After Jimmy Buffett announced he would not perform at the Grand Ole Opry, as originally planned, due to spikes in COVID-19 cases in Nashville, he will be replaced by blues artist Keb’ Mo’. Brad Paisley, who was scheduled to appear alongside Jimmy and Mac MacAnally, will still appear. Mac has also canceled his performance. Bobby Bones will once again host.
The Grand Ole Opry has continued its weekly shows, without a live audience, since the middle of March, when they closed their doors to the general public, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Artists like Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Keith Urban, Carly Pearce, Steve Wariner, Kelsea Ballerini, Lady A, Craig Morgan and more have continued to perform on the sacred stage, with the shows streamed live via multiple outlets, including Circle All Access and Facebook.
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“It is super weird,” Craig said on the Bobby Bones Show, speaking of performing without anyone in the seats. “Playing without an audience is not as weird as people might think, because we do a lot of TV, we do a lot of things like that, where there’s not necessarily a live audience. But it is SUPER weird to do it in a place where you’re used to having a live audience, one of which is almost always sold out. So it’s a little weird to be at the Ryman Auditorium or at the Opry house, doing a show without a live audience, just because of where we’re at.”
Saturday was to be the “Margaritaville” singer’s Opry debut, which is why he was heartbroken to postpone his appearance.
“To all Opry fans, I would just like to say how disappointed I am that because of circumstances with the recent spikes in COVID-19, I have had to postpone my trip to Nashville to play with Mac and Brad Paisley,” Jimmy shared on social media. “I have loved the Grand Ole Opry since the days I covered shows at the Ryman as a Billboard reporter on Music Row in the early 70s before I moved to Margaritaville.
“As soon as it is safe for me to travel back to Music City and meet up with Mac and Brad, I will come play for you,” he added. “Can’t wait. See you then and keep your Fins Up.”