Carrie Underwood gave fans at Nashville something extra to remember during the first of her two shows at the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday, Aug. 22. Not only did the iconic superstar close the 7 p.m. program with a majestic performance of hits and "deep cuts," she reunited with the country legend who started her Opry journey, Randy Travis.
In one of four consecutive appearances Underwood made over two straight days, the superstar paired her show-stopping vocal and reverence for the Opry with a special, full-"circle" surprise. Underwood is a major draw any time she appears at the 100-year-old country institution, and Saturday was no exception.
Texan Chloe Lewis said she grew up listening to Underwood in her mom's car. She was in town with family and
friends to celebrate a 21st birthday, and always wanted to see to the Grand Ole Opry.
"When we saw Carrie Underwood was performing, we were like, 'Oh my gosh, that's a once in a lifetime thing. We have to go,'" Lewis said.
Underwood didn't disappoint, giving Lewis the unique Opry experience she had hoped for. The "Jesus, Take the Wheel" singer was enlisted to come out before her actual performance and give a gift to Travis, to honor both his 40 years as an Opry member, and the ongoing celebration of the Grand Ole Opry's 100th anniversary. Each official member is given a special embroidered scarf made by Nashville celebrity designer Manuel Cuevas, and Travis was stunned to see Underwood walk onstage to present it.
As Underwood stood in front of the Country Music Hall of Fame member, who lost his singing voice after a near-fatal 2013 stroke, the audience realized they were witnessing a historic switch up. It was Travis who invited Underwood to become an Opry member in 2008, after the "American Idol" champ had turned Travis’ “I Told You So" into one of her signature songs. Now it was her turn to gush over her longtime friend.
"You are so special to all of us, certainly to me, to country music, to the Grand Ole Opry," Underwood said, adding that Travis' legacy and talent are only overshadowed by one thing: his heart.
Travis was appearing alongside his vocal doppleganger James Dupré, who often performs Travis' songs. Other performers on the program included T. Graham Brown, Wyatt McCubbin, John Conlee and newcomer Jenna Davis, who made her Opry debut.
Singer-songwriter-actor Charles Esten shared an even more emotional moment, singing in tribute to his former "Nashville" co-star, Hayden Panettiere. His bittersweet performance of "Somewhere In the Sunshine" came just days after the Aug. 16 death of the 36-year-old actress who played Juliette Barnes to Esten's Deacon Claybourne. He told the crowd they shared their first scene together in the Opry building, just down the hall from where he stood.
"She was just a wonderful, wonderful human being and our hearts are broken right now," Esten said. "But I have a song that I want to sing. This is one of mine, and it's what I believe my faith tells me, my heart tells me. That my friend Hayden, who searched for peace for a long time, she found it. Right how she's somewhere in the sunshine."
Underwood finished off the star-studded show in a hot pink dress with embroidered flowers, which resembled the designs on Travis' gift. Arriving to a rush of cheers and applause, she planted herself in the center of the Opry's famous onstage circle and launched into the empowering breakup anthem, "Wasted." Travis, seated in a chair just offstage, bobbed and danced along.
“It's aways honor to be at the Opry. It's a special, special honor getting to just be up here with Mr. Randy Travis," Underwood said, before remarking on the list of anniversaries and engagements read off by Opry announcer Mike Terry. "Love is in the air. So I’m gonna naturally do some breakup and cheating songs for y'all."
Delivering the song with a tender, aching vocal, Underwood called the 2009 ballad "Someday When I Stop Loving You" one her "favorite deep cuts." "Out of That Truck" featured an upbeat tempo and quick-hitting lyrics about romantic déjà vu. And "Before He Cheats" found the icon throwing her full vocal power at an 11-times Platinum Opry singalong. Underwood belted the classic anthem and rocked out with her band, still at the center of the famous circle.
For Opry superfan Dale Kreider, who estimates he has seen 400 shows since his first one in 1982, the night was another one to remember. He lives in Indianapolis, but keeps coming back because of the variety and intimacy Opry shows offer, with superstars, legends and rising talent on the same small stage, in just two fast-moving hours.
“You can see Connie Smith and Carrie Underwood in the same show,” he said simply.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Grand Ole Opry: Carrie Underwood, Randy Travis and a Hayden Panettiere tribute
