News

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — The USTA today announced that internationally renowned singer, songwriter, and actor Josh Groban will perform at the Opening Night Ceremony for the 2015 US Open in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The ceremony will be carried live by ESPN 2 on Monday, August 31 as part of the cable network’s comprehensive coverage of the US Open.

Groban, who has entertained fans across the globe with his multiplatinum albums and DVDs (selling more than 30 million worldwide), electrifying live performances, and comedic film and television appearances, will perform a selection of songs from his seventh studio album – Stages. Released in April of 2015, Stages is a collection of some of the greatest musical theater songs of all time, which Groban describes as “gorgeously arranged songs that have stood the test of time,” and which he was drawn to because of their combination of “incredible melody with an incredible story.”

Groban joins the ranks of great artists who have performed at the US Open over the years, including: Aretha Franklin, Lenny Kravitz, Chris Botti, Gloria Estefan, Ariana Grande, Rob Thomas, and many others.

In addition to the musical performance by Groban, the ceremony will also feature an appearance by tennis legend Billie Jean King who will join USTA Chairman of the Board and President Katrina Adams on court to welcome the fans to opening night.

The Opening Night National Anthem performer(s) will be announced at a later date.

Groban first broke through in 2001 with his self-titled double-platinum debut, followed by 2003’s multi-platinum Closer, and 2006’s double-platinum Awake. In 2007, he became the best-selling recording artist of the year thanks to sales of Awake and his blockbuster Grammy-nominated Christmas album, Noel — the best-selling album of 2007. At the end of 2010, Groban released the Rick Rubin-produced, platinum-certified Illuminations. All That Echoes followed in 2013, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, Groban’s first No. 1 debut and third chart-topper. All That Echoes racked up a host of positive reviews from major media outlets, including The New York Times, Billboard, Rolling Stone, and USA Today. His global arena tours routinely sell out, including his 2013 All That Echoes tour, which included 60 shows in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and North America.

On April 28th, Groban released his seventh studio album, Stages. Recorded with producers Humberto Gatica and Bernie Herms in both Los Angeles and London’s Abbey Road (with a 75-piece orchestra), Stages features songs from Les Misérables (“Bring Him Home”); Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel (“You’ll Never Walk Alone”); Stephen Sondheim’s Sunday in the Park with George (“Finishing the Hat”), Sweeney Todd (“Not While I’m Around”), and Into the Woods (“Children Will Listen”); The Fantasticks (“Try to Remember”); A Chorus Line (“What I Did For Love”); Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Phantom of the Opera (“All I Ask of You”), The Wizard of Oz (“Over the Rainbow”), and others.