The Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium!.......

Historic Ryman Auditorium in Downtown Nashville at Night

It is Friday Night in Nashville, January 13, 2012.  The Grand Ole Opry is performing tonight in the historic Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville.   There is excitement in the air!



We Arrived Early.  Our Seats Were Where the Two People Are Standing

The Ryman was built in 1892.  It was originally named "Union Gospel Tabernacle".  It was renamed "Ryman Auditorium" in 1904.

Those Benches Got kinda' Hard After Two Hours!

Over the years, this storied landmark has been host to presidents and legendary performers of all genres.  The first sellout crowd at the Ryman occurred in 1911, when Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan  lectured there. 

Minnie Pearl and Hank Williams Live Again!---Welcoming Visitors to The Performance of the Opry

If you visit the Ryman website, you can get a complete review of the incredible history of this remarkable landmark.

We Love Opry Emcee Eddie Stubbs, Seen Here With a Member of Riders In The Sky.  True Story---On Sunday Morning, as We Departed Nashville for Home, Cindy Saw Eddie Stubbs Driving His signature Black 1996 Cadillac as We Passed Him on the Expressway.  How Cool is That?

But, on this night---last Friday---two admirers of country music were thrilled, along with the rest of the crowd, to be a part of the  performance, which featured Riders in the Sky, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Bill Anderson, Jeanne Seeley, The Whites, Connie Smith, Del McCoury, Jean Shepard, Restless Heart and Jesse McReynolds.

The "Rolls Royce of Country Singers", Miss Connie Smith

Vince Gill

Ricky Skaggs

After the two hour concert, which is actually a two-hour radio program that is broadcast throughout the United States and Canada, Cindy and I strolled down Broadway, where the honky tonks were bursting at the seams with revelers.  That night, we slept soundly, with dreams of Hank and Johnny and Loretta.......

Over on Broadway After the Concert, We Stopped in at Ernest Tubb's Famous Record Shop

After the Concert, We Strolled to Printer's Alley, Where Nightlife Used to reign; But Today, It Has Fallen on Lean Times