From Carrie Underwood to Reba McEntire to Post Malone: Everyone who performed at the Opry 100th Anniversary special 

The Opry 100th Anniversary event was the most awaited country music event of the year that honored and celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry. The show marking the 100th year of the Grand Ole Opry, the historically important cultural landmark of country music in Nashville credited with singularly promoting country music over the years, took place on March 19.

The three-hour-long special program aired live on NBC. It was hosted by Blake Shelton, and the list of performers included the likes of Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Post Malone, Garth Brooks, and many others.

Performances that stood out at the Opry 100th Anniversary

The opening act of the the Opry 100th Anniversary was performed by Reba McEntire. Among the songs she performed was “You Ain't Woman Enough.” McEntire’s rendition of the song was, according to her, a way to pay tribute to her hero Loretta Lynn. “You Ain’t Woman Enough” was originally sung by Loretta Lynn. It was released in the year 1966.

Continuing the tradition of rejuvenating the rich history of country music, the Opry 100th Anniversary event included performances that featured some of the biggest hits of the country music genre over the years. Reba McEntire also performed a rendition of “Sweet Dreams (of you).”

According to the singer, her performance was a rendition of the song that took as its inspiration the version sung by Patsy Cline. The song, written originally by country music legend Don Gibson, has been performed and recorded by prominent artists such as Patsy Cline and Faron Young, among many others.

Reba McEntire’s rendition of the song at the Opry 100th Anniversary event was indeed a gentle reminder to the fans of country music of the genre’s intricate history, as well as the adaptability of country music, which allows the space for inventive renditions. McEntire’s performance could itself be called a new rendition of the song.

It was also testimony to the importance of the Grand Ole Opry within the world of country music. Every year, the Opry not only keeps the history of the genre alive among its fans, but it also underscores the importance of performance itself within country music. Performances at the Grand Ole Opry over the years have brought so many new renditions of classics to the fore, adding new layers to older songs and marking the Opry’s place in the history of country music.

Reba McEntire was later joined on stage by Trisha Yearwood, who then performed “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” together. The song was originally sung by Vicki Lawrence.

Speaking after the performance, McEntire said,

“So many trailblazers paved the way for me to have the privilege of standing on this stage tonight, like two of my heroes, the great Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn.”

Also among the performances were tributes to country music legends like Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. According to The Tennessean, the couple first met each other backstage at the Grand Ole Opry. The tribute was performed by Ashley McBryde and Post Malone.

Post Malone, who rose to popularity through the genre of hip-hop and is a relative newcomer in the world of country music, having debuted at the Grand Ole Opry just seven months ago. Malone, notably, is a huge fan of Johnny Cash. Malone’s Johnny Cash tattoo on the musician’s arm is a testament to his love for country music. Post Malone and Ashley Mcbride performed a thrilling cover of the Cash Couple’s 1967 duet “Jackson.”

Carrie Underwood, who rose to fame after winning The American Idol in 2005, also performed at the Opry's 100th Anniversary event. Her performance, which was a tribute to the country music legend Randy Travis, included her rendition of his song “Three Wooden Crosses.”

Underwood even performed another classic of Travis’, “Forever and Ever, Amen.”

While performing the song, Underwood went over to the audience and handed the mic over to Travis so that he could utter the last word of the song, “amen.” Underwood’s act at the Opry 100th Anniversary event perhaps was the one that made country music fans’ emotions peak and reach a crescendo. The Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis moment at the Opry's 100th Anniversary brought the audience to tears.

Among the other memorable performances at the Opry's 100th Anniversary were acts by Alan Jackson, Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, and Marty Stuart.