Remembering the Emmylou Harris record that helped revive the Ryman

Remembering the Emmylou Harris record that helped revive the Ryman

On this 615 Day, we want to revisit a moment in Nashville history when an Emmylou Harris album helped revive a cherished city landmark.

Flashback: The Ryman Auditorium, known as the Mother Church of Country Music, was a vacant and dilapidated relic in the early 1990s.

  • After narrowly escaping demolition in the 1970s, it sat empty.
  • It was a tour stop for country music buffs, but it was a far cry from the venue that had once hosted the Grand Ole Opry. The balcony wasn't considered safe for audiences.

    • Yes, but: Harris saw potential. In 1991, when she was looking for a place to record a live album, she chose the Ryman.

  • The auditorium opened its doors for Harris, who performed three live shows. They were the first public performances at the Ryman in more than 20 years, per an account from the Ryman.

    • The intrigue: Harris and her band the Nash Ramblers performed in front of a small crowd of 200 clustered on the lower level.

    What she said: "Isn't it wonderful to sit out there? Isn't this a great place to sort of feel the hillbilly dust?" Harris said on her album "At the Ryman."

  • "I've played a lot of different places in the last 16 years … This is the best."

    • Zoom in: The album won a Grammy in 1993.

  • Then, Ryman owner Gaylord launched a multimillion-dollar renovation project that restored the venue for new shows.
  • The Ryman reopened in 1994, and has since reestablished itself as one of Nashville's gems.

    • The bottom line: It has grown into one of the most famous venues in the world, drawing artists such as Garth Brooks, Aretha Franklin and Harry Styles.