Will the Circle Be Unbroken: The History of the Iconic “Opry Circle”

“Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By).” It’s an iconic track made famous by one of the greatest country acts of all time: the Carter Family. Since its original release, this song has been a calling card for the genre as a whole. It has been covered countless times and used as a vehicle for societal change. Needless to say, this song has enjoyed a powerful legacy. That legacy is mirrored in another country icon: The iconic “Opry Circle.”

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Anyone who has been to a show at the Grand Ole Opry has likely noticed the circle of wood in the middle of the stage. More worn than the wood that surrounds it, the “Opry Circle” is an emblem recognizing the history of the institution and its enduring legacy. Learn more about the “Opry Circle,” below.

Will the Circle Be Unbroken: The History of the Iconic “Opry Circle”

Prior to the Opry House being built, the Grand Ole Opry found a home across town in Nashville at the Ryman Auditorium. The “Mother Church,” as it is known, was once a place for religious revivals before it was taken over by this country institution. Naturally, a strong reverence has surrounded the Ryman for many years–even after it stopped hosting the Opry in the ’70s.

The Grand Ole Opry moved to the Opry House for several reasons. The main reason was that they needed a place to house a larger crowd. As the Opry grew in popularity so did the demand for a larger space. Despite the move being controversial at the time, it no doubt helped in expanding the Opry’s reach.

Keeping the Legacy Alive

There were many ideas thrown around about how to best honor the Ryman in the wake of the Opry’s move. Some suggested to tear down the historic venue. Others came up with a creative, and less destructive, solution: cutting a piece of the stage to place in the new Opry venue. This proved to be the solution that made the most sense and thus was the ultimate decision.

The piece of the Ryman stage was crafted into a circle that now sits at the center of the Opry House. It has the “scuffs and scars of the greats and dreamers who have walked across it,” as the Opry once wrote, keeping the wealth of history that the Ryman has to offer intact. Moreover, those “scuffs and scars” continue to grow as the next generation of country greats gets the opportunity to perform on the Opry stage. It’s a physical representation of just how long country has been apart of the fabric of our society. It has survived moves, city-wide floods, and countless performances. Will the circle ever be broken? Our bets are on “no.”

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