What is the circle at the Grand Ole Opry? How fixture on Nashville stage preserves Opry's legacy and magic
In March 1974, the Grand Ole Opry moved from its three-decade-long home (of many) at Lower Broadway's Ryman Auditorium to a 15-minute drive down Briley Parkway to a 4,400-seat Grand Ole Opry House venue.
The space was important because it was primarily meant to house radio and television broadcasts of the then five-decade-old Grand Ole Opry .
To preserve the legacy of the Ryman as the place that fostered the Opry's most significant global renown, an eight-foot square was cut from the Ryman stage and fashioned into a six-foot circle laid into the center of the new Opry stage.
The Opry's website notably adds that it "bears the scuffs and marks of the decades of performers who've performed there and still brings some old country magic to the Opry every night."
"Stepping into the circle for the first time is a magical experience and a once-in-a-lifetime feeling," Opry representatives add.
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What is the circle at the Grand Ole Opry?
It's important to note that the oak plank circle was fashioned from part of a hidden back corner of the Ryman's stage taken with the Opry when they moved in 1974.
In a history-mirroring moment, when the Ryman Auditorium's stage was replaced for the first time in seven decades in 2012, an 18-inch section was cut from the old stage and later laid across the front of the new staging to honor the historical significance of past performances.
The Ryman's oak plank stage was replaced with one made using the same Brazilian teak used to replace the Grand Ole Opry House stage after the 2010 flood.
Did the circle survive the 2010 Nashville flood?
In May 2010, a flood devastated much of Nashville, including the Grand Ole Opry, whose front of house and backstage were submerged under several feet of water. Though the backstage was destroyed and later renovated, the circle at the front of the Opry's stage escaped relatively unscathed.
"(The circle) is in remarkably good condition. We've taken it up and are taking it out for some TLC so that it will be fine. We have it sequestered for special attention, and then it will be back in place. We will ultimately need to replace the stage, but we do that every few years. But the circle will be saved … and it will be center stage when we open back up," offered then-Grand Ole Opry president Steve Buchanan.
Five months later, on Sept. 28, 2010, the Grand Ole Opry, back at the Opry House after a summer of venue-hopping, held a special edition show titled "Country Comes Home."
Weeks later, after undergoing $20 million in renovations, the Opry House fully reopened in October 2010.
"I've always said the circle still contains the dust from Hank Williams' cowboy boots. Now it contains that dust but also the heart and soul of this town and all the people who have worked to rise above," stated 2001-inducted Grand Ole Opry member Brad Paisley before the Opry House reopened its doors.
The circle in the modern era
In 2023 , the Opry's 98th season opened on Opryland Drive with significant renovations made to the Opry House's stage, legendary circle included.
Also, alongside an upgraded sound system and a new barn set with new lighting elements and capabilities, a "Halo" lighting effect was added for the circle.
Insofar as non-debuting and performing artists getting to step into that circle? That's possible.
Depending on the Opry's production schedule, most Grand Ole Opry House tours include a chance to stand on the stage and step into the six-foot wood circle.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What is the circle on the Grand Ole Opry stage in Nashville?
