The 1892 Union gospel tabernacle that launched country music’s biggest stars

Ryman Auditorium, Tennessee

The Grand Ole Opry (weekly country music stage concert and radio broadcast) found its home on June 5 1943 at Ryman Auditorium.

Built by riverboat captain Thomas Ryman, the 51-year-old building provided perfect acoustics for broadcasting in a 2,362-seat hall.

Here’s how it all began, and how you can experience both venues today.

The Opry’s Nomadic Journey Before Ryman

The Grand Ole Opry began as WSM Barn Dance on November 28, 1925, broadcasting from an insurance building’s fifth floor.

The show moved to Hillsboro Theatre in 1934, then to East Nashville’s Dixie Tabernacle in 1936, with its 3,500 sawdust-floored seats.

Soon after, the War Memorial Auditorium became its home in 1939.

Even the 25-cent ticket didn’t stop fans from packing the 2,200 seats. When rowdy audiences damaged the upholstery, War Memorial asked the Opry to leave.

WSM’s 50,000-Watt Signal Reaches America

WSM’s powerful 50,000-watt signal carried the Opry across nearly 30 states.

The 878-foot tower in Brentwood was among the tallest radio towers in America. Engineers designed it to provide clear reception over vast distances.

The broadcasts reached coast to coast and into Canada and Mexico, as families gathered around radios each Saturday night to hear Nashville’s music.

Roy Acuff Becomes Country’s First Superstar

Roy Acuff changed the Opry forever when he joined in 1938.

His powerful performance of “The Great Speckled Bird” captivated listeners, and as host of NBC’s Prince Albert Show, Acuff introduced country music to urban audiences.

By 1943, even Japanese soldiers knew his name, reportedly chanting against “Roosevelt, Babe Ruth, and Roy Acuff” during battle.

War Expands Country Music’s Audience

During World War II, Armed Forces Radio added the Opry to its broadcasts in 1943.

Military stations in 47 countries aired the show for homesick troops. Opry performers had been entertaining soldiers even before Pearl Harbor.

Musicians like Minnie Pearl, Eddy Arnold, and Pee Wee King toured these bases despite gas rationing and tire shortages.

By 1945, a military radio station in Germany reported that Roy Acuff was more popular with soldiers than Frank Sinatra.

Country Music Finds Its Cathedral

With no venue options left, Opry manager Harry Stone found an ally in Lula Naff, who saw the Opry as ideal Saturday night business for the Ryman.

When the Opry moved to Ryman Auditorium, every seat sold out, starting a tradition that lasted 31 years between Nashville institutions.

People called the Ryman the “Mother Church of Country Music,” a nickname that honored the building’s church background in music history.

The curved ceiling and wooden walls surrounded musicians who later claimed that their instruments sounded better at the Ryman.

New National Audience Transforms Nashville

The Opry’s broadcasts from the Ryman turned Nashville into a “Country Music Capital” as tourists flocked to see the shows live.

Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, located behind the Ryman, became famous as the place where stars relaxed before shows.

Record labels set up in Nashville to scout talent, sparking the rise of Music Row with studios, publishers, and other music businesses.

The Golden Age of Country Music Begins

The Ryman years launched careers that defined country music. Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs created bluegrass on that stage in 1945.

Hank Williams earned six encores in 1949 with “Lovesick Blues.” Elvis Presley performed there in 1954, though the audience wasn’t impressed.

Getting on the Opry became the biggest goal for country singers as membership meant steady work and national fame.

Challenges of the Ryman Years Begin

According to Ryman’s official site, the Grand Ole Opry called the venue home from 1943 to 1974. Despite its charm, the Ryman faced its problems.

With just one dressing room, stars often changed in hallways or nearby shops, while many waited at Tootsie’s bar to avoid the cramped backstage.

Summer heat tortured everyone inside the non-air-conditioned building. Tickets became nearly impossible to get as hundreds were turned away weekly.

Visiting Ryman Auditorium

Ryman Auditorium sits at 116 Rep. John Lewis Way North in Nashville. The venue opens daily from 9 am to 4 pm for tours, extending to 5 pm during summer.

Standard tour tickets cost $29.95 for adults, with discounts for seniors, military, and children. Tours run every 30 minutes with access to exhibits.

Downtown, the Ryman sits within walking distance of Broadway’s honky-tonks with nearby parking garages charging $15-25 daily.

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