Country Music Is Family
By Tim Cicciarelli
There are moments in life when you stop and realize you’ve just witnessed something much bigger than you expected. Saturday night at the Grand Ole Opry was one of those moments.
North Georgia’s own, John Berry and his wife of 38 years, Robin, graciously invited me up to Nashville for a celebration honoring fellow North Georgian, ”Whispering” Bill Anderson on his remarkable 65th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, the longest membership in Opry history.
I was honored to make it a family road trip. After losing my sweet wife Amy last year, I asked her parents, my in-laws, Mr. Glenn and Miss Jane, if they’d like to join me for the trip to Music City. They happily said yes. Miss Jane and Mr. Glenn, being who they are, wouldn’t dream of showing up empty-handed. They spent the morning gathering fresh vegetables from their garden, picking peaches straight from their tree, and putting together a beautiful gift basket for John and Robin.
I packed a few My Country 99.3 WCON T-shirts, coffee mugs, and some Goo Goo Clusters I picked up at a Cracker Barrel off I-75 during the road trip. After all, no trip to the Grand Ole Opry feels complete without Goo Goo Clusters, one of the Opry’s longtime sponsors.
John and Robin gave us wonderful tour of the Opry stage before the audience was let in. We took a photo while standing inside the historic, oak circle physically cut from the original Ryman Auditorium stage. This is considered “holy ground” since it symbolizes the unbroken connection between country music’s past and present. What an honor!
John then went to the Jimmy Capps Music Room, a pre-show rehearsal space where the star studded Opry band prepared for John’s set. It was a great privilege to witness. After rehearsal, John and Robin went to their dressing room to get ready for the show. They were assigned the coveted dressing room #1, which use to belong to the legndary, Roy Acuff and presently belongs to Vince Gill when he performs at The Opry.
Backstage at the Grand Ole Opry the “family feeling” is palatable. There are 18 dressing rooms and each one is uniquely decorated with a specific theme honoring country music legends and Opry traditions. If a dressing room door is open, you’re welcome to step inside and say hello. There are no velvet ropes or oversized egos. Artists wander from room to room swapping stories, sharing laughs, picking guitars, rehearsing songs, or joining impromptu jam sessions. It feels less like the backstage area of one of the world’s most famous stages and more like a family reunion.
About fifteen minutes before showtime, we started making our way toward our seats. I was talking with Brian Smith, John Berry’s longtime manager and dear friend outside the dressing room reserved for artists making their Grand Ole Opry debut. It’s tucked near the hallway leading from the artists’ parking lot.
As we stood there talking, I glanced down the hallway and saw a man walking in alone. Without even thinking, I blurted out, ”Oh my God... there’s Garth Brooks!” He heard me and smiled. Instead of just waving and continuing down the hallway, he turned and walked straight toward us. I introduced myself. “Hi Garth, I’m Tim Cicciarelli with My Country 99.3 WCON in North Georgia. Back in 1996, you were kind enough to let me interview you backstage at The Omni in Atlanta. I am looking forward to the “Blame It All On My Roots Tour” this year.”
Garth smiled even bigger and said, “Tim, that was the first show of that tour back in ’96. Good to see you again.” We shook hands. Then I introduced him to Mr. Glenn and Miss Jane. What happened next is something I’ll never forget. Garth immediately removed his cap. His voice softened and he reached out and took Miss Jane’s hand in both of his and said, “A rose amongst thorns. Miss Jane, it is such a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” Then he turned to Mr. Glenn. Smiled and extended his hand and said, ”It is an honor to meet you, sir.”
That moment lasted just a few seconds. But it said everything. It wasn’t just a standard greeting. Standing there also wasn’t simply just one of the biggest entertainers in the history of country music, but a gentleman who instinctively showed respect. Not because cameras were rolling or because fans were watching. But, because that’s who Garth is. The same humble man I met back in 1996.
We took a couple of photos together, and then Garth asked where Bill Anderson was. He wanted to personally congratulate his friend. Mind you, Garth later appeared in a special tribute video during the show. He didn’t have to come. He wasn’t performing. He wasn’t making a surprise appearance. He drove to the Grand Ole Opry simply to shake Bill Anderson’s hand and congratulate him in person on sixty-five remarkable years, then quietly leave. No fanfare. No publicity. No spotlight. Just respect. Just friendship. Just family.
The curtain rose and after a few amazing songs by “The Queen of Bluegrass” Rhonda Vincent, there was my friend John Berry on that famous stage performing “Your Love Amazes Me,” “Standing on the Edge of Goodbye,” and “Kiss Me in the Car.” But my favorite part was watching Robin singing beside him and their son, Caelan, on the drums behind them. Three family members making music together on the grandest of stages in country music.
That family theme kept repeating itself throughout the evening.
Lorrie Morgan, who has now been an Opry member herself for more than four decades, shared stories about Bill Anderson coming to her house for dinner to visit her father, Country Music Hall of Famer George Morgan, when she was just a little girl.
The Isaacs, one of country and gospel music’s great family groups, took the stage reminding us that some of the sweetest harmonies in country music begin around the kitchen table. They were phenomenal!
Even the audience reflected what country music has always been about. Family. There were grandparents, parents, and their children. Some little ones sat on their grandparents’ laps while others clapped along beside Mom and Dad. In fact, John and Robins’ grandson was seated next to me clapping and singing along with their grandparents on stage.
Then, the reason we were all there. At 88 years old, Bill Anderson took the stage to a standing ovation. Bill treated us to several stories and a few of his countless hits. Lorrie Morgan presented Bill with a custom diamond and blue sapphire ring commemorating his remarkable milestone. As I mentioned before, the celebration also featured a a video with heartfelt tributes and performances from some of country music’s biggest names. Bill ended his time on stage with a song called “Grateful”, specificaly written for this occation about his gratitute for being a part of the country music family.
It was a perfect night and we were blessed beyond measure to have been invited to experince the magic of The Grand Old Opry. Thank you John, Robin, and Brian.
As we drove home to North Georgia Sunday morning, I couldn’t stop thinking about everything we witnessed the night before. I’ve spent many years in country radio. I’ve played the songs, interviewed the artists, introduced them on stages across North Georgia, and served beside them at Toys for Tots campaigns, March of Dimes Walks, Radiothons, and countless community fundraisers. The relationships built through those experiences become far deeper than interviews or record promotions. They become friendships.
Saturday night reminded me that country music isn’t built on celebrity, record and concert ticket sales or radio ratings. It’s built on character. The songs are simply the threads that stitches us together. From the songwriter who writes the lyrics, to the artist who sings the songs, to the radio station that plays them, to the family hearing it on the radio. The love of country music is handed down from generation to generation. That’s why these songs never grow old. They become part of our lives, our memories, and our families.
At My Country 99.3 WCON, we’re blessed to play The Music That Made Country Great every day from a family owned radio station in North Georgia. But I’ve come to realize that we’re really doing something even more important. We’re helping keep a family tradition alive. Because country music has never been just about entertainment. Country music is about family. Thank you for being a part of the My Country family and for letting us be a part of yours.
