Grand Ole Opry fete turns fundraiser

The Grand Ole Opry's 85th birthday celebration has turned into a fundraiser after a massive deluge in early May that killed 19 people and swamped the historic landmark.

The flooding was so bad that six counties in Tennessee, including the area where Nashville is located, were declared national disaster zones.

Waters flowed into the Opry House, which ended up with 1.2 metres of water, damaging priceless artifacts and archives.  Hundreds of artifacts — from audio and videotapes to instruments, photos and stage clothes — were submerged.

The birthday celebrations kicked off Tuesday night with an all-star lineup at the Ryman Auditorium, the former home of the Grand Ole Opry, which was not damaged.

Ryman was home to the weekly Grand Ole Opry radio show, broadcast since 1925,  between 1943 and 1974.

Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Steve Wariner and Ricky Skaggs were on hand to mark the event.

Musicians lost equipment

Many artists who live in the area were affected because the waters deluged Soundcheck — a popular rehearsal space that was also a storage place for musicians.

Gill lost at least 60 guitars and other gear valued at more than $1 million, and Paisley lost most his travelling gear.

Despite their own losses, musicians like Gill have led flood the relief effort, hosting a telethon and donating $100,000 US of his own funds.

"When I found out I was going to lose a large amount of instruments, my wife [Amy Grant] came up to me and said, 'You know what's good about you? You only need one to make a living,'" Gill told the crowd.

Paisley performed his hit Water, the main song of his ironically titled H2O Tour. The country superstar said he was honoured to share the stage with the likes of country veterans Gill, Skaggs and Wariner.

The audience was treated to a rendition of Merle Haggard's Workin' Man's Blues trading solos and bringing the crowd to their feet.

The group then played the Opry standard Will The Circle Be Unbroken?

Meanwhile, restoration work continues at the Opry House. Officials have yet to put a price on the damage.  Workers have removed all carpets, drywall up to the level of the flooding, and electrical and technical fixtures.