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A visit to the Grand Ole Opry, country music's holy grail

There's no place more Nashville than The Grand Ole Opry. Evening takes a special behind the scenes tour of "The Show That Made Country Music Famous".

Nashville, TN — At the Grand Ole Opry, people who take the special backstage tour can stand in a sacred spot right on the stage.

It’s called The Circle, a section of floor from the old Ryman Auditorium where Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, even Elvis Presley, have all stood, performing in the most famous radio show in America.

Since 1925, the music may have changed but the format has not.

“When you come to the Grand Ole Opry, you're gonna see multiple artists and everybody's gonna stand in front of our famous barn here,” says Laura Leigh Robertson.

She’s taking us behind the scenes of "The Show That Made Country Music Famous".

“We are standing here at the member gallery so this is all the members of the Grand Ole Opry in chronological order,” she says.

Only about 200 artists have even been asked to join the Opry. Each member gets a mailbox. Dolly Parton’s mailbox is stuffed with fan mail.

Invitations to join the Opry join happen onstage and by surprise.

“When they're invited to become a member you know there's always tears,” says Robertson. “You see great big guys like Blake Shelton just cryin'.”

The Opry has 18 unique dressing rooms you can check out on the behind the scenes tour.

Robertson takes us into the Friends and Neighbors Room first.

“This is for anyone in entertainment outside of country music,” says Robertson.

There are photographs of Andy Warhol, Jack Black and Sir Paul McCartney talking to Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner.

The next dressing room is dedicated to the women of country music.

“You can see its glamorous with all the boa feathers and photographs," says Robertson.

Finally we visit The Wagonmaster Room, designed by Marty Stuart and dedicated to Wagoner.

“You will also see photographs of Dolly Parton,” says Robertson. “This is the room Dolly prefers to use when she visits. The only time we ever see A list celebrities stand outside a dressing room with their cameras ready is when Dolly is here.”

The Grand Ole Opry: it really is kind of like the Holy Grail of country music.

Travel provided by Alaska Airlines, accommodations provided by Hotel Preston. Watch Evening weeknights at 7:30 on KING-TV Ch. 5 or streaming live on KING5.com. Connect with Evening via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Email.

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