Blake Shelton Plans To Open Entertainment Venues

Blake Shelton stopped by Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium this morning to break the news that he is teaming up with Ryman Hospitality Properties to launch a lifestyle brand, with entertainment venues in the works in Music City and his hometown of Tishomingo, Okla.

Mark Zaleski / Invision / AP – Blake Shelton
CMT Awards, Bridgestone Arena outdoor stage, Nashville, Tenn.

The Ole Red brand is “designed to embody the spirit of Shelton’s clever, irreverent third chart hit,” according to OldRed.com. The country singer included “Ol’ Red” – which was originally recorded by George Jones – on his 2001 self-titled debut album. The brand is spelled with an e as a reference to the connection to the Grand Ole Opry, which is owned by Ryman Hospitality.

The Nashville edition of Ole Red will be located in the Broadway historic district that’s home to numerous honky-tonks. Ryman Hospitality Properties purchased the building at 300 Broadway in 2014. Following a major renovation, the $20 million multi-level entertainment venue will feature “a two-story bar and restaurant, retail area, performance space, dance floor and private VIP booths for small groups.” A major draw will be the 6,000-square foot rooftop bar and restaurant that will boast panoramic views.

Ole Red Nashville is expected to open in 2018. The entertainment schedule will include “intimate concerts, live band karaoke, showcases for up-and-coming talent and more.”

Look out for the opening of Ole Red Tishomingo later this year.

A post on Ole Red’s Twitter page promises “signature dishes, signature drinks & paintin’ the town Ole Red.”

– Ole Red Nashville
An artist rendering by Tuck-Hinton Architects.

“It’s amazing to me to see a song that’s been such a big part of my career come to life in the plans for Ole Red,” Shelton said. “Nashville and Tishomingo are both places that are important to me, and it’s great that each location is going to have its own personality inspired by one of my favorite songs. It’s always been a dream of mine to create something like this where people know they’re going to have a good time as soon as they walk in the door, and I couldn’t be more excited that my friends at the Opry and Ryman Hospitality Properties are making it happen.”

The Tennessean reports that Ryman Hospitality hopes this will be the “first of other locations across the country.”

While we wait for Ole Red to open, you can purchase T-shirts and hats at the Opry’s online store.

Visit OleRed.com for more information.