The Grand Ole Opry is celebrating 100 years in 2025, and this week, the institution officially recognized seven new up-and-coming artists as part of country music’s next generation.
With help from Jelly Roll, alum Riley Green and Opry members Pam Tillis and Ashley McBryde, the Opry NextStage program presented by Tecovas welcomed its 2025 class Avery Anna, Chayce Beckham, Dasha, Kaitlin Butts, Kashus Culpepper, Tigirlily Gold, and Tucker Wetmore.
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“I said this before, and I mean it,” Jelly Roll said. “There is no greater co-sign in country music than the Grand Ole Opry.”
The program showcases country music’s most promising rising stars by showcasing them on the Opry and other Opry Entertainment Group platforms. Opry NextStage alum includes Green, Lainey Wilson, Jackson Dean, Megan Moroney, Kameron Marlowe, Nate Smith, and more.
Chayce Beckham: “This is … a Badge on Your Chest”
“The Opry is a staple of country music and cowboy music and songs and stories,” Beckham said. “This is something you wear as a badge on your chest, and you feel so proud you were able to get up there and sing. You think about wanting to become a member one day so you can come to play your songs for the rest of your life. This is as close as I can get to that right now.”
After Jelly Roll helped announce the 2025 class, the seven singers split into two groups and performed writers’ rounds. McBryde led the first, kicking it off with her “Girl Going Nowhere.” Beckham, Butts, Tigirlily Gold, and Culpepper made up the first round with Butts bringing her sassy, funny “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me).” Beckham made a more serious choice with “Old Fashioned.”
Culpepper and Tigirlily Gold used the moment to debut new songs that will be released in the coming days.
“We’re still hoping for that No. 1 slot, and we have a good feeling this one could get us there,” said Tigirlily Gold’s Krista Slaughbaugh. “We’re trying to fill that family duo group energy at country radio.”
Tigirlily Gold, comprised of sisters Kendra and Krista Slaughbaugh, grew up in North Dakota, and the landscape inspired their new song, “Forever From Here.” The landscape is flat, and co-writer Shane McAnally noted that he could see forever from here in those places. As soon as he said that, the women knew that was the hook.
Tigirlily Gold Wants That Duo Spot on Country Radio
“It’s the first song Kendra has fully seen herself in,” Krista said. “I think this song represents us better than any song we’ve ever released.”
Kendra has been with her husband for 15 years. They were in eighth grade when they started dating; this song is their story.
“It’s fun to see how our ‘Forever From Here’ actually turned out because we all moved to Nashville to make these dreams come true,” she said.
Dasha, Avery Anna, and Wetmore comprised the second round. Tillis took the reigns at that point and got people laughing when she confused Wetmore for Green. She quipped she forgot her glasses.
Dasha unveiled her new song, “Not At This Party,” inspired by a recent experience. She was at a party, and so much was going on in her head that she couldn’t live in the moment.
“I was trying my best to put on a face and dance with my friends because they all wanted me there, but I was just not at that party,” Dasha said, explaining that she shared the experience with her co-writers and the song was born.”
Jelly Roll: “Bring in the Face Tattoo Guy”
Jelly Roll couldn’t have been more impressed with the quality and diversity of the artists recognized.
“While they are celebrating 100 years of creating the genre of country music, the Opry is still creating superstars today,” he said. “Today they are still taking young acts and putting them out there and believing in people early and taking chances and being risky. The Opry grows with genre. The Opry is like, ‘Yes! More people. Different people. Bring in the face tattoo guy. We believe in them.’ I’m just honored I get to do it.”
photo courtesy of Grand Ole Opry
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