Amy
Grant and Martha R. Ingram – Two Women of Grace Received Walk of Fame Stars
Grant and Martha R. Ingram – Two Women of Grace Received Walk of Fame Stars
On a not too warm, not too
cloudy and perfectly sunshiny day, fans, media and Nashville celebrities
gathered in the heart of Music City, USA to see the Walk of Fame Star ceremony.
cloudy and perfectly sunshiny day, fans, media and Nashville celebrities
gathered in the heart of Music City, USA to see the Walk of Fame Star ceremony.
The fans were lined up along the walkway by
Demonbreun Street across from the Country Music Hall of Fame for well over an
hour before the ceremony started, being entertained by guitar virtuoso David
Andersen and a non staged, a little faint and off beat, background percussion
from the elevators going up and down the construction of a new skyscraper
nearby. As Amy Grant walked up to the
podium which was flanked by two red Music City notes, both the guitar and the
sounds of the city were muffled by the cheers from the audience. Soon thereafter, the ceremony began with the
Master of Ceremonies, WSM’s very own Bill Cody, being the energetic, verbal
mortar binding the elements of the program together. He informed that this was the eighteenth Walk
of Fame Star Ceremony and welcomed Mayor Megan Barry as the next speaker. She called the spot we were at for a “prime
visitor attraction” and “The best place to get to know why Music City is Music
City.” CMNI has seen visitors reverently
walk around the markers, careful not to step on them, and many take pictures of
themselves posing next to the marker of their favorite star. Some of the stars that have been honored in
the ten year history of the Walk of Fame are Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Loretta
Lynn, Jack White, Hank Williams Sr., Miranda Lambert, Elvis Presley, so many
others and now also Martha R. Ingram and Amy Grant.
Demonbreun Street across from the Country Music Hall of Fame for well over an
hour before the ceremony started, being entertained by guitar virtuoso David
Andersen and a non staged, a little faint and off beat, background percussion
from the elevators going up and down the construction of a new skyscraper
nearby. As Amy Grant walked up to the
podium which was flanked by two red Music City notes, both the guitar and the
sounds of the city were muffled by the cheers from the audience. Soon thereafter, the ceremony began with the
Master of Ceremonies, WSM’s very own Bill Cody, being the energetic, verbal
mortar binding the elements of the program together. He informed that this was the eighteenth Walk
of Fame Star Ceremony and welcomed Mayor Megan Barry as the next speaker. She called the spot we were at for a “prime
visitor attraction” and “The best place to get to know why Music City is Music
City.” CMNI has seen visitors reverently
walk around the markers, careful not to step on them, and many take pictures of
themselves posing next to the marker of their favorite star. Some of the stars that have been honored in
the ten year history of the Walk of Fame are Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Loretta
Lynn, Jack White, Hank Williams Sr., Miranda Lambert, Elvis Presley, so many
others and now also Martha R. Ingram and Amy Grant.
Sometimes the best way to get to know a
person is to know who their friends are.
By the friends of philanthropist Martha R. Ingram and Grammy awarded
Christian/crossover artist Amy Grant and the way they spoke about them, you can
tell that they are genuine, loving, hard working, generous – in spirit and heart as well as with
their time and means, supportive, humble and gracious. Both proved that when they with respect in
their voices said how honored they were to be inducted at the same time. In fact, Grant used the first minute of her
speech to pay homage to Ingram, and Ingram dedicated a good part of her speech
as well giving Grant tribute for her benefit concerts for the Schermerhorn
Symphony Center. The center would not
have existed if it wasn’t for them and their contributions. Amy also spoke about how interconnected we
all are as the family of man and how we one day after this life will wake up
and see that we are as connected as aspen trees: underneath them is a root
system that bind them together. We agree
with their friends Nicholas S. Zeppos, Chancellor of Vanderbilt University (who
said Ingram was like Helen of Troy), and John Huie of Creative Artists Agency
and Bart Millard of MercyMe on Ingram and Grant being worthy honorees and say
no others deserve it more.
person is to know who their friends are.
By the friends of philanthropist Martha R. Ingram and Grammy awarded
Christian/crossover artist Amy Grant and the way they spoke about them, you can
tell that they are genuine, loving, hard working, generous – in spirit and heart as well as with
their time and means, supportive, humble and gracious. Both proved that when they with respect in
their voices said how honored they were to be inducted at the same time. In fact, Grant used the first minute of her
speech to pay homage to Ingram, and Ingram dedicated a good part of her speech
as well giving Grant tribute for her benefit concerts for the Schermerhorn
Symphony Center. The center would not
have existed if it wasn’t for them and their contributions. Amy also spoke about how interconnected we
all are as the family of man and how we one day after this life will wake up
and see that we are as connected as aspen trees: underneath them is a root
system that bind them together. We agree
with their friends Nicholas S. Zeppos, Chancellor of Vanderbilt University (who
said Ingram was like Helen of Troy), and John Huie of Creative Artists Agency
and Bart Millard of MercyMe on Ingram and Grant being worthy honorees and say
no others deserve it more.
Shelley Ridge for Country Music News
International
International