Joshua Ray Walker, Randall King Set Grand Ole Opry Debuts
The Grand Ole Opry continues on its trend of putting out the effort to highlight some of the most important and promising up-and-coming artists in country music by extending two debut opportunities to two deserving artists in songwriter and Saving Country Music Song of the Year alum Joshua Ray Walker, and one of the closest things the new generation has to George Strait, Randall King.
The opportunities continue to pile up for Joshua Ray Walker, who performed the National Anthem at the internationally-televised Formula 1 race at the Circuit of the Americas just outside of Austin, TX in October of 2021, and then made his late night television debut on February 1st via The Tonight Show. Now he will be welcomed into the Opry circle on April 15th.
“It’s an honor and a dream come true to be playing the Grand Ole Opry on April 15,” Walker says. “Some of my earliest memories of listening and playing music revolve around live records from the Opry that were part of my grandpa’s vinyl collection. That four-year-old kid trying to pick out ‘Lovesick Blues’ on a tenor banjo in the garage would be beaming today.”
Randall King’s invitation to make his Grand Ole Opry debut came with its own opportunity, and a story to tell. As opposed to a perfunctory email from a booking agent or publicist, after writing with the legendary Marty Stuart earlier that morning, Marty surprised King with an invitation to perform.
“To have Marty Stuart tell me in person, after getting to write with him that morning, that I get to play the Grand Ole Opry March 15th, completely unreal to me!” Randall King says. “When I rode with dad as a kid in that old Freightliner, he and I use to set dreams and goals together and playing the Opry was one of em. I can’t wait to stand on that circle where Hank stood. Excited is an understatement.”
There’s a reason whenever a true country performers gets this opportunity, they always reminisce back to when they were a young kid. It’s because it’s a dream come true, and a life goal met, and one that’s well deserved for both Randall King and Joshua Ray Walker.
Randall King’s major label debut album Shot Glass will be released March 18th. Joshua Ray Walker’s latest album See You Next Time is out now.
February 17, 2022 @ 10:18 am
I’m surprised to learn Randall hasn’t played the Opry yet. He just seems like somebody who ought to have been playing there for years. Now get Will Banister on.
February 17, 2022 @ 10:32 am
These are two great new debuts for the Opry. I am looking forward to how they both are received. I think they both will do great. Joshua Ray Walker has been getting some increased expsoure as of late. Good thing.
February 17, 2022 @ 11:22 am
You should review the new Lavender Country album “Blackberry Rose”, which comes out tomorrow. Their first album in nearly 49 years. Pretty interesting if you ask me.
February 17, 2022 @ 12:55 pm
It’s being considered for review.
February 17, 2022 @ 12:21 pm
Randall should play ‘Another Bullet.’ Killer song!
February 17, 2022 @ 3:03 pm
Congrats to both, am really happy for them.
February 17, 2022 @ 5:04 pm
I love both of these guys, it’s the way I wish country would go, but who cares, let the world see them and go from there. I’m tired of trying to convince people of whats good and whats not.
But these guys are what I like and they will have long careers following the paths that they are on!
March 15, 2022 @ 3:34 pm
Bring it Randall King!! We know you got what it takes. Super proud and excited for you and the band.