Country and bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs returns to Newberry Opera House with his award-winning band Kentucky Thunder for an unforgettable night of masterful musicianship and timeless American roots music.

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Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

Newberry Opera House

During the creative explosion that was country music in the 1990s Suzy Bogguss sold 4 million records with sparkling radio hits like Outbound Plane, Someday Soon, Letting Go, Drive South, and Hey Cinderella. From GRAMMY® Award-winning performances to platinum-selling records, Suzy has proudly called her own shots for four decades, earning her stripes as a singer-songwriter, producer, and road warrior along the way.

Nancy and David Bilheimer Capitol Theatre

Fifteen-time Grammy® winner Ricky Skaggs’s career is easily among the most significant in recent country music history. If Skaggs’s burgeoning trophy case full of awards wasn’t already enough evidence of that fact, consider that legendary guitarist Chet Atkins once credited Skaggs with “single-handedly saving country music.” His life’s path has taken him to various musical genres, from where it all began in bluegrass music, to striking out on new musical journeys, while still leaving his musical roots intact. 

Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder Christmas

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts

Ricky Skaggs is a renowned figure in the world of music, with a career spanning over six decades. Beginning as a prodigious mandolin player at a young age, Skaggs’ journey has taken him through various musical genres, from bluegrass to country, while always maintaining his musical roots. He has garnered numerous accolades, including 15 Grammy Awards, and has been a driving force in the revival of traditional American music. Skaggs’ contributions extend beyond his own recordings, as he has produced albums for other artists and collaborated with legends like Bruce Hornsby and Ry Cooder. His versatility and dedication to preserving musical heritage have earned him induction into multiple Hall of Fames, solidifying his status as a master musician and cultural icon.

Brauntex Performing Arts Theatre

Fifteen-time GRAMMY® Award-winner Ricky Skaggs’ career is easily among the most significant in recent Country music history, and his Bluegrass roots shine through. Let’s welcome Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder back to Newberry Opera House!

Ricky Skaggs

Ricky Skaggs’ career is easily among the most significant in recent Country music history. Over the course of his 50-year career, he has won fifteen Grammy Awards, eight CMA Awards, nine ACM Awards, thirteen IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) Awards, nine ICM Awards, two Dove Awards, three honorary Doctorate degrees and countless other awards.

He counts the current configuration of Kentucky Thunder among the best group of musicians he has ever worked with. The band is an eight-time winner of the IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year.

The Barnhill Center

Country Music Hall of Famer and 15-time Grammy Award-winner Ricky Skaggs returns to Savannah Music Festival after five years, fronting his powerhouse band Kentucky Thunder. “This group of guys meets my approval every night,” Ricky says. “Each and every one of the pickers in Kentucky Thunder totally amazes me in every show…and that, to me, outweighs any award we could ever win.” The all-star lineup includes Russ Carson (banjo), Jake Workman (lead guitar), Dennis Parker (baritone vocals, guitar), Gavin Kelso (bass), Mike Rogers (tenor vocals, rhythm guitar) and Billy Contreras (fiddle).

Lucas Theatre For the Arts

Join the Winston-Salem Symphony for a special one-night-only performance with country and bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs. The 15-time GRAMMY® winner is joined by the incomparable pickers of Kentucky Thunder and the Winston-Salem Symphony for an unforgettable evening of music.

R.J. Reynolds High School

Ricky Skaggs is a Country and Bluegrass music icon with a career spanning over five decades. In the 1980s, he achieved mainstream success with hits like "Highway 40 Blues" and "Country Boy." His band, Kentucky Thunder, features some of the most talented musicians in the business, delivering a sound that's both authentic and modern.

He is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame, the National Fiddler Hall of Fame and the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame. He has 15 Grammy Awards and more Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music Awards than most artists can dream of. Ricky Skaggs has truly spent “a life full of music,” and he and Kentucky Thunder will again grace The Lyric stage with songs from his long and illustrious career, including “Sis Draper,” “Return to Sender” and “Road to Spencer.”

Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder

Lyric Theatre

You know “Christmas Time’s A Coming” when 15-time GRAMMY® winner and Country Music Hall of Fame member Ricky Skaggs and his ace backing band Kentucky Thunder play all your favorite Christmas songs in their refreshing acoustic style, joined by members of the Nashville Symphony. This heartwarming show features a reason to listen to the season of songs both old and new as Skaggs and his band perform their own perfect blend of tight harmony. Come celebrate this special time of year with friends and family, while listening to first class vocalists and musicians, singing and playing their finest for Christmastime.

Kentucky Thunder

Dec 8, 2026

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder Christmas

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Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

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Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

Kentucky Thunder