Grand Ole Opry

 Day 171

Our campground was located ten minutes from the Grand Ole Opry. Being so close, we decided to look into the possibility of getting tickets to a show. I did a few searches and found the the next available show to be on the day we depart for Memphis, but there was a backstage tours available. Deciding this would be interesting we booked it for an 11:30 time. 

The drive to the Grand Ole Opry was quick and we found ourselves waiting in the gift shop for our tour to begin. When the tour started we were ushered into the Circle Lounge were a video of Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood walked us through the history of the Grand Ole Opry and what it means to a singer to perform in the famed circle, and hopefully…one day… be asked to join the family of the Grand Ole Opry.

The tour took just over an hour to do and both Lori and I were very impressed. The tour guide did a wonderful job and made you feel like you were part of the place. 

Grand Ole Opry.

$80,000 in Gibson Guitars went into this chandelier.  

The Circle Room is a private VIP lounge where the introduction to the Grand Ole Opry is played, hosted by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. 

From 1925 to 1974 The Grand Ole Opry operated out of a religious hall on Farherland Street in East Nashville, after that it moved to its existing location. 

Warm up and practice area for the bands.

Back warehouse of the building, heading towards the studio. 

Studio A where Hee Haa was filmed in the 1970s to early 90s 

Inside the studio, they played a brief history of Hee Haa and the music artists who guest stared on it. 

Filming Hee Haw

Hee Haw was filmed in front of a live studio audience. 

Performers entrance into the back warehouse and dressing rooms. 

This fountain was given to the Grand Ole Opry by Sarah Ophelia Colley Cannon, known to the world as Minnie Pearl when she passed away. Originally a gift from her husband for their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. 

Water fountain is placed at the entrance of the performers. 

Security desk and sign in for performers along with the offices, mailboxes and membership plaques. 

Every active member of the Grand Ole Opry has a mailbox inside the building. If you wanted to send a letter directly to a performer, just address the letter to the person, use the Grand Ole Opry address and it will be placed in their mailbox. 

Dolly Partons mail box. 

To become a member of the Grand Ole Opry is a big deal in the country music world. Normally they are unknowingly invited to join when performing onstage. This invite is emotional enough to bring the toughest country music singers to tears. When they become a member a plaque is placed just inside the performers entrance. 

There are eighteen dressing rooms in the Opry. Each room has a theme based on a historical performer or period. This is the Flag Room. 

It’s not uncommon for performers to crowd into one room and lightly jam together before the show. This is the friends and neighbours dressing room. 

Minnie Pearl themed dressing room.

It Takes Two dressing room. 

This lounge is the last room before the stage. It’s the gathering place for guests and performers to socialize, drink and snack before going on stage. 

The lounge is filled with historical photos. 

Back stage. 

Back stage.

Musicians area. 

Side view of the stage. 

Auditorium seats four thousand people.

Known to the performers as the Circle. This wooden section of flooring is from the original stage used since 1925. Every famous county music star has stood in this circle, and remains to be the aspiration, and dream of future country singers to someday perform in the circle. 

In 2010 the Grand Ole Opry was flooded with three to four feet of water. The circle appeared to have little damage to it, but was removed for some TLC before being placed back into the stage. 

Onstage VIP seating for performers family and friends. When performers are invited to join the Grand Ole Opry, the staff sneak the performers family and friends into the setting without the performers knowledge.

The seats themselves are from the original Grand Ole Opry location.  

View from the audience side. 

Unhealthy snack after the tour.