Belfast Lord Mayor attends Your Roots Are Showing Grand Ole Opry 100 panel
Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Tracy Kelly, attended the Your Roots Are Showing Folk and Roots Music Conference today for the special panel Opry 100: A Century of the Grand Ole Opry, which took place at 14.45 in ICC Belfast.
The panel marked 100 years of the Grand Ole Opry, the world’s longest-running radio show and one of the most influential institutions in global roots music. The session explored the past, present and future of the Opry, from its foundations in tradition to its role as an international platform for discovery and cultural exchange.
The discussion also resonated strongly in Belfast, a recognised UNESCO City of Music and proud sister city to Nashville, Tennessee, home of the Grand Ole Opry. The cultural partnership between the two cities reflects deep shared roots in songwriting, storytelling and live music, making Belfast a fitting location for this centenary conversation.
Featuring an exceptional lineup of artists, industry leaders and historians, the panel included Craig Shelburne (award-winning journalist and author), Amy Grant (six-time Grammy Award-winning artist and Grand Ole Opry member), Brenda Willis (music executive and advocate for artist development), Pete Fisher (long-time manager of the Grand Ole Opry and Vice President of Opry Entertainment), Rissi Palmer (acclaimed singer-songwriter, radio host and leading voice for equity in country and roots music) and Jessica Willis Fisher (singer-songwriter and author). Drawing on firsthand experience, the conversation reflected on how the Opry has shaped careers, preserved musical heritage and continued to evolve across generations.
The attendance of the Lord Mayor highlighted Belfast’s growing reputation as a global city for music, culture and creative exchange and highlighted the city’s commitment to supporting international dialogue around heritage, equality and the future of live and broadcast music.
Now in its fourth year, Your Roots Are Showing has become Ireland’s leading folk and roots music conference, bringing together artists, promoters, broadcasters, festivals, policymakers and music professionals from across Ireland, the UK, Europe, Canada, and America. The conference programme includes panels, showcases, gig fairs, speed networking, keynote talks and international collaboration opportunities, positioning Belfast at the centre of the contemporary folk revival.
Your Roots Are Showing continues throughout the week in Belfast, with evening showcases across the city and a programme focused on sustainability, equity, storytelling and the future of folk and roots music. See www.showingroots.com for more information.