We stepped into Gruhn's Guitars for a quick look... and then scurried out feeling like the employees could just smell our lack of musical talent from afar.
Then we visited the Country Music Hall of Famel, where we learned lots about country... but mostly, that we know virtually nothing about country.
They even have Elvis Presley's golden car down there. Pretty impressive collection.
A tour of a famous recording studio, Studio B, is included in the hall of fame's visit. Apparently they call it the 1000-hit studio, since at least 1000 of the approximately 50,000 songs that were recorded there became top 10 hits.
Dolly Parton recorded 'I Will Always Love You' there, and Elvis crooned his gospel songs here accompanied by this Steinway piano.
From there, we drove to Centennial Park to get some lunch in Calypso Café and to check out the perfect replica of the Parthenon that was built there for some world expo or other. Paris has the Eiffel tower, Brussels the Atomium, and Nashville, well... the Parthenon.
Squirrels in parks. They remain cute.
From there, we drove to the Grand Ole Opry House, a concert hall located some 20 minutes outside of downtown, which hosts country music's most famous live radio show on WSM radio: the Grand Ole Opry. We hoped to do a backstage tours there, but the tours were sold out for that afternoon. But a friendly cop saw us sulking on a bench and got is into a tour anyway. Thanks, friendly cop!
We were told we could take all the pictures we liked, as long as we didn't approach the artists. At one point, Darius Rucker walked right past us onto the stage to souncheck. (That was before we knew who he was... our bad.)
After the tour, we hung out on the plaza before the Opry House, because a little later there was a free concert by Jerrod Nieman.
It was at this point that we had the convo I posted to my Facebook with three 50-something ladies that were sitting close to us (and who took the picture of us below). One asked me "What state (!) are you from?" and before I could answer, another said "Why, she's from Tennessee of course!".
Minnie Pearl and Hank Williams lookalikes were posing at the entrance as the crowds piled in for the 7pm Grand Ole Opry Show. We had been informed earlier that it was sold out... but we thought, the backstage tour was sold out and the friendly cop got us in... so why not try our luck again? We went to the ticket counter... and whaddayaknow, 2 tickets had just freed up. Top seats. It was our lucky day!
So that's how we got to see a teeny tiny cowboy who recently turned 90 play country music...
... as well as Darius Rucker, former frontman of Hootie and the Blowfish (we are now fans. seriously.) ...
... good ol' Jerrod Nieman...
... Lady Antebellum (those guys of "It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk and I neeeeed you nooooow)...
Needless to say, we had a great night, and we felt very lucky to witness such an institution from country music live. When I get an iPhone, I'll surely download the Grand Ole Opry app to I can listen to the future shows too.
It was at this point that we had the convo I posted to my Facebook with three 50-something ladies that were sitting close to us (and who took the picture of us below). One asked me "What state (!) are you from?" and before I could answer, another said "Why, she's from Tennessee of course!".
Minnie Pearl and Hank Williams lookalikes were posing at the entrance as the crowds piled in for the 7pm Grand Ole Opry Show. We had been informed earlier that it was sold out... but we thought, the backstage tour was sold out and the friendly cop got us in... so why not try our luck again? We went to the ticket counter... and whaddayaknow, 2 tickets had just freed up. Top seats. It was our lucky day!
So that's how we got to see a teeny tiny cowboy who recently turned 90 play country music...
... as well as Darius Rucker, former frontman of Hootie and the Blowfish (we are now fans. seriously.) ...
... good ol' Jerrod Nieman...
... Lady Antebellum (those guys of "It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk and I neeeeed you nooooow)...
... and Carrie Underwood. (We sorta laughed when we found out her first hit song was something about Jesus driving her car. But other than that, this lady has lungs. Hiya.)
Needless to say, we had a great night, and we felt very lucky to witness such an institution from country music live. When I get an iPhone, I'll surely download the Grand Ole Opry app to I can listen to the future shows too.
The next day, we still made some time to visit the Ryman auditorium, which is where the Grand Old Opry was housed before it moved to its present location. This is where Johnny Cash and June Carter met. Where Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner made their début. Where Patsy Cline once sang 'Crazy'. This place breathes country.
After that, it's time to get on the road. Luckily Jesus is watching over us, or so Carrie Underwood's song would have us believe.
We totally forgot to take a snapshot of our cool little red chevy. I think this pic is probably the closest picture we have. Our car, obviously, was not that long.
From Nashville, we drove to Gatlinburg, a little town just outside the Great Smoky Mountains national park. This is rural Tennessee... and you know it.
We stayed at a gorgeous little inn just outside of town called the Buckhorn Inn. If you ever go to the Smokies, stay there. We had a breathtaking view of the Smoky mountains from our bedroom window.
The view.
Heaven. I could stay here forever. In this rocking chair. Watching that view.
Or figuring out the meditation garden.
Or sitting in the plush sofa reading.
And with this melancholic note, I leave you... two more road trip installments to go!
After that, it's time to get on the road. Luckily Jesus is watching over us, or so Carrie Underwood's song would have us believe. The coolest car followed us all day. We have much love for the green-and-orange beetle (or whatever car it was. It was cool.)Aaaah, Americans... they seem so normal. Until you see a sign like
this.
We totally forgot to take a snapshot of our cool little red chevy. I think this pic is probably the closest picture we have. Our car, obviously, was not that long.
From Nashville, we drove to Gatlinburg, a little town just outside the Great Smoky Mountains national park. This is rural Tennessee... and you know it.
We stayed at a gorgeous little inn just outside of town called the Buckhorn Inn. If you ever go to the Smokies, stay there. We had a breathtaking view of the Smoky mountains from our bedroom window.
The view.
Heaven. I could stay here forever. In this rocking chair. Watching that view.
Or figuring out the meditation garden.
Or sitting in the plush sofa reading.
And with this melancholic note, I leave you... two more road trip installments to go!
Tried to select a favorite pic, but couldn't! They're all so good!!
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