01of 10Danielle PiazzaWalking out on stage for soundcheck made it all feel real. I wasn’t nervous then honestly. Maybe it’s because it felt like home - my country music home! I used to spend several nights a week coming to the Opry backstage and hanging out, watching some of my heroes and also new artists make their debut. I hoped and prayed one day I’d get my chance to step into the circle. This night was a full-circle moment for me and one I’ll never forget.
01of 10
Danielle Piazza
Walking out on stage for soundcheck made it all feel real. I wasn’t nervous then honestly. Maybe it’s because it felt like home - my country music home! I used to spend several nights a week coming to the Opry backstage and hanging out, watching some of my heroes and also new artists make their debut. I hoped and prayed one day I’d get my chance to step into the circle. This night was a full-circle moment for me and one I’ll never forget.
02of 10Danielle PiazzaMaybe it’s a girl thing, but getting ready backstage in the debut dressing room was the ultimate treat! I never have my makeup done, but the Opry was a reason enough. My talented MUA/friend Ginger Sharp came out and got me all done up! She can make you go from feeling average to a million bucks! I truly felt so special and loved. I also was surprised and sent the most beautiful flowers from my team and my husband! I’m a lucky gal.
02of 10
Maybe it’s a girl thing, but getting ready backstage in the debut dressing room was the ultimate treat! I never have my makeup done, but the Opry was a reason enough. My talented MUA/friend Ginger Sharp came out and got me all done up! She can make you go from feeling average to a million bucks! I truly felt so special and loved. I also was surprised and sent the most beautiful flowers from my team and my husband! I’m a lucky gal.
03of 10
04of 10Danielle PiazzaMaybe it was the 10" heels I bought last minute on Amazon, but I felt on top of the world that night! Just walking down the hallways backstage was such a surreal feeling. I loved looking in all of the dressing rooms - they’re all fixed up so unique and cool! Nothing beats backstage at the Opry. Oh, and did I mention they have the best sweet tea and lemonade? You can make the best Arnold Palmer.
04of 10
Maybe it was the 10" heels I bought last minute on Amazon, but I felt on top of the world that night! Just walking down the hallways backstage was such a surreal feeling. I loved looking in all of the dressing rooms - they’re all fixed up so unique and cool! Nothing beats backstage at the Opry. Oh, and did I mention they have the best sweet tea and lemonade? You can make the best Arnold Palmer.
05of 10
06of 10
07of 10Danielle PiazzaIt felt surreal hanging out in my dressing room — looking up at the walls of quotes from artists I’ve looked up to my whole life that have stood in that same room. Hard to describe the feeling.
07of 10
It felt surreal hanging out in my dressing room — looking up at the walls of quotes from artists I’ve looked up to my whole life that have stood in that same room. Hard to describe the feeling.
08of 10
09of 10Danielle PiazzaWhat a night! So many people from my team came out to support me. And look at how many gals there are! I’m so grateful to work with such awesome folks and appreciate everything they do to help me make this crazy dream of mine happen!
09of 10
What a night! So many people from my team came out to support me. And look at how many gals there are! I’m so grateful to work with such awesome folks and appreciate everything they do to help me make this crazy dream of mine happen!
10of 10Chris HolloFiddle has always been a huge part of my life. My grandfather was the reason I started playing fiddle — he gave me my first one. It’s opened about every door in my life and though I don’t play it as much as I used to, I always make sure it remains in my music and what I do. It makes me different, and I love that. When I heard I was going to be playing the Opry, I knew I had to bring my fiddle. So we changed the solo of “Don’t Do It In Texas” to create a twin fiddle solo! Just gotta have it! More fiddles the better!Twenty-eight years of my life leading up to this moment. And 10 minutes after walking on stage, it was done. Just like that! I did it — I made my Opry debut. I will never forget Charlie calling me out and walking into the sacred circle, the spotlight shining on me, seeing the crowd smile, having my close friends on stage with me, playing songs I love, doing what I love and getting this crazy dream of mine, my job. This was an unforgettable night! Thank you, Grand Ole Opry!
10of 10
Chris Hollo
Fiddle has always been a huge part of my life. My grandfather was the reason I started playing fiddle — he gave me my first one. It’s opened about every door in my life and though I don’t play it as much as I used to, I always make sure it remains in my music and what I do. It makes me different, and I love that. When I heard I was going to be playing the Opry, I knew I had to bring my fiddle. So we changed the solo of “Don’t Do It In Texas” to create a twin fiddle solo! Just gotta have it! More fiddles the better!
Twenty-eight years of my life leading up to this moment. And 10 minutes after walking on stage, it was done. Just like that! I did it — I made my Opry debut. I will never forget Charlie calling me out and walking into the sacred circle, the spotlight shining on me, seeing the crowd smile, having my close friends on stage with me, playing songs I love, doing what I love and getting this crazy dream of mine, my job. This was an unforgettable night! Thank you, Grand Ole Opry!
source: people.com
