The Best of Music City, U.S.A.

Nashville is indisputably, “Music City, USA.” Home to some of the most legendary music venues in the country, Nashville spectacularly documents the city’s influence on the evolution of music in America, especially country music. Here are some of the top sights for music fans making a pilgrimage to this city in the heart of American pop culture.

See tributes to Country Music legends at the Hall of Fame

Artifacts from country legends at the Country Music Hall of Fame

The Country Music Hall of Fame, located in the heart of downtown Nashville, has a beautiful façade made to resemble a piano with strategically placed dark window strips that mimic the placement of the black sharp and flat keys. You don’t need to be a country music fan to appreciate the history found in the Hall of Fame. From Bill Monroe’s guitar to Merle Haggard’s elaborate performance outfits, Elvis’ Cadillac to Hank Williams’ boots, and a video tribute to June Carter and Johnny Cash, the legends of early folk and country music are well represented.

The listening pods placed throughout the museum allow visitors trace the changes in country music stylings and the influence of radio broadcasting and recording technologies. Displays with the outfits of these beloved country stars really bring the exhibits to life, whether it’s one of Dolly Parton’s famous frocks or Taylor Swift’s gorgeous dress from the Grammys. The final room of the museum contains the plaques for the Hall of Famers themselves, where the most recent inductees include Bobby Braddock, Reba McEntire, and Jean Shepard.

See a show at Ryman Auditorium

The pew seating and bright stained glass at the Ryman Auditorium

Weave your way through Broadway’s honky-tonks, where many of today’s popular country stars paid their dues, and continue your musical tour of Nashville at the famous Ryman Auditorium. Originally built to house the revivalist movement of Samuel Porter Jones, the Ryman is affectionately known as the “Mother Church of Country Music” after it hosted the Grand Old Opry Radio Show for 35 years.

The pew seating and bright stained glass create an intimate setting that attracts some of the most sought-after performers. The Ryman also boasts the second-best acoustics in the United States, even better than New York’s famous Carnegie Hall. Pick up a copy of Nashville’s entertainment and nightlife weekly the Nashville Scene for the inside scoop on all the best shows in Music City.

Tour the historical Grand Ole Opry House

On stage at the Grand Ole Opry!

While all genres are represented in some way in Music City, there is no denying Nashville is the “Mecca” for country music enthusiasts. Those hankering for a taste of a good old-fashioned country shouldn’t miss seeing a show at the Grand Ole Opry House. Although the Opry is located further afield from Music Row, it continues the traditional live broadcasted radio show most nights of the week. The segments feature country stars, both new and old, from Carrie Underwood to 90-year-old legendary host Little Jimmy Dickens. You never know when there might be surprise guests, Opry member inductions, or debut performances. All of these special moments keep the magic of the Opry alive for the audience as well as musicians.

Take a backstage tour after the performance and see the themed dressing rooms, Opry member mailboxes, and get behind-the-scenes scoop from video clips narrated by Blake Shelton. One of the most interesting parts of the tour is being able to see all of the pictures from last year’s devastating Nashville flood and the subsequent restoration. The final stop on the tour allows visitors to stand on that famous wooden circle of the stage that has been the Opry’s signature over the decades. Standing in the same spot as virtually every country musician gave this fan the chills.

- Claire McConnell

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