Country music stars DIERKS BENTLEY and BLAKE SHELTON are distraught after severe floods in Tennessee damaged the state’s fabled venue, the Grand Ole Opry House.

The region was battered by thunderstorms at the weekend, and the heavy rain has played havoc with local electrical grids, leaving m any areas without power. Roads were also cordoned off as water levels rose.

The chaos prevented Bentley from traveling to two shows, and he has no w received more bad news after learning the concert venue – considered by many to be the heart of country music – has been hit badly by the storms.

New images show the venue, which was due to celebrate its 85th anniversary later this month, flooded with at least three feet (0.9 metres) of water, causing scheduled performances to be moved to alternate venues.

Bentley says, “We’ve all been affected by it. There’s devastation all over the city. But to see the Grand Ole Opry affected, that just really hit home for me, even more than having water in my house. At my house, if water touches anything, it’s ruined. That wood, hell maybe it’s got enough magic on it that it can survive the worst. I think everything in there is toast (ruined).”

Shelton has also spoken out about the potential damage to the Grand Ole Opry House.

In an email to the Associated Press, he writes: “As a country singer, there is only one place you dream of playing in your lifetime, and that is the Grand Ole Opry House. The Opry House is hallowed ground. We all need to help to make sure it lasts. I am devastated to hear that it is affected by this disaster.”

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