CeCe Winans, Suzy Bogguss, Linda Davis, Jeannie Seely & others performed
Grand Ole Opry celebrated Country Music Hall of Fame member Barbara Mandrell on her 50th Anniversary as a member of the Opry family on Saturday (July 30th) with two shows. Opry member Carrie Underwood, CeCe Winans, Suzy Bogguss, Linda Davis, Jeannie Seely, Janelle Arthur, Mandy Barnett, and Connie Smith honored the music legend who was in attendance along with her family and friends.
The three-time ACM/CMA Entertainer and four-time ACM/CMA Female Vocalist of the Year was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on July 29, 1972.
“Everyone talks about Barbara’s beauty. But, as gorgeous as she is, she is just as beautiful inside. In addition to all of those other things we love about her, she has always worn her faith on her sleeve. She let us know you can love the Lord AND raise a little…heck,” shared Underwood before welcoming Mandrell to the stage. “She has been such an inspiration to me and so many others that stand on the shoulders of great female artists like her. It’s especially fitting to pay tribute to her tonight, in this sacred place we both hold so dear.”
“There are so many great, great huge talented woman that performed for us tonight and said so many incredible things about me…they know I love them. And the Opry…Lord knows I love the Opry,” shared Mandrell.
Regarding the historic Opry stage she continued, “My last show when I retired in 1997 I chose my home to do my finale performance on and it was this one.”
Circle Network aired a one hour portion of the performance with the full show heard around the world on WSM Radio, orpy.com, and SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse channel.
SiriusXM also welcomes Mandrell as “Opry House Guest DJ” at Willie’s Roadhouse (Ch. 59), hosting two-hours of hand-picked selections and stories from throughout her career, which premiered Friday and will rebroadcast Sunday, July 31st at 7 pm ET. Mandrell will also join T.G. Sheppard for his show on Prime Country (Ch. 58) which will premiere August 5th at 3 pm ET.
In honor of Mandrell’s golden Opry anniversary, a special commissioned Hatch show print will be available in the Opry Shop and online at store.opry.com. Additionally, the exclusive merchandise line that Mandrell, in partnership with the Opry, launched last year in celebration of the 40th anniversary of her signature hit- and one of country music’s most iconic classics- “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” will again be available exclusively online and in the Opry gift shop in Nashville, TN. The collection includes “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” branded t-shirts, Hatch poster, coffee mug and more.
Mandrell, a 9x People’s Choice Award winner, released “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” in April 1981 as the lead single from her album Barbara Mandrell Live. The song hit the No. 1 spot on July 4, 1981 and helped propel her live album to be certified Goldâ by the RIAA and helped her win the 1981 CMA Entertainer of the Year.
Next Saturday, August 6th, the Grand Ole Opry will celebrate the influence and music of country music legend John Anderson. The Opry will bring to life a portion of the upcoming album release Something Borrowed, Something New: A Tribute To John Anderson, which is scheduled for release Friday, August 5th by Easy Eye Sound. Scheduled to perform are John Anderson with special guests Dan Auerbach and Tyler Childers, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, Sierra Hull, Elizabeth Cook and more. The celebration of the album will also air live that night as Opry Live on Circle Television and will livestream via Circle’s social channels, while the Opry show will air in their entirety on WSM Radio, orpy.com, and SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse channel.
