Grand Ole Opry To Celebrate 75th Anniversary Of Bluegrass With Del McCoury And Ricky Skaggs

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Del McCoury Band at Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Chris Hollo

Ricky Skaggs and Del McCoury will help the Grand Ole Opry celebrate the 75th anniversary of Bluegrass music in a special show on Saturday, Dec. 5. Opry member McCoury is also a member of the Bluegrass Hall of Fame, and Skaggs is a member of both the Country Music and Bluegrass Halls of Fame. The two will be joined by group Sister Sadie, the first female group to ever be named as the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year.

After years in its development, bluegrass as we know it today was born on the Opry stage at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Dec. 8, 1945. On that night that Earl Scruggs made his Opry debut with Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys that included Lester Flatt, and just three months later, the historic lineup that would serve as the prototype for the bluegrass sound was complete: Monroe on mandolin, Scruggs on banjo, Flatt on guitar, Chubby Wise on fiddle, and Howard Watts on bass.

Earlier this month, the Opry resumed Friday night performances and expanded both Friday and Saturday night shows to two hours. In-venue audiences continue in compliance with operating plans developed in collaboration with the Nashville Public Health Department that include socially distanced seating, mandatory masks for all guests and staff, as well as enhanced cleaning practices.

Upcoming performers on the Opry include Opry members Bill Anderson, Trace Adkins, Chris Janson, Dustin Lynch, Jeannie Seely, and Chris Young plus special guests Russell Dickerson, Lady A, Keb’ Mo’, Ashley McBryde, Michael Ray, Chris Tomlin, Brett Young and more.

Lorie Hollabaugh
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