Grand Ole Opry to Make Historic International Broadcast from Royal Albert Hall
The Grand Ole Opry, a stalwart of American country music, has announced that it will be making its first-ever international broadcast from the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London. The one-night-only special event, titled "Grand Ole Opry: Live In London," will take place on Friday, September 26th, and will feature a star-studded lineup of country music heavyweights.
According to a report from Holler Country News, the event will be hosted by BBC Radio 2’s Vernon Kay and WSM Radio’s Kelly Sutton, and will feature a slew of UK artists in addition to the newly announced lineup of country stars. The show will mark a major milestone for the Grand Ole Opry as it celebrates its 100th anniversary.
The lineup for the event includes country music giants Luke Combs, Carly Pearce, Ashley McBryde, Darius Rucker, and Marty Stuart. Each act will play between two and four songs, true to the original Nashville format. Rucker, who recently relocated to the UK, expressed his excitement ahead of the momentous show, stating, "Being a member of the Grand Ole Opry is a great honor; it’s always felt like the Opry was my home away from home. To have the opportunity to bring such a big part of my musical roots to Royal Albert Hall is a full-circle moment for me while I work on a project with so many talented songwriters and producers based in London."
Colin Reed, Executive Chairman of Grand Ole Opry parent company Ryman Hospitality Properties, echoed Rucker’s sentiments, stating, "This milestone year for the Grand Ole Opry has arrived at the perfect time as country music enjoys an unprecedented rise in global popularity, especially here in the United Kingdom." Reed continued, "Our first-ever broadcast outside of the United States will celebrate the influential music that has shaped this genre and pay tribute to the unique Opry show format that has entertained music lovers for 100 years."
The Opry’s SVP and Executive Producer, Dan Rogers, who will be producing the Grand Ole Opry: Live in London show, outlined what sets this institution apart, stating, "The magical thing about the Opry is how many lives it’s touched over the past 100 years. No matter where you live, when you listen to country music all roads eventually lead to the Grand Ole Opry and its members both past and present." Rogers continued, "This show, like the others we are fortunate to program during this special year, will be a celebration of all that has come before it, a moment to embrace something that’s never happened before and preview of what lies ahead."
Tickets for the event will go on sale from Friday, May 23rd, at 10am BST via the official Royal Albert Hall website. This historic broadcast is set to be a major event in the country music calendar, and fans are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to see some of the biggest names in country music take to the stage at the iconic Royal Albert Hall.
As reported by Holler Country News, this event is a significant milestone for the Grand Ole Opry as it looks to celebrate its 100th anniversary in style. With a star-studded lineup and a unique blend of American country music and UK talent, this is an event not to be missed.
In a year that has seen a resurgence in country music popularity, particularly in the UK, this event is set to be a major highlight of the music calendar. As Holler Country News previously reported, country music fans have been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to see some of the biggest names in the genre take to the stage in the UK. With the Grand Ole Opry’s first-ever international broadcast from the Royal Albert Hall, fans will finally get their chance.
