Grand Ole Opry Salute The Troops Memorial Day Weekend Special to Honor United States Military and Essential Workers on the Frontline of the COVID-19 Battle May 23
Craig Morgan, Steven Curtis Chapman, Kellie Pickler to Perform
Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini and Morgan Evans to Perform on Grand Ole Opry This Saturday, May 16
Posted May 14, 2020
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (May 14, 2020) The show that made country music famous is scheduled to salute the United States Military with its annual pre-Memorial Day Salute the Troops Opry performance Saturday, May 23. Among the artists scheduled to perform are Craig Morgan, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Kellie Pickler. This year the Opry will also honor essential workers who are on the frontline against the war on COVID-19.
Morgan, Chapman and Pickler will step on the stage Saturday, May 23 at 8 PM ET / 7 PM CT. The show will be broadcast live on Circle and Gray TV stations, DISH Studio Channel 102, Sling TV and other TV affiliates in addition to a companion live stream on Circle All Access Facebook and YouTube channels. The livestream will be in partnership with Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live initiative. TV and radio personality Bobby Bones will host the Circle telecast, while Opry announcer Mike Terry will be heard on 650 AM WSM and SiriusXM.
Those tuning into the Livestream on the Circle All Access YouTube and Facebook channels next week can watch a special Memorial Day Weekend episode of Circle Sessions with Craig Morgan at 7:30 PM ET/ 6:30 PM CT immediately prior to the Opry. Morgan, an Opry member, TV host and Army Veteran pays tribute to his past and his future with his new album, God, Family, Country, releasing May 22 on Broken Bow Records. After the Opry livestream, a special edition of Circle Sessions: At Home with various stars will premiere.
“The days preceding Memorial Day have for years brought with them our annual ‘Salute The Troops’ show and unforgettable moments as we honor and say thank you to those who serve our country,” said Dan Rogers, Opry vice president and executive producer. “It’s more important than ever in 2020 that through words and songs we connect fans across the country to recognize the sacrifices of members of the U.S. Military. Additionally, this year’s show will offer the opportunity for fans tuned in around the world to honor the troops of essential workers on the frontline of the battles that’ve changed our world this year, the war on COVID-19.”
Opry members Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini and rising singer/songwriter Morgan Evans are scheduled to perform on the Grand Ole Opry’s 4,924th consecutive Saturday night broadcast this weekend May 16. The Opry livestream will be in partnership with Verizon’s Pay It Forward Live. Those tuning into the livestream on the Circle All Access YouTube and Facebook channels this week can watch Circle Sessions with Lee Brice at 7:30 PM ET/6:30 PM CT immediately prior to the Opry. After the Opry on the livestream, a special edition of Circle Sessions: At Home with various stars will premiere.
For the past nine weeks, during this current global pandemic, the Grand Ole Opry has worked closely with Nashville’s Director of Health to bring the show live to millions around the world while following strict safety protocols under the guidance of local health professionals. The Opry, with the help of its membership and wider artist and industry community, has continued to bring millions of fans around the world together to keep the music playing without an Opry House audience in attendance. Embracing today’s technology, the Opry will be broadcast and streamed with a very small production team. The show’s artists will perform acoustically.
Each week millions of fans in dozens of countries around the world have tuned in live over the past seven weeks to video stream or listen to legendary Opry members Bill Anderson, Jeannie Seely and Connie Smith as well as Mandy Barnett, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper and Sam Williams took to the stage on March 14 as the Opry show went on the air without a live ticketed audience. On March 21, Opry members Vince Gill, Brad Paisley and Marty Stuart performed acoustically from the Opry House stage. On March 28, Gill returned to the stage to perform acoustically with members of his family: wife Amy Grant and daughters Jenny Gill and Corrina Grant Gill. The April 4 show featured Opry member Terri Clark plus Lauren Alaina and Ashley McBryde for the show’s 4,918th Saturday night Opry broadcast. On April 11, the Opry hosted an Easter celebration featuring Opry member Trace Adkins with Jason Crabb and T. Graham Brown. On April 18, bluegrass greats and Opry members Ricky Skaggs and Dailey & Vincent performed on the Opry’s 4,920th consecutive Saturday night. The Opry welcomed members Luke Combs and Craig Morgan to the stage April 25. The 4,922nd Saturday night broadcast on May 2 featured Opry members Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, and last weekend Opry members Trace Adkins, Dustin Lynch and Blake Shelton performed, and music superstar Gwen Stefani made her Opry debut via a remote broadcast from Oklahoma.
About the Grand Ole Opry
To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com. The Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn. The Opry can be heard at opry.com and wsmradio.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM, and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP). For more information, visit opry.com.
About Circle Media, LLC
Circle Media, LLC is a media network dedicated to celebrating the country lifestyle and putting fans inside the circle of everything country. Circle offers entertainment news, documentaries, movies, archival, new and licensed programming, Grand Ole Opry performances, and more. Circle is a joint venture between Opry Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of Ryman Hospitality Properties, and Gray TV.
For more details and to find out if Circle is available in your market, please visit www.CirclePlus.com For more information about Circle, please contact: info@circleplus.com
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For the Grand Ole Opry:
Schmidt Relations
Jessie Schmidt Jessie@schmidtpr.com 615-491-7988
Dixie Owen Dixie@schmidtpr.com 615-440-6171
