Leslie and David's Wanderings: 3 Nov. 2018 The Grand Ole Opry

After dropping Etta off at the groomers, we made our way over to the Grand Ole Opry House to see the performance stage of country legends. The Grand Ole Opry is actually a live music radio program. First started in 1925, by accident, the program has aired every Saturday night for 93 years. The longest running radio show in the world. The broadcast can be heard in 38 states on AM radio, and also on the internet. It did not really have a location until 1974. Prior to that, the large majority of the shows were done in Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville. The Ryman was built in 1885 in downtown Nashville. Ryman became the unofficial home, and became synonymous with, the Opry. In 1974, the Grand Ole Opry House was built on the outskirts of Nashville in its current location. When the stage was built, they inlaid a large circular piece of the stage from the Ryman. The performers normally stand on this portion of the stage when they are performing. In 2010, the building was severely flooded and the show jumped around to various venues until the building was reopened in 6 months. Shows run in the building every Friday, Saturday, and Tuesday, February through October. The shows are moved to the Ryman Auditorium for December through January to allow the Ole Opry House to host Christmas concerts. To become a member of the Grand Ole Opry, an artist has to be invited by the board of directors. There have only been 212 members over the 93 years. For a country artist, and invitation to become a member is a huge honor. Originally, members were required to perform every other Saturday for as long as they were a member. Today they are only required to perform when they are passing through the area. Only two members were ever suspended, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams, due to behavior issues on stage. Johnny Cash was eventually allowed back but Hank Williams dies a few weeks after he was thrown out. We took the backstage tour ($27 per person). We got to see the performers dressing rooms and the “Green Room” where they relax just prior to going on stage. At the performers only entrance (where the artist have to park their own cars, no valet or limousines here), there are post office boxes where the members can collect any fan mail sent to the Grand Ole Opry with their names on it. There is also a members wall with all the members names engraved on brass plaques. We also toured the back stage area and got to stand in the Ryman Stage circle to pose for photos. The tour was pretty neat. Unfortunately, the shows were sold out for Saturday night and the only seats left in the Ryman Auditorium were in the nosebleed sections for Tuesday night.