Speaking of roots, this past weekend I had an opportunity to experience one of the pillars of American music. The Grand Ole Opry has aired a new show every Saturday night since 1925 without missing a week. Countless legends have graced the Opry stage, whether at the Ryman Auditorium or at the Opry House, and it has been called "the home of American music."
The set-up of the Opry is brilliant - performers ranging in style from bluegrass to bubble-gum pop-country and in age from young to old perform two songs apiece, broken up by performances and banter from four different hosts. You could feel weight of the place from the time we walked in the door, and every artist who stepped on the stage displayed a reverence for where they stood.
While the highlight of the night was watching mandolin legend Jesse McReynolds, I appreciated the entire experience, particularly the way the hosts and regulars incorporated so many different elements of country music. I've never been much a fan of the honky-tonk steel guitar, but hearing it from that stage gave me a new perspective. I've been listening to Hank Williams and Patsy Cline all week. Without further ado, here's an Opry staple that we got to hear live this past week:
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