Kelleigh Bannen made her debut on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry Friday night (October 5th), and the Nashvillian says she didn’t have time to really get all worked up about the performance. “It was actually pretty hectic beforehand, and I think that helped me, because I didn’t have time to get as nervous,” the “Sorry on the Rocks” singer explains. “It was like [snap] we got here, we did a [snap] quick interview, we had rehearsal and then it was five minutes until we were on.”
Following her performance of her debut single (“Sorry on the Rocks”) and “Be a Man,” Kelleigh felt relieved, but also very proud of the career milestone. “I felt relief, and then I felt so proud that I got that moment,” she says. “There are times you can feel an audience. You can hear them listening to you; you can feel them listening to you, and that is such an honor to have that audience that’s actually listening and paying attention to what you’re, like hanging on what you’re doing. So, the audience gave me a huge gift tonight by just listening.
Kelleigh’s debut single, “Sorry on the Rocks,” will be available for download on iTunes beginning October 22nd.
AUDIO: Kelleigh Bannen talks about her first performance on the Grand Ole Opry.
Kelleigh Bannen (1st Opry performance) 1 OC: …for people. :33
“It was actually pretty hectic beforehand, and I think that helped me, because I didn’t have time to get as nervous. It was like [snap] we got here, we did a [snap] quick interview, we had rehearsal and then it was five minutes until we were on. And then, I think I was just thinking I wanted to live up to what the Opry stands for and it’s huge shoes to step into, I think, when you’re out in that circle. It’s not that you’re trying to fill them, you want to honor them by giving your best, since they’ve given you the honor to show up and play your music for people.”
AUDIO: Following her debut on the Grand Ole Opry, Kelleigh Bannen says she felt relief and pride after she finished her performance.
Kelleigh Bannen (1st Opry performance) 2 OC: …just listening. :31
“It was amazing! I really thought I was gonna lose it, but I didn’t cry, which I thought I might cry. I think I was too nervous. I was too afraid to cry. I felt relief, and then I felt so proud that I got that moment. You know, there are times you can feel an audience. You can hear them listening to you; you can feel them listening to you, and that is such an honor to have that audience that’s actually listening and paying attention to what you’re, like hanging on what you’re doing. So, the audience gave me a huge gift tonight by just listening.”
