May 6

We really played the tourist thing up today and took a Gray Line tour of Nashville in the morning and the tour of the homes of the stars in the afternoon. Our guide in the AM had moved here 10 months ago to try to break into the song writing business. He signed a contract on his first try with Garth Brooks! If Garth ends up using the song, he makes money. If it is never used, its all for naught. He is a great guide in the meantime as he tries to make it big. He pointed things out as we drove down Broadway and we stopped for self guided tours of Ryman Auditorium and the Country Music Hall of Fame. The building of the Ryman is a great story with Capt. Ryman a river captain, becoming a changed man after listening to Rev. Sam Jones in a revival tent. With his own money, he built the Union Gospel Tabernacle in 1892. After the Captains death in 1904, money was needed to keep up the building and it became a venue for all kinds of events from revivals, to political debates, and a wide variety of entertainment events. The name was changed to Ryman Auditorium. The Grand Ole Opry came to the Ryman in 1943. Between its stellar line up of talent that has played here and the amazing acoustics, it has earned the recognition as the “Carnegie of the South.” When the Opry moved to its new location in 1974, it ended up closing its doors and sat empty for 20 years. It’s amazing that it wasn’t torn down. After a huge renovation in 1994, it reopened its doors. Today it is a popular venue for all kinds of concerts. We would love to see a concert here but nothing was available during our short stay.

Ryman Auditorium

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is in a beautiful building with great exhibits “showcasing the cultural significance music and the lasting achievements of those who have shaped it.” It was interesting to learn a little bit more of the early entertainers and fun to see exhibits on those I know something about from the Roy Rogers and Gene Autry days to the present. Videos were playing and you could listen to some of the old records. Included in the hundreds of relics including Elvis’ gold Cadillac and his gold plated piano. They have a new exhibit that just opened on the influence of Bakersfield on the music scene in the 50’s and 60’s. During the Dust Bowl destitute farmers moved west with many settling in Bakersfield to work the farms and oil fields. They brought their music with them. By the 50’s and 60’s a new sound in country music was coming about. This was all news to me.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The tour included the State Capitol area and Centennial Park with the replica of the Parthenon. We want to go back and spend more time here tomorrow.

Our great guide, Monty, with the capitol building in far background.

The tour of the homes of the stars was very fun! Our guide was a bit of a fanatic and knew everything there is to know on the stars and their homes. The views of many of the homes are better seen during the winter when the trees are bare but we did see quite a few. Some are out in the country on ranches that are hundreds of acres. We saw mansion after mansion after mansion as we drove through the Oak Hill, Brentwood and Belle Meade areas. All these areas are a mix of new and old, some going back to pre Civil War days. Those built in the 50’s and 60’s that were thought to be palatial at the time, look small today and might be right next door to a magnificent mansion. We drove through these areas for literally hours. Belle Meade City is the third wealthiest city in the US. Faith Hill and Tim McGraw live in the most expensive of all the mansions that line these streets. It’s hard to imagine that there are so many people living in this area that can afford to live in the vast number of mansions! It is really unreal!

Us trying to catch a glimpse out the bus window on our "Tour of the Stars Homes" tour.