March 26, 2006 is the date for a very special Grand Ole Opry show at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. The show is a part of three week festival at The Kennedy Center, entitled Country: A Celebration Of America’s Music, which will feature a number of concerts, workshops and other presentations.

The Opry show will include a performance by Opry members The Del McCoury Band, along with Travis Tritt and Marty Stuart.

As a part of this same festival, there will be a concert on April 4, 2006 called String Masters. On this bill are Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Bela Fleck, Mark Schatz, and Bryan Sutton for a show which The Kennedy Center describes thusly:

An acoustic super group of all-star stringed instrument players – collectively, they’re winners of nearly 20 Grammy Awards – performs in an evening that explores country music’s roots and progressive trends.

The festival is created in partnership with The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.