The Listening Room Celebrates 20th Anniversary With Sold-Out Ryman Bash
Chris Blair. Photo: Eric Ahlgrim
The Listening Room celebrated its 20th anniversary with a special show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville last Tuesday (March 3), featuring performances by over 25 songwriters and artists and surprise guests.
Joining the venue’s Owner and Founder Chris Blair on the stage to celebrate the momentous occasion were Matt Jenkins, Rachel Thibodeau, Victoria Shaw, Jordan Feliz, Jordan Walker, Brian White, Chris DeStefano, Ashley Gorley, Blessing Offor, James Slater, Old Dominion, Jo Dee Messina, Brett Young, Boyz II Men, Lee Thomas Miller, Wendell Mobley, Brian Davis, Drew Baldridge, J.T. Harding, Phil Barton, Rob Williford, Liz Rose and Hardy.
The evening was full of special moments, including Baldridge bringing Blair to tears with an ask from the Grand Ole Opry for him to serve as a Guest Announcer on March 24. Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s Office also presented a proclamation officially declaring March 3, 2026, as “The Listening Room Day” in Music City.
Brett Young and Boyz II Men. Photo: Eric Ahlgrim
The night featured stripped down performances from over two dozen songwriters and artists including an emotional memorial tribute to Brett James, Hardy debuting an unreleased song, a Young and Boyz II Men collaboration, Harding gifting his guitar to a young concertgoer from the stage, and a sing along finale.
“20 years ago, I had this crazy dream to build a place that I could come and play songs with my friends that actually paid songwriters for what they do. If you had told me that we would be standing right here in the mother church 20 years later, to a sold-out show, I would have told you that you were crazy, but here we are,” shares Blair, whose story has been profiled recently in MusicRow, Billboard, Nashville Scene, American Songwriter, Nashville Lifestyles, and more.
Located in Nashville’s historic International Harvester building at 618 4th Avenue South, The Listening Room hosts two main stage live shows a night throughout the week along with two Saturday shows. The iconic stage has hosted talent such as Vince Gill, Trisha Yearwood, Chris Stapleton, Garth Brooks, Lainey Wilson, and Hardy over the years.
Chris Blair & Drew Baldridge. Photo: Eric Ahlgrim
Chris Blair & Jo Dee Messina. Photo: Eric Ahlgrim
HARDY. Photo: Eric Ahlgrim
Old Dominion. Photo: Eric Ahlgrim
Rob Williford, J.T. Harding and Phil Barton. Photo: Eric Ahlgrim
The Listening Room 20th Anniversary Finale. Photo: Eric Ahlgrim
