The Virginia Opry Presents: Ushering in the Christmas Season

Saturday, November 30th 7pm

The Commonwealth of Virginia’s official Opry, The Virginia Opry, will perform “Ushering in the Christmas Season at The Historic Masonic Theatre on Sat., Nov. 30, at 7:00 p.m.

Michael Hoover, world champion Elvis’s tribute artist, and his band, will headline the show that will feature Crimson River as the opening act and emcee Glen Shelton with his guitarist, Steven Blevins, entertaining the audience as well. Hoover has toured Japan, Europe, Canada, Mexico, and across the U.S. performing “Memories of Elvis,” the show that will feature Elvis’ “Blue Christmas” along with other Elvis hits.

Crimson River, a Christian country band, is based in the Alleghany Highlands. Luke Bradley is a vocalist and the only member who does not play an instrument. The other five band members are all vocalists, and they are Angie Kimberlin, mandolin; Howard Nicely, guitar; Doug Shires, drums; Tanner Seay, guitar; and Troy Kimberlin, bass.

Before the show, Blevins will be inducted as the 72nd member of The Virginia Opry that made its debut on stage at the Historic Stonewall Theatre on Oct. 17, 1992. The theatre was renamed The Historic Masonic Theatre after Appalfolks of America Association donated the theatre to the Town of Clifton Forge in 2003. Governor Ralph S. Northam signed “Senate Bill 283” in 2020, that designates The Virginia Opry as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s official Opry. Governor Glenn Youngkin brought on Dan Tyminski after Gentlemen South, one of the Virginia Opry’s 12 bands, opened the show at the Virginia State Fair in Dowell on Oct. 5.

Hoover has been performing as a member of The Virginia Opry since the 1990s, and he set the gate record for The Virginia Opry at The Historic Stonewall Theatre, sold out crowds at Natural Bridge Historic Hotel’s Washington Hall, and performed as the headliner at The Virginia Opry’s 2019, show at The Farm at Glen Haven. He won the East Coast Country Music Talent Contest as a vocalist before settling on pursuing his career as an Elvis tribute artist that has led him to perform yearly in Memphis, perform a week at the U.S. Olympics in Atlanta, appear on numerous TV shows such as Roseanne Barr’s show, and film an hour-long TV tribute to Elvis. Shelton, a long-time member of The Virginia Opry, will perform his recent hits that can be listened to and viewed online by visiting his website. Shelton is a 1989, graduate of Liberty University and a retired educator who has opened for more than 40 nationally prominent acts. For the past several years, he has performed yearly at the River Rock Amphitheatre in
Covington as part of the city’s concert series.

M. Ray Allen, founder and director of The Virginia Opry said, “I wish to thank Wright Way Motors in Covington for sponsoring “Ushering in the Christmas Season,” the first of Appalfolks’ four Christmas shows.