The Grand Ole Opry®
presented by Humana® will honor one of country
music’s most beloved ambassadors, Marty Stuart, on his
20th anniversary as an Opry member on Saturday,
December 8. Stuart will be celebrated during a
one-hour segment on each of the night’s two shows with
performances by his wife and fellow Opry member Connie
Smith, Charley Pride, Old Crow Medicine Show, and
songwriter Brandy Clark. Also appearing with Stuart
will be Phyliss J. Anderson, Chief of the Mississippi
Band of Choctaw Indians, along with two Choctaw
dancers.
The evening’s shows will be held at the historic Ryman
Auditorium, where Stuart made his Opry debut alongside
Lester Flatt in September 1972 at age 13. Stuart
joined the Opry 20 years ago today, on November 28,
1992.
“Marty has won the love and respect of all of us at
the Grand Ole Opry as well as friends and fans around
the world,” said Pete Fisher, Opry vice president and
general manager. “Like the Grand Ole Opry itself,
Marty celebrates and showcases all the styles under
the country music umbrella. He has the utmost respect
for our musical heritage while also working tirelessly
to ensure country music’s future growth. We’re excited
to celebrate his Opry anniversary at the Ryman, the
stage on which his Opry career began when he was just
a teenager.”
Since starting out singing gospel as a child, Stuart
has shown a missionary’s zeal for every conceivable
style of country music. From his bluegrass stint
with Lester Flatt in the '70s, the six years with
Johnny Cash in the '80s, the smash "hillbilly rock"
hits of the '90s, to his current traditional style,
the five-time GRAMMY®-winner and platinum
recording artist is one of country music’s greatest
ambassadors. The self-proclaimed renaissance man is a
country music memorabilia preservationist, stylist,
designer, photographer, songwriter, and leader of the
extraordinary, versatile touring and recording band
The Fabulous Superlatives.
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