CONGRATULATING THE GRAND OLE OPRY

On 2025-04-08, Representative John W. Rose (R-TN-6) delivered a floor speech titled "CONGRATULATING THE GRAND OLE OPRY" in the House.

CONGRATULATING THE GRAND OLE OPRY

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 63 (Tuesday, April 8, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 8, 2025)] [House] [Pages H1466-H1467] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CONGRATULATING THE GRAND OLE OPRY (Mr. Rose of Tennessee was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a true American treasure that I have the privilege to represent here in Congress. This year marks 100 years since the Grand Ole Opry first introduced audiences around the world to country music and to Nashville, Tennessee. My home State of Tennessee is known for many things. If I had to list some of the most prominent, I might think of the Great Smoky Mountains or Elvis Presley. I would most certainly include the Grand Ole Opry. Nashville is known around the world as Music City, USA. That would not be the case had it not been for the Opry. The longtime show isn't exclusive to Tennessee's story. No, it is 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. They are the Ryman Auditorium off Broadway, downtown, 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 names like 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. {time} 1015 WSM, those are its call letters, was one of the first 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 [[Page H1467]] nonexistent before 1925. The Opry hosted honky-tonk, bluegrass, gospel, rockabilly, and many other performers. This paved the way for what we know today as country music. From music legends to up-and-comers, musicians from 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 sixth 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 bear witness to the iconic barn background behind the stage. The lights that look like stars above you and the acoustics around you make 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 Sixth 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 that the man or woman who is in my shoes 100 years from now will feel compelled to do the same. Congratulating the Upperman Bees Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Upperman High School boys' basketball team on securing the first State championship in program history last month. The historic matchup was a nail-biter as the game was tied up for much of the night. Nonetheless, it ended with the Upperman Bees defeating the Tullahoma Wildcats 65-55. This TSSAA Division 1 Class 3A BlueCross basketball championship win at Middle Tennessee State University puts their team at 32-3 on the season. Again, I congratulate the players and their families. I also want to congratulate the coaches, including Head Coach Bobby McWilliams on the many hours they also put into this great win. Coach McWilliams says that focus was the key to their win. He says that his guys were locked in before they arrived at MTSU and it showed. Congratulations to the 2025 Tennessee State champion Upperman High School Bees. ____________________