Congratulating the Grand Ole Opry on 100 Years

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true American treasure that I have the privilege to represent in Congress. This year marks 100 years since the Grand Ole Opry first introduced audiences around the world to country music and to Nashville.

My home state of Tennessee is known for many things. If you had to list some of the most prominent, you might think of the Great Smoky Mountains of Elvis Presley, but you would most certainly include the Grand Ole Opry.

Nashville is known around the world as Music City USA. That would not he the case had it not been for the Opry. But the longtime show isn't exclusive to Tennessee's story. No, it's part of American culture.

The Opry was around before the Great Depression and World War II. It has seen a lot, endured a lot, and served as a beacon of hope decade after decade.

The program's venue has moved within Nashville a few times, but it is primarily known for two locations the Ryman Auditorium off Broadway and its current location on Opry Mills Drive. Both locations enjoy hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

Without the Grand Ole Opry, we would likely not know the names Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, or Willie Nelson. Heaven-forbid, we might not even know Dolly Parton had it not been for the show.

WSM, those are its call letters, was one of the fist radio stations to connect urban and rural culture. The Opry was also a first to transform a hobby into a marketable and lucrative industry.

Crossover artists are not uncommon today. But they were virtually nonexistent before 1925. The Opry hosted honky-tonk, bluegrass, gospel, and rockabilly performers. This paved the way for what we know today as country music.

From music legends to up-and-comers, musicians around the world rightfully revere the Grand Ole Opry as a place of prestige, history, and continued relevance.

There are fewer than 100 members of the Grand Ole Opry. It is indeed an elite crowd of men and women who made the world better, who embody country music, and who are part of our shared heritage as Americans. In fact, that membership sits at the top of dozens of obituaries among some of our nation's finest performers.

This year, TripAdvisor ranked Nashville 6th among the best American travel destinations. More than 17 million people visited last year. That is in large part because of the influence of the Grand Ole Opry over the last 100 years.

Mr. Speaker, any seat in the house will do at the Grand Ole Opry. To beat witness to the iconic barn background behind the stage, the lights that look like stars above you, and the acoustics around you makes for an unforgettable evening. No matter how many chances I get to see a show in person, I always sense the history, the importance, and the joy that the Grand Ole Opry represents.

As the United States Representative of Tennessee's 6th Congressional District, I rise today to enthusiastically congratulate the Grand Ole Opry on a century of entertainment and a century of significance. I am confident the man or woman in my shoes 100 years from now will feel compelled to do the same.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source