NASHVILLE (AP) — The young voices of The Band Perry soared in the space where Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline and Elvis Presley were once heard, but their boots were the first to tap time on the new stage.

The hot country music act became the first to perform on the new stage at Ryman Auditorium, which is often billed as the Mother Church of Country Music. The trio's concert on Monday night was the first public performance since a 61-year-old oak floor was removed and replaced with teak laid over a reinforced structure.

Ryman officials said the new stage could last for a century or more.

The band called the night "historic," according to The Tennessean (http://bit.ly/yjrxlV ).

The new stage is more durable and has triple the load-bearing capacity of the old stage, a necessity for modern concerts at the National Historic Landmark.

Ryman Auditorium General Manager Sally Williams said before the show that The Band Perry's music made them a great choice for the first concert on the new stage floor.

"It's so fitting for tonight," she said. "Like The Band Perry, it's what the Ryman Auditorium is all about, embracing the rich heritage and staying current with today's music."

The trio unveiled six new songs at the sold-out show, which was their first headliner concert in Nashville.

Their second album is due out this year.