Country’s Capital
Nashville is the undisputed capital of country music, that most American of music styles. The city’s influence in the development of country music can be traced back to one singular phenomenon: the Grand Ole Opry.
“We like to say that the Opry is the show that made country music famous,” said Wayne Chandler, director of sales and group services for the Grand Ole Opry. “The Opry is celebrating its 92nd year, and it has such a varied history. When you see old pictures of a family sitting around listening to the radio, they were listening to the Opry. We’re still carried live on the radio, but we’re also on satellite radio and have online distribution, so there are 1.5 million people listening to each one of our shows.”
Opry shows take place year-round on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights, either at the Opry House or at the historic Ryman Auditorium downtown, where the show got its start. Each show features a lineup of numerous artists, which often include country superstars as well as up-and-coming artists.
Groups that visit the Opry should take advantage of the fantastic backstage tours, available whether or not there is a show that night. On the tours, guests see the area where technicians and musicians work and get to step inside several of the themed dressing rooms that have been used through the years by their country-music heroes.
“Tours end by going onto the stage,” Chandler said. “In 1974, when we built the Grand Ole Opry house, we cut a six-foot circle of wood out of the Ryman stage and placed it in the center of the stage at the Opry house. So, they are the same boards that Elvis Presley and Patsy Cline and Hank Williams Sr. and all the legends stood on. Groups can come and stand in that circle after touring the backstage area.”
Home of the King
Since his arrival on the scene in the 1950s, Elvis Presley has personified American cool for generations of young people. Elvis died in 1977, and soon after, visitors began flocking to his Memphis mansion, Graceland, to pay their respects and reminisce about this singular entertainer.
“We opened the doors in 1982, and since then, we have welcomed 20 million people through the front door of a place that meant quite a lot to Elvis,” said Kevin Kern, director of public relations for Elvis Presley Enterprises. “Graceland is really a time capsule, and the whole experience tells the story of the roots of rock ’n’ roll and the birth of music in this area.” So the museum not only covers the lives of Elvis and the Presleys at Graceland but also tells the story of rock ’n’ roll, he said.
Self-guided tours of Graceland showcase the home much as Elvis left it, complete with 1970s decor, original furnishings and cherished family mementos. To give additional insight, each guest is issued an iPad that is preloaded with details about various aspects of the house, along with family photos and videos that help bring the mansion to life.
If you have serious Elvis fans in your travel group, consider treating them to the Ultimate VIP Experience, a private, docent-led tour of the home that includes lunch or dinner, as well as the opportunity to put on white gloves and interact with some Elvis artifacts. Groups of up to 15 can participate.
Of course, touring the mansion isn’t all there is to do at Graceland. This spring brought the opening of Elvis Presley’s Memphis, a new 200,000-square-foot museum and visitor center.
“The crown jewel is our exhibit ‘Elvis the Entertainer,’” Kern said. “This is where the added space allows us to go further with our storytelling. We start at chapter 1 of the Elvis story with Sun Studios. We have about 30 of his jumpsuits on display, and for the first time ever, we have all of his gold records and Grammy awards on display.”
Also new is the Guest House at Graceland, a $92 million, AAA Four Diamond resort with 450 guest rooms and two restaurants.
For more information go to www.tnvacation.com
