NASHVILLE (CelebrityAccess) – Opry Entertainment Group has announced the promotion of Dan Rogers to the newly created position of vp/executive producer of the Grand Ole Opry.
Rogers, who is affectionately known in the Nashville community as “Opry Dan,” began working at the famed institution as an intern in 1999 and has worked in various roles including marketing, communications, artist relations and production. Most recently, he served as director of communications and show producer.
In his new post, Rogers will continue his responsibilities for communications and overall show production and will expand his involvement in talent relations and logistics for the Opry’s more than 200 annual performances.
Commenting on Rogers’ promotion, Opry Entertainment president Scott Bailey said: “He breathes and sleeps the Opry and there’s no better person to be in that role. Any guy who can start out as an intern and elevate to arguably one of the most important positions in the company for one of the most important assets in country music, that’s the guy you want to bet on.”
In a recent interview with Billboard, Rogers said: “The Opry is my home, so I want to take care of the Opry just as I would take care of my own home. Home is the place you want to make sure that everybody under that roof is taken care of and feels special. And it’s a place you want them to come back to as well.”
Rogers’ promotion comes as Sally Williams, general manager, Grand Ole Opry/senior vp, programming and artist relations, Opry Entertainment, exits August 9 to join Live Nation as president of Nashville music and business strategy.
In addition to promoting Rogers, Opry Entertainment is looking for someone to fill the other half of Williams’ role: senior vp, programming and artist relations for Opry Entertainment.
Besides Rogers, the Opry’s team currently includes Barbara Schaetz, vp business operations, Grand Ole Opry House; Gina Keltner, director of talent and logistics; and Jordan Pettit, director of artist relations and programming strategy.
