Post Malone Honors Country Heritage in Starry Grand Ole Opry Debut with Brad Paisley, Lainey Wilson and More
Malone said he was "terrified and beyond honored" to perform for the first time at the iconic venue
Post Malone is earning all of his stripes in the country community.
The singer, 29, accomplished a major milestone in the career of any country star when he took to the Grand Ole Opry stage on Wednesday, Aug. 14 — two days before the release of his hotly anticipated country album F-1 Trillion — to make his official debut at the legendary venue alongside a star-studded list of some of the genre's finest.
“He has a country heart and he is someone who immersed himself in the Nashville way,” Brad Paisley, who invited Malone to perform at the Opry, led off the performance by noting. “But you aren’t a country singer until you’ve played this."
Joined by "really amazing folks" Paisley, Vince Gill, John Michael Montgomery, Lainey Wilson and The War and Treaty, Malone stepped out on the iconic stage in a slim-fit pair of jeans paired with a white button-down shirt under a light blue blazer, accessorized with a white cowboy hat.
After referring to Paisley as "an absolute stud," the "Pour Me a Drink" singer shared how he's "honored to call" the performers who joined him "friends of mine."
He went on to highlight how he was "so terrified and beyond honored to be standing right in this spot right here," referring to the circle of wood from the original Opry stage that adorns the current location's stage.
Malone also noted, "My mom's here tonight," before going on to tell Paisley, "I remember going to see you when I was, like, 6, and I just wanted to say how amazingly grateful and beyond floored I am to have you bring me out tonight, sir, and I appreciate you."
Concluding his opening monologue by jokingly proclaiming, "Hopefully won't mess this up completely," Malone began welcoming out his guests one by one.
First came Gill, who shared a heartfelt moment with Malone when the former told him "I love your heart" ahead of a rousing rendition of Gill's classic track "One More Last Chance."
Next, Malone brought out Montgomery, who revealed that he was put on to Malone's music by his daughter Madison, who is a "huge fan." (Madison is herself married to country artist Travis Denning.) The two then serenaded the crowd to Montgomery's "Be My Baby Tonight."
Afterward, Wilson stepped out on stage for the debut performance of their upcoming F-1 Trillion collaborative track "Nosedive," but not before Malone confessed to her that he "just bought a picture of [her] on Morrison Gallery."
"What in the world?" Wilson, 32, replied, and Malone called the flick "badass." Upon questioning "What picture?" Post said, "It's like, you at a show. I just bought a new spot." Wilson said "I love you" through laughter and acknowledged that she, too, needs an image of Malone in her home, but "no feet pics," as Malone requested of her.
Paisley then took to the stage yet again to join Malone for their upcoming collaborative F-1 Trillion song "Goes Without Saying," which Paisley, 51, called "one of my favorite songs I've ever cut."
Last but not least, Malone and The War and Treaty joined together to close out the performance with a rendition of the former and Chris Stapleton's upcoming F-1 Trillion collaborative track "California Sober."
The performance came just two days before Malone is set to deliver F-1 Trillion on Friday, Aug. 16, which also features Tim McGraw, Hank Williams Jr., Morgan Wallen, Blake Shelton, Dolly Parton, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, ERNEST, Sierra Ferrell, HARDY and Billy Strings.
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