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By mommie2zs —

Grand Ole' Opry

Grand Ole' Opry

For Mom’s birthday, she and I went on a tour of the Grand Ole’ Opry. We tried to go to a show, but that will have to wait until her next visit.

We loved touring around at The Opry. Watching Hee Haw was a common family event for us, and the “heritage” country music stars bring back good memories for both of us.

The current list of Grand Ole' Opry Members.
The current list of Grand Ole’ Opry Members.

Unlike Hall of Fame membership, being a member of the Grand Ole’ Opry is a grand honor that requires active participation. One of my favorite parts of the tour was watching videos of people learning they were invited to join the Opry. Seeing grown men and women cry out of joy is a cool thing.

Minnie Pearl’s husband gave her this fountain as a 25th wedding anniversary present, and she wanted it to go somewhere special after her death. It now graces the artist entrance into the backstage area of the Opry.

Minnie's Fountain
Minnie’s Fountain
The lockers artists use for their personal items.
The lockers artists use for their personal items.

The Opry, and country music in general, likes to see itself as free of pretense. As such, the dressing rooms were lovely, but not opulent, and certainly not large.

A typical dressing room.
A typical dressing room.

Each dressing room had a different theme:

An artist's debut night as a member of the Opry is spent using this dressing room.
An artist’s debut night as a member of the Opry is spent using this dressing room.
Duets share a dressing room that is the same size as all the singleton ones.
Duets share a dressing room that is the same size as all the singleton ones.
Our happy little tour had people from Ireland, England, and around the U.S.
Our happy little tour had people from Ireland, England, and around the U.S.
Minnie at the Opry.
Minnie at the Opry.
Roy Acuff's house on the grounds of The Opry.
Roy Acuff’s house on the grounds of The Opry.

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The Circle
The Circle

A circle of the floor was cut out of the stage at Ryman Auditorium when The Grand Ole’ Opry made its move to its own theater. It’s lovely and humbling for artists to know they are standing on the same spot as their idols from the long history of The Opry.

The view back into the dressing room as an artist waits behind the curtain to be announced.
The view back into the dressing room as an artist waits behind the curtain to be announced.
An artist's first view of the theater as you come from behind the curtain. It gave me chills.
An artist’s first view of the theater as you come from behind the curtain. It gave me chills.
If you have connections, or are family of a performer, you can get tickets right on stage!
If you have connections, or are family of a performer, you can get tickets right on stage!
The green room where artists wait to go on. The wooden border on the left shows the height of the water in the horrible flooding of 2010. Many Opry treasures were lost.
The green room where artists wait to go on. The wooden border on the left shows the height of the water in the horrible flooding of 2010. Many Opry treasures were lost.
Alcohol is strictly forbidden backstage at The Opry, due to some unfortunate incidents.
Alcohol is strictly forbidden backstage at The Opry, due to some unfortunate incidents.
One of Buddie's favorites.
One of Buddie’s favorites.
Copious benches abound outside, another example of the kindness and folksiness.
Copious benches abound outside, another example of the kindness and folksiness.

Mom and I had the chance to sing in The Circle when were on the tour. Neither of us chose to do it, nor did anyone else in our tour, and as predicted by our tour guide, I regret it.

Next time…

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