The Oak Ridge Boys To Bid Farewell With Final Tour: ‘We Owe It To Our Fans To Say Goodbye’
The upcoming trek celebrates the legendary group’s 50th anniversary as a band.
The Oak Ridge Boys; Photo by Photo by Brandon Wood
Legendary country music group, The Oak Ridge Boys will soon embark on a farewell tour.
The trek comes in honor of the GRAMMY Award-winning and Country Music Hall of Fame members’ 50th anniversary as a band.
Composed of Duane Allen (1966), Joe Bonsall (1973), William Lee Golden (1965), and Richard Sterban (1972), The Oak Ridge Boys are thrilled to announce their American Made: Farewell Tour and celebrate these milestones with fans across the country.
“We are doing a farewell tour because we owe it to our fans to say goodbye,” William Lee Golden shared in a statement. “They have always been there for us through the good times and the bad. I will always be thankful to every person who came out to a show, bought a t-shirt, played our music, and overall, loved us enough to spend their hard-earned money whenever they could. This tour is for you!”
“I want to thank God for 50 years of singing with three of my best friends and for the fans who have been there for us,” Richard Sterban added. “This is a celebration and we hope to see you there.”
In February 1983, The Oak Ridge Boys debuted their chart-topping single, “American Made,” and today, their unwavering devotion to God and country persists. As they commemorate the 40th anniversary of this iconic song, it felt appropriate to integrate “American Made” into their farewell tour.
“For all of my career I have always been a planner, sometimes planning two or three years in advance, what we will do, where we will go, and when we record,” Duane Allen said. “As we celebrate 50 years of being together, just as you see us, we will, also, begin our American Made: Farewell Tour. I don’t know how long the tour will last, but we hope to return to as many parts of the country as we can. Thank you so much for these 50 years. For me, it’s 57 1/2 years. I have given you the best part of my life and you have rewarded me with a wonderful career. Thank you, our dear fans. Thanks to God for His divine guidance. Thank you to our wonderful organization. Thank you to all the supporting companies who represent us. And thank you to our families.”
Joe Bonsall, who joined the group in 1973 added, “I was 25 years old in 1973 when I joined The Oak Ridge Boys,” shares Joe Bonsall. “I am 75 years old in 2023 and I am STILL an Oak Ridge Boy. It has been and still IS an amazing ride.”
The Oak Ridge Boys boast an impressive array of accolades, including four Academy of Country Music, two American Music, five Billboard, four Country Music Association, five Grammy, and twelve Gospel Music Association Dove awards, among many others. They hold esteemed memberships in the Grand Ole Opry, the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Their illustrious career encompasses a remarkable seventeen #1 hits, featuring classics like “Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight,” “Bobbie Sue,” “Trying To Love Two Women,” “(I’m Settin’) Fancy Free,” “American Made,” and the unforgettable anthem “Elvira.” With an astounding thirty-seven Top 20 country hits and a collection of twelve gold, three platinum, and one double-platinum album, The Oak Ridge Boys have left an indelible mark on the gospel, pop, and country music industries.
The Oak Ridge Boys Upcoming Tour Dates:
SEP 20 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
SEP 21 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
SEP 22 – Capital Region MU Health Care Amphitheater / Jefferson City, Mo.
SEP 23 – Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center / Huntington, Tenn.
SEP 28 – Norsk Hostfest Great Hall of the Vikings / Minot, N.D.
SEP 29 – Chester Fritz Auditorium / Grand Forks, N.D.
SEP 30 – Swiftel Center / Brookings, S.D.
OCT 01 – Deadwood Mountain Grand / Deadwood, S.D.
OCT 04 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
OCT 05 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
OCT 06 – Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City / Kansas City, Mo.
OCT 07 – Richard Drake’s Party Barn / Powderly, Texas
OCT 11 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
OCT 12 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
OCT 13 – Arlington Music Hall / Arlington, Texas
OCT 14 – Arlington Music Hall / Arlington, Texas
OCT 18 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
OCT 19 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
OCT 21 – Rome City Auditorium / Rome, Ga.
OCT 26 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
OCT 27 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
OCT 28 – Neewollah Celebration – Jim Halsey Auditorium / Independence, Kan.
NOV 01 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
NOV 02 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
NOV 03 – Brown County Music Center / Nashville, Ind.
NOV 04 – Crossroads Arena / Corinth, Miss.
NOV 08 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
NOV 09 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
NOV 11 – Grand Ole Opry / Nashville, Tenn.
NOV 15 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
NOV 16 – The Mansion Theatre for the Performing Arts / Branson, Mo.
NOV 21 – Vern Riffe Center for the Arts / Portsmouth, Ohio
NOV 24 – Honeywell Center / Wabash, Ind.
NOV 25 – Paramount Theatre / Anderson, Ind.
NOV 30 – Weldon Mills Theatre / Roanoke Rapids, N.C.
DEC 01 – Renfro Valley Barn Dance / Mount Vernon, Ky.
DEC 02 – Anderson Music Hall / Hiawassee, Ga.
DEC 07 – Firekeepers Casino / Battle Creek, Mich.
DEC 08 – Island Resort & Casino / Harris, Mich.
DEC 09 – Island Resort & Casino / Harris, Mich.
DEC 12 – Ryman Auditorium / Nashville, Tenn.
DEC 14 – Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center / Paducah, Ky.
DEC 15 – Effingham Performance Center / Effingham, Ill.
DEC 16 – Crystal Grand Music Theatre / Wisconsin Dells, Wisc.
DEC 17 – Egyptian Theatre / Dekalb, Ill.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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