BREAKING: Rare Move as Grand Ole Opry Cancels Saturday Night Ticketed Show Due To Winter Storm Fern
The show will continue as a radio broadcast.
Grand Ole Opry; Photo by Chris Hollo
In a rare move, the Grand Ole Opry has canceled its Saturday night, January 24 performance as a ticketed event due to Winter Storm Fern. However, the show will continue as a live radio broadcast, beginning Saturday evening at 7 p.m. CT on WSM Radio and the Opry and WSM websites.
The broadcast will also air one hour later on SiriusXM’s Willie’s Roadhouse. This historic Opry presentation will feature a mix of live performances and recorded highlights from past Opry shows, ensuring fans can still experience the magic of the Opry from anywhere.
“History is made with every Opry broadcast, and Saturday night’s show will be no exception,” said Opry Executive Producer Dan Rogers. “I’d be lying if I said we knew exactly what was going to happen throughout the show tomorrow night, but with so many fans and friends in Fern’s path, we invite everyone to stay home and safe, to put another log on the fire, and to tune in with us and weather the storm together accompanied by great country music.”
The Grand Ole Opry first began as a radio show in 1925, and cancellations have been exceedingly rare throughout its 100-year history. In 1945, the regular Saturday night broadcast briefly went silent following the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, though a short live Opry performance continued for those in attendance. In 1968, after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the night’s ticketed show was canceled due to a citywide curfew in Nashville, while a previously recorded Opry broadcast aired on WSM Radio.
More recently, in 2020, ticketed Opry performances were suspended for more than six months amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Even then, the Opry endured, continuing its Saturday night tradition through radio and livestreams, reaching millions of fans around the world.
Saturday night was set to mark a milestone moment in rising star Zach John King’s career, as he was scheduled to make his Grand Ole Opry debut. However, the Country Now Artist to Watch has since postponed his debut to later in the year. He shared the update with fans last night.
“I was supposed to make my Opry debut this Saturday, January 24th. After looking at every option and seeing the potential weather hazards in Nashville this weekend… I’ve made the tough decision to reschedule my debut,” he wrote. “The Opry has been incredibly gracious in letting me reschedule to May 23rd, 2026 where all my family, friends, and fans will be able to be there in full attendance. Stay safe and I’ll see you all this summer.”
Refunds for Saturday night’s ticketed performance are available through the original point of purchase. Fans who purchased tickets via AXS online or by phone will receive an automatic refund to the original credit card within 30 business days.
Friday night’s show will proceed as scheduled.
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
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