Blake Shelton, Keith Urban and More to Honor a Country Legend at the Grand Ole Opry

A special night is coming to the Grand Ole Opry—bringing together legends, superstars, and the next generation.

Blake Shelton and Keith Urban perform during the 46th annual CMA awards at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville

Frederick Breedon/FilmMagic

The Grand Ole Opry is preparing for a landmark night that reflects exactly what the Opry does best: honoring the artists who built country music while welcoming the voices who continue to shape its future.

On February 24, the Opry will celebrate Ronnie Milsap as he marks 50 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, an extraordinary milestone that places him among a rare group of artists whose influence has stretched across multiple eras of the genre. The six-time Grammy winner, who has logged more than 35 No. 1 hits, is confirmed to be in attendance for the celebration.

The tribute will feature performances from Opry members Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Trace Adkins and Mark Wills, with additional artists expected. Throughout the night, performers will deliver their favorite Milsap songs, highlighting a catalog that helped redefine what country music could sound like by blending traditional storytelling with pop, soul, and crossover appeal.

Milsap’s chart success remains staggering even decades later. In December 1989, he scored his 40th—and final—No. 1 hit with “A Woman in Love,” from the album Stranger Things Have Happened. That achievement placed him in elite company; only Milsap, George Strait and Conway Twitty have ever reached 40 No. 1 hits on the country charts. To sustain that level of dominance through major shifts in country radio is precisely why Milsap’s name remains synonymous with longevity and excellence.

What makes his story even more remarkable is the path that led him there. Born nearly blind and losing what little sight he had as a teenager, Milsap became a classically trained musician, mastering multiple instruments and developing the piano style that would become central to his sound. His success wasn’t just about hits—it was about craft, adaptability, and persistence.

That through-line continues today. Now in his 80s, Milsap remains active and engaged with fans, hosting his YouTube interview series Music and Millsap, where he sits down with fellow artists to talk about songwriting, touring, and the business of music. In a recent episode, he joked easily about modern technology, a reminder that he has never been an artist frozen in time.

The February 24 celebration will also look forward as much as it looks back. Earlier in the evening, the Opry will unveil its Opry NextStage Class of 2026, continuing a program that has become a proven pipeline for future stars. Since its launch in 2019, NextStage alumni have collectively earned 42 No. 1 hits and gone on to major industry milestones.

Artists first spotlighted through NextStage include Lainey Wilson, Hailey Whitters, Megan Moroney, Nate Smith, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Ella Langley and Tenille Townes, all of whom went on to win ACM New Male or Female Artist of the Year after their NextStage announcement. Wilson later made history by becoming the first Opry NextStage alum to be invited to join the Grand Ole Opry itself.

The event arrives during an especially emotional stretch for the Opry. Just weeks ago, Suzy Bogguss was officially inducted following a ceremony filled with surprise appearances and longtime friendships. Around the same time, the Opry also marked Dolly Parton’s 80th birthday with a special Opry Goes Dolly celebration, underscoring the institution’s ongoing centennial momentum.

Founded in 1925, the Grand Ole Opry remains the longest-running live broadcast show in the world. As Shelton, Urban, and their fellow members gather to honor Ronnie Milsap’s 50-year milestone, the night promises to stand as both a tribute and a reminder: these careers are built song by song, audience by audience, year after year—and the Opry remains where those legacies are celebrated.