Nashville's fame as "Music City, U.S.A." grew concurrently with the renown of the Grand Ole Opry radio program, said to be the longest-running radio show in history. The Ryman Auditorium, pictured below, was home to the Opry from 1943-1974. Built originally (1892) as the Union Gospel Tabernacle, the Ryman has been called "the mother church of country music."

Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame.