Opry Entertainment Group has acquired a majority stake in Southern Entertainment, marking its strategic entry into the music festival industry. The deal positions the Grand Ole Opry owner to expand its live entertainment portfolio through Southern Entertainment's established festival properties.

Southern Entertainment, founded by Bob Durkin and Rob Pedlow and based in Charlotte, has organized over 500 live music events. Their flagship events include:

• Carolina Country Music Fest (Myrtle Beach)
• Barefoot Country Music Fest (New Jersey)
• Lovin' Life Music Fest (Charlotte)

Both Durkin and Pedlow will continue leading Southern Entertainment, with plans to integrate Opry Entertainment's artist development programs into their festivals. The partnership aims to create new artist-centered experiences and expand into additional markets.

Patrick Moore, Opry Entertainment CEO, praised Southern Entertainment's growth into "one of the strongest independent festival businesses in the United States" over the past decade.

This acquisition comes during a challenging period for the festival industry, with approximately 200 festivals canceled in the previous year. However, the country music festival sector shows resilience:

• Stagecoach Festival has sold out its 2025 GA passes
• Kid Rock's Rock the Country Festival is expanding to 10 states
• Major country acts are headlining pre-Super Bowl events in New Orleans, including Jelly Roll and Chris Stapleton at Madden Bowl 2025

While financial terms weren't disclosed, the partnership is expected to strengthen both companies' positions in the live entertainment market and create new opportunities for country music fans and artists.

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