JO DEE MESSINA

WHEELING — The Greater Wheeling Sports and Entertainment Authority recently announced a number of new concerts slated to take place in 2026 at the historic Capitol Theatre.

From country to bluegrass and hall-of-fame classic rock, the smorgasbord of artists on tap so far for next year will surely offer something to satisfy everyone’s tastes.

Country music legend Jo Dee Messina will bring her live show to the stage on Thursday, Jan. 29.

Just announced on Friday, country hit maker Chris Janson will make a stop in Wheeling on Friday, Feb. 13, along with West Virginia’s own high-energy Davisson Brothers Band. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 22.

Southern rock and blues icons ZZ Top make their long-awaited return to Wheeling on Tuesday, April 21. The bearded Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will make a stop on their The Big One 2026 Tour.

Award-winning country artist Carly Pearce will perform at the Capitol on Friday, April 24, as the songstress brings her world tour to Wheeling this spring.

And finally, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas will take the stage at the Capitol Theatre on Friday, July 31, bringing the group’s highly anticipated Arcadia 2026 Tour to the Ohio Valley.

Jo Dee Messina

Multi-platinum country music sensation Jo Dee Messina will bring her high-energy live show to the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling on Thursday, Jan. 29.

Fans can look forward to an unforgettable evening of music that spans Messina’s career, including chart-topping hits like “Heads Carolina, Tails California,” “Bye Bye” and “I’m Alright,” along with fresh favorites that continue to inspire audiences nationwide.

Tickets for the Wheeling performance are available now.

“I can’t wait to come to Wheeling and play the Capitol Theatre,” Messina said. “There’s nothing like connecting with the fans in a beautiful, historic venue like this. It’s going to be a special night.”

Messina’s live performances are known for their powerhouse vocals, heartfelt storytelling, and a setlist packed with hits that defined a generation of country music. Her shows have drawn rave reviews across the country, with audiences praising her dynamic stage presence and uplifting spirit.

Messina is a trailblazing country artist who became the first female in the genre to score three multi-week No. 1 singles from the same album. With over five million records sold and a shelf full of ACM, CMA and Grammy nominations, Messina remains a force both on stage and in the studio. She continues to captivate fans with her honest lyrics, powerhouse vocals and undeniable energy.

For information, visit www.jodeemessina.com.

CHRIS JANSON

Chris Janson

Country music star Chris Janson will perform at the Capitol Theatre on Friday, Feb. 13, along with special guests the Davisson Brothers Band.

An accomplished, award-winning artist, producer, and song writer, Janson’s live shows and song writing set him on a path of great success.

The Grand Ole Opry member has amassed billions of global streams, Gold and Multi-Platinum awards, more than 10 million in sales as a solo artist, and excess of 15 million in sales combined with hits recorded by other notable artists such as Tim McGraw “Truck Yeah,” LoCash “How I’ll Always Be,” Hank Williams Jr. “Love This Life,” and more. Janson is best known for his true-to-self anthems, five of which are Number 1 hits including five-times Platinum hit “Buy Me A Boat,” Platinum hits “Fix A Drink” and “All I Need Is You,” and Gold hit “Done.”

Janson is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, mastering more than 10 instruments.

Aside from his music, Janson is a happily married husband and father. He is involved in many notable Conservation and Philanthropy efforts, alongside his long-time partnership with Bass Pro Shops and his official partnership with nationally branded, Crav’n Flavor. Chris Janson was a small-town kid who dreamed big, won big, and proudly lives the American Dream. His latest album, “Wild Horses,” is out now.

For information, visit www.chrisjanson.com.

ZZ TOP

ZZ Top

Elko Productions presents ZZ Top bringing The Big One 2026 Tour to Wheeling on Tuesday, April 21.

“That Little Ol’ Band From Texas” has been at it for well over a half century, delivering rock, blues and boogie on the road and in the studio to millions of devoted fans. With iconography as distinctive as their sound, ZZ Top is virtually synonymous with beards, hotrod cars, spinning guitars and that magic keychain, all of which transcend geography and language.

It was in Houston in the waning days of 1969 that ZZ Top coalesced from the core of two rival bands, Billy Gibbons’ Moving Sidewalks and Frank Beard and Dusty Hill’s American Blues. Their third album, 1973’s “Tres Hombres,” catapulted them to national attention with the hit “La Grange,” still one of the band’s signature pieces today.

“Eliminator,” their 1983 album, was something of a paradigm shift for ZZ Top. Their roots blues skew was intact but added to the mix were tech-age trappings that soon found a visual outlet with such tracks as “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs” on the nascent MTV. It was one of the music industry’s first albums to have been certified Diamond, far beyond Gold and Platinum and a reflection of U.S. domestic sales exceeding 10 million units.

As a touring entity, they’ve been without peer over the past five decades, having performed before millions of fans on four continents and have been the subject of their own Grammy- nominated documentary titled “That Little Ol’ Band From Texas.” The band’s line-up of the bearded Gibbons and Hill and Beard, who ironically is clean shaven, remained intact for more than 50 years until Hill’s passing. When Hill temporarily departed the tour in the summer of 2021, it was a given that Elwood Francis would be the perfect choice to stand in for Hill until he could return. But Hill’s return was not to be, and Francis continues to handle the bass duties for the band now and into the future.

The elements that keep ZZ Top fresh, enduring and above the transitory fray can be summed up in the three words of the band’s internal mantra: “Tone, Taste and Tenacity.” As genuine roots musicians, they have few peers. Their influences are both the originators of the form — Muddy Waters, B.B. King, et al — as well as the British blues rockers and Jimi Hendrix who emerged the generation before ZZ’s ascendance.

For information about the band, visit www.zztop.com.

CARLY PEARCE

Carly Pearce

Grammy, ACM, CMA and CMT Award-winning country artist Carly Pearce will perform live on Friday, April 24.

Known for her powerful vocals, honest songwriting and deep roots in traditional country, Pearce has become one of the genre’s most celebrated modern voices. The Kentucky native and Grand Ole Opry member first broke through with her debut album “Every Little Thing” and the platinum-certified title track.

Since then, she has earned multiple chart-topping hits, including “What He Didn’t Do,” “Never Wanted to Be That Girl” and her Grammy-nominated collaboration with Chris Stapleton, “We Don’t Fight Anymore.”

Fresh off her 40-plus date Hummingbird World Tour and the success of her critically acclaimed album “Hummingbird,” Pearce is currently working on her fifth studio album. She continues to resonate with fans through her authenticity, timeless sound, and captivating live performances.

For information, visit www.carlypearce.com.

ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION

Alison Krauss & Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas

Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas will bring their highly anticipated Arcadia 2026 Tour to Wheeling on Friday, July 31.

This extraordinary night of world-class musicianship marks the return of one of the most influential and widely celebrated ensembles in bluegrass and roots music.

For nearly four decades, Alison Krauss & Union Station have shaped the sound of American roots music with an artistry that transcends genre lines. Their immaculately crafted yet endlessly surprising musical style blends the spirit of bluegrass, country, rock ‘n’ roll and pop, creating a sonic landscape entirely their own. In 2025, the group released their acclaimed new album, “Arcadia,” further elevating their legacy as trailblazers in modern acoustic music.

The band’s current lineup represents five powerhouse talents, each with a thriving solo career:

Alison Krauss – fiddle, lead vocal; Jerry Douglas – dobro, lap steel, vocals; Ron Block – banjo, guitar, vocals; Barry Bales – bass, vocals; Russell Moore – guitar, mandolin, lead vocal.

Despite their individual accomplishments, when these five musicians come together, they form a peerless ensemble defined by precision, soul and a singular musical focus. Their harmony work, instrumental mastery, and emotional storytelling have earned them widespread acclaim, dozens of awards, and a devoted international fanbase.

For information, visit www.alisonkrauss.com.

Tickets for most of these shows – along with several other previously announced concerts by Clint Black on April 23, performances by the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and more – are on sale now.

For the latest updates and ticket information, follow the Capitol Theatre on social media or visit www.capitoltheatrewheeling.com.