Little Jimmy Dickens performing on the Circle of Wood at the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville TN in 2004 - Photo Anne Hornyak
On Tuesday, the Grand Ole Opry returned home to its grassroots and ended its wandering ways after a $20 million restoration ended after floodwaters swamped the theater in May.
As the curtains rose for the first time, the “Country Comes Home” celebration started with a magnificent interpretation of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?”
The stars who joined the 2-hour show were Brad Paisley, Jason Aldean, Trace Adkins, the Charlie Daniels Band, Mel Tillis, Little Jimmy Dickens, Blake Shelton, Montgomery Gentry and many others.
Before the big night, Paisley stated, “If you could get this line-up together in any given place and any given time, it wouldn’t be the same as it will be on Tuesday night.”
He added by saying, “The fact that it’s the first time for us to all play the Opry House after this disaster symbolizes the rebirth of this place.”
The nation’s longest running radio program has been traveling around from one Nashville venue to another like the War Memorial and the Ryman Auditorium as they repaired the Opry house which has been the show’s home way back in 1974.
The Cumberland River spilled out and covered the Opry house when the water rose about four feet. According to reports, the flood damaged memorabilia, archival tapes and damaged instruments.
Repairs were completed quickly as possible with construction crews working around the clock to restore the venue. The important artifacts and things of the past were recovered. The original ‘circle of wood’ from the Ryman stage where many country greats performed was laid back to rest.