From the Grand Ole Opry to the Covered Bridge, a big week for Daniel Grindstaff

Elizabethton — Daniel Grindstaff will have two high points next week in his long career in bluegrass. He will be covering two of the stars in the Tennessee flag with his band's debut performance on the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday, July 15. He will then invite everyone in his hometown to a free concert on the Covered Bridge Stage in Elizabethton on Saturday, July 18. Grindstaff has played on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry for decades. He has played the banjo in performances by some of the top acts in bluegrass. But the next time he is on the stage on Tuesday, July 15, it will be something completely new. That is when Daniel Grindstaff & the Uptown Troubadors will make their debut on the Grand Ole Opry. While he may feel at home on that stage, he also has a deep appreciation for what the moment means. "Making my official Grand Ole Opry debut is one of the greatest honors of my career. While I've had the privilege of standing on that stage many times as a supporting musician, stepping into the circle with my band, the Uptown Troubadours, seems very surreal. "This moment is especially meaningful because it is a full-circle experience for my family. Fifty-six years ago, my dad made his Grand Ole Opry debut. Growing up, the Opry wasn't just a place I admired, it was part of my family's story and cultivated my love for this music." That personal and family connection will come together on Tuesday and Grindstaff became philosophical in describing it. "What has always made the Grand Ole Opry so special is that it's unlike any other institution in American music. It honors the artists and traditions that built the music while continually welcoming the next generation. It's a place where legends and newcomers share the same stage. "To finally stand in the circle is a lifelong dream, and I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this moment possible. All these years later, the kid with a dream of playing the Grand Ole Opry will come full circle July 15th and I hope to see you there." The band's label also expresses a producer's pride in the date. Bonfire Music Group. It said the debut "marks a full-circle moment for bandleader Daniel Grindstaff, who will step into the iconic circle under his own name for the very first time." Bonfire also noted the many performances Grindstaff has had on the stage in past decades, with such bluegrass legends as Jim & Jesse McReynolds and the Osborne Brothers. Still, Bonfire Music Group calls the last year for Daniel Grindstaff & the Uptown Troubadours as "one of the biggest breakthrough years in bluegrass music." The Uptown Troubadours consist of Kevin Richardson (guitar, lead vocals), Derek Deakins (fiddle) and Kent Blanton (bass). The group's self-titled first album has already produced three No. 1 Bluegrass radio hits with "Angel Dream," "The Death of John Henry" featuring Marty Stuart and "We See Love." Their latest single, "Denver," written by Grand Ole Opry member and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Larry Gatlin, continues its climb on Bluegrass radio, further cementing the band's momentum. Their album has earned praise from fans, critics and radio alike, with standout tracks featured on SiriusXM, WSM Radio, Banjo Radio and numerous national outlets. As if the debut on the Grand Ole Opry was not enough to fill an outstanding week, the band has another treat waiting on the weekend. Grindstaff and the band, with Grammy Award winner and co-host Trey Hensley, will be making an appearance on Grindstaff's hometown stage on Saturday, July 18 from 7-9 p.m. This will be a special event of the Covered Bridge Jams weekly free concerts provided nearly every Saturday by the Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Department during the warm-weather months. The July 18 event for the Covered Bridge Jams is entitled "Hometown Heroes" and is sponsored by Brightspeed and Carnegie Hotel.