February 15 • The Grand Ole Opry
This entire trip was planned around going to see Sawyer Brown at the Grand Ole Opry. Everything up to this point was just added fun. I’ll be honest with you and say I never heard of Sawyer Brown until I met Kevin, but he actually went to their concerts as a kid. We were very excited about this experience, this has been something we have talked about doing since we met. We both really wanted to go to Nashville and visit the Grand Ole Opry. I didn’t realize the Grand Ole Opry is basically just a live radio show, not a location. With that being said we didn’t know that every artist would only perform a short set and then the next artist would come on. Of course, seeing Sawyer Brown was the highlight of the show for us.
We decided to get the full package at the Grand Ole Opry, there was a VIP room before the show and a backstage tour after the show which started at 7:00pm. The Circle room was a nice quiet room with drinks, appetizers and a little history of the Opry given by John Conlee. John Conlee was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 1981 and was a wealth of knowledge and history. The room wouldn’t have been complete without Johnny B (one of the host) he has worked at the Grand Ole Opry for a long time and was able to give us lots of information and facts. We wrapped up our pre-show room and headed to the auditorium for the main event.
We got seats in the second row on the left side of the auditorium. Little fact they made the new Grand Ole Opry to feel like the original Ryman Auditorium which was originally a church. The seats are like church pewst and the acoustics in the auditorium are amazing. I sat next to a lady that was friends with Lynda Randle who was performing at the Opry for the first time. Lynda’s brother is Micheal Tait of DC Talk and the Newsboys. It was funny hearing stories from Lynda’s friends of growing up together while we waited for the show to begin.
Well of course we were excited when Sawyer Brown came on stage even though it was only for a few songs. The energy that Mark Miller had was crazy, I can only hope that when I’m in my 60’s I have as much energy and stamina that he does. The performance was perfect and just made us want to go and see them in a full concert. Although Kevin was disappointed he wasn’t able to see them after the show, he really wanted to get a picture with him to match the one he has from when he was a kid. Guess that just means we will have to make sure we go to a Sawyer Brown concert very soon.
There was a full line up Sawyer Brown, John Conlee, Daily & Vincent, Lynda Randle, Frank Ray, Chris Young and Leanne Morgan did the intermession. If you have ever heard the radio show Grand Ole Opry that is exactly how the line up worked. There was a “ON AIR” sign when the show started and everything was done live. A band would play and then the announcer would come up and do the commercials live and announce the next band. We enjoyed all the artist that performed and pretty sure we will be back at some point in our life for another show.
After the show we did the backstage tour. Although this was a neat experience we were a little bummed that none of the artist stayed after the show to do meet and greets. We did get to stand on the stage and walk through all the rooms. There was the room they fix instruments, a mail room, the room with all the plaques and all the dressing rooms. The tour took about an hour and was fun little bits of history we never knew before. I would say if you are a big fan of the Opry you should at least do this once but, one time is enough.
The entire experience of the Grand Ole Opry was perfect. We enjoyed every moment and so happy we had this opportunity. As I write this blog I know how blessed we are not only to have each other but to be able to have these experiences. This was the day before our anniversary and it was such a fun way to celebrate our time together. I look at these pictures and it reminds me how much I love my husband and spending time with him. I feel we are truly and completely happier then we have ever been in our life.
