CDX Nashville artist Clare Dunn made her Grand Ole Opry debut last Saturday night (March 5th). Though it was the “Tuxedo” singer’s first time on the stage, she was certainly no stranger to the legendary venue. In fact, Clare’s first job when she moved to Nashville was at the Opry, working in the gift shop.
I worked in the gift shop and I sold “Picture History Books” before every show,. Every chance that I could and even a lot of times when I shouldn’t have, I would sneak into the house, and I would watch as much of the show as possible each night. Considering I worked every show every night, maybe I owe the Opry a buck or two back. [laughs] Anyway, I got to see Porter Wagoner before he passed away. I knew every Little Jimmy Dickens’ joke. I watched Jeanie Sealy & Jean Shepard in their elements every night, and witnessed so many new artists play the Opry for their first time and then go on to become superstars and return to the Opry. And it was just such an amazing experience.
With much of her Nashville history taking place in the four walls of the Opry, the on-stage debut was something Clare dreamed of and truly took to heart.
I never dreamed in a million years while growing up driving tractors out on the Great Plains where I’m and listening to all the artists that played the Opry, I never dreamed that I would get a chance to see them or even be able to chase this dream myself. So, working at the Opry was treasured time for me. It was a time of absorbing as much of the rich history of the Opry as I possibly could. It was a time of just getting to be near the music that shaped our genre, and getting to witness not only how the Opry house itself affects the fans, but the artists who are so honored to play that stage that made country music famous.
Clare recently hit radio with her new single, “Tuxedo,” which is featured on her self-titled EP that was released this past fall.