Grand Ole Opry

This week I am in Nashville at the COMMON conference. I hosted a meeting for two days immediately prior to the major conference. Our meeting ended late Saturday afternoon. Over drinks a colleague suggested the Grand Ole Opry as something to do.

Well, everyone else already had tickets, so my option was to go alone. Not being a real loner, I almost didn't go. Good thing I didn't stay in the hotel to sleep.

What a great show on a late Saturday night. It started at 9:30 PM and went for over two hours. Those of you who know me know that's way beyond my bewitching hour. I'm tired now, but very glad to have been there.

I had been to the Grand Ole Opry about fifteen years ago to see our “friend” Lou Gerstner speak. This was a much better program. It's a beautiful auditorium with no bad seats. I had a great view from the mezzanine. The seating was a little unusual, think padded church pews. It would have been great to snuggle with Judy during the love songs, but that was not appropriate for the young lady I was seated next to. Same for the guy on the other side.

On the way in there are huge signs about no audio or video recording. The sign is thee just to increase your cynicism. I've never seen more camera phones in use (including mine), pocket video cameras, or expensive digital SLRs. When a name act was on stage there was a steady stream of fans to the stage to get a photo. There was even an usher to remind them to keep down so the front row people could see. The fans were almost as fun to watch as the acts. I don't get to many concerts, and the audience never did that at the operas I've been to.

The acts. Oh, the acts. I was drinking a Jack Daniels when the show was suggested to me. She said that the Charlie Daniels Band would be there. I thought it was Jack's brother, so it's got to be good. He was.

For those of you who have never listened to the live show on WSM, it is really four thirty minute programs, each with a performing host. Each show had three or four acts, plus one or two songs by the host. It is a real radio show, so we got to listen to the commercial announcements between the acts. Think Prairie Home Show with real commercials.

The first host was "Little" Jimmy Dickens, who was 87 years old, and proud of it. He's a tiny little guy, well worthy of his nickname. He opened with one of my favorites, “May the Bird of Paradise Fly up your Nose.” Excellent.

Jimmy then introduced Nel McDaniel who did “Stand up for America.” We were obligated to stand during the final verse, with American flags flying on the three huge TV screens. Phil Stacey followed.

After the obligatory Ribs and Chicken commercial, Jeannie Seely came on stage to host the second act and sing “Let me be your Hero.” He introduced Neal McCoy who sang about things that “Never Cross a Man's Mind.” Kellie Pickler was next. She did several songs, and I didn't take my eyes off the stage long enough to write down what she sang, but it was very good. The little girls clamored around in front of the stage with signs proclaiming their love for Kellie. At the end of the act she brought one especially cute little girl, maybe four years old, onto the stage. Way cute! Both of them.

Finally, there was a name I recognized! Vince Gill hosted the third act. Dare I say the crowd went wild! They knew him, too. He introduced Jean Shepard, another eighty something year old lady who did a very nice yodel for us. Next was a popular “local” group who performs every Monday night at some venue in downtown Nashvill: The Time Jumpers. They did bluegrass, and Vince played guitar with them. One of the songs was one of my old favorites, a Gene Autry hit from 1939, “South of the Border.” They are good, and if I am ever in Nashville on a Monday night, I will seek them out.

That section closed with the Grand Ole Opry square dancers. Hey, they are good. Not like the grandpas and grandmas we see coming to the convention in the basement of the Kahler Hotel in Rochester. These six people could move!

The last half hour was hosted by “Whispering” Bill Anderson who did an excellent rendition of “Hello, Mrs. Johnson.” He introduced Ralph Stanley who sang a perennial favorite, “The Unicorn Song.” We all sang along with the Green Alligator refrain. To offset that happy song, he also did “O Death.” That was a very emotional piece for me. I could see Louie, Jim and Lucy on their death beds all through the song. I do miss those old folks. They would have loved the show.

The last act was the Charlie Daniels Band. They were clearly the hit of the night. Outstanding. They played two numbers, “El Toreador” and then closed with “The Devil Came Down to Georgia.” He brought the house down.

Very professional. Excellent acts. Familiar songs. Fast paced pieces. Slow and painful pieces. A great evening. I'm still tired, but that's OK. It's well worth it to see those famous acts on a famous stage.