The Cracker Barrel Portion of the Grand Ole Opry

I spent some of the best hours of my life in the Ryman Auditorium at the Grand Ole Opry last Saturday night. As soon as Little Jimmy Dickens walked out onto the stage, I knew this was going to be a grand ole night of country music. I was there with Nikki, who had recommended that we go to the Opry since Emmylou Harris (my country music heroine) and Patty Griffin (her country music heroine) were going to be there. My sweet friend Heather, who is from Nashville, also joined us.

It was so great to see the legends - Jimmy Dickens, Jimmy C. Newman, Connie Smith, and Bill Anderson. And we were blown away by the 19-year-old up and coming star Blaine Larson (whose manager happens to be Heather's husband). Blaine looks about 12-years-old, but he has the deep, rich voice of a grown man. Rhonda Vincent stunned me with her mandolin skills. And Mike Snider made me laugh. But all of this paled in comparison to the very last segment of the Opry, sponsored by the Cracker Barrel Old Coutry Store. The curtains opened, and there stood Buddy Miller, Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, and Emmylou Harris. EMMYLOU HARRIS!!!! This was all too much at once! Nikki and I were on the edge of our seats, intently watcing eveything that happened on the stage. This was certainly the best 30 minutes of music I've seen in a long time. Heather, who hangs out with country music stars practically all the time, later informed us that she had a great time taking pictures of Nikki and I reacting to Emmylou, Patty, Buddy, Gillian, and David. Of course, Nikki and I were so engrossed in what was going on on the stage that we did not even notice Heather taking the pictures.

We stayed with Heather that night in her beautiful home with her beautiful dogs. Her husband was away with Kenny Chesney at the Tsunami Relief Benefit in L.A. He would call Heather every now and then to tell her he had just met Brad Pitt or George Clooney or Rene Zellweger. Scattered around Heather's home are pictures of her and Clint (her husband) with Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill... (Heather, I really had no idea that you lead such a glamorous life!) Heather was the best hostess, and we felt so welcome in her home. (Thanks so much, Heather! You are precious and sweet and adorable! You and Clint are so amazing for opening your home to us.)

On Sunday morning, Nikki and I had to hit the road. We hated to leave Music City, but we got a Goo-Goo on the way out to help sweeten the long ride home. "Gotta Getta Goo-Goo!"