The ultimate symbol of the Grand Ole Opry's longevity is carefully preserved and ever present. But the hundreds of thousands of visitors who take in the country variety show each year can't spot it from the Grand Ole Opry House pews. They can only get a glimpse by taking the guided tour that includes an on-stage photo op at the microphone — the same one that broadcasts Opry stars' singing and stage banter to AM radio listeners. It's when visitors stand in the spot where the performers do that they can see it: a 6-foot sphere of battered, blond wooden flooring.

A half century ago, that circle was cut from the stage of the Opry's previous home, the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville, then transported to the suburban theater that's been its primary venue ever since. Between those two locations, artists of so many different styles, sensibilities and generations have performed on those floorboards that collectively comprise country music's most lasting and defining lineage.

"There's maybe some Hank Williams or Patsy Cline DNA somewhere," Gina Keltner, the Opry's associate producer of talent, says of the significance of that antique circle of stage.

Read more here.

What is passing today as Country music is so bland and not what I’d call Country music. The artists all sound the same, at least to me. 1990’s country music was awesome. Even I could tell who was singing by the artist’s distinctive voice alone.

I think real country is starting to make a comeback. Some of the newer guys out there are going back to that twangy country sound. You know right away that it's country.

Now, if they would discourage the rappers from collaborating on some of these songs that would be great.

Trap beats have no place in country music and it’s way too prevalent still.

As for the Opry, it’s still as meaningful as ever to anyone who knows anything about country music. It’s the mother church of the genre, after all.

I love seeing artists invited to join. It’s such a big deal and I’m glad people like Kathy Mattea and Steve Earle are finally being honored.

And man, I’d be so happy to just stand in that wooden circle, knowing all of the names that stood there before me. It’d be an almost religious experience.