No visit to Nashville is complete without seeing and listening to the longest running radio show: the Grand Ole Opry. The show turns 100 this year so I knew I really should pay a visit to Music Valley.

The Opry’s most famous venue in Nashville is the Ryman Auditorium but the building was becoming so rundown that the show moved to a new theater in 1974 (more about the Ryman in another post). This new venue has been the home of the Opry ever since.

The new venue was designed to resemble the Ryman on the inside. On the center upstage is a circle portion of the original white oak stage from the Ryman, so the show never loses sight of its roots.

This is the Holy Grail of Country Music because of the legendary performers that once graced the white oak floorboards: Bill Monroe, Elvis, Hank Snow, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, George Jones, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Charley Pride, and many more.

I got to the Opry early on a Tuesday afternoon so I could sketch the building. The building does not hold a candle to the architecture of the Ryman but like the Ryman, the Opry is a product of its time.

The Opry usually broadcasts live shows three days a week. On this Tuesday there were seven acts booked. The Opry is a variety show and one of the acts I recognized was comedian Henry Cho. The other musical act I recognized was the bluegrass jam band Leftover Salmon.

Each artists plays three to four songs and then the show moves on to the next act with an MC providing commentary in between acts.

I was really impressed with the high level of musical talent in Music City. Like moths to the flame, Nashville is a beacon for talented musicians from all over the world and a great place to see and hear a sampling of this talent is at the Opry.