No, this isnât a paid advertisement by the Grand Ole Opry. Itâs just an acknowledgment of how fortunate Nashville is to have an entity like the Opry, which entertains house crowds and radio listeners four nights a week. After more than 90 years, the Opry is still going strong, and it shouldnât be taken for granted, which is why Iâm a little embarrassed I hadnât been to an Opry show in more than a year, until last night (Feb. 28).
On a nondescript Tuesday night in February, there was only one show in the worldâthat I know ofâthat featured legendary acts (Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, John Conlee), Top 40 radio stars (Dustin Lynch, Chris Janson), an award-winning bluegrass troupe (Flatt Lonesome) and groundbreaking icons (Deana Carter, Travis Tritt).
Yep, Iâm talking about the Grand Ole Opry, where in one sitting I heard âAll the Gold in California,â âYouâre the One,â âCowboys and Angels,â âStrawberry Wine,â âBackside of 30,â âBuy Me a Boatâ and âItâs a Great Day to Be Alive,â not to mention close to 20 more songs.
From 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the Opry was 150 minutes of well-oiled machinery, with more than a handful of impromptu/exciting/entertaining moments, including:
- Larry Gatlin dancing with multiple ladiesâand one manâin the audience while performing âHouston.â
- Chris Janson making his 183rd Opry appearance and earning a standing ovation for âHoldinâ Her.â
- Deana Carter debuting a new song, âLive a Little Everyday.â
- Dustin Lynch celebrating the five-year anniversary of his Opry debut with the song that kicked-started his career, âCowboys and Angels.â
- John Conlee filling in at the last minute for an under-the-weather Whisperinâ Bill Anderson.
- Flatt Lonesome playing their 2016 International Bluegrass Music Song of the Year, âYouâre the One,â a tune written by Dwight Yoakam.
- Travis Tritt celebrating his 25-year anniversary of becoming an Opry member with a 30-minute set that included a plaque presentation and Travis telling the crowd that being an Opry member is âthe biggest honor of my life.â
The Opry is worth the price of admission, and I wonât be waiting another year to return.
Check out the photo gallery from last nightâs show by photog Chris Hollo.
Watch a few video clips of Travis, Deana, Chris and Dustin in action from last night.
Itâs a great day to be alive at the @opry with @Travistritt pic.twitter.com/xVh7OJMXcX
â Nash Country Daily (@NashCntryDaily) March 1, 2017
Whatever @janson_chris is selling, weâll buy it, including a boat pic.twitter.com/voARjfWKsX
â Nash Country Daily (@NashCntryDaily) March 1, 2017
Small town boy @dustinlynch (Tullahoma, TN) is singing his new single âSmall Town Boyâ at the @opry pic.twitter.com/9FhDETg5d1
â Nash Country Daily (@NashCntryDaily) March 1, 2017
The sweetest elixir is @DeanaSings singing âStrawberry Wineâ pic.twitter.com/MRoZ7psVj1
â Nash Country Daily (@NashCntryDaily) March 1, 2017
All photos by Chris Hollo/2017 Grand Ole Opry