
Lani Stacy's mother discovered her daughter's singing talent when Lani was 5 years old. Three years later, she was singing at local Opry venues, including the legendary Grapevine Opry. At 13, Stacy started her own band. They performed at Cowboys, Billy Bob's Texas, Six Flags Over Texas and Sea World, opening for big name country stars such as Pam Tillis, Shenandoah and Mark Chestnutt. During her teenage years, she and her band opened shows for Nashville stars Reba McEntire, Jo Dee Messina and Bryan White, to name a few. Stacy left the Nashville scene and served in the ministry for 14 years.
Stacy, now 36, has been a part of the Grapevine Opry for 27 years. On Jan. 1 this year, she took the stage as the Opry's new producer, replacing her mentor, longtime Opry leader Rocky Gribble. In November she changed the legendary venue's name to Main Street Live.
"The Grapevine Opry is a huge legacy name, so of course a lot of thought went into the kind of legacy we have behind this name," Stacy says. "The last thing we want to do is cut off history. But, in moving forward and looking at the next generation, we've changed the show this year. It's energetic and a little more mainstream and a bit more upbeat, with dancing, choreography and costumes." Stacy says she had to weigh the cost of the legacy and the future and made an executive decision to focus more on the future. "We are doing something more fresh and exciting and, hopefully, get the word out that we're doing something different. The show looks a lot different than it did last year. We want people to know that something brand new is happening here," she says.
In the past, 90 percent of the Grapevine Opry was country-driven. Stacy has brought in more pop music, featuring the 1960s, 70s and 80s. "We haven't really touched today's pop," she says. "Depending on how we gather audiences moving forward, we'll look at that. So we're doing half country and half oldies pop." The variety shows have been extremely successful, Stacy says. "We were concerned in the beginning with a crowd that has been used to country music for all these years."
Main Street Live has a paid professional cast for every show. In the past, it was local entertainment. "We bring in four to six cast members per show so that we know we're giving the audience the best," Stacy says. "We probably wear six to seven costumes per show and have fun choreography, medley-style, rather than Opry-style." Stacy says the goal from the beginning was to change it up enough to keep the venue's current audience but make it professional enough to pull in some new people. "Next year, we will do one show for an entire month. The show will run four times, and that's it for the year. That gives our regulars a different show every month and gives our new audiences more of a production." The show will keep the traditional patriotic and gospel messages alive in its production, Stacy says.
Kevin Bailey, country singer Charley Pride's bass and guitar player, has known Stacy for many years. He plays part-time at Main Street Live. His wife, Krista Bailey, is a singer and choreographer there.
"Everything I've experienced with Lani as a producer has been positive," Bailey says. "She's enthusiastic and conscientious, and her first priority is consideration for all the people involved in the show. It's tough, but she's dedicated to making it all work." As to the new branding, Bailey says it's a better indication of the new productions. "For so long, the Opry tag has been linked to old traditional country music, and Lani's doing a lot more than just that. I'm behind her, and I hope this thing goes well for her."
Stacy is excited about the "Main Street Live Christmas Spectacular" holiday shows this year. The shows will include an eight-member cast, including Stacy's younger daughter, Brooklyn. "We have some of the most professional entertainers around," she says. "It will be fast-paced, upbeat, high energy and family-friendly, with classic favorites and all different genres-classic, country, pop, and jazz. Of course, we will focus on Santa."
Main Street Live Christmas Spectacular productions are scheduled for Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13 and 20. Also scheduled is "A Rockin" New Year's Eve" on Dec. 31.
Stacy lives in Southlake with her two daughters, Brooklyn, 6, and Halle, 9.
For more information: Call 817.481.8733 or visit their website: grapevineopryshow.com.