Country up-and-comer Shane Profitt lived out one of his greatest dreams on Tuesday, November 1 as he made his debut on the iconic Grand Ole Opry stage.
The Maury County, Tennessee native performed his most-added country radio smash, “How It Oughta Be” and the stripped-down version of his upcoming release “Good Luck and God.” Profitt made such an impression on the packed Opry audience that he received a standing ovation.
As Profitt recounted attending an Opry show for the very first time himself to watch his mentor, Chris Janson, take the stage, the crowd was greatly moved.
“I want to thank y’all for coming out tonight,” he explained through tears. “I know what it’s like to save up for months for a ticket to this show, and y’all being here tonight means the world to me.”
A celebration in The Circle Room followed Profitt’s career-altering performance, where he was surprised by management and label employees adorned in “Shane Train” sweatshirts. Scott Borchetta, BMLG CEO, rang a vintage train whistle while thanking everybody for “coming aboard” to support the rising star.
“To say last night was a ‘dream come true’ is an understatement,” Profitt captioned an Instagram photo of himself in front of the Grand Ole Opry artist entrance.
Janson surprised Shane with the invitation in September, fooling the singer into believing he was there to cut liners for radio. Janson prompted the rising star to repeat after him, stating, “Hey y’all, November 1 I’m making my Grand Ole Opry debut.” Shane was left speechless, unable to believe that his greatest dreams were finally coming to fruition.
Not that long ago — at the end of 2021 — Shane was working weekdays in the city at an average eight-hour job, playing various venues on the weekends to fuel his passion for music. The “Better Off Fishin’” singer’s fate changed when he met Chris Janson, who quickly became a mentor to Shane. Janson saw the raw talent Profitt possessed, extending a publishing deal with his Old Tom Publishing/Anthem Entertainment to the 22-year-old. After landing his first cut on Janson’s album All In with “The Reel Bass Pro,” Profitt knew his career was only going to go up from here.
Profitt is now signed to BMLG Records/Harpeth 60 Records where he recently shared his EP, Maury County Line.
“Maury County is where I was born and raised. You know how you hear people always say, ‘Don’t forget where you come from’ – That’s why I wanted to name it Maury County Line because it is where I’m from,” the singer shared with Country Now. “I’m no better than anyone else in Maury County. I was very blessed and fortunate to have these opportunities to get me where I am. Naming it Maury County Line and that being my first-ever EP, I can always look back at that and go, ‘That is where it all started.’”
The three-track project includes songs “Betterr Off Fishin’,” “Guys Like Me” and “How It Oughta Be.”
