<h2>Merle Haggard steals the Opry spotlight and surprises the audience with a few of his classic hits.</h2>
<p>Country music legend <strong>Merle Haggard</strong> gave <strong>Grand Ole Opry</strong> attendees a treat last night when he took the stage and performed some of his most-loved hits including “<em>Big City</em>,” <em>Silver Wings</em>,” “<em>I Think I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink</em>,” and “<em>The Fightin’ Side Of Me</em>.” Haggard, a Grammy®-winner and Kennedy Center honoree, had a night off as he rolled through Nashville and wanted to honor <a title="the Opry" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/category/the-grand-ole-opry/">the Opry</a>’s 90th Anniversary celebration with a performance on the storied stage.</p>
<p>[bctt tweet=&#8221;@MerleHaggard Warms up for tour by stealing the @Opry spotlight! #CountryMusic&#8221;]</p>
<p><img class="alignright size-large wp-image-31689" src="http://www.countrymusicnewsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/merle-opry-100x150.jpg" alt="Merle Haggard takes opry by surprise" width="100" height="150" /> The <strong>Country Music Hall of Fame</strong> member will begin <strong>his much anticipated joint tour</strong> with fellow music legend <strong><a title="Willie Nelson" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSWNelson/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fwillie-nelson-tickets%2F">Willie Nelson</a></strong> tomorrow (Oct 19) in Roanoke, VA and continues on to Detroit (Oct 20), Bloomington, IL (Oct 21), Pikeville, KY (Oct 23), Milwaukee, WI (Oct 24) and Green Bay, WI (Oct 25). The tour is in support of their new album, Django and Jimmie. Haggard and Nelson are nominated for this year’s <strong>CMA Musical Event of the Year</strong> award.</p>
<p><a title="The Opry" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/category/the-grand-ole-opry/">The Opry</a> is in the midst of its 90th Anniversary celebration, which is set to continue throughout 2015. Among those coming soon to <a title="the Opry" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/category/the-grand-ole-opry/">the Opry</a> stage are Rascal Flatts, Loretta Lynn, <a title="Alison Krauss" href="https://ticketmaster.evyy.net/c/1224809/264167/4272?subId1=WPScmnbAKrauss&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketmaster.com%2Falison-krauss-tickets%2Fartist%2F731928&partnerpropertyid=5213910&MediaPartnerPropertyId=5213910">Alison Krauss</a>, David Nail, <a title="Old Crow Medicine Show" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/old-crow-medicine-show-announces-jubilee-tour/">Old Crow Medicine Show</a>, Radney Foster, Montgomery Gentry, <a title="Easton Corbin" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/easton-corbin-concert-tour-tickets/">Easton Corbin</a>, <a title="Kacey Musgraves" href="https://stubhub.prf.hn/click/camref:1100ljXyr/pubref:WPSMusgraves/ar:CMNBAutoLink/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fkacey-musgraves-tickets%2F">Kacey Musgraves</a>, <a title="Lauren Alaina" href="https://countrymusicontour.com/lauren-alaina-concert-tour-tickets/">Lauren Alaina</a>, Del McCoury Band, Lorrie Morgan, and more. Additional information is available at 800-SEE-OPRY and opry.com.</p>