The Grand Ole Opry just announced they will allow 500 people to attend the Opry shows in person in October, as part of the month-long 95th anniversary celebration. The shows will kick off on October 3, with Dierks Bentley, Terri Clark, Vince Gill and Lorrie Morgan scheduled to perform together.

“The Opry will welcome back up to 500 guests each Saturday in October to experience the Opry Live television and livestream filming,” the Grand Ole Opry announced on their website. “Fans who previously purchased tickets to the Grand Ole Opry shows prior to the COVID-19 shutdown will be given a pre-ale opportunity to buy tickets.

“Should tickets be available for purchase following the pre-sale, this information will be updated,” the statement continued. “More details for other Opry 95th Anniversary Celebration shows and digital events happening throughout the month of October will be announced soon.”

The October 3 show will mark the first time audience members have been able to watch the show in person since the beginning of March, although the shows have continued uninterrupted, with performances streamed online and on Circle TV and Dish Network, among other outlets.

The news comes as Nashville begins Phase 3 of the reopening plan, which will allow up to 500 people gathered together, with restaurants and bars able to open at 50 percent capacity.

“It feels like having 500 fans in the audience is the next step as we work to return from this pandemic,” Dan Rogers, Opry Executive Producer, told The Tennessean. “It’s not the end of the journey — it won’t truly feel like the Grand Ole Opry until our backstage is bustling and there are 4,400 fans from around the world out there, excited about the big red curtain going up — but it’s the next step and a safe step to take to get to that point somewhere down the road.”