21-05-2025
Grand Ole Opry announces date, performers for international event at Royal Albert Hall
The Grand Ole Opry has finally announced the date and lineup for what will be potentially their most impactful of many 100th anniversary events.
Opry members Luke Combs, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, Darius Rucker and Marty Stuart will headline its first-ever live international broadcast from London's iconic Royal Albert Hall on Sept. 26, 2025.
Tickets to the show will go on sale on 4 a.m. CDT May 23 on
'This milestone year for the Grand Ole Opry has arrived at the perfect time as country music enjoys an unprecedented rise in global popularity, especially in the United Kingdom. Our first-ever broadcast outside of the United States will celebrate the influential music that has shaped this genre and pay tribute to the unique Opry show format that has entertained music lovers for 100 years," said Colin Reed, executive chairman of Grand Ole Opry parent company Ryman Hospitality Properties.
"With the help of some of our most treasured Opry members and some very special guests, we hope to give fans a taste of what goes on every week back in Nashville and inspire them to come visit the epicenter of country music."
Grand Ole Opry member Darius Rucker said, 'Being a member of the Grand Ole Opry is a great honor; it's always felt like the Opry was my home away from home. To have the opportunity to bring such a big part of my musical roots to Royal Albert Hall is a full-circle moment for me while I work on a project with so many talented songwriters and producers based in London. I can't think of a better way to honor the Opry's global impact on country music as we share its magic with a new generation of fans.'
"I've been to Europe several times, but I feel like in the last year or two, country music has connected there in a really impactful way. The growth of my music over there blew my mind," noted Opry member Carly Pearce in a 2025 Tennessean feature.
Country music has doubled its streaming market share in the United Kingdom year-over-year from 2023 to 2024, where, over the past decade, interest in Opry members, including Dierks Bentley, Combs, Vince Gill, Ashley McBryde, Pearce, Carrie Underwood and Lainey Wilson, has expanded.
United Kingdom-specific flourishes will be added to the Opry's traditional presentation at Royal Albert Hall.
BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay and WSM Radio host Kelly Sutton will be co-hosts for 'Grand Ole Opry: Live in London.' The pair will honour the show's radio roots by creating a lively atmosphere at the Royal Albert Hall and over the airwaves for listeners worldwide. Sutton, the first woman to hold a regular Opry host role, is also the host of Absolute Radio Country's The Nashville Show.
This show will also feature a lineup of notable UK guest artists, which will be announced later this year. The all-star cast will showcase contemporary and classic country music hits in a format similar to the Opry's regular shows in Nashville, where artists appearing on the show will each perform two to four songs.
Fans unable to experience the show in person can listen to a live broadcast on WSM Radio and UK-based fans can also hear a full broadcast replay on BBC Radio 2 at a later date.
Leading up to the show, fans in the United Kingdom can catch up on the latest Grand Ole Opry performances as Opry Live begins airing on Sky Arts starting May 30. The show will air weekly for 26 weeks, allowing viewers to experience the program before the Opry's debut at Royal Albert Hall.
Dan Rogers, senior vice president and executive producer of the Grand Ole Opry, added, 'The magical thing about the Opry is how many lives it's touched over the past 100 years. No matter where you live, when you listen to country music, all roads eventually lead to the Grand Ole Opry and its members both past and present. This show, like the others we are fortunate to program during this special year, will be a celebration of all that has come before it, a moment to embrace something that's never happened before and preview of what lies ahead.'
The Grand Ole Opry's 100th birthday year will feature an impressive series of events throughout 2025 and 2026.
"Our 2025 plans represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make the Opry more accessible than ever before," says Opry owners Ryman Entertainment Properties' CEO Patrick Moore. "For decades, people will look back on this year as the one they first discovered or deepened their connection with the show that made country music famous. We've packed our calendar with moments so everyone, from casual fans to super fans, can enjoy the magic of the Grand Ole Opry from wherever they are in the world."
An official Abrams Books-published "100 Years of Grand Ole Opry" book has been recently released and other limited-edition "Opry 100" merchandise will be released throughout the year. It is part of a series of events, limited-edition releases, special performances, exhibits, book publications and merchandise celebrating the Opry's milestone.
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This story was updated to add a video.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Grand Ole Opry announces date, lineup for UK live event: What we know
