At the iconic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Kentucky’s own Alex Miller made his triumphant debut, leaving a lasting impression with his heartfelt performances.At the iconic Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Kentucky’s own Alex Miller made his triumphant debut, leaving a lasting impression with his heartfelt performances. Miller, a native of Garrard County, showcased his talent with two songs close to his roots: “My Daddy’s Dad,” a tribute to his grandfather and his love for country music, and “Puttin’ Up Hay,” a nostalgic ode to farm life. Eddie Montgomery, another Kentucky Opry star, introduced Miller to the audience after delivering memorable renditions of “She Couldn’t Change Me” and “My Town.” The show featured a diverse lineup of performers, including Dailey & Vincent, Kelly Lang, and Sam Williams, who captivated the crowd with their soulful vocals. Following Miller’s set, comedian Aaron Weber brought laughter to the Opry with his witty jokes, while Brennley Brown, a young debutante from California, shared her heartwarming story of pursuing her passion for music in Nashville. The evening concluded with a special performance by Jimmy Fortune, who sang beloved hits such as “Flowers On The Wall” and “Elizabeth” with Ben Isaacs and Mike Rogers. Fortune’s moving rendition of “More Than A Name On The Wall” brought the show to a poignant end. Miller’s debut at the Opry was a testament to his talent and the enduring spirit of Kentucky music. His performance left his fans and fellow performers alike filled with pride and anticipation for his future endeavors.
By R. David Shew
Drove to Nashville Thursday morning to see Alex Miller perform at the Circle and make his debut on The Opry. Alex performed two songs, “My Daddy’s Dad” and “Puttin’ Up Hay,” and didn’t disappoint anyone.
“My Daddy’s Dad” tells the story of his love for his grandfather, GB Miller, who taught Alex to appreciate country music. Alex co-wrote this tribute with Jerry Salley.
“Puttin’ Up Hay” tells the story of growing up on the farm and watching Daisy Mae drive the tractor. Larry Cordle and Jerry Salley wrote this song with Alex.
Yes, Alex, hailing from Garrard County, Kentucky, made his fans and the members of Madison Garden Romeo proud.
Eddie Montgomery, another Kentucky Opry star, introduced Alex Miller to the Opry audience after singing “She Couldn’t Change Me” and “My Town.” Montgomery Gentry was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in June 2009. Eddie’s voice was strong and showed that he can still entertain the Opry house. Eddie can also still dance and twirl his microphone stand like no other.
Dailey & Vincent opened the show Thursday night singing one of my favorites, “Always on My Mind.” Kelly Lang, wife of TG Sheppard sang “Under a Tennessee Moon,” which recently became the newest official Tennessee state song.
Sam Williams, son of Hank Williams Jr., was the next guest singer and really has a good sound and beautiful singing. Eddie Montgomery entertained the Opry crowd before the intermission. Alex was the first act to appear after the intermission and was introduced by Eddie.
A comedian, Aaron Weber, followed Alex on stage and his delivery was perfect for the Opry. He told a joke about getting a steroid injection that had the audience laughing.
Brennley Brown, another young debutant like Alex, spoke about her dream come true. Brennley, originally from Huntington Beach, California, convinced her parents to take her to Nashville when she was 11 and bought her the dress she wore to the Opry on Thursday night. She was gorgeous!
The nightcap was Jimmy Fortune. Jimmy sang with the Statler Brothers for 21 years. Jimmy performed with Ben Isaacs and Mike Rogers on Thursday night. The trio opened their set with crowd favorite “Flowers On The Wall,” written by Lew Dewitt, the original tenor of the Statler Brothers. They then sang another crowd favorite “Elizabeth,” written by Jimmy. The last song of the night was “More Than A Name On The Wall,” written by Jimmy Fortune and John Rimel. The story behind this song goes back to the Vietnam Memorial.
Thanks, Alex, for a great evening and congratulations on making Kentucky proud! I hope to see you again at the Opry Alex. Many thanks to Brent for listening to my stories along the way. You were a fun travel partner and look forward to another trip to hear the music.
