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Country singer Orville Peck said that he made three career goals nearly 10 years ago:
- Collaborate with Willie Nelson. Check.
- Sing with Dolly Parton. Still working on it.
- Make his Grand Ole Opry debut. Check.
The masked star crossed the final goal off his list on July 21. The singer has become known for performances that subvert stereotypes and expectations related to American cowboy mythology. Wearing a cream Western suit embroidered with gold floral filigree, a matching belt with a silver buckle, a tan cowboy hat above his signature leather mask, Peck stood behind the famed WSM microphone.
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"It is such a dream come true," the queer country trailblazer told the audience. "It is a very special night for me."
While one dream still remains, Peck tipped his hat to Parton the best way he knew how.
"I thought it was only fitting for my first song this evening that I would do what I think is the greatest country song ever written," he said before opening his two-song set with "I Will Always Love You."
His rich baritone filled the Opry House. When the final note landed, he flashed one of his biggest smiles of the night, luxuriating in the applause before moving on to a song that changed his life.
"This really started a lot of things for me and gave me a lot of beautiful opportunities, including being here this evening," he said before performing "Dead of Night."
Though Peck told the audience he was recovering from laryngitis, there was little evidence of it during the performance as he comfortably navigated the song's low register and higher passages.
"I am just the biggest fan of country music and the beautiful, beautiful legacy," said the masked artist who was born in South Africa and raised in Canada. "Stepping into that circle, where so many people I've admired and loved have stood, and being able to tell my stories, that is the best feeling in the world. It means a lot to me."
The Opry debut also marked the beginning of the artist's next chapter.
His new single, "Too Little, Too Late," arrives July 24. Next, his fourth studio album, "Mule," is due on Sept. 18. Rather than a disparate collection of songs, the album unfolds chronologically, tracing the year Peck got sober, entered rehab and rebuilt his life.
"I lost my mind a little bit," he said. "It is a deeply, deeply personal album with a lot of bluegrass influences because I'm a big bluegrass fan. I'm very nervous to put it out there because it's super personal. But I'm also very excited. It's my favorite thing I've ever done."
Backstage at the Opry, Peck glided through the hallway with a beaming smile, greeting friends and fellow artists with hugs.
"I can't believe I did that," he said.
He embraced singer Dasha with a warm, "Love you, girl," before thanking Opry announcer Kelly Sutton for her effusive words. One of Sutton's friends, who had seen Peck portray the Emcee in Broadway's "Cabaret," handed him a playbill to sign.
The Opry crew presented him with the reserved parking sign with his name.
"Oh my God, thank you," he said with a laugh. "I'll turn it into a belt buckle immediately."
As Peck was still processing the moment, his friends and collaborators shared how his work relates to the broader country music genre.
"I love Orville so much," said Mickey Guyton, who served alongside him as a scout on Apple TV+'s country music competition series "My Kind of Country." "Not only is he one of the most talented people in country music, he represents so much in country music that is needed. His voice is so needed."
Guyton added that he "brings the drama to country music. He is that guy."
Kaitlin Butts, who first connected with Peck through direct messages before sharing shows together, said she admires both his artistry and the community he has built. Members of his highly active fanbase calls themselves Peckheads.
"I love what he is doing for the Opry tonight," Butts said. "I respect what he does and love his visuals."
Peck's next stop in Nashville is already on the calendar. He returns Nov. 15 to headline The Truth, the city's newest live music venue.
Bryan West is a music reporter at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Instagram, TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Orville Peck sings 'I Will Always Love You' during Grand Ole Opry debut
