Photo Credit: Catherine Powell
With her mother and grandmother watching, the Iowa-raised singer-songwriter stepped onto the Opry stage on the same day she released her new EP, And For My Next Trick….
Before Abbie Callahan stood on the Grand Ole Opry stage, she was a girl in the audience at a Dolly Parton concert, sitting beside her mother and grandmother and imagining a future as a singer.
On September 25, 2026, those same two women watched her make her Opry debut. Adding another connection to the artist who first inspired her, the performance took place during the Opry’s Dolly Day celebration.
For Callahan, it was a full-circle moment—and an introduction to a new chapter of her music.
The Nashville-based singer-songwriter performed “And For My Next Trick…” and “Simon Says,” bringing songs from her newly released sophomore EP to one of country music’s most recognizable stages.
From a Dolly Parton Concert to the Opry Stage
During her debut, Callahan shared the story of that first concert and how watching Parton helped her realize she wanted to sing.
Having her mother and grandmother in the audience connected the beginning of that dream with the moment it became something they could witness together. For fans, that family connection offers a glimpse of the person behind the milestone: an artist whose journey began with the same experience many music lovers remember—seeing a performer and feeling that something had changed.
The evening also honored Parton beyond the stage. The Opry announced that a portion of ticket sales from the September 25 show would benefit Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
New to Abbie Callahan? Start With “Simon Says”
Callahan describes her sound as “kaleidoscope country,” blending Americana, folk and bluegrass with pop instincts, humor and a fascination with the space between everyday life and the mysterious.
Her musical influences span Patsy Cline, Sierra Ferrell, Kacey Musgraves and Sabrina Carpenter. That range provides a useful starting point for curious listeners: country storytelling is at the center, but Callahan leaves room for unexpected ideas.
“Simon Says” is a natural entry into her catalog. After the song gained traction on TikTok in fall 2025, Callahan took an unusual approach to her next project: she organized an EP photo shoot before she had written the EP itself.
Rather than creating images to accompany finished songs, she used the visual world to help inspire the music. Her official biography describes And For My Next Trick… as a project built in response to its own imagery.
For fans who enjoy exploring an artist’s creative process, that detail makes the EP worth investigating—not just as a collection of songs, but as a world Callahan imagined and then wrote her way into.
An Opry Debut and an EP Release in One Day
September 25 brought more than a first appearance in the Opry circle. It also marked the arrival of And For My Next Trick…, giving new listeners a complete project to explore after discovering Callahan through the performance.
According to her team, the date became her highest streaming day to that point, adding another milestone to an already significant occasion.
The EP follows a growing list of achievements. Her team reports more than 10 million career streams, appearances at CMA Fest, Bonnaroo and AMERICANAFEST, and Artist to Watch recognition from PEOPLE, Holler and Nashville Briefing.
Still, the most memorable part of this particular story is not a streaming total. It is the connection between three generations of women, a Dolly Parton concert and a young artist finding her own place on the Opry stage.
Listen to And For My Next Trick…
If Abbie Callahan is new to you, start with the two songs she chose for her Opry debut: “Simon Says” and “And For My Next Trick….” Then explore the EP to discover where her “kaleidoscope country” takes you next.
Listen to Abbie Callahan’s And For My Next Trick… here
Visit Abbie Callahan’s official website for music, videos and upcoming shows.
Who was the first artist you saw live and did that concert change anything for you? Share your memory in the comments.