Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell on Grand Ole Opry

It’s going to be a good one Saturday, August 1st as the Grand Ole Opry welcomes Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, and Rodney Crowell to the stage as they continue the Saturday night Opry tradition through the COVID-19 pandemic. Sans a crowd and with only a minimal support crew on site, the Opry will broadcast live on WSM as always, along with online and via the Circle Network to mark the 4,935th consecutive Saturday show in Opry history.

Grand Ole Opry member and Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill has been one of the regulars during these quarantine performances, appearing more than any other artist, including early on when he performed with his wife Amy Grant and their daughters.

Adding Opry member Emmylou Harris along with Rodney Crowell is just about the perfect combination, not just for the history the duo has together, but due to the history they both have with Vince Gill. As many know, Rodney wrote “Bluebird Wine,” which became a big hit for Emmylou early in her career, and later he joined her “Hot Band,” which backed her in the 70’s before Crowell launched a performing career of his own. The duo have famously reunited often in their careers as well, including the collaborative albums Old Yellow Moon from 2013, and 2015’s The Traveling Kind.

But Vince Gill is intertwined in that story too. When Rodney Crowell left Emmylou’s Hot Band in 1977, the first band he started was called The Cherry Bombs. Vince Gill left his first band Pure Prairie League to join The Cherry Bombs with Rodney. Gill also appeared prominently on the Emmylou Harris albums The Ballad of Sally Rose, Thirteen and Angel Band recorded in the 80’s.

“There’s nothing better than singing with old and dear friends, especially if those friends happen to be Rodney and Vince,” says Emmylou Harris. Saturday night will also be the first Opry presentation since long-time Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs officially retired.

Next Saturday’s Opry show will also have a great lineup, with rising bluegrass superstars Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle taking the stage with Old Crow Medicine Show.

Fans can watch Saturday night’s Opry presentation live via the embedded player below, on the new Circle Network via local affiliates of the expanding channel (check availability), on the Circle Network’s Facebook Page, or on The Circle Network’s YouTube page, or listen via WSM. The presentation begins at 7 p.m. Central.

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