The Grand Ole Opry is set to release BACKSTAGE at the Grand Ole Opry, a new book treating fans to an all-access, behind the scenes look at country music’s most famous show, on March 15. The release coincides with the Opry’s 40th Anniversary celebration of its permanent home, the Grand Ole Opry House. Throughout the book, some of country music’s most popular stars share their stories from backstage, colorfully illustrated by more than 250 exclusive photos. The book is co-authored by Brenda Colladay and Dan Rogers, who together have over thirty years of experience working behind the scenes at the Opry. Photos include dozens contributed by long-time Opry photographer Chris Hollo as well as vintage shots mined from the show’s large archive.
As Opry member Garth Brooks says in the book’s pages: “No offense at all to the people sitting in the seats, but the real show is backstage. That’s the Opry.” The story of Brooks’ nerve-rattling first night at the Opry is shared in the book as well as tales of Carrie Underwood’s improbable first encounter with the legendary Loretta Lynn and Vince Gill’s treasured time spent backstage with Opry patriarch Roy Acuff.
Opry member Dierks Bentley can be seen on the book’s cover standing backstage in the moments before a performance. “This book tells the story of one of my favorite places—backstage at the Opry—like never before,” Bentley said. “The Opry and its fans deserve this.”
BACKSTAGE at the Grand Ole Opry celebrates each of the one-of-a-kind dressing rooms found backstage at the Grand Ole Opry House and includes the history behind portraits of Opry stars who embody the spirit of each room. Among the portraits featured: Trace Adkins, Charlie Daniels, Jimmy Dickens, and Rascal Flatts.
Additional exclusives include on-stage performance shots and candid backstage photos featuring Bill Anderson, Luke Bryan, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and dozens of others stars. Notables from the world of media and entertainment are featured celebrating their own “Opry Moments,” including Anderson Cooper, Kevin Costner, Lester Holt, Paul McCartney, Charles Osgood, Robin Roberts, and Bob Schieffer.
BACKSTAGE at the Grand Ole Opry will be available at opry.com as well as all Opry Nashville retail locations.
The authors are scheduled to sign copies of the book in The Opry Shop at the Grand Ole Opry House at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15 and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 16. The weekend marks the 40th Anniversary of the Opry House and is scheduled to include star-packed Opry performances and special events.
Nashville visitors can get their own personal look backstage during Opry House Backstage Tours, January – October. Three tour opportunities are available: a daytime tour featuring Opry member Blake Shelton as video host, a VIP Behind The Opry Curtain Tour, and a Post-Show Tour featuring 2012 Opry inductee and Capitol recording artist Darius Rucker. Tickets and information are available at opry.com, 800-SEE-OPRY, and at the Opry House Box Office.
Dan Rogers has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry staff since 1998. Serving as Director of Marketing and Communication, he shares the Opry’s rich stories via print, digital, and broadcast media. His first trip backstage at the Opry was during a family vacation when he was in kindergarten, and his personal favorite Opry backstage memories are watching Loretta Lynn prepare to take the stage, introducing radio and television personality Charles Osgood to the backstage goings-on at the Opry, and eavesdropping on Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis during their photo shoot for BACKSTAGE at the Grand Ole Opry. His other Opry title is Tune Town Trivia: The Grand Ole Opry’s Ultimate Country Music Quiz Book.
Brenda Colladay joined the Grand Ole Opry as its very first Museum and Photograph Curator in 1997, charged with collecting, organizing, caring for, and sharing the costumes, instruments, photographs, and memorabilia that illustrate the Opry’s colorful story and cast of unforgettable characters. She often jokes that her job is “eighty-plus years of history versus me,” but enjoys creating museum exhibits for the Grand Ole Opry and historic Ryman Auditorium, assisting researchers, filmmakers, and authors, and discovering “new” stories about the Opry’s past. Colladay previously served as photo editor for the book, The Grand Ole Opry: The Making of an American Icon.
Chris Hollo is a professional photographer who has been capturing images as the official photographer for the Grand Ole Opry since 2000. He also works for and travels frequently with a wide variety of corporate clients, magazines and music industry professionals.
About the Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Humana®. Opry performances are held every weekend of the year and on Tuesdays through Dec. 9. To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com. The Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn. Celebrating 88 years of entertainment, the Opry can be heard on 650 WSM-AM, SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio, and opry.com. The syndicated weekly program,America’s Opry Weekend, airs on country radio stations across America. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP). For more information, visit opry.com.
