Thursday Afternoon Options for Champions and Spouses

Ryman Auditorium Tour

The Ryman was first built in the late 1880s by prominent Nashville businessman Thomas G. Ryman for the purpose of having a place where all people could gather and worship. In the 1920s the Ryman became known as “the Carnegie of the South”, hosting traveling acts including John Philip Sousa, Roy Rogers, Harry Houdini, Charlie Chaplin, and Bob Hope. The Grand Ole Opry put down roots there in 1943, and the live radio and TV show brought artists like Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Minnie Pearl, and Patsy Cline for 31 years. The Opry changed venues in the 1970s, but the Ryman still hosts shows and artists today and is known as one of the best performance halls in the world. The tour lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes. It includes a backstage tour of the dressing rooms, a photo opportunity on the stage, and time to tour the auditorium self-guided. For more information, visit the Ryman Auditorium’s website. Champions and spouses taking the Ryman Auditorium tour will pick up their tickets at the KA registration desk in the lobby of the Omni Nashville Hotel when they check in to the Forum. Taking this tour will require walking ½ mile from the hotel to the Ryman Auditorium.

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has been called the “Smithsonian of Country Music.” It houses more than 2.5 million country music artifacts, with two expansive floors of gallery space featuring permanent and limited-engagement exhibits. The self-guided tour includes an audio guide narrated by 650 AM WSM’s Bill Cody. For more information,  visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s website. The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is adjacent to the Omni Nashville Hotel. Each Champion and spouse will receive a voucher for the museum when they check in to the Forum on Thursday in the lobby of the Omni Nashville Hotel. The voucher can be used any time on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.

Downtown Nashville

There are several other attractions within walking distance of the Omni Nashville Hotel, including the Johnny Cash Museum, the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, and Hatch Show Print. You can find more information about these and other nearby attractions here.

Friday Spouse Excursion Options

Ryman Auditorium Tour

The Ryman was first built in the late 1880s by prominent Nashville businessman Thomas G. Ryman for the purpose of having a place where all people could gather and worship. In the 1920s the Ryman became known as “the Carnegie of the South”, hosting traveling acts including John Philip Sousa, Roy Rogers, Harry Houdini, Charlie Chaplin, and Bob Hope. The Grand Ole Opry put down roots there in 1943, and the live radio and TV show brought artists like Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Minnie Pearl, and Patsy Cline for 31 years. The Opry changed venues in the 1970s, but the Ryman still hosts shows and artists today and is known as one of the best performance halls in the world. The tour lasts approximately one hour and 45 minutes. The first hour of the tour is self-guided, and the remaining 45 minutes includes a backstage tour through the dressing rooms and a photo opportunity on the stage. More information about the Ryman Auditorium can be found here. Spouses taking this tour will meet at 10:30am on Friday in the CMF lobby and will walk ½ mile from the Omni Nashville to the Ryman Auditorium.

Gray Line Music City Hop Tour

The Gray Line Hop On-Hop Off Trolley Tour is a guided tour of Nashville that stops at 15 stops with more than 100 points of interest. Stops include Riverfront Park, Ryman Auditorium, Johnny Cash Museum, Pedestrian Bridge, Goo Goo Shop, Tennessee State Capitol, the Parthenon, Vanderbilt University, Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, Music Row, The Gulch, and Frist Center for the Visual Arts. Some locations on the tour, such as the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, may need additional tickets. Trolleys run every 30 minutes, taking one hour to make a round trip if a guest does not get off at any of the stops. Learn more about the Gray Line Music City Hop Trolley Tour. Spouses taking the tour will meet at 10:30am on Friday in the lobby of the Country Music Hall of Fame and will then hop on the trolley across the street.

Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage

The Hermitage was once home to the 7th U.S. President, Andrew Jackson, from 1804 until his death in 1845, and is now a national historic landmark. Costumed interpreters lead visitors through the mansion, in which over 85% of the objects are original to Jackson’s lifetime. On the acres surrounding the mansion are the log homes where the enslaved community lived and where the Jackson family first settled. A multimedia player is included in the tour, so guests can access period images, maps of the property, and an interactive timeline. The tour also includes a horse-drawn wagon ride through the 1,000-acre cotton plantation, with a guide describing life for Andrew Jackson, his family, and the enslaved community. Learn more about The Hermitage. Spouses visiting The Hermitage will meet in the lobby of the Omni and will Uber with a KA staff member from the Omni to The Hermitage and back. It takes approximately 30 minutes to get from the Omni to The Hermitage. Spouses are encouraged to eat lunch before meeting at 12:00pm.

Friday Night Add-on Event: Dinner and the Grand Ole Opry

Grand Ole Opry

The Grand Ole Opry is the show that made country music famous. The Opry features a dynamic lineup of new stars, superstars, and legends of country music. Unlike a typical concert, the Opry presents eight or more artists in each show, giving the audience a sample of each artist’s musical style. Artists for the October 18th evening show have not been announced yet, but lineups of upcoming shows and more information can be viewed here. After the show, Champions and their spouses will enjoy a backstage tour of the Opry before departing for the Omni. Champions and spouses attending the optional Grand Ole Opry show will have dinner beforehand at the Country Music Hall of Fame and will travel by bus from the Omni Nashville Hotel to the Grand Ole Opry House and back.