Little Big Town host the People's Choice Country Awards in country's 'revolutionary' era

For Nashville-based vocal quartet Little Big Town (Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbrook), hosting Sept. 28's People's Choice Country Awards at the Grand Ole Opry offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the similarities of the rock-star energies in the genre's past and present. The band also serves as a conduit between country's timeless traditions and its unprecedented future.

Wynonna Judd, Toby Keith and Blake Shelton are among an all-star lineup of artists scheduled to be in attendance alongside the winners of 12 fan-voted categories at the festivities broadcast from the Grand Ole Opry at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Top nominees for the People's Choice Country Awards include the Big Loud-signed pair of Morgan Wallen and HARDY, plus Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, and Lainey Wilson.

The two-hour telecast will honor fan-chosen recipients in various categories plus feature the presentation of several honorary awards at an event that will "lean into the rich connection between country music and the Opry through chart-topping musical performances, genre-bending collaborations, legendary tributes and surprise moments," states a press release.

With five No. 1 radio hits and six Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Vocal Group of the Year wins in the past decade, the artists behind "Girl Crush," "Pontoon" and the 2022 album "Mr. Sun" are ideally suited to understanding what is required to achieve stardom in country music as the genre again surges into a pop-crossover moment.

Before the Country Music Association's awards program moved to its current home at the Bridgestone Arena, their show was held at the Opry House from its 1974 opening to 2004.

"The Opry House is one of country music's most well-respected venues," says Fairchild. "We all recall seeing powerhouse country entertainers like Johnny Cash, The Judds, Barbara Mandrell, Kenny Rogers, and more on [TV programs] broadcast from the Opry."

Though many names listed as performing have made Grand Ole Opry debuts in the past five years, acts like HARDY bringing their aggressively rock-fueled energy to Opryland Drive offers what Fairchild feels could be an "epic, magical" moment.

For Sweet, the country and pop worlds "colliding" at the event "feels right."

Westbrook adds that the combined fanbases could create "unprecedented levels of loyal devotion for country music."

Devotion to fashion is something that the group's Fairchild and Schlapman are both noted for having. Schlapman's mum on the precise number, but between the tandem, one could expect as many outfit changes as they have No. 1 hits and Group of the Year awards in the past decade.

"It'd be horribly disappointing if Little Big Town were on a two-hour program broadcast at the Grand Ole Opry and and wore the same outfit the entire time," Fairchild deadpans with a smirk.

Little Big Town's artistic debut came two years after People's Choice Country Awards recipient Wynonna Judd had her last country radio chart-topper (1996's"To Be Loved by You") and the quartet has been featured on stages alongside all of the nominees at the event. Thus, they can uniquely share some artistic connection to the genre's current-era multigenerational appeal.

Schlapman, however, links the group to all generations of country music, plus the event's Opry point of emanation by recalling their Grand Ole Opry induction by Little Jimmy Dickens and Vince Gill in 2014 -- Fairchild adds that the group marked the last installation in which Dickens was involved before his death a year later.

Fairchild thinks that the uniqueness of the pop moment that the event falls within could yield not just collaborative moments onstage but chance backstage encounters -- like those Little Big Town had with Miranda Lambert a decade prior that delivered "Smokin' and Drinkin'" or with eventual tourmates like Judd (2022) and Martina McBride (2008) -- that highlight the profound potential that friendly community can offer.

Sweet senses that the People's Choice Country Awards will highlight a "really good energy" in general in country's mainstream.

"Country music's giving the people the rock star energy they want to see."

Fairchild highlights that having multitudes of country artists simultaneously exploding into pop stardom within weeks of each other hasn't happened in fifty years.

"There's a spirit and swagger about this moment that I haven't seen since guys like Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley were at their peak," Westbrook notes.

"A lot of those artist [exploding into pop stardom], like Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini, Jelly Roll and Lainey Wilson, just to name a few, are going to be live on worldwide television on Sept. 28. And they'll be there with the rock star types we've had in others years, like Wynonna, Toby Keith and Blake Shelton."

"Crowds more diverse than country music has ever witnessed are singing some of the best songs the genre has ever heard out loud, from their cars to arenas, stadiums, everywhere," adds Fairchild.

"Country is experiencing and embodying a musical revolution right now," Schlapman adds.

Fairchild grins broadly, then stares deep into a camera recording the conversation, adding a brief, emphatic statement.

"I love that," she said.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Little Big Town host the People's Choice Country Awards in country's 'revolutionary' era