🌎 A Tour That Feels Like a Pilgrimage

Kicking off April 3, 2026, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Shockwaves Tour will visit 40 cities across North America before crossing oceans to Europe, Australia, and Asia. The stage design, inspired by classic Americana and the spirit of the open road, will merge intimate acoustic storytelling with full-band firepower — a balance only Marty and Connie can deliver.

Their first leg, dubbed The Dust and Diamonds Run, begins in Tulsa, moves through the Texas Hill Country (Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas), and rolls up the Midwest heartland with stops in Des Moines, Chicago, and Detroit.

From there, they’ll headline The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville for a special three-night residency (May 10–12), where they’ll perform stripped-down sets celebrating their roots. The residency will include special guests like Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, and Ricky Skaggs, uniting generations of country royalty on one stage.

✈️ The World Comes Calling

By June 2026, the tour goes international. Marty and Connie will bring their sound to Dublin, London, and Glasgow, before crossing into Scandinavia for a breathtaking open-air concert in Stockholm. From there, the couple will travel to Australia, performing under the stars at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt — a dream long held by Connie Smith, who once said in an interview, “I want to sing where the ocean can hear me.”

In a surprise move, the tour will also include two shows in Japan — Tokyo and Osaka — where Marty Stuart has a cult following among rockabilly and Americana fans. The global reach highlights their mission to remind the world that true country music isn’t confined by borders — it speaks to the human soul everywhere.

🎶 A Setlist That Tells a Story

The Shockwaves tour promises more than a concert — it’s a musical biography. The setlist, according to Marty, will move “from the honky-tonk to the heavens.” Fans can expect classics like “Tempted,” “Hillbilly Rock,” and “The Whiskey Ain’t Workin’”, interwoven with Connie’s iconic hits “Once a Day” and “Ain’t Had No Lovin’.”

But it’s the new material that’s generating the most buzz. The couple revealed that they’ve recorded a collaborative album titled Heartstrings and Highways, slated for release in March 2026. Described as “a love letter to country music and each other,” the record features duets and solo tracks that trace their personal and artistic journeys — from the honky-tonks of the past to the bright lights of today.

💬 “We’ve Still Got Miles to Go”

In a joint press statement, Connie Smith reflected on the meaning of this moment:

“After all these years, we still love standing on stage together — because that’s where we met, where we fell in love, and where we still belong. This tour isn’t just a concert; it’s our story, told through song.”

Marty added with his trademark grin,

“People say country music has changed. Maybe it has. But the heart of it — love, truth, struggle, and faith — that’s still here. We’re just turning up the volume again.”

Their chemistry, both on and off stage, has long been admired by fans. The 2026 tour will mark the first time in over a decade that the pair co-headline a world tour — a decision that, according to Marty, “felt like destiny calling back home.”

🌟 Fan Reactions: “This Is the Tour of the Year”

Within hours of the announcement, social media erupted. The hashtag #ShockwavesTour2026 trended across Twitter and Instagram, with fans calling it “the most anticipated country event of the decade.”

Longtime admirer Reba McEntire posted, “Two legends, one stage — this is what country music needs right now.” Meanwhile, rising stars like Lainey Wilson and Zach Bryan expressed excitement about attending shows, with Bryan tweeting, “If you love real country, you better be there.”

📅 Select Tour Dates (Fictional)

April 3, 2026 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center

April 10, 2026 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center

April 13, 2026 – Austin, TX – Moody Center

April 20, 2026 – Chicago, IL – United Center

May 10–12, 2026 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry Residency

June 2, 2026 – London, UK – The O2 Arena

June 8, 2026 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena

June 20, 2026 – Stockholm, Sweden – Friends Arena

July 4, 2026 – Sydney, Australia – Opera House Forecourt

July 12, 2026 – Tokyo, Japan – Budokan Hall

🎸 The Legacy Marches On

For Marty Stuart and Connie Smith, this tour isn’t just about reliving the past — it’s about carrying the torch forward. “We owe everything to the fans,” Marty said. “They’ve walked with us through decades of change. Now we’re walking back to them — guitars in hand, hearts wide open.”

As the countdown begins, one thing is certain: the 2026 Shockwaves World Tour isn’t just a concert — it’s a declaration that true country still rides strong, proud, and unbroken across every border and every heart.