NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Oct. 4, 2024) – The Grand Ole Opry has announced its fourth-annual “Opry NextStage Live,” presented by Tecovas, will take place on Monday, Dec. 9 at the Grand Ole Opry House. The Opry-style show will showcase country music’s top rising artists who are part of the Opry NextStage program. Reigning ACM and CMA Entertainer of The Year, 2021 Opry NextStage alum, and the newest member of the Opry, Lainey Wilson, will host and perform.
Additional artists featured on the lineup include every member of the NextStage Class of 2024: 49 Winchester, Anne Wilson, Charles Wesley Godwin, Chase Matthew, Ella Langley, Flatland Cavalry, Josh Ross, Madeline Edwards, and Wyatt Flores. Tickets are on sale now at opry.com.
Since 2019, the NextStage program has introduced new talent to new fans and featured artists such as Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Nate Smith, Hailey Whitters and Tenille Townes who all went on to earn ACM New Male and Female Artist of the Year trophies following their NextStage inclusion. Among other NextStage alums include Priscilla Block, BRELAND, Callista Clark, Chapel Hart, Travis Denning, Niko Moon, Restless Road, Jameson Rodgers, Elvie Shane, Conner Smith and Morgan Wade.
For more information on Opry NextStage, visit opry.com/nextstage.
About Opry NextStage:
Developed by Opry Entertainment Group and the Grand Ole Opry, Opry NextStage invests in the discovery of new artists with featured original content, an Opry performance and support across the brand’s platforms to help tell their stories and expand their audiences. For nearly a century, the Grand Ole Opry has created opportunities for artists throughout the Country music spectrum to make strong connections with fans and fellow artists – on its stages and across its channels – from terrestrial radio to the digital universe. The Opry has helped launch the careers of countless artists, including Roy Acuff, Garth Brooks, Patsy Cline, George Jones, Loretta Lynn, Bill Monroe and Dolly Parton, to name a few. Award-winning group Little Big Town made its very first public appearance as a group on the Opry stage in 1999, and Carrie Underwood cemented a place in Country music with her first Opry appearance less than two weeks after having been named American Idol in 2005. Audiences around the world look to the Opry to showcase the very best in Country music, and it was with this tradition that Opry NextStage was created.
About the Grand Ole Opry:
The Grand Ole Opry is the home of country music where artists and fans gather, in person and virtually, to celebrate and be part of country’s past, present and future. Founded in Nashville in 1925 and today the longest-running live broadcast show in the world, the Opry strengthens its roots by constantly evolving. The Opry’s members are country’s most emblematic artists, and the show regularly showcases country music’s top new talent. The Opry welcomes legions of fans to visit the Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee – Music City, USA – to experience one of the 3-7 live shows it hosts per week; take a backstage tour; listen to live broadcasts on opry.com and wsmonline.com, SiriusXM Willie’s Roadhouse, or its flagship home WSM Radio; and watch Opry Live on Saturday nights and Opry content all week long on Circle Country. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP) and part of a strategic investment with Atairos and NBCUniversal.
About Lainey Wilson:
As the reigning CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year, country music trailblazer Lainey Wilson has captured the hearts of music fans, the excitement of the industry and the recognition of her peers, while keeping her boots firmly planted on the ground. In the midst of a landmark year, Wilson was recently announced as a co-host at the upcoming 58th annual CMA Awards alongside Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, where she is nominated for Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Single of the Year (“Watermelon Moonshine”), Music Video of the Year (“Wildflowers and Wild Horses.”) Additionally, Wilson won Best Country Album (Bell Bottom Country) at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards earlier this year and released her widely acclaimed new album, Whirlwind, in August. Hailed by The Tennessean as “the best release of her career,” Whirlwind debuted at #8 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart, and #13 on the UK Official Albums Chart, marking Wilson’s first top 10 and top 15 entry respectively. The album provides a daringly honest exploration of Wilson’s life and journey around the globe, and features fan-her current radio single, “4x4xU.” Produced by collaborator Jay Joyce at his studio in Nashville, Whirlwind reveals a diverse yet sonically cohesive collection of songs, bending genres while remaining true to her Western roots. Wilson creates narratives that capture life’s highs, lows, and in-betweens, solidifying her role as one of the greatest songwriters of her generation.
The prolific, sought-after songwriter has also scored seven No. 1 hits including “Watermelon Moonshine,” and the 2x PLATINUM Certified “Heart Like A Truck,” in addition to award-winning collaborations with Cole Swindell (“Never Say Never”), Jelly Roll (“Save Me”) and HARDY (“wait in the truck”). Wilson has become a triple threat within entertainment as singer, songwriter and actor, making her acting debut in season 5 of Paramount’s hit series Yellowstone, whichshe will be returning to later this year for its final season. Earlier this year,Wilsonwas inducted into The Grand Ole Opry by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, and recently wrote and recorded “Out of Oklahoma,” her original song for Universal’s blockbuster Twisters. Beyond her artistry, Wilson’s on-stage performances triumph from sold-out shows across America, Australia and Europe to highly coveted music festivals Stagecoach, Lollapalooza, and Watershed. This fall, Wilson continues her “Country’s Cool Again” North American tour.
