Saturday night, May 16, was a night to remember at the Grand Ole Opry, when Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini and Morgan Evans took the stage together to perform to an empty venue. The show was part of the Opry’s commitment to keep the show going, even during the coronavirus pandemic.
“I want to thank the Opry family here for the keeping the lights on. Keeping the circle moving,” Keith said from stage, for the Grand Ole Opry’s 4924th consecutive show. “It means the world to us and to everybody out there watching and listening tonight.”
Kelsea, who became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2019, admitted she was intrigued to see how it would feel to perform in the historic venue without an audience.
“I was really interested to see what it was going to feel like to be in here without these pews full,” Ballerini said “It’s still magic, still sounds good, feels rich and feels special. That just shows how special this place is.”
Keith, who also played a free show at a drive-in theater earlier this week to honor healthcare workers, praised those who continue to work on the frontlines of the ongoing pandemic, including those who may sometimes go unnoticed.
“In addition to the frontline workers and all the healthcare workers … I want to say a big thank you to all the drivers out there,” Keith praised. “Truck drivers, van drivers, delivery people all over the world that are doing an amazing job getting everything where it needs to get to. Medical supplies and food and all the things we would normally take for granted.
“The fact that it is still arriving is not being done by magic,” he continued. “You guys are out there doing the hard work so we thank you. We thank your families too, because that takes a lot of support on the homefront. So thank you to all of you.”
In honor of the graduates of 2020, who are receiving their diplomas and degrees sans a former celebration because of COVID-19, the Opry turned their backdrop blue. The color change occurred while Keith appropriately sang his hit single, “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”
This Saturday’s Opry performance will be the Grand Ole Opry Salute The Troops Memorial Day Weekend Special, with Craig Morgan, Steven Curtis Chapman and Kellie Pickler. The show will be broadcast live on Circle and Gray TV stations, DISH Studio Channel 102, Sling TV and other TV affiliates in addition to a companion live stream on Circle All Access Facebook and YouTube channels. Bobby Bones will host the Circle telecast. The Opry’s own Mike Terry will host on 650 WSM- AM and SiriusXM. Find details at Opry.com.
