carrie recalled the importance of “I Told You So,” which was first a hit by Randy Travis. After she asked him if he was okay with her including the song on her 2007 sophomore Carnival Ride album, she performed the song on the Opry stage in 2008, never expecting what would happen afterwards.
“I sang this song years ago, and he comes out and asks me if I want to be a member, so that was kind of a cool, full-circle moment for me,” Carrie recalled.
Brad’s first song was “Whiskey Lullaby,” which he said he used to recruit Carrie to sing with him at the beginning of her career.
“Carrie and I used to sing this a lot, back when you were on the road with me as a brand-new artist,” Brad said, before launching into the song. “And then you got stuck singing with me a lot more after that. But it’s nice to do this again.”
Carrie and Brad both spoke about the uniqueness of the situation, before they began singing “High Life.”
“This place is so special, especially right now, with no one really in it,” Brad said. “In the times that I’ve been here since this started, you just feel the spirits to me even more than ever.”
“I feel like it still feels like home,” added Carrie. “Home is home, whether it’s full of people or you’re hanging out here by yourself.”
Brad, who sang his latest single, “No I in Beer,” joined Carrie on the Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty duet, “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man,” and their duet, “Remind Me” together.
“These times are so unique, and I find it so inspiring that the Opry is still going,” Brad said before the pair closed the night with “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” “When all is said and done, we will never take for granted getting to come out here and sing again. For me, as long as the Opry keeps going, I have hope!”
Carrie and Brad performed for the Grand Ole Opry’s 4940th consecutive show, although it has been closed for shows to the general public since mid-March, because of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the latest update at Opry.com, the venue will remain closed to the public for Saturday night shows at least through the September 26 performance. Backstage tours are now available in a limited capacity.
