Valentines Day Opry

If I can't be with a boyfriend on Valentines' Day, to me, being at the Opry is the second best thing. 

You're supposed to be where you love on Valentines' Day and that's exactly where I was. Emma and I braced the cold and the Valentines' Day traffic and made our way over to Opry Mills  (which was crazy!! do not recommend!!) for dinner and the show. 

We stopped at Santa Fe Cattle Co. and it was phenomenal. I got the fajita quesadilla and it was delish. 10/10. I would most definitely go back. Not only is their steak amazing, they have honey butter and rolls, which are always a selling point to me.

After almost 45 minutes in traffic for the short drive, we made it to the Opry House. 

The reason we went specifically was because Kelsea was making her Opry debut, which is HUGE! 

She was asked back during an award show by her friends of Lady Antebellum (The video is here and is absolutely adorable!) As soon as we found out, Emma and I had to go. There was no way we were going to miss this.

So we took our seats and the legendary Opry curtain rose and the music began. Before we knew it, Kelsea was taking the stage!

She sang an acoustic version of her current single, "Love Me Like You Mean It" from her first E.P, with her cowriters, Josh Kerr and Forest Glen Whitehead at her side.

 After singing that song, Kelsea took a little bit of a break and talked about how big of a dream it is of hers to play the Opry as she got situated with her guitar for her next song. 

And in this transition and introduction to the next song, Kelsea announced details about her debut album! It's called the First Time and hits stores on May 19, 2015!! The album is named after her song, "The First Time" which according to her is "about learning the lesson that sometimes the past should stay in the past."
I believe her exact words regarding the song and the album were "“I never thought I'd be so thankful for that experience and that I'd be playing it at the Grand Ole Opry! My album The First Time is named after this song and it's coming out on May 19! I've been dying to tell people this!"
"The First Time" is exact proof that even bad situations can be good in the long run.

Big, big stuff is coming from Miss Kelsea and I'm so excited to see where her journey takes her!

Also at the Opry was Chuck Wicks, who really impressed me. I've listened to him on America's Morning Show with Terri Clark and Blair Garner for a while, but had never seen him live.

Chuck Wicks is now being tracked on my BandsInTown account and I'm really hoping he comes to Nashville soon for some kind of show. I would highly recommend seeing him live.

Charles "Chip" Esten, more commonly known as Deacon from Nashville was there as well. He is just as talented in person as he is on TV.

An up and commer, who I was unfamiliar with was also there. Mo Pitney. Never heard of him before? Yeah, me neither. He sang a cute song called "Clean Up on Aisle 5" and won the hearts of many girls in the audience. He knew his range so well  and is a top notch song writer. I can see a big future for him in country music, so keep an eye out for him!

Always a pleasure, Opry.

xo,

lauren