No trip to Nashville would be complete without a visit to the Grand Old Opry so, after saying goodbye to the Elephant Sanctuary and Hurricane Mills, we returned to the city to spend Saturday night at the “show that made country music famous.”
It was awesome.
The Grand Ole Opry has been broadcasting live on the radio every Saturday night for decades, and being in the audience is amazing.
The auditorium is set up with pews – like a church – because, to many people, this is akin to a religious experience.
The show itself is set up in four segments, with a different host for each one who introduces the performers. In between, the announcer does the station identification and sponsor commercials.
Although all the artists are related to country music, there’s an eclectic variety of genres and performers. Some are legends, some are first-timers. Some of their songs are classics, some will become classics. Some are hillbilly, some are rock. That night, we got to see, among others, the Willis Clan – one of my favorite acts on America’s Got Talent – Lucy Hale from Pretty Little Liars and Little Jimmy Dickens, who, at 93, is the oldest member of the Grand Ole Opry and still going strong.
But the one who blew me away, who I’ve been listening to on repeat since that night, is Mary Gauthier.
Wow.
To me, there’s nothing better than being introduced to a new artist who really touches me in some way, and I feel so lucky to have been in the audience to hear her that night.
The next morning, we went back to the Grand Ole Opry for a backstage tour. This is a must-do because it’s just so much fun. The history is fascinating and the membership list is a who’s who of country music, from Dolly Parton to Carrie Underwood.
Blake Shelton welcomed us via video, and then we started exploring.
We walked through the set of Nashville, the TV series.
We saw the dressing rooms, the Green Room, the mailboxes where members receive their fan mail (Brad Paisley gets the most),
and we even got to stand on that world-famous stage.
There’s something very special about getting up there in that magic circle – a circle that was moved from the Opry’s original home at Ryman Auditorium and has remained unbroken despite the 2010 flood which inundated the venue and left it permanently scarred.
I can pretty much guarantee this is the only time you’ll see me in that circle.
But Michael?
Well, this just may be a new beginning for him. He seized the moment and totally looks like he belongs there, don’t you think?
So, while we ponder a move to Nashville for Michael’s new career, we can easily picture ourselves spending Saturday nights at the Grand Ole Opry and the rest of the week at all of those other Music City venues, big and small.
Although we never considered ourselves country music fans before, this trip has opened our eyes — and ears — in so many ways and we’re so grateful to Buick for making it happen.
Now, on to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel …
You actually do look like you belong in that circle. I would so love to visit there myself and is definitely on my bucket list. 🙂
Ha ha! Love you for saying that! Can’t wait to see your picture there one day!
How fun and Michael does look like he belong there. Good luck on his future singing career. 🙂
I agree with you, you can’t visit Nashville without visiting the Grand Ole Opry. There is so much history about country music there.
I definitely want to do this one day. The Grand Ole Opry is such an iconic place and event that you have to do if you visit Nashville.
I can’t wait for Nashville to come back this fall! After seeing the show, now I really want to tour the city.
When we were in Tunica we made a trip through Nashville but didn’t have time to stop and see anything. I think we only stopped to eat. Maybe on our next trip I will get here
How fun! I am loving the Buick Bucket List series- keep it coming!
More coming! Thank you so much for the nice words – and for following my journey!
What a great opportunity! I bet you have a blast!
This trip sounds amazing! I have been following it since the beginning and wow! The Grand Ole Opry is a dream of mine, I have been a country music fan since well I can remember and don’t even get me started on the show Nashville, my favorite show of all time! Thanks for sharing this!
It looks like you two have a blast wherever you go. So keep going and keep sharing!
I’d love to visit the Opry!
I have always wanted to visit there and now that we moved to the other side of the country it looks like this is as close as I will ever get. It looks like you had a great time, thank you for sharing so I could at least see some of it.
My parents took us to the Grand Ole Opry when I was little. Let’s just say my brother and I were less than thrilled. LOL. However, I gained a new appreciation for country music now that I am older. Now that I am an adult, I would love to go back. It looks like you had a wonderful time!
Oh, the Grand Ol’ Opry, how fun! And I LOVE that show, “Nashville”! What a great experience!
How cool you got to sit in the audience and tour the building. Being on stage looked like so much fun.
That’s one place that I’m really hoping to visit someday. Just for the history and contribution to music.
I’ll always regret having been in Nashville and not going there. I need to go back.
I love your journey! Looking forward to your next stop. I stayed at the Gaylord Nashville. Great experience.
I am not a huge country music fan so I only clicked the “play” arrow on your video because I know you have great taste in music. What a treat!!! Thank you for the backstage tour and introducing me to a beautiful new artist.
FUN! Adding to my bucket list.
You and Michael are so stinking great, and you both looked mighty right standing there in that circle. If they haven’t done so yet, the Tennessee Tourism Board needs to hire you, ASAP. You have certainly expanded my bucket list. 🙂
Oh My GOD! I want to go there so bad!! I am floored to know that Lucy Hale is a singer too! Is it fair that one person has all that talent and good looks too? I cant wait to go there!
How amazing is that place!! I never realized just how large and grande it truly was!
Oh wow what a neat experience to get to stand on the stage where many of famous singers sang!
Looks like you two are enjoying yourselves a lot on this trip!
What a neat place to visit! The history and then how it survived the flood, so incredible!
Sounds like it was a amazing trip. I love the pictures.
I enjoy your travelogues. And, you look great on stage!
I find myself eagerly looking forward to your next post to see what other adventures you’ve been up too. What a fun and exciting opportunity this was…and yes, Michael totally looks like he belongs up there. 🙂
To visit The Grand Ole Opry is totally on my own bucket list! What an amazing experience! This sounds like a great trip!
That’s really awesome! I had never even heard of the Grand Ole Opry before today (yikes). I guess you learn something everyday! Michael looks like he was made for that stage!!
Sounds like so much fun! I think my daughter would really like the Lucy Hale video, she loves her!
What a great opportunity! Great to get that off the bucket list.
Very exciting. I love the Opry. Looks like you all had a great time.
I’ve been there a few times but haven’t taken the tour yet. It looks so cool!
Awesome! Looks like you had so much fun. What an amazing trip!
Looks like you had wayyyy to much fun! LOL
I want to go see the Grand Ole Opry! That is so cool 😀
Wonderful- such an amazing experience! Round of applause for Buick!
you have such a FUN bucket list!! can’t wait to see where you go next 🙂
This is definitely on my bucket list! I would love to go to Nashville and stand in that circle! Fun to see the mailboxes, too!
Going there is on my list of places I want to travel. Looks like a fun time!
I would totally enjoy this trip! WHat a fun destination!
I wanna go! The pictures are great. I think it would be such an experience!
what a fun bucket list item! I would love to go visit there sometime.
Oh my gosh you’re having such an awesome trip! I love all these photos you’re sharing – you look so happy 🙂
I definitely hope to visit the Grand Ole Opry one day! What fun! I especially love that you got to see the fan mailboxes and the Nashville TV Show set. I can’t believe how long Little Jimmy Dickens has been there. Did he sing “May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose?” That song is crazy.
What a wonderful place to visit – I was in Nashville back in college for a conference.
Wow, how cool is that! I’ve always wanted to see this as well- thanks for all the pictures- it was like I was there with you!
Awesome photos in the circle – I bet those are memorable!