The Grand Ole Opry is helping kick off CMA Fest with two star-studded shows, featuring Carrie Underwood, The Oak Ridge Boys, Josh Turner, Bill Anderson and Lainey Wilson, among others. The back-to-back concerts will take place on Tuesday, June 6, only two days before CMA Fest officially begins in downtown Nashville.
The Tuesday night Opry show will air on Saturday, June 10 as the Saturday night Opry Live on the Opry’s television broadcast home, Circle Network,as well as Circle All Access’ Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.
The show comes only a few weeks after Underwood’s May 13 appearance at the Grand Ole Opry, where she will celebrate her 15th anniversary of becoming a member. Still, even after all of these years, performing at the Opry is something the American Idol alum takes very, very seriously.
“I’m very particular when it comes to [my[ Opry wardrobe,” Underwood told Audacy’s Rob + Holly. “You see pictures on the wall, or looking up things about the Grand Ole Opry, and I feel like the women always dressed a certain caliber. It was very rhinestones, it was very shiny. It was a certain kind of dress. I love trying to carry that legacy on because they were just so beautiful to me.”
The Oak Ridge Boys, who were inducted into the Opry in 2011, will also perform at the Grand Ole Opry only a couple of weeks before their performance with Underwood, Turner and more. The Country Music Hall of Fame members will be part of the special Salute the Troops show, honoring members of the military and their families. The Oak Ridge Boys will be joined for the patriotic show by Jason Crabb, LOCASH, The War and Treaty and John Conlee. More artists are expected to be announced shortly.
“We’ve always been a friend of the Opry. We’ve always believed in the Opry and loved and respected every member of this brotherhood and sisterhood of country music,” The Oak Ridge Boys’ Joe Bonsall said when they were officialy inducted as members. “We’ve been nervous wrecks all day long because we knew how special this would be. This is a meaningful night, and is it different tonight than it ever has been when we’ve come down here to sing? You bet your life it is!”
The back-to-back Grand Ole Opry shows celebrating CMA Fest will take place at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM. Tickets can be found at Opry.com.
