A Few Notes
I was just five years old when I attended my first Grand Ole Opry show at the historic Ryman Auditorium. We were passing through Nashville on one of our family camping trips, the same month-long summer adventures I shared with you a few weeks ago. My dad had carefully mapped our route, my Aunt Janie was along for the trip, and our little family was making memories one campground at a time.
One of the highlights Dad had planned for our family camping trip was a night at the Grand Ole Opry. My sweet mom, Carol, had me all dressed up in the most adorable long red gingham dress. I felt so special that night. At some point during the show, rain began dripping through a small hole in the roof and onto me. I noticed it, but I was so captivated by the music that I never said a word. I didn’t want to miss a single moment. When the show was over, my mom realized I was soaking wet from head to toe. We laughed about it, but all I could think about was the music. Even at five years old, I knew there was something special about Nashville. I couldn’t have explained it then, but I left with a feeling that I would be back someday.
Years later, I was working with KYGO in Denver when Boy Howdy came through town for a concert. By then, I knew Nashville was calling, I just needed an opportunity to get there. That opportunity came from the band’s tour manager, Scott Olson. Scott took the time to introduce me to people, help me make connections and encourage me to keep pursuing the dream that had begun years earlier in that little red gingham dress at the Ryman. Those introductions eventually led me to a job I loved and to an entire community of people who welcomed me into the fold.
Looking back, I realize Nashville didn’t become special because I built a career there. It became special because people believed in me, opened doors for me, and made me feel like I belonged. Over the years, I’ve realized that’s what country music does so well. It welcomes people exactly where they are. You don’t have to know every artist or every lyric. If a song makes you smile, reminds you of someone you love, or takes you back to a moment you’ll never forget, you’re already part of the story.
As we continue building Top Shelf Country Cruise, that’s the feeling I hope every guest experiences the moment they step onboard. Not just that they are on an incredible vacation, but that they’ve found a place where friendships come naturally, music brings people together and everyone feels like they belong.
I’d love to hear your story this week – email them to me at ftts@scecruises.com.
When did you first fall in love with country music? Was there a concert, a place, or a moment that started it all?
Until we’re all back onboard,
– Ellen
One Stage. Six Artists. One Dream.
Long before they became the artists we know today, every country singer shared a common dream: hearing the words, “Welcome to the Grand Ole Opry.” Performing on the Opry stage is more than another performance. It represents a connection to the generations of artists who came before them and a place in the history of country music. Standing in that famous wooden circle is a moment many artists dream about from the very beginning of their careers. One of the special things about the Top Shelf Country Cruise ’27 lineup is that every artist joining us has experienced that honor.
Riley Green has brought his traditional country sound and authentic storytelling to the Grand Ole Opry stage, connecting with fans through songs that celebrate the people, places and moments that shape our lives.
Chris Young has become a familiar face at the Opry throughout his career. A Nashville native, Chris has built a reputation as one of country music’s strongest vocalists while continuing the tradition of the music that inspired him.
Lauren Alaina grew up dreaming about moments like performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage. Her journey from a young singer with big dreams to an accomplished country artist is a reminder of the dedication behind every success story.
Randy Houser has earned his place as one of country music’s great voices. His heartfelt performances and traditional country influences continue to connect with fans everywhere.
Jackson Dean represents the next generation of country artists carrying the tradition forward. His powerful voice and honest songwriting bring a fresh perspective while honoring the roots of the music.
Travis Denning has also stepped into that famous circle, joining the many artists who have experienced the incredible honor of performing on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
Every time these artists walk onto the Top Shelf Country Cruise stage, they bring more than their songs. They bring the stories, traditions and history that make country music so meaningful. If you haven’t booked your Top Shelf Country Cruise ’27 vacation yet, I’d love for you to join us. My hope is that from the moment you step onboard, you’ll feel exactly what I felt all those years ago in Nashville, that wonderful sense of belonging that country music has a way of creating. I can’t wait to welcome you aboard.
The Ryman, the Opry and a Circle That Means Everything
If you’ve ever walked through the doors of the Ryman Auditorium, you know it’s different. There is a feeling inside those walls that is hard to put into words. Long before the lights come up and the music begins, you can almost feel the stories that have happened there, the voices that have filled the room, the artists who have stood on that stage, and the generations of country music fans who have gathered together under that roof.
The Ryman became the home of the Grand Ole Opry in 1943, and for more than three decades it welcomed the biggest names in country music to its famous stage. Legends who helped shape country music history performed there, creating memories that still live on today. The Grand Ole Opry continues as the longest-running live radio show in the world, carrying on a tradition that has connected artists and fans for nearly a century. Today, the Opry continues to bring live performances to audiences every week, with the same commitment to celebrating the past while welcoming the next generation of country music artists.
During the years when the Opry called the Ryman Auditorium home, another Nashville landmark became part of that story. Just across the alley was Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. Between Opry performances, artists would often walk across the alley to Tootsie’s to relax, visit with friends, share stories and spend time with fellow musicians. It became a gathering place where artists could be themselves away from the stage, a place where friendships were formed, songs were shared and Nashville’s music community grew stronger. That connection between the Ryman, the Grand Ole Opry and Tootsie’s became part of the history and character of downtown Nashville.
In 1974, the Grand Ole Opry moved to its new home at the Grand Ole Opry House, but the connection to the Ryman was never forgotten. When we toured the Grand Ole Opry House, one moment stood out above all the others, the famous wooden circle at center stage. Many people don’t realize that circle isn’t just part of the stage design. It is a six-foot circle of oak taken from the stage of the historic Ryman Auditorium and permanently placed in the new Opry House when it opened. It serves as a reminder that while the Grand Ole Opry moved to a new building, the heart and heritage of those legendary Ryman years came with it.
For every country artist, standing in that circle represents something special. It is a connection to the artists who came before them, the stories that shaped country music and the incredible honor of becoming part of that tradition. Receiving an invitation to perform on the Grand Ole Opry is still considered one of the greatest milestones in an artist’s career. When my family toured the Grand Ole Opry House, my dad couldn’t resist making his own little piece of history. He pulled out his four-hole Hohner harmonica and played a few notes while standing in that famous circle. From that day on, he loved telling people he had “played the Grand Ole Opry.”
Even though I now call Nashville home, every time I visit the Ryman or the Grand Ole Opry, I still feel that same sense of wonder I felt as a five-year-old girl in a red gingham dress sitting inside the Ryman for the first time. Some places become more than buildings. They become part of who we are. For me, the Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry will always represent the heart of country music – the history, the people and the stories that continue to bring us all together.
– Ellen
What is the one thing visitors to Nashville should experience
if they want to understand country music?
We’d like to suggest one “area” that has so many elements of what country music is all about, that 5-block stretch of Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville. It’s sometimes referred to as the Honky Tonk Highway. Assembled in that part of town is the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum which is a must. Then there’s the Ryman Auditorium filled with unbelievable history of the genre.
And, of course, by then you’ll be thirsty, so you can choose from any of the waterin’ holes, or honky tonks and feel the country vibe with live music coming at you from all directions! There are LOADS of stages where you can watch up-and-coming singers and bands earn their tips. In fact, your dollars in those tip jars just might help a struggling artist become the next superstar!
– Lorianne and Charlie
Cruise Through From the Top Shelf Archives
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