DISCOVER THE ROOTS TO COUNTRY MUSIC
Music City USA – Nashville, TN | By Paul Maher

	Opry member Vince Gill on the Grand Ole Opry Stage

To experience southern hospitality in a city rich with music traditions head to Nashville for a long weekend. Southwest offers direct flights from Tampa to Nashville. Upon arrival there are plenty of activities to entertain the entire family. The cornerstone of any visit to Nashville is an evening at The Grand Ole Opry. Watch country music’s newest stars, or the legends of country for a Saturday evening that may include over 88 singers, musicians and dancers.

Since 1925, the Opry is the longest continuous radio and musical show. “The Opry celebrates the rich diversity of all the musical styles under the country music umbrella,” said Pete Fisher, Opry General Manager. “The key to the Opry’s longevity can be attributed to its ability to evolve with the ever-changing musical landscape of the times.” The 67 members of the Opry include: Little Jimmy Dickens, Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, Martina McBride, and Trisha Yearwood. The newest member of the Opry is American Idol winner Carrie Underwood, the youngest member at 25. The Opry’s shows are held each Friday and Saturday with Tuesdays added from March through December. The beauty of each performance is that the lineup is not final until just a few days prior to the show. Stars’ schedules change and guests never know who might show up on stage. Tours of the Grand Ole Opry offer a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to put on the weekly musical show. View the dressing rooms and see where the stars receive their fan mail.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and Historic RCA Studio B offer insight into the past of the music city. The 130,000-square-foot museum includes a vast collection of historic video clips, recorded music and is home to an outstanding collection of artifacts. The newest exhibit Family Tradition: The Hank Williams Legacy offers personal insight into the Williams family. The exhibit had complete cooperation from family members including Hank Williams, Jr. and his sister Lycrecia Williams Hoover who provided personal heirlooms including clothing items, photos, Hank Williams’ fiddle and jewelry. Oral narration from family members describing thoughts and events are personal and inspiring.

Historic RCA Studio B provides guided tours of the studio where some of the most popular songs by Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley and Charley Pride were recorded. No longer a working studio since 1977, the studio attraction traces the history of the smooth Nashville sound.

A visit to Music City must include a night at the infamous Blue Bird Café. Originally opened in 1982 as a restaurant, today the Café serves as host to songwriters who sit “in the round” and perform for the audience. Three or four songwriters sit in a circle in the center of the small café, and sing songs and share inspirations with their acoustic guitars.

Stay at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, boasting 2,881 rooms and 220 suites, with restaurants, shops and entertainment all housed under the glass garden atrium with spectacular blooming flowers and lush, green trees and rushing waterfalls.


PLAN A VISIT TO NASHVILLE:

Grand Ole Opry
www.opry.com or 1-800-See-Opry

Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau
www.visitmusiccity.com

Tennessee Department of Tourist Development
www.tnvacation.com

Gaylord Opryland Resort
www.GaylordOpryland.com or 1-888-OPRY-872

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
www.countrymusichalloffame.com or 615-416-2001

Blue Bird Café
www.bluebirdcafe.com

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