Country Update BILLBOARD.COM/NEWSLETTERS MAY 17, 2021 | PAGE 1 OF 18 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE
[email protected] INSIDE Grand Ole Opry Moves Toward The Old Normal THIS As U.S. Reemerges From COVID-19 ISSUE It likely won’t have the shelf life of Throwback Thursdays or In ideal Opry fashion, the lineup reflected a variety of styles Taco Tuesdays, but “full-capacity Friday night” had an oddly and eras. Lorrie Morgan opened with her chart-topping 1990 Sam Hunt’s ‘90’s’ special ring to it on May 14. single “Five Minutes,” and the rest of the talent parade fea- Breaks Out Grand Ole Opry announcer tured current hitmaker Michael Ray, >page 4 Bill Cody uncorked the phrase as Western vocal quartet Riders in the the WSM-AM Nashville show had Sky, comedian Aaron Weber, Nash- every ticket in the 4,400-seat Opry ville actor Charles Esten and new- House available for the first time comer Brittney Spencer, who sang Underwood, since March 10, 2020, when the a new song, “Sober & Skinny,” for the Aldean, Brooks coronavirus pandemic forced live first time in public. In Play entertainment off the stage. Some Spencer’s appearance was a >page 10 2,400 tickets were sold, according personal milestone, for she made to Opry vp/executive producer Dan her Opry debut. While she felt its Rogers, as the reboot coincided significance (she conceded that her with an unexpected bonus: Barely breathing was more pronounced Makin’ Tracks: 24 hours before the show’s start, the during “Sober” as she fought off a Drew Parker’s city of Nashville dropped face-mask case of nerves), she was still present ‘BP PBR’ Song mandates.