Watch Del McCoury Celebrate 20 Years As Grand Ole Opry Member With Tyler Childers, Ricky Skaggs & More

Legendary bluegrass musician Del McCoury‘s two decades as a member of the Grand Ole Opry was honored with a special concert held at the historic Nashville institution last November. Highlights from the show including performances by the Del McCoury Band, Tyler Childers, Sam Bush, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Ricky Skaggs premiered on the Circle Country network’s Opry Live program this past Saturday night.

Del McCoury first took the Opry stage in 1963 as a member of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys band. Initially brought on by Monroe as a banjoist, he soon transitioned to guitar and vocals. Del McCoury — who celebrated his 85th birthday on Thursday, February 1 — became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2003. The musician was initially honored with an all-star “Grand Del Opry” concert in 2019 ahead of “Grand Del Opry 2” on November 18, 2023.

The Del McCoury Band kicked off the Opry Live episode with potent versions of “I Feel The Blues Movin’ In” and “All Aboard.” Mandolinist Ricky Skaggs then fronted the instrumental “Rawhide.” Next up was Sam Bush singing and playing mandolin on “Radio John,” the title track from his 2022 John Hartford tribute album.

Tyler Childers led the The Travelin’ McCourys on “Percheron Mules” off his 2023 LP, Rustlin’ In The Rain, to continue Saturday’s installment of Opry Live. Del McCoury and his band then returned to the stage to team with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band for “One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart).” Originally written by Jimmy Wakely, Del and Pres Hall recorded a version of the song for their 2011 collaborative album, American Legacies.

The installment rolled on as Ricky Skaggs joined the Del McCoury Band to duet with Del on Bill Monroe’s “I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome.” Del then welcomed Tyler Childers on acoustic guitar and vocals to collaborate with the Del McCoury Band and Ricky Skaggs on “Old Country Church” by Hank Williams. Finally, Sam Bush came out to load the stage for “Roll On Buddy,” another Bill Monroe classic.

View the full Opry Live episode celebrating Del McCoury below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1njAx80uRk0