Jimmy Buffett To Make His Opry Debut
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Music superstar Jimmy Buffett, multi award-winning singer/songwriter/producer and long-time Coral Reefer Mac McAnally, and country music superstar and Opry member Brad Paisley will step in the circle for the Grand Ole Opry’s 4,930th consecutive Saturday night broadcast Saturday, June 27. Buffett’s appearance will mark his Grand Ole Opry debut.
Buffett’s first studio album in seven years, Life On The Flipside, produced by McAnally and Michael Utley, was released last week on Mailboat Records and debuted #2 on Billboard’s Top 200 and #1 Country Albums. Ten-time CMA Musician of the Year, McAnally, also has a new studio album, “Once in a Lifetime,” due to be released July 31st.
Though Opry shows with a live Opry House audience are paused, the show will be broadcast live on Circle and Gray TV stations, DISH Studio Channel 102, Sling TV and other TV affiliates in addition to a companion live stream on Circle All Access Facebook and YouTube channels. TV and radio personality Bobby Bones will host the Circle telecast, and announcer Mike Terry will be heard on Opry flagship station 650 AM WSM and SiriusXM.
During the current global pandemic, the Opry has overcome ongoing challenges and obstacles as health guidelines and local/state government restrictions have evolved weekly. The Opry, with the help of its membership and wider artist and industry community, has continued to bring millions of fans around the world together to keep the music playing without an Opry House audience in attendance. Embracing today’s technology, the Opry is broadcast on Circle Television and radio and streamed with a very small production team as the show’s artists perform acoustically.
The Opry’s paused shows without an audience since March 14 have included Opry members Trace Adkins, Bill Anderson, Kelsea Ballerini, Garth Brooks, Terri Clark, Luke Combs, Dailey & Vincent, Vince Gill, Dustin Lynch, Chris Janson, Craig Morgan, Brad Paisley, Jeannie Seely, Blake Shelton, Ricky Skaggs, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart, Keith Urban, Steve Wariner, Trisha Yearwood and Chris Young along with special guests Lauren Alaina, Mandy Barnett, Lee Brice, T. Graham Brown, Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, Jason Crabb, Amy Grant and daughters Jenny Gill and Corrina Grant Gill, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, Kellie Pickler, Michael Ray, Gwen Stefani, Sam Williams, and Brett Young.