Carly Pearce headlines Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium for the first time this week.
Carly Pearce headlines Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium for the first time this week. Her two-night run, which launches tonight, marks a major milestone in the reigning ACM and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year’s career. The singer says the performances at the Mother Church of Country Music are much more than a celebration of her critically acclaimed 2021 album 29: Written In Stone.
“That for me is going to be probably the most special performance that I’ve ever had,” she tells me. “This is everything that’s happened to me in the last six years. That’s what this embodies and to be able to celebrate the career that I’ve had so far, it’s really exciting.”
Pearce has tailored her set list specifically for her two performances at the prestigious venue and promises special guests that have had an impact on her career. She says she’ll also honor some of her heroes. The concerts will showcase Pearce’s past 13 years in Nashville and the singer hopes fans will see how grateful she is for the journey.
“We are doing different songs from each of the albums,” she says. “I think it’s important to showcase every album, not just the latest, and we definitely have some special guests on both nights. I really wanted this to be something that’s just mine. We have a completely new set that we’re going to have specifically for the Ryman. We have special merch specific for the Ryman, so this is a very tailormade show just for these two nights.”
The performances will showcase Pearce’s songwriting roots as well as the evolution of her live show. She credits her recent stadium tour with Kenny Chesney for pushing her as a performer and says her concerts will always be centered around storytelling.
While Pearce’s year is one that dreams are made of, her journey has not been easy. Her early years in Nashville were a struggle and she heard the word “no” more times than she can count. Pearce says if she could go back and give herself any business advice it would be that sometimes hearing “no” is a good thing.
“I heard ‘no’ so many times in different capacities in the music industry and couldn’t figure out why and thought there was something wrong with me and in reality, there was nothing wrong with me,” she says. “It just wasn’t the right timing. I think if people can just not use ‘no’ as an end all be all end of something and maybe just look at it as a not yet, I wish I could have done that.”
The hardships have made Pearce more appreciative of all the successes. She recently celebrated her one-year anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member and “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” her collaboration with Ashley McBryde, reached No. 1 at country radio. In the past year she was crowned both ACM and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year and named one of CMT’s Artists of the Year. Following her acceptance speech at CMT’s ceremony she shared on social media, “Let it be scary. Let it be hard. And then do it anyway.”
“I think everything about my journey has been scary and hard, but I think that’s when the greatest reward happens,” Pearce says. “So many people see just the shiny, glamorous thing, but for them to be able to see the struggle in it makes me feel really, really proud that this was my story and that I can now use all of this hardship to show that you can get through anything.”
Pearce’s 2022 will end on a high note as she’s nominated for five CMA Awards at next month’s awards show and will serve as a performer. After her two sold-out Ryman Auditorium performances this week, the singer also will be inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame on Friday. She joins musical heroes Loretta Lynn, The Judds and Ricky Skaggs in the Hall of Fame.
“I grew up in Kentucky and Kentucky is where I found country music,” she says. “The fact that I’m getting to be amongst all of the people that were my heroes, it feels so special.”
As Pearce marks the end of her 29 season with single “What He Didn’t Do,” she says the heartbreak tune has turned into a love song for her.
“I found the person that treats me right and it’s a sweeter part of my life now to get sing that song and realize I did find that,” she says. “I didn’t know what that looked like for me when I wrote this song, but I’m in such a better place that I feel like I can be very honest with fans of saying, ‘Just hold on. I promise I know how you feel, but I promise you it’s going to get better.’”
While Pearce is working on new music and plans to get into the studio at the end of the year, she says her Ryman shows won’t offer up any new songs. Instead, they serve as a celebration of her career in Nashville so far.
“I am so thankful that this happened the way that it did I’m thankful that I didn’t get all of the things that I thought I wanted in my early 20s,” she says. “I’m so glad that I had time to grow up and figure out who I was as an artist because it made me appreciate all of this more. I didn’t get it handed to me and so that makes it so much sweeter now that it’s happening.”
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/anniereuter/2022/10/26/carly-pearces-ryman-auditorium-shows-celebrate-career-milestone/