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These Facts About Grand Ole Opry Might Surprise You!

Grand Ole Opry is regarded as the world’s longest-running radio show and helped many artists to find their way into the showbiz industry. It is often called the ‘country music’s most famous stage‘. The first show of Grand Ole Opry was aired on 28th November 1925 in the office of National Life & Accident Insurance Company.

One of the founders of the insurance company was a big fan of radio shows, so he built a radio studio to fulfill his fascination with radios. The live shows conducted there became insanely popular, leading to the radio show moving to Hillsboro Theatre in 1934, now known as Belcourt.

The weekly radio broadcast shows ran for more than 4,600 Saturdays, solidifying their place in American entertainment history. These Saturday shows were broadcast on SiriusXM satellite radio and WSM-AM, a local radio station in Nashville. Over time, the popularity of the broadcasts led to the inclusion of additional shows on Friday nights and occasionally on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, depending on the season or special opportunities.

Nashville’s reputation as a home base for country music was significantly bolstered by the Grand Ole Opry broadcasts. The Grand Ole Opry, a powerhouse of home entertainment, played a crucial role in this reputation. Its concerts, which often featured live performances from country music legends, became a central part of its allure, drawing fans from all over the country. For many, attending these performances was akin to a pilgrimage, much like visiting a church, where the spirit of country music was celebrated and revered.

The Grand Ole Opry had six homes over its 95-year history. It moved from Hillsboro to Dixie Tabernacle in 1936, where it stayed for three years. After that, it remained at War Memorial Auditorium for four years before moving to the iconic Ryman Auditorium in 1943. Finally, in March of 1974, the Grand Ole Opry settled into its current home at the Grand Ole Opry House. The concerts held at each of these venues have become legendary, contributing to the rich history of country music and Nashville’s standing as a music city.

What was WSM Barn Dance?

It was christened as the WSM Barn Dance by its founder and it was named Grand Ole Opry in 1927 after George D. Hay, a radio announcer called it such in a show. He was inspired by the selection of classical music and grand operas played on the show. He would announce the opening of classical music jokily as ‘now the listeners would be enjoying the Grand Ole Opry’.

Premises of The Grand Ole Opry House used 15.8 million feet of cable with a giant transmission tower for broadcasting live shows to millions of people. The transmission tower is located at Brentwood Tennessee. It has been fulfilling ours since 1932 and was once the tallest tower in the USA.

The first performance on Grand Ole Opry

Uncle Jimmy Thomson was the first artist to perform for the Grand Ole Opry. he was 77 years old at that time. He was a fiddle player and played fiddle for National Life Offices on 28 November 1925. The music broadcast station has over 200 members who are famous and established artists of the music world from Hank Williams to Luke Bombs including Patsy Cline, Garth Brooks, Martina McBride, and Carrie Underwood. Its membership is regarded as one of the highest honors in the music industry that a music artist can be endowed with. The neighboring Ryman Auditorium which used to host the Grand Ole Opry has even hosted hip hop artists such as the Wu-Tang Klan!

Hank Williams is considered America’s first superstar in the genre of country music. His way to success was speedy and so was all the tribulations. He died at the young age of 29.

Who was Hank Williams?

Hank William rose to fame and established himself as a successful composer, singer and songwriter of American Country Music with smash hits like ‘Your Cheating Heart’, ‘Cold, Cold Heart,’ ‘Hey, Good Lookin’ and ‘I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive’. He dies in the backseat of his Cadillac in 1953.

Early Years

He took birth on September 17, 1923, in Mount Olive, Alabama. Christened as Hiram Williams by his family, the country superstar was considered to have been cut out of the village stock. He was third among his brother and sisters. He was brought up by his parents, Lon and Lillie Williams who had humble means.

His father joined the Veterans Administration hospital when Hanks turned six. He worked as a logger before that. His father was home rarely because of his job and he saw him less till he completed 16 years of age. His mother ran rooming houses. His family moved around in Alabama from Mount Olive to Greenville and later Montgomery.

He was suffering from a medical condition spina bifida which made him look weak and different from other children. He felt separated and aloof in society because of his physical limitations.

Church choirs and radio played an important role in helping him identifying and finding his natural inclination towards music. He learned to play folk music from a street musician named Rufus Payne at the age of 8. The African American street musician used to play blues.

He moved to Montgomery in 1937 and debuted on a radio show at the age of 13. At 14, he started participating in talent shows and made his band named Hank Williams and his Drifting Cowboys.
His mother Lillie supported him to chase his dream of becoming a musician. She used to drive her son and his band to reach different locations across Alabama for performances. For three years he performed at local gigs after he drew the attention of music producers in Nashville in the 1940s.

After collaborating with Fred Rose for three years, Hank Williams achieved commercial success in 1948 with smash hits like “Move It On Over” and “Honky Tonkin’.” These songs not only solidified his place in country music but also showcased his ability to blend traditional country sounds with elements of rock, creating a style that would later influence the development of rockabilly and rock and roll. His music’s energetic rhythms and rebellious spirit resonated with audiences, laying the groundwork for the crossover appeal of country and rock music.

He indulged in heavy substance abuse and alcoholism, sometimes to relieve himself from the back pain owing to his medical condition. He would often appear late on the location of shows drunk and not fit for performing. This started affecting his career as he became infamous for becoming an unreliable performer.

Though his career was brief as his life, he is one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. He died on 1 January 1953 at the back seat of his Cadillac in Oak Hill, West Virginia.

Carrie Marie Underwood was born on March 10, 1983, in Oklahoma, USA. Raised in her hometown, she began singing in churches at a young age, where she developed her love for music, particularly religious music, which greatly influenced her early career. This foundation in religious music instilled in her a strong sense of faith and spirituality, elements that have permeated much of her work throughout her career. In 2002, she attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah with aspirations of becoming a journalist. However, her life took a dramatic turn when she participated in American Idol two years later, eventually winning the fourth season of the competition in 2005.

Her victory on American Idol came with a recording contract from Arista Records, also known as 19 Recordings, leading to the release of her debut album, Some Hearts, in 2005.

The huge commercial success of Underwood’s first album established her as a promising alumnus of the American Idol. She toured with Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley in a 150-show in 2006 in support of her album. She decided to complete her graduation in the same year and passed her BA in mass communications with distinction for her alma mater.

‘Inside Your Heaven’ ranked 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list and her other songs from her album like ‘Jesus, Take the Wheel’ and ‘Before He Cheats’ were a massive hit. One year later, she won 3 Grammy Awards for her album including the best new artist. She featured in an episode of American idol.

Underwood featured in an episode of American idol in 2007 and sang a song by Pretenders, I will stand by you”. The Underwood cover is available on iTunes service on demand. The song was downloaded more than 300,000 times making it the first digitally released track to reach the top ten tracks of singles Billboard chart.

She was awarded as Single of the year 2007 for her peppy and groovy song ‘Before he cheats’ at the CMA or Country Music Association Awards. Carnival Ride was released in 2007. Her second album sold over half a million copies in its first week of release. She rose to prominence after this success and was inducted as a member of the coveted Grand Ole Opry in 2008 becoming one of the members of the 200 member group.

She again bagged an award at CMA Award for female vocalist of the year. This was her third and co-hosted the award ceremony with Paisley. After a year, she won her fourth Grammy’s for the best female country vocal performance.

Her duet with Travis ‘I Told You So’ which originally featured in her album Carnival Ride was released in 2010 winning her another Grammy in the category of best country collaboration. In the same year, the Academy of Country Music named her entertainer of the year for the second time consecutively.

She never backed down after her success. My Gift and My Saviour, her recent albums were released in 2020 and 2021 respectively. Both of them topped the country music album charts in the USA. Find Your Path: Honor Your Body, Fuel Your Soul, and Get Strong with the Fit52 Life are some of her motivational and self-help groups establishing her as an accomplished author. She has been referred to as ‘Reigning Queen of the Country Music’.

The sounds you hear in country music can truly stir your soul and stay with you forever. Country music is full of positivity and charm, often bringing out the best in people. It is a fascinating mixture of folk, blues, and church music, creating a unique blend that resonates deeply with its listeners.

In today’s music landscape, the fusion of genres has become more common, and this has given rise to exciting new sounds that blend the roots of country with other styles like electronic music. This fusion has brought a fresh and dynamic edge to the genre, appealing to a broader audience while still maintaining the heart and soul of traditional country. The rhythmic beats and synthesized sounds of electronic music add a modern twist to the classic storytelling and melodies of country, creating a genre that is both timeless and innovative.

Today’s modern country music scene is just as compelling as the classics written and sung by the old-timers! The message imparted by many of today’s country music artists remains life-affirmative, bringing people together in new and unexpected ways. Whether you prefer the traditional sounds or the modern blends with electronic music, there’s something for everyone. As you keep listening, you can enjoy singing along with the artists, feeling the blend of the old and new in each note. Read on to find out more about country music and its evolving landscape.

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