Staff report
Since he was in his mid-teens, musician Matthew Weaver has had a dream: to play on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. On Saturday night, his dream will come to fruition.
Weaver, 38, a student at Appalachian State University, will be performing during the Mike Snider portion of the Grand Ole Opry. The show begins at 8 p.m. You can listen live on WSM Radio 650 AM or online at www.wsmonline.com/home or via Weaver’s website at www. matthewweavermusic.com.
To say that Weaver is excited to reach this particular goal would be a vast understatement.
“I grew up listening to the Grand Ole Opry,” Weaver says. “It keeps a burning desire in you, and it’s always been my dream to perform on the Opry stage.”
Weaver says he is filled with all sorts of emotions. “To me, it’s the greatest stage in the world,” he says. “It’s the mecca of country music.”
The Grand Ole Opry is the world’s longest running live radio show. Weaver will be standing in that “sacred circle” which over the years has included the Carter family, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams Sr. and Johnny Cash.
Weaver’s performance should run anywhere from 10 to 12 minutes during the 2 hour, 15-minute show. He’s scheduled to play “Blue Ridge Cabin Home” by the Stanley Brothers, “I Can’t Help It If I’m Still in Love with You” by Hank Williams Sr. and “Ashokan Farewell,” a piano selection.
Weaver says he’s thrilled to have overwhelming support on this endeavor, not only from his friends in Salisbury but from friends and faculty members at ASU, too, where he is studying for a degree in Appalachian studies.
The Opry may be one of Weaver’s longtime dreams, but he’s been having some pretty weird dreams lately. He’s dreamed that he’s either late for the show and misses performing, or he shows up on stage wearing only his guitar.
Here’s hoping none of those dreams come true.