2017: Blake Shelton & Oak Ridge Boys Come Together For “Elvira” At The Opry

YouTube/Grand Ole Opry

If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing two of the biggest hitmakers in country music history join forces on the Grand Ole Opry stage at one time – your dream just came true!

In a surprise performance, Blake Shelton welcomed The Oak Ridge Boys to the stage for a duet performance of his song “Doin’ It To Country Songs” and their age-old classic, “Elvira.”

Some might not know this, but “Elvira” isn’t an Oak Ridge Boys original, it’s a cover song.

Songwriter David Frazier wrote and recorded the song in 1966. It peaked at 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the Top 40 in Canada, but the song did not make a lasting impact at the time. Several artists including Kenny Rogers and Rodney Crowell covered “Elvira” and had mild success, but in 1981, The Oak Ridge Boys released their version and it quickly became their signature song.

It climbed to the top of the country charts and was a huge success on the pop chart as well!

Blake Shelton was performing “Doin’ It To Country Songs” when he was suspiciously looking backstage.

One by one, members from the iconic country group file out on the stage and get set up with microphones while the band smiles eagerly, excited to be playing with so many great musicians!

This surprise performance made sense because in April 2017, The Oak Ridge Boys were featured on Shelton’s song “Doin’ It To Country Songs.” With everyone on stage, both Shelton and The Oak Ridge Boys lit up as they moved through the verses and chorus of his then-new song and swiftly into their own classic country tune.

We’ve seen The Oak Ridge Boys perform with many country artists and we’ve even seen some truly magical covers of “Elvira” hit the stage, but this pairing is one that’s made of gold.

Watch this unforgettable pairing of The Oak Ridge Boys and Blake Shelton at the Grand Ole Opry below. With Joe Bonsall’s passing on July 9, 2024, this performance means a whole lot more. He was one of a kind.