Grand Ole Opry Celebrates USO's 75th Year, Announces USO Tour

Trace Adkins. Photo: USO photo by Eric Brandner

The Grand Ole Opry saluted the 75th anniversary of the USO on Tuesday night (May 24) and announced an Opry-themed USO Tour.

Charlie Daniels. Photo: Chris Hollo

Aimed at strengthening America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home, and country throughout their service to the nation since 1941, the USO revealed that it will send several Grand Ole Opry performers around the world this year for a Grand Ole Opry USO 75th Anniversary Concert Series.

Lee Greenwood and wife Kim introduce 92-year old World War II veteran Claude “Dutch” Mann. Photo: Chris Hollo

Trace Adkins will kick off the series with a 10-day, two-country trip to the Middle East and Europe and will again take with him the replica of the six-foot Opry House center stage circle of wood.

MusiCorps Wounded Warrior Band performs. Photo: Chris Hollo

Tuesday night’s Opry performance featured Adkins, Charlie Daniels Band, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Lee Greenwood, the Oak Ridge Boys, Mark Wills, and the MusiCorps Wounded Warrior Band making its third appearance on the Opry stage. Adkins and Wills were among those who joined the MusiCorps Wounded Warrior Band for its last song of the night, “Wagon Wheel.”