Ronnie Dunn, Miranda Lambert, Brothers Osborne and Maren Morris Serve as Surprise Special Guests
Grammy Award-winning vocal group Little Big Town returned to the famed Ryman Auditorium this weekend for three sold-out shows as part of their unprecedented year-long artist residency, “Little Big Town at the Mother Church.” The critically-acclaimed entertainers known for their pitch-perfect vocal stylings treated the Ryman audience to several surprise collaborations, with special guests including Ronnie Dunn, Miranda Lambert, Brothers Osborne and Maren Morris. Opening acts included Lori McKenna (7/28), Raelynn (7/29), and Charlie Worsham (7/30). The weekend was captured in an exclusive photo diary for People.
Award-winning vocalist Ronnie Dunn brought the crowd to their feet, joining the reigning ACM and CMA Vocal Group of the Year on stage Friday evening for “My Maria” and “Believe.” Seven-time ACM Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert surprised the audience Saturday night with two songs, including “Dear Old Sun” off her Platinum-selling album The Weight of These Wings and “Goodbye Earl” by the Dixie Chicks. Wrapping up the weekend’s surprise guests were Grammy-Award winner Maren Morris and ACM Vocal Group of the Year, The Brothers Osborne.
In one of the most personal moments of the night, band members Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, and Jimi Westbrook brought their children out on stage to perform for the crowd. Additional show highlights included a performance of the multi-week, #1 hit “Better Man,” and Little Big Town’s current single off their #1 album, The Breaker, “When Someone Stops Loving You.”
“Little Big Town at the Mother Church” has been featured by “CBS This Morning,” “Sunday Today with Will Geist,” USA Today, Forbes, Rolling Stone, Billboard, The Tennessean, and the Associated Press, with the later noting “Little Big Town’s momentum grows with Ryman residency.” This weekend marked the half-way point for “Little Big Town at the Mother Church,” the only year-long artist residency in the Ryman Auditorium’s 125 year-old history. Additional dates are scheduled for September 15th& 16th and November 27th, and can be purchased at www.littlebigtown.com.