The Grand Ole Opry has long been recognized as one of Nashville’s most iconic music venues. For a long time, the venue has been a symbol of country music’s heart. Additionally, it’s been a “right of passage” for new artists breaking onto the scene. As its 100th anniversary approaches, the Opry has been taking some strides to step outside the box. Just weeks ago, the usually traditional venue announced that pop artist Sabrina Carpenter would be making her Opry debut. Now, it seems that the Opry is not only expanding its artist repertoire, but also moving to new locations.
In celebration of a century of live music, the Opry introduced Grand Ole Opry: Live in London this week. The event was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London, which had never been done. Although the exact location of the Opry has varied, it’s remained in Nashville for the most part. This concert is historic for the Opry, as it marks its first performance outside of the United States.
How the Opry Brought a Piece of Home to London
The lineup for Friday’s show included some big names. Performances from stars like Luke Combs, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, Darius Rucker, and Marty Stuart were on the agenda. Also on the lineup were performances from Mumford & Sons and Breabach.
To honor the charm of the original Opry, a special tribute was given to the venue. The Ryman Auditorium, which was the location of the very first Opry venue in Nashville, is a very special place for many of its fans. In honor of the Ryman, original floorboards from the space were used for this night in London. This was intended to be a replica of “The Circle,” which is currently located in the Opry House in Nashville. Throughout the night, performers honored the spirit of the original venue by stepping into the circle and singing their hearts out.
The night also included collaborations between the featured acts. Darius Rucker sang “Wagon Wheel” with Breabach. Carly Pearce sang a duet with Luke Combs on “I Hope You’re Happy Now.” And of course, what better way to end a night of country music than with the song that started it all? The entire cast joined together for a rendition of “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” to finish off the night.
All in all, this night in London represented the spirit of the Opry beautifully, and we can’t wait to see what the historic venue has in store for events to come. If you missed this one, Opry fans can still catch the performances from the event on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds on Thursday, October 2, starting at 7 pm.
Photo by: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Stagecoach