VISITING THE KING & QUEEN OF COUNTRY MUSIC

One of the questions that I am asked most often is of all the cemeteries that I have visited which are the ones that I have enjoyed the most. Without a doubt, Arlington National Cemetery is at the top of the list.

Over the years I have visited Arlington more than a dozen times and visiting our nations most hallowed ground is always an emotional experience. Every single person who is buried in Arlington or any of our National Cemeteries are true heroes who paid the price for the freedom that we enjoy.

Outside of any of our National Cemeteries, there are several cemeteries that I have visited more than once and if given the opportunity I will visit again. So, what are some of my favorite cemeteries.

Nashville Tennessee is probably my favorite city for Cemeteries. Nashville is known as Music City and has a tremendous number of Country Music Stars buried throughout the Nashville Area.

There are several cemeteries in the Nashville Area that I visit every time I am in the area. One of the First cemetery that I almost always visit when In Nashville is Spring Hill Cemetery located a few miles north of Opryland and downtown Nashville.

Spring Hill is one of the most star-studded cemeteries in the Nashville Area and as you enter the cemetery you are greeted by the King of Country Music. The Grave of Roy Acuff, his wife Mildred and his parents are located just inside the entrance. 

From 1938 until his death in 1992, Mr. Acuff was not only a member of the Grand Ole Opry, but also the shows most popular ambassadors. Each week Roy Acuff and his Smokey Mountain Boys would thrill Opry fans with his signature song, “The Wabash Cannonball,” along with the first song he ever performed on the Opry, “The Great Speckled Bird.”

Roy Acuff was so beloved that when the Opry Moved from the Ryman Auditorium to a new building at Opryland in 1974, they also built him a home just outside the stage door of the New Opry House.

Just across the road from Mr. Acuff’s is the grave of Bluegrass star Jimmy Martin who is a member of both the Bluegrass and Country Music Hall of Fames. While Jimmy Martin performed several times on the Grand Ole Opry, strangely he was never invited to become an Opry Member.

Jimmy was known for his temper and his love of alcohol which fueled his volatile personality. He often found himself involved in confrontations with the Opry Management and other influential members of the Opry.

Located just to the left of the Grave of Roy Acuff are the graves of husband-and-wife duo, Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright.  While Roy Acuff is known as the “King of Country Music,” Kitty Well was known as the “Queen of Country Music.”  Kitty’s Husband, Johnnie Wright performed with Jack Anglin to form popular duo known as Johnnie and Jack.  After Jack Anglin died in a car crash on the way to the Funeral of Patsy Cline, Johnnie joined Kitty and continued to perform on the Grand Ole Opry.

How fitting is it that both the King and Queen of Country Music are buried so close to each other at the entrance to Spring Hill Cemetery.

Just a short walk from the graves of Kitty Wells and Roy Acuff are the graves of two more Country Music Hall of Famers, Hank Snow and Earl Scruggs.

Hank Snow was a native of Canada where he made a name for himself as a country music performer. Hank was Invited to Join the Opry on January 7, 1950, on the recommendation of Ernest Tubb. During his 46-years on the Grand Ole Opry, “The Singing Ranger,” was known for such hit songs as “I’m Movin’ On,” “I Don’t Hurt Anymore,” and “I’ve Been Everywhere.”

On a side note, Hank and his wife lived here in Nashville, and today visitors can spend the night in their home as it is utilized as an Ari B and B.

Almost directly behind the Graves of Roy Acuff and Kitty Wells is the grave of banjo picker Earl Scruggs. Earl got his start as a member of Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass boys where he met Guitar player Lester Flatt.  The two would leave the Blue Grass Boys and form their own group, Foggy Mountain Boys.

Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys were one of the most popular groups on the Grand Ole Opry and performed the popular Theme song for one of the Opry Sponsors, Marth White Flour.

Later, the Duo performed the theme songs for the “Beverly Hillbillies” and “Petticoat Junction,” TV Shows.

Earl Scruggs revolutionized the sound of the 5-string banjo by developing his unique three finger picking style. His style of picking made famous such tunes as “Earl’s Breakdown,”  “The Foggy Mountain Breakdown,” and the “Flint Hill Special.”

In my past visits I have made my way through this rather large cemetery and visited the graves of several other Country Music Stars who are buried in this cemetery. People Like:

Speck Rhodes, a Country Comedian who gained fame appearing with Porter Wagoner on both his TV Show and on the Grand Ole Opry.

George Morgan, who was one of the Grand Ole Opry’s most popular Stars. His signature sone was “Candy Kisses,” and his is the father of country Music Star Lorrie Morgan and the Father-in-Law of Keith Whitley who is also buried nearby.

Floyd Cramer was a self-taught pianist renowned as one of the architects of the "Nashville Sound." In 1955, he moved to Nashville and became one of the most sought-after session musicians in the city. He played on sessions for Roy Orbison, the Everly Brothers, Patsy Cline, Perry Como, Chet Atkins, Boots Randolph, and Elvis Presley. 

Pete Drake was one of country music’s best peddle steel guitar players. When he was 18 years old, he visited Nashville and became fascinated by the steel guitar sounds of musician Jerry Byrd. He returned home and built his own steel guitar and taught himself to play it. He formed his own band, "The Sons of the South" which included future country star musicians Joe South, Roger Miller, Doug Kershaw, Jerry Reed, and Jack Greene. In 1959 he moved to Nashville and started touring with Marty Robbins, and Don Gibson. But he soon gave up touring to focus on becoming a studio musician and working as a member of the Grand Ole Opry Staff Band.

Howard Forrester was a longtime member of Roy Acuff’s Smokey Mountain Boys, He is regarded as one of the best and most accomplished fiddle players in country music. In 1951, he joined Roy Acuff's "Smoky Mountain Boys," which became one of the most popular groups ever to appear on the Grand Ole Opry, and he remained with the group until his death.

Billy Walker was one of several Texas Honky Tonk singer that left Texas and eventually found success in Nashville. His career took off when he joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1960 and in 1962 recorded his first number one hit "Charlie's Shoes." Other number one hits included, "Cross the Brazos at Waco," "Word Games" and "When a Man Loves a Woman." He had over thirty top ten hits and was recognized by Billboard Magazine as one of the "Top Twenty" most played artists of all time. Known as "The Traveling Texan, he was killed, along with his wife and two band members, on an Alabama highway when their vehicle wrecked while returning from a concert.

There are several notable personalities resting in Spring Hill Cemetery that I haven’t visited. I hope to return for another visit in the Near future to visit the graves of such stars as:

Jimmy Capps, a noted guitarist who was a member of the Grand Ole Opry Staff Band for over 50 years.

Charlie Collins, a long-time member of Roy Acuff’s Smokey Mountain Boys.

Bunny Biggs, who was known as “Jamup” from the Grand Ole Opry Comedy Team, “Jamup & Honey.”

John Hartford, a Country, and Bluegrass musician who was also a noted song writer who is best known s probably best known for composing the popular song "Gentle on My Mind,"

Jan Howard, One of the Grand Ladies of the Grand Ole Opry. She was an Opry Member for over 50-years.

Jeannie Seely, another of the Grand Ladies of the Grand Ole Opry. She was an Opry Member for almost 60 years and was the first female member to regularly host and Opry Segment.

Keith Whitley, a popular country music star who was married to Lorrie Morgan, the daughter of Country Music icon George Morgan.

That will wrap up this visit to Spring Hill Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee. Next time I will visit another one of my favorite Nashville Cemetery’s