Wyatt Flores Takes the Mother Church

Cowboy boots and distressed denim filled the Ryman’s pews as rising country star Wyatt Flores made the Mother Church his own on Friday night, his first of two sold-out headline shows at the venue. It was a full-circle moment for the 23-year-old, Oklahoma-born, Nashville-residing singer-songwriter, who was returning to the historic stage just a year after opening for West Virginia songsmith Charles Wesley Godwin.

Managing the whirlwind of writing, recording and touring for the sake of his mental health has been key for Flores; with this in mind, he took a break early this year. But the Grand Ole Opry frequent flyer has been on a roll for much of the rest of 2024, and the run up to his Ryman shows was no exception. The week prior included an album signing at Grimey’s, a guest appearance with The Castellows when they opened for Little Big Town and performing at the Opry NextStage class concert along with nearly a dozen fellow artists, most of whom are also under 30. 

Flores’ Ryman return follows his debut album Welcome to the Plains, which features stories about the people and the history of Oklahoma, and Oklahoma artists warmed up the audience on Friday. Lance Roark opened the evening, captivating the crowd with his gravelly voice on tunes like “Oklahoma Blacktop.” Switching to electric guitar for “One More Chance,” Roark confessed he didn’t often play electric, though you wouldn’t know it from his performance. Next, longtime Oklahoma red dirt country champions The Great Divide made their Ryman debut, with frontman Mike McClure joking they’d “crawled straight out of the ’90s.” Their set blended old favorites like “College Days” and “Pour Me a Vacation” with newer songs like “Good Side” from 2022’s Providence.

Flores came out beaming, and by the time he launched into the anthemic “Little Town,” his infectious energy had the crowd hooked. From his bright smile to the way he confidently worked the stage, it was clear he was here to leave a mark. And the audience wasn’t just singing along — they were a full-blown choir, belting every word in sync with Flores and his flawless band.

“I’m having the best night of my life if you couldn’t tell,” Flores said with a laugh as the crowd chanted his name. Switching guitars, he leaned into darker territory with “Stillwater,” supported by Kenzie Miracle’s sharp fiddle work, before diving into the upbeat “Wildcat.”

Flores reminisced about his first Ryman performance last year, surprising fans with a guest appearance by the aforementioned Charles Wesley Goodwin for a heartfelt cover of Chris Knight’s “The Jealous Kind.” Later, he brought out The Castellows for a lively rendition of “Sober Sundays,” celebrating their serendipitous collaboration born of an impromptu meeting on the Ryman’s balcony. 

The show took a melancholic turn — seemingly something of a specialty for Flores — with “When I Die” and “Half Life.” The first, led by pedal steel and infused with wry humor, reflects on enjoying the life we’ve got, while the second weaves a gut-punch of regret into a story about the yearning to get out on your own.

Flores also brought out his cover of The Fray’s “How to Save a Life.” You’d think topping the original version is impossible, but Flores proved himself more than capable of matching singer Isaac Slade’s emotional flair. The audience (including myself) was completely floored. 

As the show neared its close, whoops and applause accompanied the band as they cycled triumphantly through earlier songs that marked Flores as a standout, like “Losing Sleep,” “Milwaukee” and “Please Don’t Go.” A fitting goodbye, “Don’t Want to Say Goodnight” closed out an evening that fans seemingly didn’t want to end. The uptempo country-rock piece is a perfect showcase for Flores’ sincere storytelling, magnetic stage presence and undeniable connection with his fans.

The best songwriters often seem naturally wired for emotional vulnerability, and their words cut deep, leaving an impression long after the song is over. Flores is undoubtedly gifted, and he keeps raising the bar with every new song and every show.

Cover Stories

AmericanaFest 2024: Talking With Wyatt Flores

• Brittney McKenna