Last year, Ray Stevens, known for both Grammy-winnings hits like “Misty” and comedy songs like “It’s Me Again, Margaret,” announced plans to retire from live performances. The Country Music Hall of Famer had played hundreds of shows at his CabaRay Showroom since its grand opening seven years ago. Now, it appears Stevens wasn’t quite ready to say good-bye, as he just announced a string of shows for 2025.
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Ray Stevens Announces Series of Concerts at Nashville Venue
In honor of his latest comedy album, Say Whut?, Ray Stevens is returning to the CabaRay Showroom stage for a limited run of shows.
The first of these shows kicks off Saturday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. Central. According to his website, Stevens will perform every Saturday through the end of the year.
“It’s going to be fun doing this new show because I’ve got some new material that I think people will enjoy,” Stevens said during a March appearance on Nashville’s Talk of the Town.
However, old-school fans need not despair. “Don’t worry, I’ll still be bringing along Ethel, Margaret, Gitarzan, the squirrel and other favorites,” he said in a statement.
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The “Everything Is Beautiful” crooner, 86, made it clear in January 2024 that he wasn’t retiring entirely.
“I plan to stop performing regularly at my CabaRay Showroom here in Nashville at the end of 2024,” he said in a statement. “I’ll be going to work every day in my recording studio and maybe I’ll do a few, a very few, shows in some old familiar places. I’m definitely slowing down, but I haven’t come to a complete stop. Not yet, anyway.”
Stevens Just Released a New Comedy Album
Say what you will about Ray Stevens—the man’s got range. Signing with Capitol Records in 1957 at just 18 years old, the Georgia native won two Grammy Awards for his 1970 single “Everything Is Beautiful.” He also found success in the comedy realm with songs like “The Streak” and “Gitarzan.”
In March, Stevens released his latest comedy record, Say Whut? “People seem to like it, and so I want to promote it,” he said, adding, “Although I said earlier that last year was going to be my final year at the CabaRay… I’m kind of going back on that because I want to promote this album.”
Featured image by R. Diamond/Getty Images
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