Decades later, Anderson gets his guitar back

Anderson, Vicky McGehee and Jamey Johnson co-wrote "The Guitar Song," eight years ago, about a fictional guitar that hung unwanted and tattered in an old pawn shop. The guitar held so many stories of its past and became the title track of Johnson's fourth album.

Last Saturday at the Grand Ole Opry, the Grammer guitar given to Anderson personally by Billy Grammer 50 years ago was returned.

Four weeks ago, Anderson's secretary received an email from Mike Grauer, the owner of Bell Road Pawn in Phoenix. He said that one of the shop's customers had pawned an old guitar which had the words, "This guitar belongs to Bill Anderson," in the sound hole.

Familiar with the 50-year Grand Ole Opry member and his long list of self-penned top country hits like "Whiskey Lullaby" (Brad Paisley, Alison Krauss) "A Lot Of Things Different" (Kenny Chesney), "Give It Away" (George Strait), Grauer searched the Internet and was shocked when he found an old video on YouTube of Anderson playing an identical Grammer guitar on The Johnny Cash Show. Grauer sent pictures of the relic, and upon investigation, Anderson and his team were able to confirm its authenticity.

"I thought, okay, here it comes, he's going to want $25,000 for me to get it back," Anderson joked. When Andereson asked Grauer what he would take for the special timepiece, he replied that he and his wife had always wanted to witness the Grand Ole Opry, but they'd never had the chance.

"Before he changed his mind," Anderson recalled, he booked two tickets to Nashville and arranged for them to experience The Grand Ole Opry backstage. As Grauer and his wife, Wendie, celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary, Anderson introduced them on-stage to a captive audience, telling the story of his long-lost guitar that had now found its way home.

Anderson said, his voice breaking, "Mike, you and Wendie just have no idea... you have no idea, what this means to me. I don't think I ever played this guitar in the Opry House because we didn't come here until 1972, but I played it many times at the Ryman. It's so special to have it back. Thank you so much. I wish you a wonderful anniversary." Laughing, he added, "It may be your anniversary, but I got the present,"

Anderson surprised the audience with a surprise appearance by Johnson, and the two performed "The Guitar Song."

Anderson closed the special performance saying, "Thank you to Mike, Wendie and Jamey, and thank you to Billy Grammer. May you rest in peace, my friend."

"Your old guitar will be well taken care of... I promise I'll never lose it again."