Grand Ole Opry Celebrates Its 100th Birthday With Opry 100 TV Special

Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, and Clint Black joined the all-star cast of artists who participated in the Opry 100 celebration. On top of being a performer, Shelton also served as the program’s host!

The Grand Ole Opry is celebrating its 100th birthday this year (2025). To mark the milestone, the Opry unveiled its plans to host a live, televised special titled Opry 100.

The program aired on Wednesday night (March 19) at 8/7c on NBC. It was also available to stream on Peacock.

Artists such as Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson, Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, and Luke Combs signed up to perform. The program also featured a special appearance from Randy Travis, who’s been an Opry member since 1986.

Blake Shelton’s, Trace Adkins’, & Clint Black’s History With The Grand Ole Opry

Blake Shelton made his Grand Ole Opry debut on May 5, 2001. The performance came just a few weeks after he released his debut single, “Austin.”

Nine years later, Shelton received an invitation almost every country artist dreams about, as he was asked to become an Opry member.

The invitation came during a show at the Grand Ole Opry House on September 28, 2010. Shelton had just finished singing “Hillbilly Bone” with his buddy (and Opry member) Trace Adkins.

Adkins referenced how much Shelton liked to use Twitter (now X) and directed his attention to a post the Opry made about him during the show. It contained their invitation for him to become an Opry member.

Then, Adkins was on hand to officially induct Shelton into the Opry on October 23, 2010.

Adkins made his own Opry debut on November 23, 1996. He officially became a member on August 23, 2003.

As for Clint Black, he made his Opry debut in 1989, the same year he released his first album and single. He became an Opry member just two years later, on January 10, 1991.

“This Old House has been so good to me throughout my career,” Black wrote in a post on his Opry anniversary in 2020. “It’s moments like these that I’ll never forget.”

Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, And Clint Black Perform On Opry 100 Special

Considering their history as Opry members, Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, and Clint Black were the perfect additions to the Opry 100 lineup. What made their involvement even more perfect is that they joined forces to sing a “Party Jam” mashup of ’90s country favorites.

Black opened the performance by singing his 1998 hit “Nothin’ but the Taillights” in front of a colorful background. Then, Adkins took to the stage to sing his 1997 chart-topper “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing.”

After that, Shelton stepped into the Circle to cover the late Joe Diffie’s iconic 1994 hit, “Pickup Man.” He ended his energetic performance by saying, “God bless Joe Diffie.”

Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins, and Clint Black’s Opry 100 performance illustrated what the night was all about…honoring the Opry and having fun!