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Rodney Atkins, James Otto, Kellie Pickler, Ashton Shepherd, and Chuck Wicks Step “Into the Circle”
Five – part series pairs country newcomers with Opry member mentors
Stepping into a famed oak circle cut from the stage of the historic Ryman Auditorium and placed in the stage at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry House is a moment to which country music performers aspire, as it is a true sign they’ve “made it” in the genre. On Sept. 20 (10 pm ET), Great American Country (GAC) will debut Into the Circle, a behind-the-scenes look at some of country music’s most successful new artists: Rodney Atkins, James Otto, Kellie Pickler, Ashton Shepherd and Chuck Wicks, all of whom hope to follow in the footsteps of some of country music’s most recognizable stars who have stepped into the Opry circle and on to superstardom.
Paired with Opry members Trace Adkins (Pickler), Charlie Daniels (Atkins), Vince Gill & Patty Loveless (Shepherd), Brad Paisley (Wicks) and Travis Tritt (Otto), the burgeoning stars use one-on-one sessions with their mentors to learn how to manage families and life on the road, career longevity, headlining a tour, song selection, and more of the “ins and outs” of the music business.
Into the Circle allows the budding country artists an opportunity to relive some of the jobs and adventures they experienced before landing a record deal.
In addition, the show includes each new artist’s Opry television debut as well as a recent performance shot in Music City or on tour. Featured songs include “Watching You” (Atkins), “Don’t You Know Your Beautiful” (Pickler), “Just Got Started Loving You” (Otto), “Stealing Cinderella” (Wicks), and “Taking Off This Pain” (Shepherd).
After the Sept. 20 debut episode featuring Pickler, the show will air each Saturday after Opry Live, except on October 11, when GAC will host an Opry Live marathon in celebration of the Opry’s 83rd Birthday.
For more information on Into the Circle, visit GAC.com.
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