Every country artist remembers their first time.
The first time they played theGrand Ole Oprythat is.
It’s what country music singers dream of professionally."
Credit: John Shearer/Hand in Hand/Getty Images
Jeannie Seely just marked her own milestone: 53 years as an Opry member.
So it’s where I love to be.
I’m never happier than when I walk from backstage out front to greet that audience."
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Perhaps most amazingly, the music never stopped during the pandemic.
Paisley, Janson, and Seely all experienced performing during this deeply surreal time.
“They kept calling me every week to tell me where my record moved up in the national charts.
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And I was happy to hear that, but my question was always ‘Did Mr. Devine call?’
They didn’t do a big presentation back then, like they do now.”
“It was my dream to be a member.
I knew I could play it any night that I wanted, that was the point.
If this becomes your home and you’re a member, it’s yours if you need it.
Throughout the pandemic, boy, has that come true.
It’s like, it’s a place to play.”
And I pointed out, ‘We’ve got an audience all over the world.’
When I walk out there, I’m not just entertaining the people that are in the building.
I’m aware there’s people listening all over the world now."
He brought his own stool and microphone and realized that the latter had probablyalwaysbeen a good idea.
“It was just an amazing time.
Even though there was no crowd there it was still special.
There was something easy about it, no pressure for the first time on the Opry ever.”
As long as that’s going on, we have something to hang onto from the life before.
I think in some ways this pandemic’s been good for the Opry.
She also fought– and won– to have women as presenters.
“I don’t resent the new ones coming in.
So it’s really a good responsibility as well as a joy to see that happening.”
“When I was inducted I was the youngest member at the time,” says Janson.
I think that’s good for the Opry and continues to make it fresh."
“I’m sure there was grumbling with me too,” says Paisley.
Unlike other historic institutions, the Opry has no chart or touring benchmarks inductees have to meet.
“I think it’s about, do you add to this place in a great way?
The Country Music Hall of Fame is one of the best museums in America.
It’s where you go see the artifacts, it’s where you go see the historical record.
The Opry is a zoo.
It’s where you go to see the musicians in their simulated habitat.”
