By Chip Dombrowski, Entertainment Editor

Opry salutes the automobile in 29th season opener next weekend

NORTH BEND — The bankruptcy and bailout of General Motors have provided an occasion for all sorts of venues to assess the place of the car in American culture.

The topic is especially relevant to country music, which has long romanticized American cars and trucks. In a year when “Shuttin’ Detroit Down” has become a staple of country radio, Little Ole Opry is opening its season with a show devoted to cars.

But it was a different kind of radio that inspired the theme, director Josie Reid said.

“I listen to Car Talk on Jefferson Public Radio,” Reid said. “They have the most obscure songs, and they’re just fantastic.”

Performers in next weekend’s opener, “Classic Cars and Famous Stars” have a choice of dressing up as the stars whose songs they’re covering or singing a song about a car. The impersonations, which were a hit at last year’s opener, include Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Taylor Swift, and Sonny and Cher. The car theme, which is new, includes songs by George Jones, Dwight Yoakam and Julianne Hough.

The theme isn’t limited to the music, though. The comedy team also will incorporate car-themed jokes and skits into the show, some of which call for larger-than-usual props.

“Refrigerator boxes are my greatest joy,” said comedy director Jill Hanson. “I can make anything out of a refrigerator box.”

The dancers also get involved in the theme with new costumes by Jeannie Woods that include racing flags. But that doesn’t mean the red dresses that Opry dancers have been wearing for 28 years are getting retired — nostalgia remains a key part of the Opry formula.

Among this year’s blasts from the past is the return of a mother-daughter act from the 1980s that has now grown to three generations. Shanna Stamos, 15, and her mother, Karen Stevens, will be coming from Texas to sing with Karen’s mother, Anita Stevens. Keith Topits also will return after several years away from Opry.

The lineup also includes several new performers, including Doug Conrad, Terry Holman and Cayce Train. Also, Trevor Berrian, Charlene Brigham, George Nixon and Dennis Young have done Christmas Opry or other shows but not summer Opry.

The turnout of performers was so high that Reid had to limit the number of shows each could do to four out of five weeks.

“I even had to cut myself,” Reid said. “And I don’t get very many perks.”

Another Opry leader is stepping back more willingly. After 25 years of not missing a show, Hanson is directing comedy for only the first and last weekends. Three assistants — Jeff Cragun, Carla Mobley and Joe Stoffel — will fill in for her in between.

Hanson said she wants to go to her 35th reunion for veterinary school and spend time with visiting family during the shows she’ll be missing. Also, at 60, Hanson said she could use the rest, but she doesn’t plan to retire from Opry for a long time.

“It’s such a joy, so much fun,” she said. “When the audience is laughing, you’re just higher than a kite.”

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