Country Music Hall of Fame member and Recording Academy “Lifetime Achievement Award” recipient Charley Pride celebrated his 25th Anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member with appearances on the Opry this weekend. Pride, who made his Opry debut in 1967, performed extended Opry sets in celebration of his milestone anniversary. Opry flagship station 650 AM WSM/wsmonline.com saluted the award-winning artist with a “Country Pride Weekend.”
Upon his Opry induction 25 years ago, Pride recalled his initial dream of baseball stardom. “It’s as if I had made it in baseball and they came up to me and took me to Cooperstown and said, ‘This is where your plaque is going to be – beside Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, and Hank Aaron.”
Pride’s fellow Opry member Carrie Underwood is set to mark ten years with the Opry on two shows Fri., May 11. Among other artists scheduled for the Opry and Opry Country Classics in May are Trace Adkins, Bobby Bare, Terri Clark, Easton Corbin, Jordan Davis, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Craig Morgan, Lorrie Morgan, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Marty Stuart, and Brett Young. Tickets are available at (615) 871-OPRY and opry.com.
Dan Rogers- Director Marketing, Communication and Artist Initiatives, Grand Ole Opry, Charley, Gina Keltner – Sr. Talent Manager, Grand Ole Opry and Opry member Crystal Gayle
