History, Venues, and Ticket Information for the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville
Dierks Bentley: The Opry's Youngest Member
Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry are almost synonymous with one another, and for good reason. Since its beginning days as the WSM Barn Dance in 1925, the Grand Ole Opry - which was renamed to its current moniker in 1927 - has paved the roads for country music and its performers. No visit to Nashville is complete without taking in a show amidst the legends and rich history that surrounds the Opry.
HISTORY OF THE GRAND OLE OPRY
- Established in 1925 as the WSM Barn Dance, just five years after the beginning of American broadcast radio
- Renamed "Grand Ole Opry" in 1927 after receiving immensely popular following to performances
- Small theater was built to accommodate 500 guests to watch live musical performances that were being broadcast
- Broadcasting power is increase in 1932, and the Grand Ole Opry is sent out via the airwaves across America
- Roy Acuff's 1938 performance of "The Great Speckled Bird" switches focus from instrumental to vocal performances
- In 1943, the Grand Ole Opry premieres at the Ryman Auditorium
- From 1949 through the 1960s, legends such as Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Minnie Pearl, Little Jimmy Dickens, Red Foley, Jim Reeves, Grandpa Jones, and others laid the foundation for future superstars at the Grand Ole Opry
- In 1974, the Grand Ole Opry moved to its current home approximately 9 miles from downtown Nashville in order to better accommodate large crowds
- By 1978, the show was being broadcast on PBS Television Network, before moving to The Nashville Network, and finally to its current home on Great American Country.
- In the 1980s and 1990s, country music became more popularized around the world as stars like Reba McEntire, Clint Black, Ricky Skaggs, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, Diamond Rio, and others become members.
- The new millennium has brought a new breed of talent to the Grand Ole Opry, including members like Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Trace Adkins, Terri Clark, and more.
GRAND OLE OPRY VENUES
- Grand Ole Opry House - Most of the time, the Grand Ole Opry is performed in its modern-day home in the Opryland - Music Valley area, located about nine miles from downtown Nashville. Free parking is available at the Opry Plaza parking lot near the Grand Ole Opry House. The venue has seating for 4,400 people with upper and lower levels available. The facility is handicap accessible, and a variety of concessions are available for purchase at the Grand Ole Opry House.
- When you're at the Grand Ole Opry House, be sure to look for the six-foot wide dark oak circle on the stage. This significant circle was cut from the Ryman Auditorium stage so that current performers can literally stand where the legends who came before them once stood.
- Ryman Auditorium - For four months out of the year, the Grand Ole Opry is now being broadcast from the Ryman Auditorium. Performances scheduled from November through February will take place at this historical venue, which is known around the industry as the "Mother Church of Country Music."
- Although notably smaller than the Grand Ole Opry House, performances at the Ryman Auditorium have a special air about them as visitors listen for faint sounds of Patsy Cline breaking hearts with "I Fall to Pieces" or Hank Williams' accusatory "Your Cheating Heart" reverberating off the pews.
PURCHASING YOUR GRAND OLE OPRY TICKETS
Vacations Made Easy is proud to offer tickets to Grand Ole Opry shows both at the Grand Ole Opry House and the Ryman Auditorium. Tickets purchased will be booked as "Best Available" so that you will receive the best seating possible at the time your order is processed. Weekly newsletters are also sent out each Wednesday when the Opry has announced the lineup for the upcoming weekend. Simply click 'Grand Ole Opry' for additional information and to purchase tickets.
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