GAC Captures A Legendary Night In Country Music
By Crystal Caviness
© 2006 CMA Close Up News Service / Country Music Association, Inc
May 9, 2006
There is more to hear and tell about the Grand Ole Opry's first appearance at New York's Carnegie Hall in 44 years than viewers see on GAC's music-filled special, "Grand Ole Opry At Carnegie Hall," which premiered March 12 on the cable network and re-aired in April.
To share the rest of the story, GAC, the Grand Ole Opry and RCA Records partnered to produce "Grand Ole Opry At Carnegie Hall," a DVD capturing not only the performances, but exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the Country Music artists at the famous New York performance hall which took place during CMA's "Country Takes NYC" week-long of activities leading up to the 2005 CMA Awards. Using the Carnegie Hall footage for a DVD was a no-brainer, GAC officials said.
"When people were talking about the last time the Opry played Carnegie, no one had recorded it for posterity," said Scott Durand, GAC VP of Marketing. "Because of the uniqueness and the historical significance, it warranted being marketed as a DVD."
The 90-minute DVD features 18 performances, including a duet of "Whiskey Lullaby," 2005 CMA Song of the Year, written by Bill Anderson and Jon Randall and recorded by Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss; the classic "Kiss An Angel Good Morning" by Country Music Hall of Fame member Charley Pride; "She's In Love With The Boy" by Trisha Yearwood; and a finale medley of "I'll Fly Away," "I Saw The Light" and "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" by various artists. Opry legends Minnie Pearl and Ernest Tubb first performed at Carnegie Hall in 1947. Pearl, along
with a full Opry cast that included Patsy Cline, Grandpa Jones, the Jordanaires, Bill Monroe, Jim Reeves, Marty Robbins and Faron Young, returned to the venue in November 1961. The 21st century edition features a mix of Opry veterans and newer members, including Vince Gill, who hosted the special, Trace Adkins, Bill Anderson, Little Jimmy Dickens, Alan Jackson, Krauss, Martina McBride, Paisley, Pride, Ricky Scaggs and Yearwood.
"I don't think there's anything that'll happen to top that first impression of walking onto that stage and looking around," said Gill.
Durand agreed. "It was one of those moments that won't be repeated for awhile," Durand said. "It really is an occasion that's timeless and now it's been captured and will always be there."
The DVD was released by RCA Records on April 11.
