Luke Combs performed two songs as part of Opry 100: A Live Celebration. The North Carolina native performed “The Grand Tour,” in tribute to George Jones, along with Combs’ first single, “Hurricane.” Combs performed the songs from the Ryman Auditorium, for the televised three-hour special.
Ahead of performing “Hurricane,” Combs shared that he performed the song for his Opry debut. That night, Combs also sang a cover of Chris Stapleton‘s “Tennessee Whiskey.” At the time, Riders in the Sky member Ranger Doug, who introduced Combs, predicted his success.
“We’ll be hearing a lot more from that man, you can guarantee it,” Doug said at the time.
Combs was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry by John Conlee, Chris Janson, and Craig Morgan on June 11, 2019. He was later inducted on July 16, 2019 by Joe Diffie and Vince Gill.
“It’s pretty hard to find anything to say that makes me feel like I wouldn’t sound like an idiot right now,” Combs said during his induction. “Here I am on stage with people that I grew up listening to, and people that have shaped me as an artist. I just want to say thank you to you guys, thank you to the Grand Ole Opry, and thank you to the fans. You guys should always remember that you are the most important thing that we have, that all of us have on this stage.
“Without you all, there is no country music, there is no Grand Ole Opry,” he continued. “Thank you so much for everything that you guys do for making this possible for guys like us on this stage. I will never forget tonight. Thank you to everybody for being a part of it. Everyone who’s meant something to me at some point in my life is here tonight. I want them all to know that I love them.”
Combs has been a member for almost six years, but every time he takes the Opry stage is as important to him as the first time.
“The emotion was truly amazing,” Combs told Artist Waves. “Being out there in that circle is unlike anything I’ve ever done and it really was a whirlwind for those 10 minutes or so. Such a mixture of pride, joy, passion, and a culmination of years of hard work to get to that moment.”
@opryofficial The Grand Tour 🫡 @Luke Combs honors George Jones with “The Grand Tour” on Opry 100: A Live Celebration on @NBC & @Peacock. #Opry100 ♬ original sound – Grand Ole Opry
“The Grand Tour” was released by Jones in 1974. It was the title track of his album, out the same year. Jones was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1956. A proud member of the Opry until his death in 2013, Jones’ service was held at the Gand Ole Opry.
Combs isn’t the only artist who paid tribute to Jones. Garth Brooks sang “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” during Opry 100: A Live Celebration. Trisha Yearwood joined Brooks to sing “Golden Rings,” his duet with Tammy Wynette.