Ryman Auditorium & Opry House Highlight the Timeless Nature of Great Music
Ryman Auditorium and Opry House are two of the world’s most legendary music venues, providing experiences and unrivaled acoustics that shouldn’t be missed.
The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, is one of the most notable and historic music venues ever built. Ed Sheeran calls it the best venue in the United States; Coldplay says it is the greatest theater in the world.
From the Foo Fighters to Wu-Tang Clan, to Taylor Swift and more, the Ryman isn’t just another venue; it is an entirely unique experience.
“There is nothing else like it in the entire country,” said Gary Scott, Chief Operating Officer of Opry Entertainment Group. “What makes the Ryman so spectacular is that the acoustics in the room are phenomenal. It’s intimate; you can have about 2,200 people there. We’ve never modified or changed the pew seating structure because there’s something really unique, different and historic about that seating element.”
These are just some of the reasons why artists continue to perform at the Ryman even after they’ve become popular enough to sell out larger venues. The appeal is not limited to musicians alone – comedians have also been drawn to the Ryman and are eager to be part of its legacy.
“To see an artist like Kevin Hart play a 2,200-seat room, which he probably hasn’t done in 15 to 20 years, it’s a really cool experience,” said Scott. “It’s a very special venue in the heart of downtown Nashville.”
The Ryman, along with the legendary Opry House (the current home of the Grand Ole Opry), is one of the featured building tours that will take place during the first day of the 2026 International Code Council (ICC) Annual Conference and Expo (Oct. 18–21).
The World’s Greatest Venue, 100+ Years in the Making
The Ryman was constructed after Thomas Green Ryman, a wealthy riverboat captain, attended a tent revival from Reverend Sam Jones. Ryman was so impressed by the sermon that he wanted to build a place that would allow more people to hear what the Reverend and other preachers had to say. This led to the birth of the Union Gospel Tabernacle in 1892.
Its first concert, the May Music Festival, was performed that same year, but it wouldn’t be renamed the Ryman Auditorium until Mr. Ryman’s passing in 1904. At that time, Reverend Jones thought it would be best to rename the church in Ryman’s honor.
In 1943, the Ryman became the home of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 30 years after the country music spectacular outgrew all of its previous venues. This proved to be a pivotal era for the Grand Ole Opry, which continued to rise in popularity and allowed a number of young artists to flourish, including Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Hank Williams. Grand Ole Opry remained at the Ryman until 1974, when it required an even larger venue to house the growing number of fans wanting to attend. This led to the construction of the acclaimed and now iconic Opry House.
“[Grand Ole Opry has] always been somewhat of a variety show,” said Scott. “Modern-day Opry is very similar in that format, but different in the sense that today it’s a full-fledged theatre show. It seats [4,400], we generally have eight artists an evening. We’ll typically have one or two headliners, depending on the night.”
Scott boasted that every 90-minute show is a one-of-a-kind collection of musical performances.
“It’s a really compelling, fun experience because no two shows are ever the same,” he added. “If you come out as a guest tonight or next week or two months from now, that experience will be completely different. The show itself evolves on a night-to-night basis.”
Guests also get the chance to witness music history when musicians make their debut at the Opry – and even more so when they receive an Opry membership. While membership details are not publicly disclosed, many country artists consider it to be one of the highlights of their career.
“You can feel it and you can see it,” said Scott. “The emotional intensity they have when they’re given that opportunity- it’s very apparent for how significant the venue and the honor of playing Opry is to [artists]. It’s very special to see new artists play the building and it’s very special to be there when someone is awarded membership because you’ll see artists break down in tears. It’s a very touching and special moment.”
The 2026 ICC Annual Conference and Expo kicks off on Oct. 18 and runs through Oct. 21. Learn more here.
About the Author
Louis Bedigian is a writer, editor and content strategist with experience producing short- and long-form content for a variety of industries. By day, he's Senior Copywriter for PR agency Brands2Life, where he transforms complex and often technical jargon into content that’s compelling and easy to digest. By night, he's Freelance Copywriter at Fundable, where he develops powerful narratives that drive brand awareness within the investment community.
