Country star Thomas Rhett has described how Niall Horan appeared unexpectedly nervous ahead of the former One Direction singer's debut at Nashville's Grand Ole Opry. Horan travelled to Nashville a few days before the pair's first co-headlining concert and ticked the Opry off his bucket list, performing on 7 July before the two joined forces for their show at Geodis Park. Rhett said that watching a musician who has played stadiums for years become "like a little boy" was among the most memorable experiences of their decade-long friendship.

Horan performed "Tastes So Good" and "This Town" during his Opry set, before bringing Rhett on stage for a rendition of Rhett and Blake Shelton's duet "Old Tricks". The following day, Horan attended Rhett's induction into the Music City Walk of Fame, sitting behind Rhett's wife Lauren and their five children and cheering as emcee Kelly Sutton mentioned the pair's 9 July gig. That Geodis Park concert marked both artists' first time playing the venue and their first show together, and served as the launch of Rhett's The Soundtrack to Life Tour, which runs across the United States through the autumn.