The Grand Ole Opry returned to the Grand Ole Opry House last night (9/28) for the first time since the May floods ravaged the show’s longtime home. Nine-year Opry member Brad Paisley and 61-year Opry veteran Jimmy Dickens opened the show, singing “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” while standing on the famed circle of wood from the Ryman Auditorium that was covered by 46 inches of water during the flood. It has been painstakingly refurbished and returned to its rightful spot center stage. The Opry continued throughout the summer from other Nashville venues without missing a single broadcast.

“This night shows the heart of the Opry like I’ve never seen it before,” Paisley said. “Every single artist on that stage tonight was absolutely overcome with emotion when that curtain went up. This American tradition is stronger than ever, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.”

During the show Blake Shelton received an invitation to become an official Opry member. After he and Opry member Trace Adkins performed their hit “Hillbilly Bone,” Adkins handed Shelton—who is known for his active Twitter account—an iPhone with a tweet inviting him to join the Opry on Oct. 23. Shelton said, “This moment right here is hands-down the highlight of my career.”

Throughout the show, duets included Martina McBride and Connie Smith, Dierks Bentley and Del McCoury, Josh Turner and Lorrie Morgan, and Montgomery Gentry and Charlie Daniels Band. The show closed with an all-star guitar jam featuring Paisley, Keith Urban, Steve Wariner, Ricky Skaggs, and Marty Stuart.

“This was an historic, seminal night for the Grand Ole Opry,” said Opry President Steve Buchanan. “Seeing country music’s top artists share unforgettable performances on stage after watching the endless hours of work a virtual army put into making sure the Opry House recovered from the flood and opened ahead of schedule gives me the utmost confidence in the Opry’s future.”

The Opry House’s post-flood refurbishment includes 18 new dressing rooms, a Grand Ole Opry Member Gallery, a completely reconstructed Opry Shop, and a host of technical advancements such as HD projection.

The night kicked off the Opry’s month-long 85th Birthday Celebration, which is scheduled to include performances by Craig Morgan, Kevin Costner, Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, and more. One highlight will be when the Opry Goes Pink on Oct. 15 to promote breast cancer awareness, with appearances by The Judds, and actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley.

Two videos below.

Martina McBride will join the Nashville Symphony to perform holiday favorites on Dec. 10. The “Home for the Holidays” concert will be at Lipscomb University’s Allen Arena, while the symphony’s permanent home the Schermerhorn continues to undergo repairs from the May floods.

On Saturday, November 27, Ben Folds and the Nashville Symphony will perform “Keys to Music City,” a benefit for the orchestra and two local volunteer firefighting organizations, the Williamson County Rescue Squad and Pleasant View Volunteer Fire Department. Folds’ only appearance in the Nashville area this year, “Keys to Music City” will conclude his U.S. tour in support of Lonely Avenue, his collaboration with novelist Nick Hornby.

Tickets for both concerts are available at NashvilleSymphony.org or by calling the Nashville Symphony Box Office at 615-687-6400.

VIP tickets are also available for Ben Folds, which include a post-concert meet-and-greet with the artist. Call 615-687-6401 for more information.

Country music icon Loretta Lynn was showered with industry awards and heartfelt praise at a celebration marking her 50 years in country music on Friday (9/24) at her Hurricane Mills ranch outside Nashville.

The Academy of Country Music, Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. and BMI each made award presentations during the invitation-only event billed as “A Tribute to an American Icon.” Ronnie McDowell presented Lynn with a hand-painted portrait of the legendary performer, and noted Nashville composer Bill Walker gave Lynn an arrangement of “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” originally penned for the television special, “Loretta Lynn on Broadway.”

Selected media and industry, as well as Lynn’s close friends and family, attended the packed ceremony. The evening’s activities included a catered reception, media Q&A session and the awards presentations, hosted by John Carter Cash. A performance by Lynn’s sister, Crystal Gayle, followed the event.

Jamey Johnson recruited actor pal Matthew McConaughey to direct and star in the video for his latest single “Playing The Part.” The shoot took place last week at the famed Los Angeles intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Ave. The song is the lead single from Johnson’s double album, The Guitar Song, which debuted at No. 1 last week on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and No. 4 on the Billboard 200.

Johnson first met McConaughey backstage at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2009 in Las Vegas, right after winning the Song of the Year trophy for “In Color.” McConaughey told Johnson he had been listening to his album That Lonesome Song and even quoted lyrics from a few tracks. They became fast friends and Johnson performed at McConaughey’s 40th birthday celebration.

When discussions began about the music video for “Playing the Part,” Johnson called McConaughey to ask if he would make a cameo appearance. After several conversations, McConaughey decided he wanted to direct the music video since he had so many ideas for the concept.

McConaughey told today’s Los Angeles Times, “With a lot of artists, their art is one thing and they’re another but there is no separation between Jamey’s music and him. Jamey doesn’t perform, he’s just who he is. His music is about real life: hard, honest, and funny. His subjects are simple and universal but his point of view on them is where he’s a poet—like his first person point of view as the heartache in his song ‘Heartache.’ He sings about and paints pictures of places we’ve all been before but the way he sees them is his and his only.”