‘Opry 100’ Producers Tell What to Expect From Country Music’s Superstars in the Three-Hour NBC Telecast

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Tonight, “Opry 100: A Live Celebration” will be broadcast live. In preparation for this three-hour event, show producers have shared a sneak peek of the telecast. Although it won’t feature exactly one hundred performers to symbolize the Grand Ole Opry’s century-long history, by the end of the three hours, the lineup might seem almost as extensive. The show can be watched from 8-11 p.m. Eastern/Pacific Time on NBC and Peacock.

The production company, known as Silent House, famous for orchestrating numerous high-profile arena and stadium tours such as Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, is collaborating with the Opry on the event production. The team at Silent House, comprising Baz Halpin, Mark Bracco, and Linda Gierahn (recently awarded Emmys for “Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love”), are serving as executive producers for “Opry 100,” alongside R.A. Clark and Steve Buchanan. During a brief pause from rehearsals, Gierahn and Bracco spoke with EbMaster about the upcoming event and what country music enthusiasts can anticipate.

Essentially, Bracco pointed out that while the show features a lot of country music, it’s not just limited to that genre. He said, “You see, the show includes numerous fantastic songs from the American Songbook that were massive hits across various genres. Therefore, this isn’t merely an event for country music enthusiasts. If you’re a music lover in general, there’s a wealth of wonderful music spanning three hours and many songs you probably know by heart. Even if you don’t consider yourself a fan of country music, I truly believe the appeal of this show is quite broad.

A number of the performances slated for the event were revealed in the days preceding the Wednesday night broadcast. The show boasts over 20 musical acts, as it’s not an awards ceremony, allowing for more music time. We have Reba honoring Patsy and Loretta, Garth and Trisha saluting George and Tammy, Jelly Roll and Ashley McBride tributing Johnny and June, Carly Pearce celebrating Dolly, Keith Urban acknowledging Crystal Gayle, Carrie Underwood paying homage to Randy Travis, and Kelsea Ballerini honoring Barbara Mandrell. Interestingly, Crystal, Randy, and Barbara themselves will be present, so the performers will be singing to their idols, making each performance even more meaningful.

Additionally, he mentioned that “The War and Treaty will pay homage to the roots of the country and gospel alongside Amy Grant and other distinguished guests. Allison Kraus + Union Station are contributing a bluegrass segment. Our aim is to embody various eras of country music, different aspects of the genre, and also celebrate the legends of country music – both those who have departed and those who remain active – ensuring we respect the century-long tradition in just three hours.

Speaking about the upcoming performance, Gierahn enthused, “One number I’m particularly thrilled about is a ’90s tune. We have Blake Shelton, Clint Black, and Trace Adkins lined up for it. Just now, we wrapped up rehearsal with Post Malone, and it was full of energy! Everyone was dancing and enjoying themselves as Post Malone teamed up with Travis Tritt to perform ‘T-R-O-U-B-L-E’.

During the broadcast, Eric Church is set to perform an original song that holds deep personal significance for him and his connection with the Grand Ole Opry. This performance promises to be emotional and intimate, possibly breaking away from traditional expectations. As stated by Bracco, “Eric is doing a unique rendition of a song that carries significant meaning to him and his journey with the Opry. It’s one of his songs tied to an emotional experience in his life.” This choice allows viewers a glimpse into Eric’s personal side, and it seems he has opted for a performance that allows him to pay tribute to something special for him within the context of the Grand Ole Opry.

Some artists will take on multiple songs during the performance, as Keith Urban honors Crystal Gayle with ‘Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue’, and follows it up with one of his own popular tracks. This way, some audience members get a taste of both performances. Similarly, Lainey Wilson and Marty Stuart will perform ‘Lost Highway’ in tribute to Hank Williams Sr., but later they will also sing one of Lainey’s songs together.

Krauss will appear multiple times during the show. Firstly, she’ll join the bluegrass segment, and secondly, she’ll perform a duet with Brad Paisley on their popular 21st-century song “Whiskey Lullaby”. Notably, this performance also provides an opportunity for one of the Opry’s longest-serving members, Bill Anderson, to grace the stage. He will introduce the duet because he co-wrote it.

How can we pay tribute to a century’s worth of performers in one event? The number that can fit might vary, but Vince Gill is scheduled to perform a highly anticipated rendition of the song “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” a piece often heard at countless funerals across the globe.

During the broadcast from the Opry House, certain parts will be live, while specific segments were previously recorded at the Ryman Auditorium, our venue prior to the 1970s. This was done for a dual purpose: firstly, to honor the iconic Ryman, and secondly, to reduce the hectic pace of live set changes since we wouldn’t have to do them all in quick succession if there were more than twenty performances.

Bracco stated, “It’s a mix of the old and the new, I guess you could say,”. He explained that while the story of the Opry can’t be told without mentioning the Ryman, it has provided them an opportunity to attend exceptional shows there during renovations on the Opry stage. The look of both the Opry House and Ryman segments will be different, especially since the Opry House now offers live radio or TV broadcasts at least once a week. He added that impressive screens have been incorporated into the shows, enhancing each performance by providing content that helps tell the story behind each song or performance. Each performance at the Opry will have a unique look due to the custom-made screen content for each one, with some being more intimate and others more lively. However, he emphasized that they are ensuring that the Opry performances maintain their distinct appearance. The Ryman’s beauty and legendary status are celebrated in its performances as well.

Gierahn expressed his profound gratitude and enthusiasm, stating, “It’s such an honor for us to be involved, and we’re absolutely thrilled! Both Mark and I, along with many from Silent House and our project team, have performed in Nashville before and are deeply connected to the community. Additionally, I attended school here in Nashville as a music business major, so it’s incredibly meaningful for me to return years later, working on this show and delving into country music again.

“She still has her 615 number,” Bracco pointed out of Gierahn.

She went on saying that the show is filled with art, joy, and love, all while honoring the Opry and its significance to the artists. It’s not only about the artists, but also the unseen individuals who have been part of the Opry for years, contributing to music for countless people. In essence, there are many positive aspects ahead, with a lot of emotion behind it.

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2025-03-20 01:48