Owen Riegling fulfilled a lifelong dream when he made his Grand Ole Opry debut on Wednesday (April 22), earning a standing ovation for his two-song performance.
After being introduced by Opry host Charlie Mattos, the Canadian country star took to the stage with his acoustic guitar and a big smile on his face.
With his entire family watching from the crowd, including his parents, sister, wife, in-laws and a couple hundred other people from his hometown of Mildmay, Ontario, Riegling stepped into the circle for the first time overcome with emotion and nerves.
“This is truly the highest honor and this is the biggest moment in my entire career,” Riegling told the cheering crowd.
He delivered a memorable two song performance that included the title track to his new album “In The Feeling” and a song that started it all for him that honors his hometown, “Old Dirt Roads.” His performance was met with a thunderous standing ovation.
Prior to stepping in the iconic Grand Ole Opry circle, Owen Riegling opened up about how he carefully selected the songs he performed during an exclusive interview with Music Mayhem.
“Well, I got two songs…a song called ‘In The Feeling,’ which is the title track off of my new record, In The Feeling. And this song has been such a north star for me. It means a lot to me. And I think it’s a great representation of the new album that we just released. So it’s pretty cool to be up there singing that one. And a song of mine that’s a bit older, but it’s called ‘Old Dirt Roads,’ and I feel like that’s a song that got the ball rolling for me. I don’t think without that song, I would have a chance to ever play the Grand Ole Opry. So very thankful for that one. And just to throw it back to my hometown, that’s what that song’s about. So play that one for them,” he explained of his two-song setlist.
Of the milestone performance, Riegling told us, “A lot of legends have been up there in the circle, so it feels like there’s this weight. We just did sound check and I didn’t go in the circle yet. I stood right beside it, but it’s going to feel so cool to be up there and make my debut,” Riegling explained.
He then recalled how his grandma, who unfortunately was unable to make it the show, got to see Brad Paisley make his Grand Ole Opry debut in May of 1999. “My grandma was here for Brad Paisley’s debut. So she always tells me that story and said, ‘If you ever get to play the Grand Ole Opry, that’ll be the biggest, coolest thing ever.’ And now we’re here. So I think she’s pretty proud,” he continued.
“My grandma was not able to make it this trip and it sucks because this was like the show that she was most anticipating for me. And I know she’s super proud and she’ll be able to hear it from home. Somebody’s going to FaceTime her and she’ll be there and she’ll be there right here,” he added, pointing to his heart. “So I wish she could be here, but hopefully I get to play the Opry again and she can come.”
Riegling was invited to make his Grand Ole Opry debut by Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line, which served as a full-circle moment for the “In The Feeling” singer as Hubbard was the first artist to ever take him on tour.
“Tyler Hubbard has surprised me before. My first ever tour across Canada was with Tyler Hubbard and I was opening for him at a showcase and then he asked me to go on a tour with him,” Riegling shared. “So when I saw him pop up on the screen, I was thinking I was maybe going to go on tour with him again. And then as soon as he said the Opry, I was just pretty much in tears and freaking out. My dad was crying in the crowd. Just unbelievable, surreal, very grateful and blessed to be here.”
Owen Riegling’s Opry debut comes just days after the 27-year-old singer/songwriter released his highly-anticipated new album, In The Feeling, via Universal Music Canada and Big Loud Records. Produced by Oscar Charles and mixed by Jordan Rigby, The 12-track project is a coming-of-age concept album that reflects a transformative chapter in Riegling’s life, shaped by his storytelling, curiosity, embracing the unknown and getting to know himself.
“In The Feeling is a bit of a finding myself album and a coming of age story that sort of unfolds over 12 songs,” he said of his just-released sophomore album. “I think it’s best listened to while on a road trip. I feel like there’s lots of different genres that were blending and moments and things that people can attach themselves to. But for me, it’s a story about me just getting out there and being thrown from this place of a thousand people where I grew up, being thrown on an airplane or a bus or whatever, and sleeping in hotel rooms and meeting new people and having to figure out who I am away from that place.”
Riegling will soon take the project on the road on his headlining In The Feeling Tour, which kicks off in the fall. He will also take the stage at several upcoming festivals, including Alabama Strawberry Festival, Summer In The City Festival, Dauphin’s Countryfest, Country Jam USA and more, in addition to joining Dierks Bentley and Parker McCollum as support of their upcoming tours this summer.
For more information on Owen Riegling’s upcoming tour dates and new music, visit his official website.
