Shaylen Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut

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Shaylen during her Grand Ole Opry debut. Photo: Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry

Singer-songwriter Shaylen made her Grand Ole Opry debut during back-to-back shows on Saturday night (Oct. 5).

Grand Ole Opry member Chris Young, who invited the Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment artist to make her debut last month, surprised her and the crowd with an introduction as she stepped into the circle for the first time.

“It’s my honor to be able to stand up here on this stage as a member of the Grand Ole Opry and talk about somebody that I think is absolutely fantastic,” shared Young. “She has an amazing voice, [she’s a] great songwriter, great person; y’all make her feel welcome for her very first Grand Ole Opry performance.”

Pictured (L–R): Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment’s Ryan Dokke, Big Machine Label Group’s Sandi and Scott Borchetta, Shaylen, Two Hats Music Group’s Andrew Albert and Jordyn Elliott, Grand Ole Opry’s Samantha Kane and Dan Rogers. Photo: Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry

Shaylen performed unreleased track “Country Enough,” a rock-tinged tune about the lifelong magnetic pull she’s had to country music. Being one to pen tunes that come straight from her journal, she was overcome with emotion seeing one of those “super big” dreams come to fruition before her eyes, telling the crowd, “It’s crazy to see journal pieces come to life.” Choking back tears, Shaylen closed her set with top-streaming independent release “What If I Don’t,” which she wrote while in the “most broken place” she’s ever been in where she chronicled the tough questions that swirl around your head after a difficult breakup.

She recently lent her vocals to “Second Time Around,” her duet with labelmate Noah Hicks, and released “To Tell You The Truth.” The songstress is also currently in the studio working on her debut project with the Big Machine Label Group imprint.

Liza Anderson
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