Tonight marks a major milestone in Nashville’s decorated country music scene, as the infamous Grand Ole Opry celebrates its 100th anniversary. Yes, tonight, at 7:00 p.m. CST, Blake Shelton will host the Opry 100: Live Celebration with special performances from Ashley McBryde, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Clint Black, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Kelsea Ballerini and Lainey Wilson.
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It is no surprise that the Opry is pulling out all the stops for their 100th anniversary celebration. After all, the Opry is the mecca of country music and deserves the respect it has garnered during its illustriously long career. Though, the Opry wouldn’t have reached its legendary status if it wasn’t for some of its most iconic performances. That being so, here are three of the most iconic performances to transpire inside the circle.
Patsy Cline’s Final Performance in 1963
Patsy Cline is one of the pillars that Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry built their success upon. She was arguably the first mainstream female country vocalist and the performer who helped introduce country music to the masses. Consequently, she performed in Grand Ole Opry’s circle on several different occasions.
The most tragically cathartic and poetic Opry performance of Cline’s was her final one in February of 1963. During her last performance, which was nearly a month before her passing, Cline sang Bill Monroe’s “Blue Moon of Kentucky” and “Leavin’ On Your Mind.” In essence, Cline’s performance was sadly an inadvertent goodbye to the stage that helped make her career.
Dolly Parton’s Grand Ole Opry Debut
Dolly Parton started where Patsy Cline seemingly left off. Though, before Parton was a household name across the world, she got her start at 13-years-old by making her Grand Ole Opry debut during a guest spot in 1959 with her uncle, Bill Owens.
Other than Parton introducing herself and giving the world of country music a taste of who the next biggest star would be, there was one other iconic element of Parton’s debut. That iconic element was that she was introduced by the one and only, Man in Black, Johnny Cash. When looking at Parton’s career in retrospect, the magnitude of this moment shines in a rather epic light.
Randy Travis’ 2019 60th Birthday Celebration
In 2013, Randy Travis suffered a near-fatal stroke at the age of 54-years-old. Six years later, Travis turned 60 and returned to country music’s biggest stage for his birthday celebration. Joining Travis on that full-circle night were his family and friends as well as Ricky Skaggs, Don Schlitz, Josh Turner, and Charles Esten.
Travis, who had to undergo extensive physical therapy from his stroke, was admirably able to take the stage and perform his iconic hit song, “Forever and Ever, Amen.” The night not only celebrated the legacy of Travis but also unintentionally celebrated his magnificent recovery.
Grand Ole Opry 85th Birthday Bash via Getty Images
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