Keith Urban photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Keith Urban is ready to sing again. He will make his first performance since undergoing successful throat surgery tomorrow, February 3, on the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Not only is it a special night for Keith, it is also the final performance on the current Ryman stage before it undergoes renovations.

“I’m really looking forward to being back onstage, and more specifically on the Opry stage,” Keith said. “When I was told earlier this week that the Ryman was going to start renovations on the stage after our show I thought, ‘You know, when we say we’re really gonna tear it up tonight, maybe they’re worried I mean it literally?”

Later this month, Keith will head to Sydney for a week of filming the Australian version of The Voice. Keith will travel back and forth to Australia over the next few months to film for the show, while keeping a busy schedule in the United States that includes another show on the Opry and his annual All For The Hall benefit concert.

“It’ll be a blast spending a little time in Australia working on The Voice, getting the opportunity to try and help some killer raw talent blossom,” Keith said. “And I have a feeling that being immersed in that new kind of ‘everything is possible’ energy, will have a real inspiring and liberating effect on creating new music for my new album!” Continue Reading

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MusicRow.com reports the Ryman Auditorium will be replacing its stage for the first time since 1951. Plans for the new stage include an 18-inch section cut from the existing stage running across the front to honor the historical significance of past performances, similar to the famous circle of the same Ryman stage wood that resides center-stage at the Grand Ole Opry House.

Around-the-clock security will be present as the current stage is dismantled and the oak planks are moved to an off-site location. An announcement on future plans for the historic planks will be made at a later date.

The last performance on the current stage will take place on Friday, Feb. 3 when the Grand Ole Opry closes its annual winter run at the Ryman. That night, Keith Urban will perform for the first time since his vocal surgery.

The project will close the stage for two weeks beginning Saturday, Feb. 4, but self-guided daytime tours will remain open throughout the project at a $10.00 special rate.

The Band Perry will be the first public performance exhibiting the new stage for their sold-out headlining Ryman debut on Feb. 20.

“To play the Ryman is to step into country music’s rich history and we are honored to perform there,” said The Band Perry. “Now, as the venue makes plans for its future, we promise to inaugurate the new stage with all the respect and reverence it deserves.”

The current oak plank stage will be replaced with Continue Reading

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Keith Urban photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Keith Urban will return to the stage for the first time since undergoing successful vocal cord surgery late last year with a performance on the Grand Ole Opry February 3. Keith’s performance will take place as the Opry wraps its winter run at the historic Ryman Auditorium. The Opry returns to the Grand Ole Opry House the next day.

Other artists scheduled to appear on the Opry with Keith are Charley Pride and the Oak Ridge Boys, with more artists to be added. Keith is also scheduled to perform on the Opry on March 9 at the Opry House. Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Del McCoury, Craig Morgan, Ricky Skaggs, Josh Turner and more will appear on the Opry stage in coming weeks. Continue Reading

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David Nail photo courtesy of UMG Nashville.

Glen Campbell is one of David Nail’s musical heroes. So when Glen played live at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on Tuesday, David jumped at the chance to see his idol live – even though it was his wife Catherine’s birthday. Catherine gave her husband a free pass and stayed at home while David took in Glen’s show. The tour stop was part of Glen’s farewell tour after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s last year.

“Obviously some of his ability comes from muscle memory,” David said. “But the heart, the soul that he brings those songs, that comes from some place deep inside. That – even with teleprompter – is why he is an artist who made such a mark, and who continues to influence people like me all these years later. I didn’t experience him on the radio, I found him. And Glen Campbell – who I found some time in the ’90s through a Greatest Hits I album I played top to bottom, again and again – defines what it means to be a singer.”

When film producer/writer/director James Keach, the man behind Walk The Line and The Long Riders, heard about David’s admiration for Glen, he offered David a last minute invitation to sit for an interview that will be included in an as-of-yet-untitled documentary on the country music legend.

Read our review of David Nail’s The Sound of a Million Dreams! >>

“When I turned the guys in my band, who’re even younger than me, onto Ghost on the Canvas (Glen’s final recording), they didn’t really know who he was,” David said. “Now it’s something every one of them is suggesting we play on the bus. He hasn’t just survived, he’s remained an artist who makes a mark, which is something I think anyone who does this should aspire to.” Continue Reading

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Emmylou Harris photo courtesy of Schmidt Public Relations.

The Grand Ole Opry will celebrate Emmylou Harris’ 20^th anniversary as an Opry member on January 21, 2012 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Emmylou was inducted into the Opry on January 25, 1992. Emmylou will perform and will be honored by Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell, Shawn Colvin — who will be making her Opry debut that evening — and more.

“Emmylou is treasured not just by all of us at the Grand Ole Opry, but also by fans around the world,” Pete Fisher, Opry vice president and general manager, said. “She’s shared so many great musical moments with us over the past 20 years, singing with and introducing us to some of her favorite musical collaborators. We’re excited to celebrate her Opry anniversary at the Ryman, a stage on which she’s displayed such incredible artistry through the years.”

Emmylou has erased the boundaries between country, folk and rock ‘n’ roll. She began performing folk music while in college in the ’60s. In  the late ’60s, she met Gram Parsons, formerly of The Byrds, and he became her mentor and singing partner, drawing her into the ’70s country-rock movement. She worked with him until his death in 1973. Continue Reading

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Album cover art by Peter Max.

The Let Us In Nashville – A Tribute To Linda McCartney album, which features several country artists such as Phil Vassar, Chuck Wicks, Steel Magnolia and Sarah Darling performing their versions of Sir Paul McCartney songs, is now available. Proceeds from the album will go to The Woman and Cancer Fund. The album is streaming all week on MSN’s Listening Booth and AOL’s Listening Party.

The Woman and Cancer Fund was established in the memory of Linda McCartney and promotes prevention, lifestyle awareness, enhances available health services and advocates advanced breast cancer and children’s cancer research. Sir Paul McCartney has given his approval and support of the project.

On November 7, several of the artists featured on the album gathered at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville for a special concert to benefit The Woman and Cancer Fund. Hosted by Jeff Daniels, Phil Vassar, Steel Magnolia, Chuck Wicks, SHeDAISY, Sarah Darling, Cheyenne Kimball (formerly of Gloriana), Juliana Cole, Jeff Daniels, Nikki Shannon Fernandez, Jordyn Shellhart, Nancy Sirianni, Samantha Landrum, and Blue Sky Riders all performed the tracks they contributed to the album as well as some of their own material. Continue Reading

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Charlie Daniels photo courtesy of Webster PR.

The Grand Ole Opry is returning to its most famous former home, the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The Opry began its three month winter run at the Ryman on Tuesday night with a show featuring Rascal Flatts, Rodney Atkins and more. Artists scheduled to appear at the Opry at the Ryman include Dierks Bentley, Emmylou Harris, The Civil Wars, Marshall Tucker Band, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Josh Turner, Keith Urban, Charlie Daniels and more.

Over the weekend, the Opry helped Charlie Daniels celebrate his 75th birthday with a cake before his performance. Check out the photo HERE.

During the show, Tennessee National Guard Major General Max Haston promoted Charlie to the Guard’s rank of Brigadier General. Charlie was inducted into the Opry family in 2008.  Continue Reading

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Kid Rock photo courtesy of Webster & Assoc.

Kid Rock will help the famed Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge in Nashville celebrate its 51^st birthday. The Tootie’s Orchid Lounge 51st Birthday Bash will take place on November 23 at the Ryman Auditorium, just across the alley from Tootsie’s. Kid Rock will perform as part of his nationwide tour, giving money to and raising awareness for people in need.

“Every time I end up at Tootsie’s its a good night, and I don’t expect this night to be any different,” Kid Rock said. “It’s cool to be celebrating their birthday party with them; I like parties and seem to excel in that type of atmosphere.”

“We couldn’t be happier that Kid Rock is working with us to make the Tootsie’s Birthday Bash a ‘rockin’ good time for everyone in Nashville,” Steve Smith, owner of Tootsie’s, said. “Kid Rock is a part of Tootsie’s history.  It’s going to be a memorable night.” Continue Reading

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Album cover art by Peter Max.

Phil Vassar, Chuck Wicks, Steel Magnolia and Sarah Darling are just a few of the artists who will perform during the ‘Let Us In’ concert benefiting The Women and Cancer Fund on November 7 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The Women and Cancer Fund was established in the memory of Linda McCartney and promotes prevention, lifestyle awareness, enhances available health services and advocates advanced breast cancer and children’s cancer research. Sir Paul McCartney has given his approval of the event in his wife’s memory.

The concert will be hosted by Jeff Daniels, who will also perform at the event. Other artists scheduled to appear include SHeDAISY, Cheyenne Kimball (formerly of Gloriana), Juliana Cole, Nikki Shannon Fernandez, Jordyn Shellhart, Nancy Sirianni, Samantha Landrum, and Blue Sky Riders. Each artist will perform an original version of a Sir Paul McCartney song as well as their own material. Continue Reading

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Opry member Charley Pride photo by Chris Hollo, courtesy of Schmidt Relations.

Opry Country Classics returns to the Ryman Auditorium for a four-week run beginning October 6. Each show will feature a Spotlight Artist performing several of their biggest hits plus more favorite artists. The fall’s season Spotlight Artists together have 100 Top 10 hits, have won more than 100 industry awards and sold millions of albums.

Charley Pride will take the spotlight for the October 6 show. Lorrie Morgan is scheduled as the spotlight artist on October 13, Ray Price on October 20 and Ricky Skaggs on October 27. Of note, the October 13 show will move from the Ryman to the Grand Ole Opry. Continue Reading

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