[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 188 (Tuesday, October 26, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S7366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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   COMMEMORATING THE GRAND OL' OPRY'S 5000TH SATURDAY NIGHT BROADCAST

 Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam President, I think I speak for all 
Tennesseans when I confess that, during the COVID-19 pandemic 
lockdowns, I craved the comfort of familiarity. I laid newer books and 
albums aside in favor of well-worn classics so close to my heart that 
they, in and of themselves, were cherished memories. We lost so much 
during that lonely time, but through it all, at least one thing 
remained constant.
  Every Saturday night, when I tuned my radio to 650 AM WSM, I heard 
the fiddles and steel guitars that have welcomed music lovers into the 
Grand Ol' Opry's circle of friends for the past 95 years.
  On October 30, 2021, the Grand Ol' Opry will celebrate its historic 
5000th Saturday night broadcast. As most country music lovers will tell 
you, Saturday at the Opry is more than just an ``experience;'' it is 
the foundation of the format's legacy and the endgame for those who 
come to Nashville, TN, seeking their place within the ranks of country 
music's legends. The Saturday broadcast has been on the airwaves longer 
than any other broadcast program of any medium anywhere in the world. 
It thrived through its expansion from radio to television and then to 
digital streaming platforms. It has survived the Great Depression, 
World War II, multiple global conflicts, civil unrest, devastating 
natural disasters, and, now, a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic.
  For 7 months during the spring, summer, and fall of 2020, while life 
outside the Grand Ol' Opry House ground to a halt, a dedicated skeleton 
crew of producers, stagehands, and performers came together to create a 
socially distanced broadcast that was just as welcoming and heartfelt 
as anything a live audience would expect to see. Today, thankfully, the 
fans are back in their seats, and those who don't make the pilgrimage 
to Music City tune in from home with a newfound appreciation for the 
gift of live music.
  It is my privilege to memorialize the Opry's ongoing commitment to 
artistry and entertainment and to honor every single person who worked 
so hard, against such odds, to bring country music into our homes when 
we could not seek it out for ourselves. On behalf of the entire 
Tennessee congressional delegation, I thank you for helping us maintain 
our bond with the past, our hope for the future, and our belief in the 
power of music to comfort and inspire when all else seems lost.

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