Grand Ole Opry to celebrate 50 years in Opryland area in March
On Mar. 15, 1974, the then 50-year-old, nationally-broadcasted Grand Ole Opry radio program completed its move down Nashville's Briley Parkway from Lower Broadway's Ryman Auditorium to its own dedicated, 4,000-plus-seat Opryland venue.
Five decades later, on Mar. 16, 2024, Opry members who joined then-United States president Richard Nixon onstage five decades ago -- including Bill Anderson, Jeannie Seely and Connie Smith -- will join modern-day Opry members including Mandy Barnett, Clint Black, The Gatlin Brothers, Del McCoury, Gary Mule Deer, Don Schlitz, Riders In The Sky, and Mark Wills for a special night of performances.
Tickets for Opry shows and backstage tours are on sale now at (615) 871-OPRY and https://www.opry.com.
Beginning on the Opry House's anniversary weekend, the venue's backstage tours will include an array of artifacts from the Opry House's 50 years, including the jumpsuit Dolly Parton wore during the opening night of the Opry House and on the cover of her "Love Is Like A Butterfly" album (designed by Lucy Adams).
Regarding the Opry's members past and present, Dan Rogers, executive producer of the Grand Ole Opry -- while the Opry's senior marketing manager upon the venue's 40th anniversary in 2014 collaborated with author Brenda Colladay on "Backstage at The Grand Ole Opry," for which he spoke to Anderson, Seely, and Smith.
"[They] gave a voice to these walls. You always hear, 'If these walls could speak, and it kind of feels like they are, somewhat," stated Rogers to The Tennessean.
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On Mar. 15, 1974, George Morgan closed the show with "Candy Kisses," while Johnny and June Carter Cash sang "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" on the Grand Ole Gospel Time to end the evening.
Twenty-four hours later, Roy Acuff performed "The Wabash Cannonball" in front of 4,000-plus, including, among many, the President and Mrs. Richard Nixon, in an evening marked the first time a U.S. president had ever attended the Opry.
Nixon even played piano-led versions of "My Wild Irish Rose, ""God Bless America" and "Happy Birthday" in honor of his wife. Moreover, Nixon received an impromptu onstage yo-yo lesson from Opry favorite and yo-yo enthusiast Roy Acuff.
"I'll stay here and try to learn how to use the yo-yo; you go up and be President, Roy," joked Nixon.
Since then, evolutions from cable and terrestrial television to digital streaming have been encapsulated in over 5,000 performances at the Opry -- these include debuts, surprise appearances, collaborations and numerous new member inductions.
Also, 13 years ago, the Opry House succumbed to flooding in the Nashville area and closed its doors for nearly a half-year for restorations. Also, just four years prior, COVID-19 caused them to broadcast empty venue live streams for millions of fans worldwide.
Undaunted, the Opry House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015 and currently, the venue is the Academy of Country Music's Theater of the Year and nominated for the "Venue of the Year" at the Country Music Association's 2024 Touring Awards.
A Seely quote from 2014 sums up the Opry House's appeal for entertainers and fans alike.
"Once you go in that building, your mind is focused on the entertainment business. Everything else goes away."
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Grand Ole Opry to celebrate 50 years in Opryland area in March