NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 22, 2015) – As the Grand Ole Opry® continues to celebrate its 90th anniversary, tonight the show honored one of its own as country superstar Blake Shelton celebrated his 5th anniversary as an Opry member.
Shelton was given a commemorative gift marking both the Opry’s 90th anniversary and his fifth year as an official Opry member. He was also presented with a one-of-a-kind fifth of whiskey to mark the occasion. “They told us Blake was really, really excited about his fifth. Then we decided he might be thinking about a different kind of fifth, so we wanted to cover our bases,” said Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher when presenting the specially-marked bottle. “This fifth is not available in stores now… or ever.”
“I can’t believe I have my own bottle of whiskey!” Shelton cheered. “I should keep that. How am I not gonna open that?”
“That’s country. That’s redneck. That’s hillbilly,” the Opry member added before being joined on the hit “Hillbilly Bone” by fellow Opry star Trace Adkins, who inducted him into the Opry family five years ago.
Country Music Association “Entertainer of the Year,” GRAMMY® nominee and reigning five-time CMA Awards Male Vocalist of the Year Shelton continues to add to his superstar status. With 15 consecutive #1 singles, the Opry member owns the record of successive #1 singles in the modern era. He has a total of 20 #1 singles, which are all featured on his forthcoming album Reloaded: 20 #1 Hits. The package includes his new single “Gonna,” which is Top 20 and climbing. Since joining the ranks of the Opry in 2010, he has earned a host of awards and nominations. He returns as a coach for his ninth season of NBC’s Emmy Award-winning reality competition series, The Voice. For more information and upcoming tour dates, visit www.BlakeShelton.com and follow @BlakeShelton.
The Opry celebrations continue this month as Opry member Dierks Bentley will celebrate ten years as a member next Tuesday, Sept. 29. On Oct. 2 & 3 the Opry Birthday Bash weekend will include two Opry performances on both Friday and Saturday nights. Little Big Town, Montgomery Gentry, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Joe Diffie, Lorrie Morgan, Old Crow Medicine Show, and more will appear Friday night followed by Carrie Underwood, Trace Adkins, Charles Esten, The Oak Ridge Boys, and more Saturday. Among artists also coming to the Opry for performances prior to and following the Birthday Bash weekend are Alan Jackson, Tanya Tucker, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts, Alison Krauss, Loretta Lynn, the Charlie Daniels Band, and more.