A number of music stars turned out to help celebrate the 51st anniversary of Nashville's famed Tootsie's Orchid Lounge over the weekend, singing the praises of the famous establishment.

Members of the McClymonts, a CMA Award-winning trio of sisters from Australia, say they visited the well-known lounge on lower Broadway soon after they began visiting Music City.

"We played there a couple months ago," Brooke tells The Boot, explaining that the sisters were exploring downtown Nashville one evening and just wandered into the bar. While they were there, the house band asked if there were any singers in the audience. The three McClymonts raised their hands and suddenly found themselves on the stage. "It's everything we thought it would be," says Brooke.

"You can just feel the vibe of what it used to be like years ago when the Opry was at the Ryman every weekend," adds Sam.

It's well-known that the original proprietor, Tootsie Bess, kept a hat pin behind the bar, and if a patron acted in a way she didn't like, she jabbed them with it and sent them on their way. The Boot asked if any of the McClymonts would have been ousted. "No, never!" came the instant reply from the sisters.

Brother and sister duo, the Roys, were a little more candid in their answer, with Elaine claiming that her brother, Lee, would be the one most likely to feel the prick of the pin from Tootsie Bess.

"Tootsie's is really cool," Lee says of the bar, which is painted purple with a huge orchid on the front of the building. "It was one of the first places Elaine and I got up to sing when we came to Nashville. We probably did a George Jones or Merle Haggard song ... one of those legends."

"It is really a cool place," Elaine agrees. "It is an honor to be a part of this event. Hopefully we'll leave our mark like all those who have frequented here before us."

Others who performed for Tootsie's Birthday Bash Street Party included the Kentucky Headhunters, Junior (Kid Rock's son) and Andy Velo.

"It's an honor to be here," Junior told the crowd braving the dreary cloud-filled sky as he took to the stage around 2:00 PM. "I'm attending Belmont University here now," he added to cheers from a front row of young men and women who appeared to be fellow students. His hip-hop set after country newcomer Velo's opening show paved the way for the Roys, the McClymonts and the Headhunters.

Kid Rock performed at the Ryman Auditorium, an historic venue just behind Tootsie's, later in the evening, in conjunction with the birthday bash. "Every time I end up at Tootsie's, its a good night," he commented.

Regulars from Tootsie's stage kept the outdoors crowd in place for Tootsie's regular, John Stone, whose set continued after the Kid Rock show was over. The crowd continued to party into the midnight hour. Kid Rock and his son, Junior, came out to perform 'Sweet Home Alabama' with John.

During the time that the Grand Ole Opry was at the Ryman full time, many Opry stars were known to visit Tootsie's between their performances on the radio show, including Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Faron Young and Ernest Tubb. In later years, Willie Nelson, Mel Tillis, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings and Roger Miller were regular visitors. Willie landed his first songwriter's gig while in the bar, and it is said that Roger and Kris may have written some of their famous tunes there.

The bar's owner, Tootsie Bess, loved music and was a friendly face to new talent trying to find their break in Nashville's music scene. She probably handed out more than one free sandwich or beverage during the years to a soon-to-be hit songwriter, and no doubt heard many songs before they became radio classics.

Watch the McClymonts' 'Wrapped Up Good' Video

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