Nice today, low 80’s a bit overcast but cooler. Only took a little over an hour to get to Nashville. We were set up by noon and did some grocery shopping.
The van picked us up about 5:30 for the 20 minute ride to the Grand Ole Opry House for the 7PM show, which gave us time to walk around and see the building. It’s much bigger than the Ryman Auditorium which is where the Grand Ole Opry (GOO) originated 86 years ago and where we saw the show last year because this new building was under 4’ of water due to the floods. They have restored it and it’s beautiful and much bigger (hold 4400 vs. 1300 at the Ryman) but lacks the character of the original. The GOO is the longest running on air radio show in the world, starting in 1925. It’s a live radio broadcast complete with commercials every 20 minutes when the stage gets crazy as they get set up for the next act. Different performers each show, ranging from newcomers (we saw Danny Gokey and Justin Moore) to 80’s bands (Restless Heart) to the old timers like Jimmy C. Newman, Bill Anderson and Jimmy Dickens, who’s 90 years old, about 4’ tall, dresses in black and glittery rhinestones,a huge cowboy hat and can deliver a great punchline. He had us rolling in the aisles. Lots of historical stuff around but much more in the old building. A piece of flooring from the old building at the Ryman, an unbroken circle (think Johnny Cash) is on the stage right where the performers stand. Good entertainment, even the commercials are entertaining. Show lasts 2-1/2 hours and then we got back in the van and got home about 10PM.