Universal Music Group Nashville
01/15/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/15/2025 11:41
RINGO STARR INVITED TO MAKE GRAND OLE OPRY DEBUT FEBRUARY 21
Opry member Emmylou Harris surprises Ringo Starr onstage at his first of two sold-out headlining shows at the Ryman Auditorium to invite him to make his Grand Ole Opry debut on February 21
Photo courtesy Beautiful Day Media
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - (January 15, 2025) - Multi-GrammyAward winner Ringo Starr was invited to make his debut on the Grand Ole Opry last night during the first of his two-night sold-out headlining shows at the famed Ryman Auditorium in support of his new country album, Look Up. The Academy Award winner and two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee was surprised onstage with the invitation by his friend and Opry member Emmylou Harris.
Starr will make his Opry debut on February 21 at the Grand Ole Opry House as part of the Opry's ongoing 100th Anniversary celebration.
Harris surprised Starr onstage to welcome him to Nashville and asked if he would come back again next month to play the Grand Ole Opry for the first time. When Harris asked, Starr pretended to think about it and, with his trademark wit, teasingly replied, "When is that, July?" Harris answered, "February," to which he enthusiastically replied, "I'd love to. It's an honor and a pleasure. Thank you."
"What an honor that after all the extraordinary music he has made and all the incredible history he's been a part of, Ringo Starr will be making his Opry debut during this, the Opry's milestone 100th year," said Opry Executive Producer Dan Rogers. "It's going to be a night like no other."
Starr will be back at the Ryman Auditorium tonight (Jan. 15) performing songs from his new album.
Starr's lifelong love of country music has been apparent and celebrated throughout his illustrious career. He performed and wrote numerous country and country-tinged songs throughout his years with The Beatles (i.e. "Act Naturally," "What Goes On," "Don't Pass Me By") as well as with the earlier Rory Storm and The Hurricanes, and recorded a country album, Beaucoups of Blues, in 1970 as his second solo album. His love of Country and the Blues led him to try and emigrate from London to Texas while still a teen, after reading that Lightnin' Hopkins lived in Houston.
The artist's new album comes after a chance meeting with T Bone Burnett at an event in Los Angeles in 2022 (the two had first met in the 1970s), where Starr asked Burnett to write a song for an EP he was recording. Taking the task to heart, Burnett returned with nine songs, all in a country vein, which happily put Starr on a path to record Look Up.
For a full Opry 100 schedule, tickets, and more info on the Opry's anniversary year, visit opry.com and follow the Opry on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
About Ringo Starr
Throughout his career he has received nine GRAMMY® Awards and has twice been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - first as a Beatle and then as solo artist. Between 1970 and 2023, Ringo has released 20 solo studio records and 4 consecutive EPs in 2020, 2021 and 2023. He has acted in over 15 films, received an Academy Award®, and has been nominated as an actor for an Emmy®. Ringo has published 8 books; had a stint as a male fashion model, and that same year went behind the lens as the photographer for some Foo Fighters PR photos. Ringo is also a visual artist and has had numerous exhibitions of his work and his "Peace Sculpture" is on permanent display in the Beverly Hills Park. In 2008 Ringo began dedicating his July 7 birthday to promoting Peace and Love and the movement has grown to include events all over the planet and into the stars with support from NASA. In 2018, Ringo was knighted and in 2019 he celebrated 35 years of touring with his All Starr Bands. In 2022 Ringo received an honorary degree as a Doctor of Music from Berklee College of Music and earlier he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame with the Joe Chambers Musicians Legacy Award.
About the Grand Ole Opry:
The Grand Ole Opry is the home of country music where artists and fans gather, in person and virtually, to celebrate and be part of country's past, present and future. Founded in Nashville in 1925 and today the longest-running live broadcast show in the world, the Opry strengthens its roots by constantly evolving. The Opry's members are country's most emblematic artists, and the show regularly showcases country music's top new talent. The Opry welcomes legions of fans to visit the Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee - Music City, USA - to experience one of the 3-7 live shows it hosts per week; take a backstage tour; listen to live broadcasts on opry.com and wsmonline.com, SiriusXM Willie's Roadhouse, or its flagship home WSM Radio; and watch Opry Live on Saturday nights and Opry content all week long on Circle Country. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP) and part of a strategic investment with Atairos and NBCUniversal.