Every Saturday the Grand Ole Opry would host live country music artists, however, when coronavirus struck, that streak was put into jeopardy.<\/p>\n
Brad Paisley performs during the Grand Ole Opry (Photo by Chris Hollo\/Grand Ole Opry\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n “It was pretty harrowing”, said Colin Reed, Hospitality chair and CEO of Ryman, the Opry’s parent company. “But, look we didn’t panic as a company and we got through it.”<\/p>\n When the pandemic hit, the Opry took its concert hall digital, hosting talented and famous music celebrities in a virtual concert environment.<\/p>\n “It was extremely odd,” said country music star Craig Morgan. “We’re so used to doing the Opry with a big audience. I don’t remember ever playing the Opry when it wasn’t sold out.”<\/p>\n Thanks to a favorable balance sheet and outside donations, the Opry chose to use its platform and virtual audience to give back to the local community.<\/p>\n The Opry started in late 1925 as a radio program that was broadcast from the Nashville office of the National Life and Accident Insurance Company, eventually changing venues as its popularity grew – the Ryman Auditorium perhaps being the most notable location that housed the show, from 1943 to 1974.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxbusiness.com\/foxbusiness.com\/content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/931\/523\/Grand-Ole-Opry-iNashville.jpg?ve=1&tl=1\")
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