The Grand Ole Opry Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary With Opry 100 Event
The year-long celebration honoring the Grand Ole Opry’s 100th anniversary kicked off on Wednesday night, March 19, with a special three-hour televised event broadcast live from the iconic venue.
The special, titled Opry 100, featured a star-studded lineup of country music legends and rising stars who took the stage for performances throughout the night.
One unforgettable moment was when Kelsea Ballerini gave a beautiful tribute to country legend Barbara Mandrell.
The Legacy Of Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Mandrell’s appearance during Opry 100 was a big moment, as she paved the way for many female artists in country music. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, she helped shape the genre by blending country with pop, creating a string of major hits.
Though she retired from performing in 1997, her legacy includes 25 studio albums, 11 Grammy nominations with two wins, and six ACM Awards, including the prestigious Pioneer Award.
Mandrell released “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool” in 1981, which featured an uncredited guest appearance by George Jones. The song quickly topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. That same year, it earned nominations for Single of the Year at both the CMA and ACM Awards.