3597 - The Circle won't be Broken: A Journey through the Music that Tells America's Story (Bill Nigut)
Course Description
Instructor: Bill Nigut
Step back in time to explore the heart and soul of America’s earliest country music. This class celebrates the pioneers who shaped the sound that still echoes through Nashville today — from the Carter Family’s mountain harmonies and Jimmie Rodgers’ bluesy yodels, to Hank Williams’ raw emotion, Roy Acuff’s heartfelt showmanship, and Bill Monroe’s high, lonesome bluegrass sound.
We’ll trace how country music grew out of Appalachian folk songs, African American blues, gospel hymns, and rural storytelling, blending into a uniquely American voice that spoke of heartache, faith, and everyday life.
At the center of this journey stands the Grand Ole Opry, affectionately known as “the Mother Church of Country Music.” Since its first broadcast in 1925, the Opry has been more than just a radio show — it’s been a home, a proving ground, and a sacred stage where legends are made. From the Ryman Auditorium’s wooden pews to the circle of oak at the new Opry House, the spirit of country tradition lives on there.
Join me as we dive into the music, the people, and the stories that built a genre — and discover why these early stars still inspire passion, faith, and pride in America’s musical heritage.
Bio: Bill Nigut has been best known for his career as an Atlanta television and radio political analyst and reporter. But less known is that he studied acting and theater history at one of the most prestigious theater colleges in the country - the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago. He founded his own theater company in his hometown of Chicago, studied improvisation at Second City, and was a member of a Chicago improvisation troupe developed by improvisation guru Del Close. Bill saw his first Broadway musical - the original production of The Sound of Music starring Mary Martin - when he was 12 years old - and has been passionate about musicals and straight plays ever since.