Grand Ole Opry

Little Big Town gets ‘Scattered, Smothered and Covered’ in their video series featuring songs like “Moves Like Jagger,” by Maroon 5 featuring Christina Aguilera, “For The First Time,” by The Script, and more.

So far, they’ve countrified eight popular songs, adding their southern twang and country quartet sound. The videos are fun, sound great, and have since become a hit web series among fans.

Who in the group has the moves like Jagger? Click play below to hear what the LBT folks had to say about one of the group members’ “Hillbilly/Mick Jagger Buck Dancing” moves. The group talks about the series backstage at a recent Opry performance and answers the question: Who in the group has moves like Jagger?

Little Big Town will take the Opry stage again THIS SATURDAY! Click here for tickets.

Here’s a few videos from the series, plus an Opry performance video from the group for a sneak peek of what you might see this weekend.

What song should they cover next?

“Moves Like Jagger” – Maroon 5, featuring Christina Aguilera

“Born This Way” – Lady Gaga

“For The First Time” – The Script

“My Home’s In Alabama” – Alabama

“A Little More You” – at the Grand Ole Opry

We’re so excited about what 2012 will bring and that it’s a new year – and another year of Opry shows. But we are still reminiscing about how great 2011 was, especially the Opry Live shows on GAC-TV. Did you see all of them? There’s nothing like being in the audience at the show that made country music famous, but when time or location don’t allow, the next best thing is always to catch the Grand Ole Opry on the radio or sometimes even on television! The shows feature a who’s who of new stars, superstars, and legends, and some celebrate Opry member anniversaries and some birthdays. Here’s a what’s what of some of the Opry Live shows and performances you’ll see.

George Jones‘ 80th birthday celebration show, featuring Alan Jackson, Lee Ann Womack, Jamey Johnson, The Oak Ridge Boys, Joe Diffie and Eric Lee Beddingfield, was a blast. The entire evening was certainly a birthday party for the Opry member and Country Music Hall of Famer with tributes to George by friends and fellow Opry performers. Alan Jackson performed “He Stopped Loving Her Today” and together with Lee Ann Womack sang “Golden Ring.” Jamey Johnson performed “Whose Gonna Fill Their Shoes,” while The Oak Ridge Boys entertained with “Same Ole Me.” George Jones became an Opry member 55 years ago, and his classics have stood the test of time, to say the least. George watched from the front row but couldn’t let the show conclude until he joined his friends on stage to sing “I Don’t Need Your Rocking Chair.” Eric Lee Beddingfield made his Opry debut that night, and has quite the story behind his first single, “The Gospel According To Jones.”

“I couldn’t make it up,” Eric told us backstage. “I knew that I wanted George to hear the record, and never in a million years thought he’d be singing on it, but since it was a song written in his honor and a tribute to him, I wanted him to hear it. Me, my manager, and my producer went to Logan’s Steakhouse to eat lunch with a sole purpose to talk about who knows who to get this song to George. We sat there and ate, and as we were getting up, two tables away from us George and Nancy were sitting there eating. We didn’t have a copy of the song, but we jumped in the car, ran over to the studio, burned a disc, and they were still there. I walked up and told him what a huge influence he was on me and I wanted this to be my first single and I wanted him to hear it and tell me what he thought.”

Just a comment on the song would have been enough for Eric, but he got much more.

“To have him listen to it and tell me he liked it would have meant everything to me,” he said. “He called back and said he really liked it and he’d also like to sing on it. Of course, I was just floored. A couple months later there we were in the studio together.”

Watch what happened when George took the stage, and click here for air times on GAC-TV.

The Grand Ole Opry joined Women Rock For The Cure™ in the fight against Breast Cancer for the third annual “Opry Goes Pink” show. Opry member Martina McBride “flipped the switch” at the beginning of the show to turn the Opry barn backdrop pink for the night and ABC’s Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts was on hand as a guest announcer, herself a breast cancer survivor.

“The Opry is an institution and is so important to our genre of music and really to this country,” Martina said. “I’m so proud of the Opry for being involved in breast cancer awareness month and I feel really honored to be the one who gets to flip the switch.”

Martina performed her current single, “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” which is a song that offers hope to those affected by cancer and is included on her latest album, Eleven. Lauren Alaina and Kellie Pickler also joined the fight.

“I’m really blessed,” Lauren said backstage. “Just to be in this building is such an honor to me because I grew up wanting it so badly. And then to be able to be here for such a good cause is really great. I feel honored to be here to just give a hug or a smile to somebody who needs just a little bit of positivity in their life.”

Also in October, we celebrated 86 years of the Grand Ole Opry with a birthday bash. Rascal Flatts was inducted as a member of the Opry that night and Ronnie Dunn made his solo debut.

Prior to taking the stage, Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts said, “it is so humbling to carry the Opry flag.  There’s no higher pinnacle.”

Jay DeMarcus added, “one of the titles we’re most proud of is member of the Grand Ole Opry.”

Joe Don Rooney, meanwhile, said he began to reflect on Opry membership after a conversation with his dad earlier in the day. “I remember when I was growing up, I would watch the Grand Ole Opry on TV. He remembers when he was growing up listening to it on the radio. Now here we are in the year 2011 watching and listening online. … We are humbled by this and can’t wait to see what the future has in store for us and the Grand Ole Opry. … Tonight is a great platform from which to set sail.”

Here’s your front row seat for the induction moment:

Be sure to check the TUNE IN page for all the ways to hear and see the Opry. Click here for GAC-TV schedules for more Opry Live show dates and airtimes so you don’t miss a moment. Click here to visit our YouTube Channel for hundreds more videos and Opry moments. Sit back and enjoy the show!

Here comes the new year! It’s almost time to ring in 2012, but first, we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite Opry moments in 2011. This year brought many Opry anniversaries, a few goodbyes, some fantastic Opry debuts, and a big “Welcome To The Family” for the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry, the Oak Ridge Boys and Rascal Flatts. What a year!

The Doobie Brothers Make Opry Debut
The GRAMMY-awarded group The Doobie Brothers made it’s Grand Ole Opry debut in February. With countless hits and over 40 million records sold, the band has had a strong connection with country music throughout the years with such songs as “Black Water” and “Long Train Running.”  The group’s newest album, World Gone Crazy, continues the country connection with a guest performance from Willie Nelson on “I Know We Won.”

Surprise! Crystal Bowersox Makes Opry Debut
“We do things out here for an awful lot of different reasons, but one is spontaneity, one is fun,” segment host Vince Gill said during a February show. “I went to the management and said, ‘Why don’t we do the Southern gentlemanly thing and invite her to sing a song on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry?’” Walking on stage to thunderous applause, “American Idol” alum Crystal Bowersox took slow, dramatic steps into the Opry’s famed circle of wood at center stage. “I’m standing in the circle!” she beamed. Accompanying herself on Vince’s acoustic guitar, Crystal looked up at the balcony crowd between the song’s verses and said, “I can’t believe where I am!” The auspicious debut was rewarded with a standing ovation. Vince added his thoughts on her having finished “Idol” as a runner-up, too. “She got hosed,” he said.

One-Year Anniversary of Nashville Flood
You can’t keep a good show (or city, for that matter,) down. The Opry marked the first anniversary of the flood that devastated much of Nashville and temporarily displaced the Opry from the Grand Ole Opry House with a star-packed show celebrating Music City’s heart and resilience. We called it Play On, Nashville!, and that’s exactly what we did on May 3.

A Jam-Packed June
The summer months always bring a lot of buzz and excitement here in Nashville with the CMA Music Festival. Among those who took the stage this summer were Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Darius Rucker, Oak Ridge Boys, Jimmy Dickens, Billy Ray Cyrus, and the Opry debuts of Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina. Relive a few of those moments:

The Oak Ridge Boys Invited TO Become Members & Bill Anderson’s 50th
In July, after the Oaks performed their hit “Y’All Come Back Saloon,” 62-year Opry member Jimmy Dickens surprised the group by walking on stage dressed as a 4’11” William Lee Golden, including long beard and sunglasses. “All my life I’ve wanted to be a little bitty Oak Ridge Boy,” Dickens announced to raucous laughter in the Opry House. “On August 6th, I will become the newest member of the Oak Ridge Boys, and at that time, you will become the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry!” Also in July, the Opry celebrated with Bill Anderson and his 50 years as an Opry member.

Vince Gill’s 20th Anniversary, Oak Ridge Boys Induction, and MDA
In August Vince Gill celebrated 20 years with the Opry and said, “I’ve been a part of a really special family for 20 years. It’s hard to believe when some people have been there for 60 years like Little Jimmy Dickens. What is interesting about an anniversary is that it doesn’t seem to make any sense because the Opry is so timeless. It seems to epitomize all things at all times. You have a brand new artist and someone that is 90 years old up there on a given weekend. That to me makes it feel timeless. I’ve been there for 20 years and I’m hoping for 40, and maybe if I’m really lucky, I’ll get 60.” Also in August, the Oak Ridge Boys became members and Opry performances were included in the MDA Labor Day Telethon.

George Jones Celebrates With Friends, Randy Travis Duets, Rascal Flatts Invited, and Kristin Chenoweth Debuts
September kicked off an exciting fall season here at the Opry. George Jones celebrated his 80th birthday and was honored on the Opry stage, Randy Travis was joined by friends and fellow Opry members to celebrate his 25th Anniversary as part of the Opry family, Rascal Flatts were invited to become the newest members, and Kristin Chenoweth made her Opry debut!

86th Birthday, Opry Goes Pink… Remind Me What Else?
During our 86th Birthday Bash, Rascal Flatts were welcomed into the Opry family as members, we had our third annual Opry Goes Pink show featuring Martina McBride, Lauren Alaina, Kellie Pickler, and Ronnie Milsap, and Brad Paisley was joined by both Carrie Underwood to perform “Remind Me” and Alabama to perform “Old Alabama” on the same night!

Return to the Ryman and Opry Debuts
Since November, we have been wrapping up 2011 at the Ryman. It’s been an exciting winter run while new acts have been welcomed on the stage. The Marshall Tucker Band, Brandi Carlile, The Little Willies, Brent Anderson, Matthew West, Ella Mae Bowen, and The Civil Wars all made their Opry debuts in the past two months.

We can’t wait to see what 2012 will bring. Join us on January 21 to celebrate Emmylou Harris‘ 20th Opry anniversary. Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell, Shawn Colvin, and Diamond Rio will join her on the Opry that night. Click here to see other shows in January. Don’t miss a moment in 2012.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill will host the America’s Opry Weekend Thanksgiving Special this week and wants to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

The radio program will celebrate Thanksgiving and the beginning of a music-filled holiday season, with Vince showcasing some of this year’s biggest hits about life, home, and thanks.  The show will also contain cuts from Vince’s latest album, Guitar Slinger, and several of his all-time holiday favorites, including some he’ll be singing with his wife Amy Grant on the couple’s 2011 “Twelve Days of Christmas” tour.

The singer, songwriter, and musician just marked 20 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry alongside his family and some of his best friends in country music. He’s entering his fifth year as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. He’s sold more than 26 million records, and has 20 Grammys on his shelf— more than any other male artist in country music history. Yet, the lauded artist who is also known as perhaps the nicest guy in all of Nashville, says he’s as happy with his newly-released album Guitar Slinger as with any project in his career to date.

Vince Gill Ryman 20 from JC C on Vimeo.

“It makes it even more special, you know,” Vince said backstage about sharing his 20th Opry Anniversary with his family. “And even more because all these other people that I share this stage with most weekends, they’re family too. It’s not blood, but it really is. That’s the best part of it and the friendship becomes the biggest reason you like being out here.”

For over 20 years, Vince has been a part of the Opry family. “I always loved Little Jimmy Dickens. I Loved his records and loved him. I was showing up on weekends and he invited me out to sing with him on ‘The Bird of Paradise.’ I got a phone call from my dad afterward, and he goes ‘well now you’ve made it. You sang with Little Jimmy Dickens.’ It meant so much to my dad and I didn’t know why. But when my father passed I realized when his brother told me the story that the very first record they had as little boys was Little Jimmy Dickens’ Country Boy, so I found out how deep that connection went,” Vince said.

Among the artists and songs included in the Thanksgiving special are Gill’s “Blue Christmas,” Dierks Bentley’s “Home,” Martina McBride’s “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” Blake Shelton’s “God Gave Me You,” Trade Adkins’ “Million Dollar View,” Carrie Underwood’s “Temporary Home,” and Brad Paisley’s “Winter Wonderland.”

Click here for more Vince Gill, listen to Guitar Slinger, hear exclusive interviews, and enter the Guitar Town sweepstakes for your chance to win two autographed guitars from Vince, a trip to Music City, and more!