Photos by Angelea Yoder
Earlier this year, Vanderbilt Health announced a new partnership with Opry Entertainment Group, making them the official medical provider for all Grand Ole Opry shows, as well as concerts and other events hosted at the Opry House and Ryman Auditorium. With this, LifeFlight Event Medicine is onsite to provide EMS coverage for all events. To celebrate this relationship, a series of special events were held at the Grand Ole Opry House and on Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s main campus.
“Nashville’s two greatest exports are music and health care. As leaders in these areas Vanderbilt Health and Opry Entertainment are strengthening our historic partnership to provide enhanced safety and wellness initiatives for patrons of Opry Entertainment’s storied venues. We feel that this collaboration is a win for both organizations, our employees, and for our city at large.” said Stuart Dill, Chief Marketing Officer of Vanderbilt Health.
On Dec. 11, the Grand Ole Opry welcomed VUMC’s hospital chaplains to Monday night’s Opry Country Christmas performance, where the Rev. Raye Nell Dyer and the Rev. Frank Macht had the honor of flipping the switch to illuminate the Opry barn Christmas lights.
In addition to the Opry celebration, Vanderbilt Health organized two events on its campus to further highlight the collaboration, which showcased the partnership’s shared commitment to the Nashville community. The events included a holiday experience with an original Ryman Auditorium pew, ticket giveaways and more for employees at VUMC as well as Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
“Opry Entertainment and Vanderbilt Health have a long history of collaboration, not only in business but also in community wellness, safety, and health programs, and we are pleased to extend our relationship with Vanderbilt through these services,” said Pete Weien, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer for Opry Entertainment Group. “Nashville’s distinctive character as both a vibrant music city and a thriving medical hub makes this an excellent opportunity to further unite our two businesses.”
Some scenes from the special events at VUMC, as the Opry pew and the iconic Opry microphone and stand were an irresistible draw for both humans and a certain canine:
