Jade Eagleson Makes His Grand Ole Opry Debut

Friday October 18, 2024

@ Grand Ole Opry House  in Nashville, TN

(Review Written By: Jeffrey Kurtis)

Though the city of Nashville boasts several stages that hold legendary status as bucket list checkmarks any artist wants to make, The Grand Ole Opry is the only that can claim a status of ICONIC! Mecca! The stage above all stages that carries a distinction under the guise of the show that made country music famous.

Roll calling the list of achievements that International country superstar Jade Eagleson has already notched, his accolades flow never-ending and include a whopping 335+ million global streams, five #1 songs at Canadian Country Radio, several singles that have earned Gold and Platinum certifications including “Got Your Name On It,” “Count The Ways,” and “She Don’t Know,” and a recent win for album of the year at the 2024 CCMA’s.

As the grandest stage in country music is still reeling in last week’s 99^th birthday celebration and is now enroute to Opry 100, Jade Eagleson can add Grand Ole Opry Debut to his resume as this past Friday night he placed his boots in the famous circle for the first time.

A stacked lineup that showcased a tremendous picture of country music’s traditions with its bright future, melded the classic soundscapes of Jeannie Seely, Charlie McCoy, Gene Watson, and Hall of Fame inducted songwriter Don Schlitz with the here and now through performances by Alana Springsteen, Danielle Bradbery, and Charles Esten.

With his neo-traditional sound, Eagleson perfectly filled the gap between both ends of that spectrum, one boot firmly planted on the foundations and another on the essence of generation next.

Surrounded by what felt like the entire province of Ontario as the walls of the Opry House shook when announcer Charlie Mattos asked, “Who’s here from Canada tonight?” Jade then introduced himself to the Opry stage with his platinum-certified hit, “She Don’t Know.”

“This is my dream to be standing in this circle,” he enthusiastically said between his-two songs. “I thank God for all these opportunities,” he humbly told with a nod to the man upstirs while gratefully also thanking his family, the country music fans, and the Grand Ole Opry for all the amazing support that got him to this moment.

“I wrote this one with Daryl Scott,” he excitedly exclaimed as he cranked into “Rodeo Queen,” slapping a honky-tonk kick that ignited a two-steppin’ rhythm that saw him and the band letting loose and reeling in the good-time, Friday night feel while embracing the final strikes of his Opry debut.

“Come over here…come over here,” encouraged announcer Charlie Mattos after the final notes were strummed.

“Trying to put an Opry debut into words before playing is something, but now that you’ve done it what does it feel like?” Mattos asked.

“It doesn’t even feel like a real thing!” answered Jade as he basked in the monumental moment.

And on a night when the Opry debut itself could have been the one big highlight for Eagleson, when his young son came out to join him on stage, bashfully hiding behind his cowboy hat as he was showered with applause from the crowd, a big smile rolled across Jade’s face in what became a snapshot Opry family moment as Mattos encouraged, “Come back and see us again.”

Fully understanding the massive importance of the Grand Ole Opry stage, Eagleson tipped his cowboy hat and responded, “I'll come back anytime you ask!”