Historic Nashville music venue named one of the most beloved in the South
A historic Tennessee theater was just named one of the most beloved in the South.
Southern Living Magazine included The Ryman Auditorium in a roundup of most beloved, Southern theaters. The magazine specifically applauded the beauty and architecture of Southern theaters.
"The fate of many playhouses and early cinemas is a sad one. As the popularity of film grew and the advent of the suburbs arrived, historic downtown theaters fell on hard times and into disrepair. Many were demolished. However, many were saved," they said.
"In the last two decades, we’ve seen a sweeping trend in public and private fundraising to save these stunning buildings, and many are currently operating again as 501c3 endeavors."
On Wednesday, the iconic venue said it was honored to be included in the list via a Facebook post.
Since it's conception, some of the biggest names in music have graced the Ryman's stage, from superstars like Johnny Cash, Elvis, and B.B. King to modern stars like Wu-Tang Clan, Lizzo and Harry Styles.
The history of the concert hall goes back to over a century ago when it was first constructed as a tabernacle for religious gatherings. The venue became not just a gathering place for religious purposes, but also educational and entertainment ones. In 1892, the Fisk Jubilee Singers made their Ryman debut.
Throughout the years, the venue would experience changes in location, possibilities of demolition, new ownership and renovations. The auditorium celebrated its centennial in 1992 and reopened in June of 1994 as a premier performance hall and museum. In 2001, the Ryman was declared a National Historic Landmark.
In May of 2022 it was named a Rock and Roll Landmark.
Southern Living's most beloved theater's of the South
The Lyric Theater - Birmingham, Ala.
The Fox Theatre - Atlanta, Ga.
The Dock Street Theater - Charleston, S.C.
The Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, Tenn.
The Majestic Theater - San Antonio, Texas
The Palace Theater - Louisville, Ky
The Palmetto Theater - Hampton, S.C.
The Byrd Theater - Richmond, Va.
The Asolo Repertory Theater - Sarasota, Fla.
The MSU Riley Center - Meridian, Miss.
The Saenger Theater - New Orleans, La.
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter at @_leyvadiana
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville's Ryman Auditorium among South's most beloved theaters
