Everything You Need to Know About NBC's Opry 100: A Live Celebration
By Lane Vaughn
The Grand Ole Opry was alive with magic and celebration as country music’s biggest stars came together for a night to remember, celebrating 100 years of the show that made country music famous.
Stepping into a single spotlight on the iconic Opry circle, Reba McEntire kicked off the show with an a capella verse from Patsy Cline’s “Sweet Dreams.” What followed was a three-hour show packed with unforgettable performances, touching tributes, crossover collaborations, and so much more.
It was a night where history was made on country music’s biggest stage, as millions tuned in to celebrate a century of the icons, the songs, the stories, and the performances that have shaped the genre.
If you missed the live broadcast, don’t worry—you can stream the full special now on Peacock!
HOW CAN I WATCH?
The three-hour special was broadcast live from the Opry House on March 19th. The special is now available to stream on demand on Peacock!
WAS THERE A RED CARPET?
Yes! Re-live all the behind-the-scenes action before the show with the official red carpet livestream hosted by WSM Radio’s Kelly Sutton.
WHO HOSTED?
The emcee of the evening was none other than Opry Member Blake Shelton. As the reigning “King of The Voice” – the longest tenured and winningest coach in The Voice history, Blake knows his way around an NBC broadcast, as well as the Opry stage. He even grabbed the mic and paid tribute to the late Joe Diffie with an energetic cover of “Pickup Man,” saying, “We can’t ‘90s country without some Diffie!”
WHO PERFORMED?
WHAT. A. LINEUP. All your favorite artists are showed up to pay tribute to the Opry.
- Reba McEntire opened the show.
- Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood payed tribute to George Jones and Tammy Wynette.
- Carrie Underwood sang some Randy Travis.
- Dierks Bentley, Jamey Johnson, and Ketch Secor brought the house down with some Charlie Daniels.
- Eric Church sang "Why Not Me" to honor victims of the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival tragedy in Las Vegas.
- Ashley McBryde and Terri Clark saluted the women of country.
- Carly Pearce showed off her Dollywood roots.
- Clint Black, Trace Adkins, Alan Jackson, and Post Malone brought the '90s hits.
- Alison Krauss & Union Station serenaded the crowd.
- Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs led a touching in memoriam segment.
- Yolanda Adams, The War & Treaty, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Amy Grant took us to church with a gospel medley.
Additionally, the show featured special appearances from Lainey Wilson & Marty Stuart, Keith Urban, Luke Combs, Brad Paisley, Kelsea Ballerini, Barbara Mandrell, Randy Travis, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina, Chris Janson, Sara Evans, Dustin Lynch, Jeannie Seely, and Bill Anderson.
WHAT DID EACH ARTIST PERFORM?
With a lineup this good, we you’ll be singing along. Artists performed a mix of country classics popularized by Opry icons, some of the artists’ smash hits, and songs that hold a special place in the artists’ hearts because of their relationship with the Opry. Check out a sneak peak of performance highlights!
Husband and wife duo Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter, known as The War and Treaty, teamed up with gospel legends Yolanda Adams, Amy Grant, and Steven Curtis Chapman for a breathtaking medley of timeless gospel classics.
As a young girl, she played his cassette tape. When she competed on American Idol, she sang his songs. In 2008, he invited her to join the Grand Ole Opry. And on Wednesday night, Carrie Underwood took the stage to honor the man who inspired her and became a close friend—Randy Travis. Carrie performed his timeless hits, “Three Wooden Crosses” and “Forever and Ever Amen,” and in a touching moment that left many misty-eyed, Carrie stepped down from the stage, holding out the mic for Randy to sing his iconic final “Amen.” Randy’s voice once again echoed through the Opry, a powerful tribute to the lasting bond between these two legends.
When Ashley McBryde first played the Opry in June 2017, she shared the story of a teacher who told her she would never make it as a country singer. In response, she played her breakout hit “Girl Goin’ Nowhere,” a song born from that moment as a reminder to never give up on your dreams. On Wednesday night, fellow Opry member Terri Clark joined her to perform that same anthem, while images of trailblazing women country artists—Reba McEntire, Barbara Mandrell, Lauren Alaina, Dolly Parton, and Trisha Yearwood—flashed across the screens.
EXCLUSIVE EXTENDED VERSION
To put a cap on the incredible three-hour show, the full Opry cast gathered on stage for a classic Opry all-sing. First, the audience received a surprise video message from Dolly Parton, who could not appear in person. She shared her love of the Opry, and then a choir of dozens of Opry members shared their love back, as Reba McEntire, Lady A, and Carrie Underwood led them in a rendition of her 1974 ballad, “I Will Always Love You.”
As the broadcast came to a close, the cast sang The Carter Family’s classic, “Will The Circle Be Unbroken,” long used as a tribute to the enduring, unending legacy of the Opry. Scotty McCreery and Dustin Lynch soloed on verses while the rest of the iconic superstars sang the chorus in perfect harmony. And though this ending was not aired on the original broadcast due to timing, it is now available exclusively when streaming on Peacock.
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