Fiddle Made of Gold: Charlie Daniels
By Lane Vaughn
On July 8, the Opry honors the electrifying Charlie Daniels, an artist whose fiddle playing was as legendary as his storytelling.
Taking the stage in tribute are Jamey Johnson, Gretchen Wilson, Trace Adkins, Eddie Montgomery, The Travelin’ McCourys, Rhonda Vincent, and Chris Young—a lineup that represents the signature fusion of Southern rock, bluegrass, country, and blues that Charlie was known for.
Charlie Daniels’ rowdy showmanship was a welcome presence on the Opry stage, never failing to bring the house to its feet during a performance. When he took country music down a bolder, wilder road, the world followed—and we haven’t looked back since.
Best known for the iconic #1 hit “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” Charlie and his band turned a simple idea into one of the most unforgettable songs in country history. While working on their 1979 album Million Mile Reflections, the Charlie Daniels Band realized the record needed a fiddle-focused track. So, they got into the studio, started playing, and out came a smash.
The song has since been covered by everyone from the Zac Brown Band to Nickelback to Korn, and it remains a barn-burner every time it hits the stage—just like it did when Charlie played it live at the Opry.
This year, it brought the house down once again during Opry 100: A Live Celebration, with Jamey Johnson, Ketch Secor, and Dierks Bentley earning a standing ovation for their show-stopping rendition.
Watch the performance below, and join us July 8 as we honor “the best there’s ever been.”
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