Trace Adkins, Brantley Gilbert to Highlight Opry’s Salute the Troops
The night will also feature a red carpet parade for military families led by 95-year-old vet, Ernie Andrus.
The Grand Ole Opry has announced the details behind its annual Salute the Troops celebration, with Trace Adkins and Brantley Gilbert highlighting an all-star lineup and a 95-year-old hero leading a special red carpet parade.
Taking place on May 21st during the Opry’s 7 p.m. Tuesday night broadcast, Salute the Troops 2019 will feature Adkins and Gilbert along with fellow country artists Lee Greenwood, Craig Morgan, The Wild Feathers and Mark Wills. But the real action will get started before the show even begins.
Presented by the Opry and the United Service Organizations (USO), military men and women and their families are invited to walk the Opry’s red carpet in a special parade honoring their service to the nation. They are the real stars of the patriotic night, and the parade will be led by World War II sailor Ernie Andrus – a 95-year-old veteran who became the oldest person ever to run across America in 2016. He’s not done running yet, though, and has already begun another cross-country trek from Georgia to California which he plans to finish after his 100th birthday. Andrus is running to raise money and awareness for the LST 325 Ship Memorial in Evansville, Indiana, which is the only fully restored and operational WWII landing ship tank tour in the world.
The public is invited to cheer on and welcome the honored red carpet parade guests as they arrive, and tickets are available at opry.com.
