Dasha Releases ‘Oh, Anna! (Live From The Opry)’ On Her Birthday [Interview]

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Dasha at the Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Chris Hollo

On her 26th birthday today (Feb. 27), country star Dasha is giving fans a gift of her own: a live release of “Oh, Anna!” recorded from the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.

Captured during her August appearance, the stripped-down performance pulls the song back to its emotional core, highlighting the vulnerability at the heart of a track that wrestles with identity, growth and the complicated relationship we hold with our younger selves.

“Stepping into the circle never loses its magic,” Dasha shares. “Performing ‘Oh, Anna’ was its own kind of healing for me, so getting to experience both at the same time feels incredibly special and always pushes me toward something bigger. Every time I walk out on that stage, I’m reminded of the dreams I’ve always had and how I’m getting to live them every single day.”

The release arrives during a landmark year for the Opry, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025. While live recordings from the Opry stage have surfaced over the years, they remain relatively rare, making Dasha’s decision to mark the moment with an official release all the more meaningful.

“Honestly, after I performed ‘Oh, Anna’ the night we recorded this, it felt even more special than I expected,” she says. “I’ll never forget looking out at the crowd and seeing a standing ovation after singing a song that was all about reconnecting with the kid in me. It hit me and everyone there in a deeper way than I was prepared for.

“On tour, I love throwing a party. I want people dancing, getting rowdy, and making memories they’ll talk about for years. But when I step into the circle, it becomes something else entirely. It feels more intimate, more connected. All about the story and how much it took to get to that moment. That’s why I wanted to release this version. I wanted to mark this chapter of my life and music and always have a way to return to that feeling.”

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Dasha made her Opry debut in June 2024 and was later tapped as part of the 2025 Opry NextStage class, a distinction that underscores her rapid ascent.

“Being asked to perform at the Grand Ole Opry is already an honor worth celebrating, but being invited to join the Opry NextStage class felt like an entirely different level of validation,” she says. “It’s one of the most iconic stages in the world, and the fact that they believed in what I’m building so early on means everything to me.

“I know there will always be criticism in this career, and sometimes I have to remind myself that experiencing push back means you’re doing something new and right. To have the Grand Ole Opry stand behind me and say, ‘We believe in her,’ is incredibly powerful. It’s something I don’t take lightly, and I’m deeply honored.”

The Opry moment is just one of several defining milestones in what has been a breakout run. Dasha earned an MTV Video Music Awards nomination for Push Performance of the Year, a Best New Female Artist nod at the ACM Awards, and delivered a commanding set on the Mane Stage at Stagecoach Festival. Her viral breakthrough “Austin (Boots Stopped Workin’)” became one of the most-streamed country songs of the year and was named Female Song of 2024 at the People’s Choice Country Awards, ushering her into a new era of global momentum. What began as a digital spark has evolved into a fast-moving, genre-blurring trajectory that continues to reshape expectations for modern country stardom.

With “Oh, Anna! (Live from the Grand Ole Opry),” Dasha not only captures a milestone performance, but preserves a full-circle moment on one of country music’s most storied stages.

LB Cantrell
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