Multi-Instrumentalist Maggie Baugh Makes Grand Ole Opry Debut
"The fact that the Opry invited me to play... y'all, never give up on your dreams."
Maggie Baugh is no stranger to big stages, serving as a utility player for international superstar Keith Urban throughout 2024. She’s played fiddle, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, ganjo, and mandolin in Urban’s band, as well as sang background vocals. She’s appeared on television shows including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Today Show, and more. But this stage was different.
The Boca Raton, Florida native made her Grand Ole Opry debut on Friday, December 27, stepping into the sacred circle to make her mark in country music.
Baugh performed her self-penned “Entertainer’s Heart,” showcasing her stellar songwriting skills and emotional vulnerability.
The 24-year-old expressed her gratitude to everyone who has supported her career since she began playing country music 12 years ago, then shared the remarkable story of her first Grand Ole Opry experience.
When she was about 13 years old, Baugh took the Opry Backstage Tour with her father and ran into Charlie Daniels as he was walking out. She asked him to sign her violin, which she had with her. After Daniels signed her violin, she immediately put the instrument into retirement to preserve that precious autograph.
When they were asking what song I wanted to play as my last song, I could have picked one of my own, but I came into country music as a fiddle player and I’ll leave country music as a fiddle player, so I thought, why not honor Mr. Daniels on the stage?
Baugh brought that violin out of retirement and performed “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” with flair, demonstrating her impressive fiddle playing. She even gifted her bow to a member of the audience after her performance!
Before exiting the stage, Baugh spoke with Opry host Kelly Sutton about what’s next for her career. She announced she has an album coming next year and will be on tour as well.
Baugh also shared another way she honored Daniels during her Opry debut. Her hat featured the roman numerals of the date of her debut and the braid around it is bow hair from Daniels’ violin bow.
As an independent artist, Baugh doesn’t have a record label or a publishing deal, but is continuing to make a splash in the country music world.
I’m independent in every way of the word, so the fact that the Opry invited me to play… y’all, never give up on your dreams.
To keep up with Baugh, head to her website MaggieBaugh.com and follow her on social media. “I’m not on Tinder, but I’m everywhere else!” she laughed.