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Published: June 25th 2017
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Geo: 36.1682, -86.7772
For DH, the number one attraction of Nashville was the potential ogling of Cowboys in tight jeans, but for me it was the potential of a visit to the Grand Ole Opry. Because of popularity, the Grand Ole Opry abandoned its more intimate downtown theatre (that was also a church in an earlier incarnation) for a larger venue in the suburbs. But in the slower Winter season the show is moved back to the more intimate/authentic Ryman Auditorium and we were fortunate enough to grab a couple of last minute tickets.
The downtown of Nashville plays up the country theme with an overpopulation of saloons housing live country bands, wanna-be Cowboys/cowgirls, and Texas style drinking. After a day of marching DH around on her tight jean research mission. I did manage to talk her into both the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Johnny Cash Museum, but she drew the line at the George Jones Museum ("never heard of him"😉 but by that time we had done a pretty deep dive into historic Country Music. It was now time to go deep on some live country music.
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country-music stage concert which was
founded in 1925 as a one-hour radio "barn dance". It is the longest-running radio broadcast in US history. Dedicated to honoring country music and its history, the Opry showcases a mix of legends and contemporary chart-toppers performing country, bluegrass, folk, gospel, and comedic performances and skits. As it developed in importance, so did the city of Nashville, which became America's "country music capital". The Grand Ole Opry holds such significance in Nashville that its name is included on the city/county line signs on all major roadways (Nashville is also the first place that we've seen that has institutionalized southern speak on its' road signs- “Do Up Your Seat-belts Y'All”😉.
Our night at The Grand Ole Opry had us rubbing shoulders with Ricky Skaggs, Charles Esten, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Jessie James Decker, William Michael Morgan, and a number of others that were really weren't familiar with, but the mix of music made for a great night. And with it being a live radio broadcast, they would periodically cut over to a deep-voiced dude standing at the side of the stage who would read out some ad for a local insurance company or some other product. Perhaps the most endearing
element of the broadcast was the periodic participation of audience members in contests with the prize being a 'spiral ham'. I'm not sure what a spiral ham is but the idea of someone walking home after the Grand Ole Opry with a ham tucked firmly under their arm just made our night.
With DH on a high, I was able to talk her into a quick stop at the Dukes of Hazzard Museum. I knew this wasn't going to go over well because of the portrayal of corrupt police bumpkins in this 80's sitcom (you don't mess with the ‘thin blue line' when DH is around). I do love the idea that someone thought the world was in desperate need of a Dukes of Hazzard Museum and it fulfilled all of our low expectations.
Had a great time in Nashville and I imagine it's just insane in the peak summer season.
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IndyE
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Or maybe they're just protecting the bad acts from being "booed" off the stage in another way...