When I took my seat at the Grand Ole Opry Friday night, an usher tripped over a cord to get to me and tell me I couldn't sit there.

"Honey, unless your ticket says Seat 1, Row BB, Section 5, you're not allowed to sit in that seat," she said. I handed her my ticket and said, "Well, it does." "Wow!" she said.  "How did you manage the best seat in the house?" I explained that it's always front row for me when Haywood County's best, Balsam Range, is on the bill.

After the show she wanted to know more.  "They're going places," she said.  "I see them all in here, and Balsam Range has what it takes."   The downstairs was full Friday night, with more than a few in the balcony.  A Minnie Pearl impersonator warmed the audience up with the same so-silly-it's-funny stuff I heard as a child when Mother ...