Ringo Starr Enlists Help From Billy Strings, Emmylou Harris, Jack White, Sheryl Crow and More at Ryman Auditorium, Announces Grand Ole Opry Debut

Photo courtesy Beautiful Day Media 

On Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, Ringo Starr commenced the first of two sold-out nights on the Ryman Auditorium stage in Nashville, Tenn., supporting his new country-leaning album, Look Up. During the occasion, Ringo r was invited to make his Grand Old Opry debut by member Emmylou Harris during the venue’s ongoing 100th anniversary celebration on February 21. 

Harris surprised Ringo onstage, where she asked the multi-Grammy award-winning artist if he would like to make his venue debut next month. During the exchange, the revered drummer paused as if to contemplate the well-respected offer, “When is that July?” he quipped. Harris corrected Ringo, “February,” to which he accepted: “I’d love to. It’s an honor and a pleasure. Thank you.” 

Prior to confirmation of Ringo’s February return to Nashville, he used the night’s framework to offer a two-set show brimming with songs from his latest record, Beatles-era covers, and homages put on by other artists as a way of demonstrating deep and unabashed respect for the musician and his 60 plus year career. 

According to setlist.FM, the night began with “Matchbox,” a song Ringo performed with Carl Perkins, Eric Clapton, and others during the televised concert turned recorded LP, Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session. Last night’s rendition included help from guest Jack White. For the next number, Ringo and his band gave wings to the early-70s release “It Don’t Come Easy” off his eponymous set before a  live debut of Look Up featured “Time on My Hands.” 

Look Up contributor and bluegrass leading lady Molly Tuttle added her chops to The Beatles’ “Octopus’ Garden,” inevitably swapping slots with White, who took the lead on “Don’t Pass Me By,” while Ringo was away from the stage. He returned just in time for the night’s second debut, this time the LP feature, “Thankful.” 

Breaking from the stage again, Ringo let Billy Strings lead the band through “Honey Don’t” before The War & Treaty served “Without Her.” Next, Tuttle joined forces with Sheryl Crow for a stunning take on “I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party.” Eventually, ahead of the final song of set one, Ringo returned, this time sitting behind the kit and singing “Boys.”

Sans Ringo, Jamie Johnson led “Have You Seen My Baby” before Mickey Guyton filled the guest role and livened “You Don’t Know Me at All.” Ringo remained offstage as more guests, including Rodney Crowell and Sarah Jarosz, played through “Act Naturally,” followed by Larkin Poe on “I Wanna Be Your Man.” 

Finally, Ringo returned to the kit five songs into the second set, along with bluegrass royalty, Strings and Tuttle, who collectively added to “What Goes On.” The title track of Ringo’s latest LP was performed through the first chorus before Ringo called to start over the debut number, sung by Tuttle. Before closing out the night, Ringo and his band played his most well-loved original, “Photograph,” followed by the Beatles’ classic “Yellow Submarine,” with assistance from White. 

The concert culminated in a finish with the arrival of Harris, Strings, Crow, White, and others, who joined Ringo and his band for the celebratory coalescence of musical talent on “With a Little Help From My Friends.”

Ringo will return to the Ryman tonight for one final sold-out concert to support his latest country album, Look Up.