Corey Smith Makes His Grand Ole Opry Debut on Saturday, May 18
May 16, 2013 by Shannon Walter
Filed under Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, VME
As always, the Grand Ole Opry has a terrific lineup planned for this weekend. Making his Grand Ole Opry debut is Corey Smith, a country/rock/blues singer-songwriter. The Georgia-native happened upon his music career, which began as a hobby and a fun way to teach at the high school in his hometown of Jefferson. The hobby grew into an obsessive passion and three records later, Smith was turning in his resignation letter to the high school and setting up tour dates. Since quitting his job 5 years ago, the 33 year old has played 700 shows, sold more than 700,000 tickets, and grossed $9 million in revenue. “To say my music career has exceeded my expectations is an understatement,” he says on his website. This Saturday, Corey Smith will make his debut on the Grand Ole Opry stage! Check who else will be on stage this weekend!
Thursday, May 16: Opry Country Classics at the Ryman Auditorium. Host: Larry Gatlin. Spotlight Artists: Crystal Gayle, Jim Glaser, Suzy Bogguss, Ronnie Robbins, and James Wesley. There are only two more weeks to enjoy this fun show! It won’t return until October 3, 2013. Pick up you tickets to this show here.
Friday, May 17: The Grand Ole Opry House will welcome Charlie Nagatani, Sarah Darling, Diamond Rio, The Grascals, Lennon and Maisy, LeAnn Rimes, Ricky Skaggs, and more to be added.
Saturday, May 18: Performing at the Grand Ole Opry House will be Corey Smith, Johnny Reid, Greg Bates, Radney Foster, Elizabeth Cook, Jim Ed Brown, and more to be added. Stick around after the show to meet Jim Ed Brown in the Opry Shop and get a copy of his new CD, In Style Again, signed.
Visit our website to see who else will be at the Opry House in the coming weeks and to purchase your tickets.
Enjoy the shows!
Lots To See In Nashville, Tennessee
May 8, 2013 by Shannon Walter
Filed under Nashville, VME
Plan your next vacation to Music City, USA! Perhaps best known for being the home to the Grand Ole Opry, Nashville is THE destination for country music lovers. With fascinating history, fantastic musicians, and gorgeous sights around every corner, you’ll be hard pressed to see everything while you’re there. Here are some tips and tricks for tackling this city on your next vacation….
All About Nashville Attraction Pass
This all-inclusive pass grants access to some of the best spots in Nashville! Use the pass to gain entry to the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, the Music City Trolley Hop On/Hop Off Tour, and the Nashville Unpublished Walking Tour for one low price!
Start your vacation at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum. The 37 million dollar complex is home to interactive exhibits which immerse each visitor in the world of country music from the 19th century to modern day. Currently, the museum is celebrating the advent of country music in Bakersfield, California during the 1960’s. It was in Bakersfield that Buck Owens and Merle Haggard created a new sound with piercing electric guitars and honest lyrics. Then, view the gorgeous costumes, instruments, and set pieces from superstar Taylor Swift’s Speak Now World Tour which entertained more than 1.5 million fans in 111 shows in 19 countries. The exhibit will run from June 6 to November 4, 2013. Catch the tail end of the Patsy Cline exhibit before it ends on June 10, 2013. Featuring fabulous costumes, personal possessions, vintage photographs, and more, the exhibit tells Cline’s story in her own words using narratives from her own letters and videos. Several other exhibits complete the museum including a towering wall which displays every gold and platinum record to ever hit the country music charts. Your pass allows 2 days of access to the museum so don’t feel rushed to see it all in one day!
The Nashville Unpublished Walking Tour tells the tales of music legends through historic sites and famous stories. This 1.5 hour tour tells the untold stories, assumed legends, and true stories of Nashville and the cast of characters who have called this city home including Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Elvis, and many more. The highlight of the tour is a behind the scenes look at the Ryman Auditorium, known as the “Mother Church of Country Music.” You’ll also have the chance to see Ernest Tubb Records, the Silver Dollar Saloon, Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge, and much more!
Finally, use your pass to catch a ride on the Music City Trolley Hop On/Hop Off Tour. The narrated tours lasts about an hour then riders are free to jump off and on the bus at several stops throughout the city. On the tour you’ll see Bicentennial Park, the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, the famous Nashville Parthenon, and much more. When the narrated tour is over, spend your second day at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum because the trolley stops right in front of the museum!
Pick up the All About Nashville Attraction Pass on our website for your next vacation!
Grand Ole Opry Performers, Week of 5-10-2013
May 7, 2013 by Van Shipley
Filed under Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, VME
As always it’s a great time to head out to the grandest stage in country music to catch a show and see the top performers of yesterday and today. There are always brilliant performers ready to give you an amazing show, and this week is no exception. Here are the upcoming scheduled performers for this wonderful May week:
Tue, May 7, 2013: 7:00 PM: Chris Young, Del McCoury, Love and Theft, Mandy Barnett, and more to be added as scheduled.
Fri, May 10, 2013: 7:00 PM: Anita Renfroe, Maggie Rose, Sara Haze, and more to be added as scheduled.
Sat, May 11, 2013: 7:00 PM: Charlie Daniels, Joel Crouse, Old Crow Medicine Show, Ralph Stanley, and more to be added as scheduled.
Be sure and check us out for up to date performer information at http://www.vacationsmadeeasy.com/NashvilleTN/activity/GrandOleOpryTicket.cfm
Of course you’ll also want to grab a hotel if you plan on staying a night or two during your trip, so why not check us out and see what kind of properties there are available that might suit your needs? We offer everything from standard hotel rooms at great prices, to luxury hotels with all of the top amenities. Visit us to take a look at http://www.vacationsmadeeasy.com/NashvilleTN/lodging/
April 25, 26, & 27 at the Grand Ole Opry
April 25, 2013 by Shannon Walter
Filed under Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, VME
The beauty of the Grand Ole Opry is the ability to hear country rock, bluegrass music, folk music, honky tonk, comedy, country pop, and more all in one grand show. From seasoned performers such as Mel Tillis and Jimmy C Newman to the fresh young sounds of Sarah Darling and Kristen Kelly, this weekend’s shows are packed with truly amazing country artists singing every country genre. Who will be gracing the Grand Ole Opry Stage this weekend?!
Friday, April 26: Riders In The Sky, Chris Janson, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Jim Ed Brown, Jean Shepard, Montgomery Gentry, Jeannie Seely, Jason Crabb, Mark Chestnutt, John Conlee, Sarah Darling, Mel Tillis, and more to be added up until show time.
Saturday, April 27: Mike Snider, Morgan Frazier, Jimmy C Newman, Jim Ed Brown, The Whites, Rhonda Vincent, Jeannie Seely, Ray Pillow, Striking Matches, Opry Square Dancers, John Conlee, The Boxcars, Kristen Kelly, and more to be added up until show time.
Tonight, don’t miss the Opry Country Classics show at the Ryman Auditorium. If you only want to hear the classic country that made the Grand Ole Opry famous, then you’ll definitely want to check out the country classics show. The show is at Ryman Auditorium every Thursday through May 23. That means there are only 5 shows left! Check out who will be there tonight!
Thursday, April 25:
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Mel Tillis
Performers: Craig Campbell, Mark Collie, Sarah Darling, and Jan Howard.
For a full Grand Ole Opry schedule, check our website. The Grand Ole Opry doesn’t confirm performers until the week of the show and they begin announcing performers for future shows about a month before each show. http://www.vacationsmadeeasy.com/NashvilleTN/activity/GrandOleOpryTicket.cfm
If you can’t make it to Nashville to hear the show, just tune your radio dial to 650 AM WSM to hear full broadcasts of every show.
Nifty Attractions, Tours, & Activities in Nashville
April 11, 2013 by Shannon Walter
Filed under Nashville, VME
Spend your vacation in the Country Music Capital! Check out some of our favorite activities in the area!
No trip to Nashville is complete without a trip to the Grand Ole Opry. With regular shows on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, there are plenty of chances to catch your favorite country stars when they’re in town. However, because country music has changed vastly in the modern era, you won’t always get to hear that classic country that made Nashville famous. Never fear, the Ryman Auditorium is bringing classic country to the stage every Thursday through May 23! This week’s show will be hosted by Bill Cody, the host of GAC’s Master Series, who will share great stories and even better songs. Performing country classics and a few of their own songs will be Charles McCoy, Chuck Mead, Riders In The Sky, Daryle Singletary, and Striking Matches. Headlining the show will be Pam Tillis, daughter of country singer Mel Tillis. The 2 hour show takes place at the Ryman Auditorium. Pick up your tickets before they sell out! The show is every Thursday in April, May, and October. For more information, visit our website.
Looking for a way to see everything on your Nashville vacation? The Grand Legends Tour is the best way to see all the best in Nashville. The tour begins at the Grand Ole Opry House where you’ll have the chance to tour the theater and backstage. Next stop, the Gaylord Opryland Resort! The gorgeous hotel features a massive atrium with 4.5 acres of indoors gardens and waterfalls. The tour even includes a ride on the World Famous Delta Boats. Don’t forget a camera because you’ll have the chance to snap some gorgeous shots in this hotel. The tour lasts about 3.5 hours. For more information, visit this link.
Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theater
Before you leave town, catch the dinner and show at the Nashville Nightlife Dinner Theater. Featuring an endless buffet of southern home style cookin’, you may want to come to the show every night that you’re in town! The show, dubbed “The Best of Country” Dinner Show, is a celebration of country music, past and present. You’ll hear music from classic country artists such as Patsy Cline and Hank Williams Sr., but you’ll also be treated to hits from the country artists of today such as Sara Evans and Toby Keith. Don’t miss “Nashville’s #1 Dinner Show!” For more information, visit this link.
Grand Ole Opry April 12, 13, & 16
April 11, 2013 by Shannon Walter
Filed under Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, VME
This weekend, two young faces will be gracing the Grand Ole Opry stage! Lennon & Maisy Stella are two sisters who got their big break on YouTube. They are the daughters of Canadian husband-and-wife country duo, The Stellas, but they also play on-screen daughters of Rayna James on ABC’s Nashville. They’re 13, Lennon, and 9, Maisy, and already masters of guitar, piano, ukulele, and drums. Their cover of Robyn’s “Call Your Girlfriend” attracted 15.5 million hits on YouTube because of their gorgeous harmonies and clever use of butter tubs as percussion. Lennon & Maisy Stella made their Grand Ole Opry debut in December 2012 and they say that they are beyond excited to be invited back only 5 months later! They’ll be at the show on Saturday, April 13.
Let’s see who else is in this weekend’s Opry lineup!
Friday, April 12: Riders in the Sky, Kristen Kelly, Jesse McReynolds, Jim Ed Brown, Mike Snider, Lonestar, Bill Anderson, The Whites, Chuck Wicks, Jeannie Seely, Crystal Gayle, The Isaacs, and more to be added up until show time. Chuck Wicks will be in the Opry Shop after the show to sign copies of his new CD, “Rough.”
Saturday, April 13: Jim Ed Brown, Mark Wills, Mike Snider, Riders In The Sky, The Grascals, Connie Smith, Stonewall Jackson, Lennon & Maisy Stella, Opry Square Dancers, Bill Anderson, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Scotty McCreery, and more to be added up until show time.
Tuesday, April 16: Mark Wills, Jeannie Seely, Blackberry Smoke, The Whites, Aaron Tippin, The Greencards, Mandy Barnett, Darius Rucker, and more to be added up until show time.
For more information about the show or to purchase tickets, visit our website.
Enjoy the shows this weekend!
Sojourn to Nashville for a Weekend Getaway
April 5, 2013 by Shannon Walter
Filed under Nashville, VME
Most people set their vacation sights on Nashville because of the Grand Ole Opry. It is arguably one of the most popular reasons to head toward Nashville for tourists and aspiring musicians. But there is a lot more in the area to see and explore. Check out some of our favorite Nashville attractions!
Looking to see a little of everything on your Nashville vacation? The Music City Trolley Hop is the perfect way to see the city! The narrated tour is approximately one hour and takes riders past the Ryman Auditorium, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Bicentennial Park, the Frist Museum, and the Parthenon. This tour is perfect for squirmy young ones because it’s short and sweet. It’s also a hop on and hop off tour. So if you see a site you want to explore more, need to use the restroom, have a screaming little one, or simply want to stretch your legs, just hop off at any of the designated stops around the city. Once you’re done exploring, just wait for the next trolley and hop back on! Bring you camera because you just might spot your favorite country star walking along Music Row! For ticket prices and a list of stops, visit this link.
Award-winning performer John Beardsley brings Elvis back to life with his musical biography aptly named, “A Tribute to The King Through the Years 1953-1977.” Although Elvis was from the Memphis area, he spent a large amount of time performing and recording more than 300 songs in Nashville during his lifetime. Beardsley expertly impersonates Elvis as he sings more than 30 of The King’s legendary hits. You’ll be transported through six phases of Elvis’ career featuring 5 costumes. Elvis fans should not miss this show on a trip to Nashville! For more information, visit this link.
Of course, don’t forget to check the Grand Ole Opry before you leave town. No Nashville vacation is complete without a show at the Opry!
Grand Ole Opry April 5 & 6
April 5, 2013 by Shannon Walter
Filed under Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, VME
It’s finally Friday! After a long week, nothing could be better than a bit of country music at the Grand Ole Opry. As always, the Opry has rounded up a diverse array of performers for their show this weekend. From longtime members, Marty Stuart and John Conlee, to young fresh faces, Amanda Shires and The Sleepy Man Banjo Boys, this weekend’s shows are sure to impress you on every level! Shows begin each night at 7pm at the Grand Ole Opry House.
Friday, April 5: Marty Stuart, Amanda Shires, Restless Heart, Rhonda Vincent, Darryl Worley, The Sleepy Man Banjo Boys, John Conlee, Connie Smith, and more to be added up until show time.
Saturday, April 6: Point of Grace, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, J.T. Hodges, Bucky Covington, Jeannie Seely, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Connie Smith, Bill Anderson, and more to be added up until show time.
Learn more about the fresh faces:
The Sleepy Man Banjo Boys may sound like an old man’s bluegrass band, and the bluegrass part is certainly true, but these boys definitely aren’t old. The three boys are brothers that hail from New Jersey. Banjo picker Jonny (11), fiddler Robbie (13), and guitar man Tommy (15) posted a couple of “band practice in our bedroom” videos to YouTube in early 2011 and became overnight Internet sensations! Once their videos went viral, the phone began to ring. The boys appeared on a slue of talk shows to debut their talent including Jay Leno, Jimmy Fallon, David Letterman, and Ellen Degeneres. In August 2011, they were invited to the stage of all stages – the Grand Ole Opry stage! The next month they released their debut album America’s Music, which charted at No. 8 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Albums Chart and sold more than 12,000 copies. That’s pretty exciting for a 9, 11, and 13 year old. Their most recent album, The Farthest Horizon, debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Albums Chart.
Amanda Shires is a world-class violin player. She started her career as a part of Thrift Store Cowboys in Texas. Wanting to stand at the front of the stage, she struck out on her own in 2005 and released a debut album, Being Brave, and moved to Nashville. After the move, she immediately began writing her own material. She put herself on the map with her two albums, Sew Your Heart With Wires and West Cross Timbers. With three original albums in her repertoire, it didn’t take her long to gain a significant following touring the U.S. and Europe. She made her Grand Ole Opry debut on August 3, 2012 and she’s back for more! Catch her unique fiddle music at the Opry on Friday, April 5.
Check our website for a full schedule of performers. The Grand Ole Opry announces their final performer list the week prior to the show. Most shows are loosely scheduled about a month before the show. Enjoy the show!
Grand Ole Opry Performers March 29 and 30
March 28, 2013 by Shannon Walter
Filed under Grand Ole Opry, Nashville, VME
As usual, the Grand Ole Opry has some fantastic performers in store for their shows this weekend! In addition to the show, three performers will be signing copies of their CD on Friday and Saturday. Don’t miss out on your chance to meet these big country stars!
On Friday, The Black Lillies will be signing copies of their new CD, Runaway Freeway Blues. The group is an Americana band that plays it all! They draw their influences from rock, country, jazz, blues, and bluegrass to create something truly unique. Front man, Cruz Contreras, thickens the music with his deep baritone voice and musical stylings on the guitar and mandolin. He’s backed by Tom Pryor (guitar and pedal steel), Jaime Cook (percussion), Robert Richards (bass guitar), and Trisha Gene Brady (vocals). They made their Grand Ole Opry debut on June 12, 2011.
On Saturday, the Opry Shop will be graced with two performers signing CDs, Kacey Musgraves and Shooter Jennings! First up, Kacey will be signing her CD, Same Trailer Different Park. Kacey has been making music since she was 14! She self-released 3 albums by age 19. She garnered some notice when she placed in the Top 10 on Nashville Star in 2007. Last year she toured with Lady Antebellum before releasing her album.
Also in the shop that night will be Shooter Jennings, son of country music icons Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. Because of his parents, Shooter was basically raised aboard a tour bus and it didn’t take him long to begin picking up instruments himself. Wanting to distance himself from the country music that his parents were known for, he moved to Los Angeles when he came of age and started a punk band. After a couple of years and the death of his father, he made the switch back to country. Country music fans could not be any happier. Jennings has garnered quite the following! He’ll be signing copies of his new CD, The Other Life.
Who else will be at the Opry this week?
Friday, March 29: The Black Lillies, Craig Morgan, Maggie Rose, Old Crow Medicine Show, Michael W. Smith, Ricky Skaggs, John Conlee, Bill Anderson, and more to be added up until show time.
Saturday, March 30: Kacey Musgraves, Shooter Jennings, Will Hoge, The Henningsens, Craig Morgan, Ricky Skaggs, Rascal Flatts, Bill Anderson, The Whites, and more to be added up until show time.
Thrills Abound in Nashville, Tennessee
March 21, 2013 by Van Shipley
Filed under Nashville
Travel to Nashville and see what everyone is talking about in Country Music USA! You can stop in for a weekend or stay a week, but no matter what you choose, you’re guaranteed to have a good time while in town.
Of course if you plan on staying overnight, you are going to need a hotel to get some rest at. Nashville has many different properties available to suit your needs. You can choose from standard hotel fare for the savvy shopper like the Econo Lodge North, Comfort Suites, or Best Western Fairwinds Inn, or go all in and choose luxurious properties like the Hyatt Place Nashville Northeast, Hilton Garden Inn Nashville/Vanderbilt, or the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel Nashville.
Next you’ll want something to do in town, and of course Vacations Made Easy has you covered! You can choose between the top attractions in the city; including shows like the Grand Ole Opry, Opry Country Classics, or Ryman Bluegrass Nights; or activities like the Homes of the Stars Tour, Music City Trolley Hop, or a trip to the Nashville Zoo.
Of course one easy way to take care of your trip to Nashville is with a vacation package! We have many pre-made packages consisting of a stay in the hotel of your choice and tickets to various shows and attractions all built into one convenient package. Of course for those of you wanting to have a little more hands-on vacation planning experience, you can choose to use our package builder to create your own itinerary! Here are just a few of our pre-made packages that we offer.
Grand Ole Opry Show Weekend
This package contains 2-night’s lodging at the property of your choice and tickets to the always exciting Grand Ole Opry! The show is one of country music’s longest running performances and certainly the most famous. Legends like Patsy Cline, Garth Brooks, and Dierks Bentley have graced the stage and to this day, top performers consider it a great honor to sing and perform at the Opry. With 2-night’s lodging included, this is the perfect package for those looking for a weekend trip to Nashville.
Nashville Romantic Getaway Package
With the Nashville Romantic Getaway package, you will receive 2-night’s lodging at the hotel of your choice, and admission to the General Jackson Showboat Lunch & Dinner Cruise. Your trip on the General Jackson showboat will give you a 3 hour tour where you will float past natural and historic sites along the Cumberland River. You’ll receive a delicious dinner and great live entertainment, and this package is sure to give you and your loved one a great time.
These are just a few of the many pre-made packages that we offer in the city. Go to our website to check out all that is available and pick one that suits you best. Or, check out the vacation package builder and set up your own personal itinerary.
