Ole Red
Ole Red is a lifestyle and entertainment brand inspired by Blake Shelton’s hit, “Ol’ Red.” Its bar, restaurant, and live music venues showcase hand-selected country music talent alongside concert-quality production and a Shelton-inspired menu. Currently, there are Ole Red entertainment venues and products in four cities in the United States: Nashville, Tennessee, home to the brand’s flagship multi-story bar and restaurant on the famed Lower Broadway and a new location at Nashville International Airport; Tishomingo, Oklahoma, Blake’s adopted hometown; Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains; and Orlando, Florida’s Icon Park. A sixth location is scheduled to open in Las Vegas, Nevada, in late 2023.[1] Ole Red is owned and operated by Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. as part of its Opry Entertainment division. The bar, restaurant, and live music venues serve Southern American food inspired by Blake Shelton’s favorites. Highlights include barbecue, tater tots, and skillet cornbread, as well as specialty, hand-crafted cocktails, local brews, and a curated wine selection.
History
The concept of Ole Red was developed by Ryman Hospitality Properties Chairman and former CEO Collin Reed with Blake Shelton on a hunting trip.
“He said the magic words, which were, ‘This isn’t like a restaurant, you know, this is a music venue,’” Shelton told Country Now. “And for me, when I moved to Nashville…really, the only gigs I could get performing were songwriter nights. Well, I wasn’t a hit songwriter, so I was kinda just stuck in the middle there. I wanted to be a country singer, [but] there wasn’t really a place for me.”[2]
The name stems from the song "Ol' Red,” written by James "Bo" Bohon, Don Goodman, and Mark Sherrill. Shelton's version of the song (previously recorded by George Jones and Kenny Rogers) was released in March 2002 as the third and final single from his self-titled debut album. Patrons can find nods to the song's lyrics – a story about a man escaping prison by luring the bloodhound guard dog away with a female dog – in Ole Red's branding, menu items, and interior design.
Ole Red started in September 2017 with the opening of Ole Red Tishomingo, in Blake's “adopted hometown,” near his actual hometown of Ada, Oklahoma.
Ole Red Nashville
Ole Red Nashville, located on Broadway Avenue, opened in June 2018.
Grand Opening:
The Grand Opening of Ole Red Nashville was broadcast on The Today Show and featured appearances by Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett, and Darius Rucker. Big Machine Label Group recording artists Sugarland took the stage as musical guests, and performed their song “Babe.”[3]
Blake Shelton christened the venue's stage with an exclusive concert called “Blake Shelton & Friends,” where he opened the show with his song “Neon Light” and a cover of Hal Ketchum’s “Small Town Saturday Night,” and Eddie Rabbitt’s “Drivin’ My Life Away.” Other performing artists included Trace Adkins, Lauren Alaina, Kelly Clarkson, Devin Dawson, Hunter Hayes, Voice contestant Kyla Jade, Chris Janson, Jon Pardi, RaeLynn, Michael Ray, Darius Rucker, Dan + Shay, and Little Big Town. NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer also made an appearance to sing John Anderson’s “Seminole Wind” on stage with Shelton.
Building History:
The building was formerly home to the Broadway National Bank, and is over a century old.[4]
Other Notable Performers:
Spotify hosts their “Hot Country Playlist Lineup” during CMA Fest Week at Ole Red every year. Notable performers from Spotify House include Lil Nas X, Morgan Wallen, Ashley McBryde, Darius Rucker, Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson, Brett Eldridge, and Brantley Gilbert.[5]
Country artists Charlie Worsham,[6] Lauren Alaina,[7] and Walker Hayes have held album release parties at Ole Red Nashville.
Artists Dalton Dover, Neon Union, and Anna Vaus have all been invited to make their Grand Ole Opry debut on stage at Ole Red Nashville.
Voice Artists:
Taryn Papa got her start singing on Nashville's Ole Red stage before going onto NBC's The Voice and joining Team Blake. Other Team Blake alum who have taken the Ole Red stage include: The Swon Brothers, Dalton Dover, Emily Ann Roberts, Wendy Moten, Todd Tilghman, Bryce Leatherwood, Worth the Wait, Lana Scott, and Peedy Chavis.
Barmageddon
The USA Network's “Barmageddon” is filmed at Ole Red Nashville, and stars producers Blake Shelton and Carson Daily, with WWE's Nikki Bella as the host. The competition show features celebrity guests playing a slew of Shelton-inspired drinking games in front of a live audience.
Ole Red Gatlinburg
Ole Red Gatlinburg, located in downtown Gatlinburg, opened in March 2019. The two-story bar and restaurant, retail space, live music venue, and outdoor terrace spread across 16,000 square feet of floor space in the Smokey Mountains.[8]
Each year, the venue hosts a viewing party for Gatlinburg's beloved Christmas Parade.
Grand Opening:
For its Grand Opening, Blake Shelton held a private concert with Voice alum The Swonn Brothers to raise funds for music education at local Gatlinburg-Pittman High School.[8]
Other Notable Performers:
Neon Union an Opry member Mark Wills have performed at Ole Red Gatlinburg.
Voice Artists:
Voice alum Dalton Dover, The Swon Brothers, Emily Ann Roberts, Red Marlow, Pryor Baird, Lauren Duski, Todd Tilghman, Bryce Leatherwood, and Worth the Wait have taken the Gatlinburg stage.
Ole Red Tishomingo
Ole Red Tishomingo and its concert venue The Doghouse, opened on W Main Street in downtown Tishomingo in September 2017.[9] The Doghouse hosts regular tribute shows, ticketed concerts, and private events.[10]
Grand Opening:
RaeLynn, Blake Shelton, and Opry members Ronnie Milsap, Jeannie Seely, and John Conlee performed a private benefit concert at its Grand Opening. Shelton co-hosted the special show with 650 AM WSM's Bill Cody. They were able to donate $32,000 to J.C. Reaching Out, which provides financial assistance to family members of people battling cancer.[9]
Luke Bryan performed with Shelton at the opening of The Doghouse.
Other Notable Performers:
Shelton and his wife Gwen Stefani held a surprise acoustic performance for visitors in July 2021.[11]
Voice Artists:
Voice alum The Swon Brothers and Bryce Leatherwood have taken The Doghouse stage in Tishomingo.
Ole Red Orlando
Ole Red Orlando opened in ICON Park in June 2020.[12] The Orlando venue hosts a series of dance parties, featuring line dance lessons and live music, called Honky-Tonk Nights.[13]
Delish filmed a “Julia Tries Everything” episode about the Ole Red menu at the Orlando venue in 2022.[14]
Notable Performers
Voice Artists
Voice alum Dalton Dover, Jake Hoot, Kirk Jay, Emily Ann Roberts, Jay Allen, Bryce Leatherwood, Madison Hughes, Worth the Wait, and Carter Rubin have all taken the Orlando stage.
Ole Red Orlando hosts the K92.3 radio's New Star Jam which has showcased artists Kylie Morgan and Drake Milligan, among others, at Ole Red Orlando.
Blake Shelton’s Involvement
Blake Shelton has performed at every open Ole Red location. During “Spring Blake” in 2022, Shelton performed back to back shows at Ole Red Gatlinburg and Ole Red Orlando. And in May 2023, he surprised travelers at the Nashville Airport with an impromptu performance.
As a longtime judge on NBC’s singing competition show The Voice, Shelton is known to help up-and-coming artists land gigs on Ole Red stages across the country.
References
- ↑ Lilly, Caitlin (2023-01-23). "Construction begins on Blake Shelton's $30M Las Vegas venue". https://www.fox5vegas.com. Retrieved 2023-08-04. External link in
|website=(help) - ↑ Liptak, Carena (2021-04-21). "Blake Shelton Shares How He Got the Idea for Ole Red During His First Visit to the Orlando Location". Country Now. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- ↑ Simanek, Jason (2018-06-08). "Blake Shelton Celebrates Ole Red Nashville Grand Opening". Ole Red Nashville. Retrieved 2023-08-04.[third-party source needed]
- ↑ "Blake Shelton's Ole Red Nashville Coming to Lower Broadway". www.cmt.com. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- ↑ "Spotify returns to Ole Red with 'Spotify House' installation during CMA Fest". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- ↑ "Charlie Worsham | News | CHARLIE WORSHAM'S NEW EP "SUGARCANE" OUT TODAY". Charlie Worsham Official Website. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- ↑ "LAUREN ALAINA'S THIRD STUDIO ALBUM SITTING PRETTY ON TOP OF THE WORLD AVAILABLE TODAY | Lauren Alaina". Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Staff, Ole Red (2019-03-14). "Ole Red Gatlinburg Celebrates Grand Opening With Blake Shelton". Ole Red Gatlinburg. Retrieved 2023-08-04.[third-party source needed]
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Simanek, Jason (2017-10-01). "Tishomingo Celebrates Ole Red Grand Opening with $32,000 for Local Non-Profit J.C. Reaching Out". Ole Red Tishomingo. Retrieved 2023-08-04.[third-party source needed][third-party source needed]
- ↑ Simanek, Jason (2019-04-29). "Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton to Celebrate Grand Opening of The Doghouse at Ole Red Tishomingo". Ole Red Tishomingo. Retrieved 2023-08-04.[third-party source needed][third-party source needed]
- ↑ Henson, Rebecca (2021-07-19). "Blake Surprises Tishomingo with Popup Rehearsals". Ole Red. Retrieved 2023-08-04.[third-party source needed]
- ↑ "5 Things to Know: Blake Shelton's Ole Red Orlando". www.mynews13.com. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- ↑ "Attractions: Get Your Honky Tonk On". Orlando Magazine. 2022-04-06. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
- ↑ Trying 24 Of The Most Popular Menu Items At Blake Shelton's Ole Red | Delish, retrieved 2023-08-04
This article "Ole Red" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Ole Red. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
