Patty Loveless Celebrates 25th Anniversary As Grand Ole Opry Member

Posted by Kristina Burton on 06/20/2013
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The Grand Ole Opry® presented by Humana® honored Patty Loveless on her 25th anniversary as an Opry member this past weekend with memorable performances by Loveless, fellow Opry members Vince Gill and Loretta Lynn, and more. Loveless was inducted as an Opry member on June 11, 1988.
 
Following an hour of Loveless solo hits, vocal collaborations, and performances by good friends of the guest of honor in front of a sold-out Opry House Saturday night, Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher honored the 25-year member with a commemorative print and words about her career. “This has been an absolutely magical night at the Grand Ole Opry. I think we have heard everything that makes country music great,” Fisher said. “If I was to describe what makes country music great, I would use the name Patty Loveless,” he continued, describing Loveless as doing everything with “grace, humility, and excellence.”
 
Loveless responded, saying, “It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years. I know my family is listening in tonight, and I’m sure they are very, very proud of this moment for me. My dreams were their dreams as well.”
 
The night concluded with Loveless and Gill collaborating on their beloved 1995 release “Go Rest High On That Mountain.” The two were joined by a number of other artists who had appeared on stage earlier in the evening.
 
Since debuting her self-titled album in 1986, Loveless has enjoyed a string of Top 10 and No. 1 hit singles as well as ACM Awards as Top Female Vocalist in 1996 and 1997, CMA Vocalist of the Year honors in 1996, and the CMA Album of the Year trophy in 1995 for When Fallen Angels Fly. In 2001, Loveless released Mountain Soul, paying homage to her Kentucky upbringing, and in 2003 released On Your Way Home, another fine effort that merged the acoustic country of Mountain Soul with the honky-tonk sounds of her earlier years. Loveless has appeared on recent projects from Bob Seger, George Strait, and Vince Gill, as well as her own recently released Mountain Soul II.
 
The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Humana®. Opry performances are held every weekend of the year. The Tuesday Night Opry continues through Dec. 11, and Wednesday night shows run June 19 to Aug. 7. To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or log on to www.opry.com.