Project Captures Performance Moments From an Empty Opry House
During The Early Days of the Global Pandemic
Features Live Performances by Opry Members Trace Adkins, Luke Combs, Dailey & Vincent, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Reba McEntire, Old Crow Medicine Show, Brad Paisley,
Darius Rucker, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban
as well as Rodney Crowell, Dom Flemons, Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Grand Ole Opry has announced the release of a limited-edition vinyl LP titled, Unbroken | Empty Room, Full Circle. The announcement comes on the anniversary of the Opry’s decision to pause in-house audiences in March 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Available June 4, 2021, exclusively on Opry.com and at the Opry’s Nashville-based retail outlets, the LP includes memorable performances recorded live from the Opry stage in front of an empty house. For 29 weeks, Saturday night Opry shows continued uninterrupted despite public health orders that temporarily shuttered many other live productions. These performances were made possible because of the devotion of Grand Ole Opry members, featured performers, Opry staff and local health officials who safely worked together to bring comfort to millions around the world. The Opry continued broadcasting through its weekly WSM radio broadcast and launched the Opry Live television broadcast, which was viewed by more than 50 million people from more than 100 countries during the 29-week period.
“The performances featured on this album brought people together at a time in which they were otherwise largely separated,” said Dan Rogers, executive producer of the album and the Opry. “As a collection, they to me represent some of the most remarkable music made during what I believe will be looked on as a most pivotal time in Opry history.”
Opry members and special guest artists included on Unbroken | Empty Room, Full Circle represent some of the most influential artists in music, having together amassed a total of 81 Grammy® Awards and 238 nominations. The first 1,000 vinyl sold will include a special-edition album-sized Hatch Show Print commemorating the release.
Opry member Marty Stuart leads off the collection with “No Hard Time Blues” from the Opry’s March 21, 2020 show. That night, Stuart said of the Opry’s streak of keeping the music playing on Saturday nights for over nine-decades: “Country music is no stranger to hard times. The Grand Ole Opry is no stranger to hard times, either. It’s 94 years old [now 95] and has been through world wars, catastrophes, and presidential assassinations, but somehow the show has just gone right along and never gone off the air.”
Stuart’s fellow Opry members Vince Gill and Brad Paisley can also be heard on the opening track, with each also appearing on another track on the project. Gill reminded the world that night, “We are at our best during hard times,” while Paisley added, “Country music really excels in times like this. …We will persevere in the face of this.” For the 29 weeks without a live in-house audience more than 60 artists took to the Opry stage for historic and memorable performances including those included in the special Unbroken project.
The Opry welcomed a limited capacity audience for its Opry’s 95th Anniversary celebration on October 3, 2020 and currently hosts limited audiences at its Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday night shows. The Opry, the world’s longest-running radio show, will mark a historic, record-breaking milestone with its 5,000th Saturday night broadcast on October 30, 2021.
Click HERE for a sizzle reel of highlights of just some of the Opry members and special guests who stepped in to the circle to help the keep the music playing at the Grand Ole Opry since the in-house audience shows were paused on March 14, 2020.
Unbroken| Empty Room, Full Circle Track Listing:
1.Marty Stuart No Hard Times
2.Reba McEntire Back To God
3.Keith Urban Coming Home
4.Luke Combs Six Feet Apart
5.Dailey & Vincent and Ricky Skaggs Uncle Pen
6.Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris Leavin’ Louisiana in the Broad Daylight
7.Trace Adkins Tough People Do
8.Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man
9.Darius Rucker It Won’t Be Like This For Long
10. Old Crow Medicine Show, Dom Flemons,
Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle Mama Don’t Allow It / Will The Circle Be Unbroken
To celebrate the one-year anniversary of incredible livestream performances and keeping the music playing in the midst of a pandemic, fans can enter for a chance to win the Grand Ole Opry One-Year Livestream Anniversary Sweepstakes. The sweepstakes kicks off March 12 and runs through March 29. The prize package includes one pair of tickets to an Opry show and tour; our new commemorative vinyl record Unbroken | Empty Room, Full Circle; a collection of autographed livestream show posters from artists including Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Vince Gill, Little Big Town, Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood and more; exclusive WSM Radio and Circle TV merch packs; and more! Click HERE for details and for chance to enter.