A small group of 500 lucky fans were treated to a special performance by Blake Shelton at the grand opening of Ole Red Gatlinburg Wednesday night.
Limited tickets were available in an online auction which, when combined with Ryman Hospitality Foundations contribution raised over $50,000 for the Gatlinburg-Pittman High School music program.
Tickets were also offered as radio contest prizes and for a unique “Spring Blake” Gatlinburg scavenger hunt. Fans traveled to town from around the country, from Texas to Pennsylvania to Oklahoma to experience a rare, up close concert. Shelton opened the show with his hit song, “Neon Light” and followed it up with “All About Tonight,” a fitting song for the fist of many shows to come to the new restaurant, bar and music venue.
“I feel like this place already has good vibes,” Shelton told the raucous crowd. “We’ve started this off right, this will always be embedded in the walls and all the cracks and crevices in here.”
“I want you all to know that I’m gonna do a crapload of songs tonight, OK. I’m not gonna do eight songs and leave, so you might as well call your boss and let’em know you’re not gonna be in tomorrow.”
He continued playing hit after hit for the packed house that overflowed onto the sidewalk where onlookers were able to see and hear the country music star performing through the windows. The two hour set concluded with an encore of “Footloose” and “God Gave Me You,” and proved to be and unforgettable night of music and fun.
