Scotty McCreery and Chris Young were among the performers at the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday, December 12, taking the stage only hours after the news was announced the Charley Pride had passed away. Both singers honored the 86-year-old during their performance, and his enduring legacy in country music.
“So many great artists have come here before me, and one of those I’ve always been such a big fan of, we just lost today, Mr. Charley Pride,” Scotty said. “That guy, he was always such a joy to talk to backstage. He always made you feel like you were the only one in the room. Just the nicest guy. We’d talk baseball, music, everything. So tonight we’re going to play ‘Five More Minutes,’ which I wrote for my granddaddy, Bill. But tonight this song’s going to go out to Mr. Charley Pride.”
Brett Young and Dennis Quaid also performed during the one-hour livestream, before Chris closed the show by honoring the Country Music Hall of Fame member.
“Sadly today, we learned of the passing of a true country icon, Mr. Charley Pride,” Chris said before singing “Kiss An Angel Good Morning,” in honor of Charley. “Country music has truly lost a legend, and we’d like to honor him with this song tonight.”
Charley passed away on December 12 in Dallas, Texas, after being hospitalized in late November with symptoms related to COVID-19. He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1993.
“It’s as if I had made it in baseball and they came up to me and took me to Cooperstown and said, ‘This is where your plaque is going to be — beside Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron,'” Charley once said of becoming an official Opry member.
Thank you, Charley, for your contributions to our Opry family- you’ll forever have a place in our hearts and our home.❤️ pic.twitter.com/aqAXntUiO9
— Grand Ole Opry (@opry) December 12, 2020
“Thank you, Charley, for your contributions to our Opry family- you’ll forever have a place in our hearts and our home,” the Grand Ole Opry tweeted shortly after the news of Charley’s passing was announced.
Watch Scotty’s performance at the 4:50 mark, and see Chris perform his tribute beginning at 57:25.