Show Reviews

 

GRAND OLE OPRY - USO Holiday Special

Ft. Lauren Alaina, Craig Morgan, The War & Treaty, Josh Turner, Jessie James Decker, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Combs

Saturday December 18, 2021

@ Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN

(Review by: Jeffrey Kurtis)

 

When it comes to country music’s highest honors, playing the hallowed stage of The Grand Ole Opry stands tall above the rest. It’s been said by many performers who have stood in the circle at center stage, that when you place your feet on the iconic wooden floor you can feel the spirits of legends pulsating through you.

For 96 years now, “The Show That Made Country Music Famous” has been giving us truly iconic moments that have created the inner fabrication of country music that has helped define the genre from generation to generation through their innovation and willingness to adjust with the times.

An amazing newer feature that the Grand Ole Opry has been offering in partnership with Circle All Access is livestreams of Opry performances, which is how we were able to tune into this week’s amazing episode, the first ever Opry Live: USO Holiday Special hosted by USO Global Ambassador Kellie Pickler.

“I’m so excited to be a part of this wonderful holiday special for the USO; My dad was actually in the Army so I was raised in a household with a huge appreciation for the men and women who literally fight for our freedom every single day so that we can be whoever we want to be,” began Lauren Alaina, who on the proper Opry show later this night would be invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry by Trisha Yearwood.

“My daddy told me this really funny story about when he was in the Army; someone tried to ship him a Krystal; like the burger, the mini burger…cause he wanted any slice of home that he could get when he was over there. So hopefully with this special we can bring a little slice of America to you wherever you are,” Alaina told as she opened the performances with “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

“This song was my first #1 song. It is one of the most special songs I’ve ever written and recorded, and it changed my life. But the only reason that my life was ever able to be changed is because we have men and women fighting for our country and our freedom so that we can have dreams and dreams that come true,” Alania finished as she got the crowd clapping along with “Road Less Traveled” before hosting them in a rousing sing-along through the final chorus and enticing them to light up the Grand Ole Opry with their flashlights on their phones.

Craig Morgan, an Army veteran himself, humbly stated, “We are truly excited to be here celebrating the holidays with the USO. The United Services Organization has been around a long time and thank God. I’ve been on the receiving end of the USO as a service member, and I’ve got to go over as a singer and entertain, and I can tell you that for us it is the greatest privilege to be part of the USO shows that go over and entertain our men and women who serve our country abroad, as well as here at home. So, special thank you to all those who serve, and a special thank you all those who volunteer at the USO and dedicate their time and efforts to make sure that no one is forgotten. And until they all come home, the USO will always be there.”

“This is a song I wrote with a buddy of mine. We sat down one day, and we were thinking about Christmas in June; cause you have to start thinking about recording Christmas music way early. So, we wrote this song and all we did was sit down and figure out what Christmas looked like in Dickson, TN just about 45 miles from here,” said Morgan as he played an original Christmas song, “Merry Country Christmas.”

“We are so excited to be celebrating all of our soldiers and our veterans! And we want to say a special hello to the USO!,” began Michael of The War & Treaty, a military veteran who learned to play piano while serving in Iraq, before turning to his wife Tanya and saying, “I guess we should go ahead and sing some Christmas goodies.”

“The first song we’re gonna do is a brand-new song that none of you know,” Michael said jokingly as he introduced “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” as Tanya’s incredible vocal carried the audience through a stripped back version of the standard, which they then slid directly into the soulful driven R&B classic, “Merry Christmas Baby.”

Josh Turner strolled to the stage next performing “Soldier’s Gift,” which he introduced with, “This song was the only outside original song on this record. It was written by Tom Douglas and Scooter Carusoe. When I heard this song the first time, I knew I had to record this because it was a subject matter in a Christmas song that I don’t think I ever heard before.”

“First and foremost, I want to say thank you to the USO. I know during this time it can be real hard to be away from your family and your loved ones during this time of year, so I’m hoping we can bring a little bit of cheer to them - a little bit of home – And so I’m gonna sing a little Christmas song for them,” said Jessie James Decker, a proud daughter of a retire Air Force General, as she played “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

“I just want to thank the Grand Ole Opry and the USO for doing what you do and allowing us to be a part of this very special program. I do love Christmas. This is my favorite time of year, and right now we’re gonna play a song that is all about what started it all. Everybody knows it. You’ve heard it all your lives, but there’s something so simple, and beautiful, and wonderful about celebrating the birth of Jesus,” Carrie Underwood spoke as she performed her outstanding version of “Silent Night” from her Christmas album, My Gift.

“I just want to thank the USO for having me and letting me be a part of this event. Happy holiday’s to all our troops, wherever you’re serving….thank you for what you do! We all love you!” said Luke Combs, the final performer of the evening and arguably country music’s biggest current star, who played “Even Though I’m Leaving,” which he said to be “one of my favorite songs I’ve written.”

Having been in the live audience for several Opry shows, and now having watched my first ever livestream, I can say from both vantage points that Circle All Access does an absolutely amazing job with their live stream as it pulls you off your couch at home and drops you directly into the center of the Opry House. They totally capture the feeling of being there in person and deliver the experience from inside the hallowed walls of the Opry House directly into your homes.

The staff at Today’s Country Magazine is truly thankful to our brave men and women of the military for protecting our freedoms and allowing us these types of incredible opportunities that we are blessed to be a part of.

And we also want to send a BIG thank to the incredible USO organization for all the hard work they’ve been doing for 70 years to deliver pieces of home to all our incredible service members.

FULL SET LIST

1) Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (Lauren Alaina)

2) Road Less Traveled (Lauren Alaina)

3) Merry Country Christmas (Craig Morgan)

4) I’ll Be Home for Christmas (The War & Treaty)

5) Merry Christmas Baby (The War & Treaty)

6) Soldier’s Gift (Josh Turner)

7) It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Jessie James Decker)

8) Silent Night (Carrie Underwood)

9) Even Though I’m Leaving (Luke Combs)

 

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