While Hank Williams Sr had the unfortunate distinction of being the first person to be kicked out of the Grand Ole Opry, there are many who believe that he has stuck around the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville. According to former stage manager Tim Thompson, the Ryman is haunted by the iconic Hank Williams Sr.
Late one night as Thompson was closing up the ticket office after midnight, he heard the distinct sounds of heavy footsteps walking across the Ryman stage. When he jumped up and ran to the stage, no one was in the building and every door was locked up tight. No one was in the Ryman but him!
Hank doesn’t just hang out at the Ryman though. From time to time the legendary performer’s slender, lanky silhouette has also been spotted in the alley behind the Ryman and Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge just around the corner.
If you’d like to learn more about the ghosts of downtown Nashville, please check out my book Southern Ghost Stories: Downtown Nashville.
