The Barn Dance Podcast

In the season 2 premiere of the Barn Dance Podcast Freeman Arthur & Lee Hardin discuss why one of the most successful artist in country music history never has been made a member of the Grand Ole Opry .

Some dream of coming to the Opry for years either as a bucket list item, or to make life long goals become reality. In this episode Freeman's wife Amanda talks about what it was like to experience the Opry for the very first time and how it holds a special place and connection to their marriage. 

In this episode, we discuss the career and success of Alan Jackson, one of the most decorated country music stars of all time. His career of over 30 #1 hits have earned him membership in the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. The master musicianship of his records mixed with his incredible songwriting have given us some of the greatest music in American history. 

Country music purist often want nothing to do with anything but steel guitars and fiddles, however when Marty Robbins came onto the scene we learned that even a great country music artist, could also be great at everything else as well. In this episode we discuss the many talents and skills of a man who put 90 titles in the charts in his 57 years of life. 

Jean Shepard often does not get the credit she deserves for trailblazing a path for women in country music. She is the first woman in country music to sell a million records with her hit "A Dear John Letter" with Ferlin Husky. She was a member of the Grand Ole Opry from 1955 until her death in 2016. 

Emily Baldwin joins us via phone from California on this episode to talk about her time working at the Opry. We discuss the inside things that happen behind the scenes at an Opry show and the experience you can get as a guest. Emily is a middle school math teacher who worked for the Opry for the past 6 years before moving to California. 

One of the greatest old style banjo pickers was also a popular star of Hee Haw and the Grand Ole Opry. We discuss playing baseball with Bill Monroe, How two chickens was the price of a banjo, and the tragic death of the funny and talented David "Stringbean" Akeman

If you have never taken a tour of the Grand Ole Opry House, it is a must see. In this episode we discuss the features of what backstage is like, and each of the dressing rooms that all contain their own personality.

The well known beginnings of the Ryman, mixed with a few things you probably didn't know about one of Nashville's premiere music venues. 

From picking cotton in Sledge, Mississippi to working in a Smelters plant in Montana. A dream of playing professional baseball, turned into become the first black man to have major success in country music.

In this episode, we discuss what it means to be a Grand Ole Opry member, what is required and how the term "Opry member" has changed over the last 96 years.

In this episode Lee Hardin & Freeman Arthur discuss the importance of country music to a culture of people, and why music has such a big impact on the lives of individuals

In this episode we discuss the origins of the first "King of Country Music" Roy Acuff- and his long lasting history and impact on the Grand Ole Opry

In the first ever episode of "The Barn Dance Podcast" we discuss the beginnings of the world famous Grand Ole Opry