The Grand Opry is owned and operated by Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc, which decides what artists are scheduled to perform at the show. There is a new bill every week and the artists are usually not disclosed until a few days are left. Unlike a typical concert, eight or more artists perform on each show, allowing the audience to experience each artist’s different music.
History:
The Grand Ole Opry began as the WSM Barn Dance in Nashville on 28th November, 1928. The unusual name was first uttered on air by a radio announcer the following year, and the name stuck. As the show gained in popularity, more and people started showing up to watch the performances. A larger studio was built, but the audience continued to grow.
Following the need for a bigger venue, the Opry moved into the Hillsboro Theater in 1934, and then kept on changing venues until it finally moved into the Ryman Auditorium on the 5th of June, 1943. The Ryman remained the permanent home of the Opry until 1974, and saw some of the greatest country legends of all time perform on its stage.
In 1974, the company felt that a bigger more permanent venue was required since the crowds gathering for the show exceeded the three thousand seat capacity of the Ryman. A special concert house was created for the Opry, called the Grand Ole Opry House, which opened in 1974. But as a tribute to the Ryman’s stage, a six foot oak circle was cut from it and placed in the new house’s stage. Performers stand in the circle to perform.
Legacy:
The Opry has been a dedicated to honoring country music, and the artists who have spent their careers popularizing the genre. It showcases both contemporary chart topping artists and country music legends, who perform country, folk, bluegrass, gospel and sometimes comedy skits as well.
Being a member of the Grand Old Opry is considered one of the greatest honors a musician can achieve. Country Music’s oldest “hall of fame”, its members are inducted based on their careers, but once a membership is won, it has to be maintained, by coming back and performing at the legendary stage.
Looking over the list of Opry members, it would not be wrong to say that it has defined the country music genre. Every Opry show is special, but the one’s held in the Ryman are considered even more so. So go to the home of country music and enjoy an entertaining evening featuring some of the greatest country music talent in the country.