RYMAN AUDITORIUM EARNS
14TH POLLSTAR THEATRE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Recognition Comes on the Heels of National Historic Landmark's 130th Anniversary
Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium was named Theatre of the Year for the 14th time at the 34th Annual Pollstar Awards in Los Angeles. The win comes on the heels of the Ryman receiving Venue of the Year honors at this year's CMA Touring Awards.
Named one of the “10 Best Live Music Venues in America” by Rolling Stone magazine, the Ryman (2,362 capacity) was first recognized by Pollstar in 2003 as Theatre of the Year and has gone on to be recognized 14 times with Theatre of the Year awards. Other accolades include Venue of the Year nods from both the Academy of Country Music and the International Entertainment Buyers Association, and Venue of the Year presented by the Country Music Association.
Known as the “Mother Church of Country Music,” Ryman Auditorium is holy ground for a number of music’s greats. A bucket list venue for many, the hallowed stage has seen the likes of Brandi Carlile, Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Garth Brooks, Harry Styles, Dwight Yoakam, Johnny Cash, Kacey Musgraves, Little Big Town and Patsy Cline, to name a few. The Ryman is known around the globe equally for its world-class acoustics and history-making contributions to the live music industry.
The Ryman celebrated its 130th anniversary last year, marking the milestone with a record-breaking 274 shows and 9 residencies – totaling more than 600,000 tickets sold – in addition to opening the major Rock Hall at the Ryman exhibition to celebrate the Ryman’s mark on rock & roll history. The interactive exhibit commemorates the venue being named a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame landmark and is housed in the newly transformed 5th Avenue vestibule. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees featured include James Brown, The Byrds, Eric Clapton, Foo Fighters, Joan Jett and Dolly Parton, in addition to country music icons Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Hank Williams, who were early practitioners of what would become rock & roll music.
Celebrating the intersection of rock & roll and country, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Nashville’s Historic Ryman Auditorium will host a special night of music to honor the legacy and impact of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees who have graced the Ryman stage. Little Big Town, Caitlyn Smith, The Cadillac Three, The War & Treaty, Maddie & Tae, Gavin DeGraw and host Charlie Worsham will perform songs by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees that have moved them or influenced them in some way. Powered by PNC and sponsored by Gibson Gives, “Rock The Ryman” is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT, on Wednesday, March 1.
About Ryman Auditorium
A National Historic Landmark, Ryman Auditorium was built by Captain Thomas G. Ryman in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle. A 13-time winner of the prestigious Pollstar Theatre of the Year award, the historic venue is well-known as the Mother Church of Country Music and is the most famous former home of the Grand Ole Opry (1943-1974). The Ryman has been featured in numerous film and television projects including Coal Miner’s Daughter, The Johnny Cash Show, American Idol, Nashville and more. While offering a diverse lineup and thriving concert schedule (with over 200 shows per year), the venue is also open for daytime tours year-round. A coveted underplay for many, her iconic stage has seen the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Lizzo, Mumford and Sons, Garth Brooks, Foo Fighters, Wu Tang Clan, Coldplay, Michelle Obama and Little Big Town in recent years. Ryman Auditorium is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP), a Nashville-based REIT that also owns and operates the Grand Ole Opry, 650 AM WSM and Ole Red. For more information, visit ryman.com.