I love to travel and my most recent experience was to Nashville where I visited the Grand Ole Opry. This is best known for housing the longest-running radio show in America, and a country music institution since 1925.

The venue used to be housed at the Ryman Auditorium (which is a wonderful old building still in the heart of Nashville), until 1974 when it moved to its new location on the east side of downtown Nashville.  It now seats over 4000 people.

They brought the original circular oak stage with them in the move and incorporated it into the new stage giving the feel of ‘age’ to this new location.  This also means that the current artists appearing at the new venue are actually standing on the very same boards that the early singers such as Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley and many more, stood on.  It has a fantastic atmosphere.  Modern performers talk of the thrill they get from treading these same boards as their heroes.

The Opry is a very large venue but has a feeling of intimacy with comfortable seating.  It is a stage show and a radio show at the same time, hard to image.

Country music just abounds at the Grand Old Opry! I saw the Charlie Daniels Band and Carrie Underwood. It was so exciting; Carrie Underwood was a firm favourite with the crowd. No matter who you see, it is a heart stopping show in the home of Country Music.

When I was staying in Nashville I did some House Sitting for a lovely family.  Thanks so much to Trace & Pete, I had the best time and looking after ‘Sam’ was a highlight for me.  I really felt like I belonged in the town.

After Nashville, I moved on to a new ‘sit’ position but that is another story!
I can’t wait to get back to Nashville again.