Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium was named Theatre of the Year for the 15th time at the 35th Annual Pollstar Awards in Los Angeles last night.
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 15 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 Bono, Ed Sheeran, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Harry Styles, Kacey Musgraves, Lizzo, Marcus Mumford and Noah Kahan, 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.
Built in 1892, Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium hosted over 250 shows and 9 residencies last year. In addition, the major exhibition, Rock Hall at the Ryman, continues 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. 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.
Last fall the Ryman welcomed a new addition to its collection of unique music artifacts – Johnny Cash’s legendary tour bus, “JC Unit One.” The bus is now on public display outside of the Ryman, allowing guests to step inside and experience a piece of country music history during the venue’s tour hours. JC Unit One, which Cash used for the 1991 Highwayman Tour that transported Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson, traveled to Nashville from its home at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. The bus’s journey to the Ryman is part of the venue’s ongoing partnership. Access to “JC Unit One” is included with the purchase of a regular Ryman tour admission ticket.
Photo Credit: Jason Kempin
About Ryman Auditorium
A National Historic Landmark, Ryman Auditorium was built by Captain Thomas G. Ryman in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle. A 15-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.