Lauren Watkins fulfilled a lifelong dream on Friday, June 20, stepping into the Grand Ole Opry circle for the very first time. Dressed in a vibrant yellow jumpsuit, the Big Loud country songstress performed her debut single “Shirley Temple” and latest release “I’ll Get Through It” to a full house of friends and family – earning a roaring applause.
Watkins’ Opry debut was first revealed just weeks earlier when tourmate Zach Top surprised her on stage during his Cold Beer and Country Music Tour. After finishing a cover of Barbara Mandrell’s “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool,” Top made the big announcement – a full-circle moment for the Nashville-born artist.
“It means the world to me to be here,” shared Watkins on the Opry stage. “I’m one of the rare ones that was born and raised here – and I’m proud to say that. Of all the things I’ve gotten to do in my career, and all the things I’ll get to do, this is the thing that means the most to me.”
Earlier in the week, Watkins made another stop close to home at Franklin, Tenn.’s FirstBank Amphitheater on Thursday, June 19, where she opened up the show for Riley Green’s Damn Country Music Tour stop. She also paid a visit to ACM Lifting Lives’ summer camp at Ocean Way Studios, joining Ross Copperman for a special morning with campers – part of ACM’s week-long residential music program for individuals with Williams syndrome.
Last month, Watkins released her newest track “I’ll Get Through It.” Written by Watkins with Brett Warren and Brad Warren, and produced and written by ACM and CMA winning producer Will Bundy (“you look like you love me”), “I’ll Get Through It” leans into resilience in the no-nonsense anthem, combining razor-sharp lyrics and raw, effortless vocals to confront heartbreak head on. She shrugs it off like she’s been here before – because she has – as she takes another unapologetic step forward.
“I’ll Get Through It” follows the April release of “Lose My Cool,” the first song to arrive since her debut album The Heartbroken Record. The 17-track album earned critical acclaim, with Stereogum naming it one of the Top 10 Country Albums of 2024. Now happily married, Watkins is moving on from heartbreak and on to greener pastures, with Country Now tapping “Lose My Cool” as “the perfect introduction to Watkins’ next project as it perfectly encapsulates what she is feeling right now,” while Holler praised it “as bright and breezy as a fresh spring morning.”
The Nashville-bred artist continues to earn her stripes on the road as she continues touring with Riley Green this summer before joining Lainey Wilson for select dates in the fall. For tour dates and more information, keep up with Watkins at laurenwatkins.com and on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
