I want to start this post by sending best wishes to Grand Ole Opry legend Stonewall Jackson. Stonewall had surgery earlier today on his back for what I have heard was to remove some bone spurs. Everything went well and it was reported that he was resting comfortably. I know Stonewall was in a lot of pain, so here is hoping that this procedure takes care of it.
As far as the Opry this weekend, the show continues at the Ryman with 1 show on Friday night and 2 shows on Saturday night. Saturday's Grand Ole Opry will feature the newest Opry member Darius Rucker, who will be in for both shows. These will be his first show since becoming a member last month and let's hope this is an indication that Darius will be at the Opry on a somewhat regular basis. Joining Darius on Saturday night will be Clare Bowen & Sam Palladio, who will be making their first Opry appearances. They are 2 of the stars of the ABC show "Nashville", which was picked up for the full season. This will be the 2nd week in a row of the Opry featuring stars from that show, as Charles Esten appeared on the Opry last Saturday night. Keith Anderson is also scheduled on Saturday, for the 2nd week in a row.
The Friday Night Opry will feature Opry member Charlie Daniels. I find it very hard to believe that he recently celebrated his 76th birthday. Wow!! Where does the time go? Joining Charlie on Friday night will be Opry members Diamond Rio and guest artists John Cowan Band.
Friday November 16
7:00: John Conlee (host); Jim Ed Brown
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; John Cowan Band
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Riders In The Sky; Diamond Rio
8:45: Mike Snider (host); Connie Smith; Charlie Daniels Band
Saturday November 17
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Keith Anderson; Jimmy C Newman
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Holly Williams
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jan Howard; Clare Bowen & Sam Palladio; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: The Whites (host); Jean Shepard; Darius Rucker
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Keith Anderson; Jean Shepard
10:00: Mike Snider (host); Holly Williams
10:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jesse McReynolds; Clare Bowen & Sam Palladio; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: The Whites (host); Darius Rucker
There are still a couple of slots to fill for this weekend. Also, interesting that on Friday night, Pete Fisher went with Mike Snider hosting the last segment when Jim Ed Brown, Riders In The Sky and Diamond Rio, all frequent hosts, are available and to be honest, are bigger names than Mike. And, has anyone else noticed that over the past several weeks, the format has shifted a bit with no commercial between the opening song by the segment host and the first act? And, when there is a legend in that first guest slot, they are limited to 1 song, but the second guest, who is usually a bigger name, is now getting 3?
On another Opry note, we have mentioned some of the Opry sponsors in the past, including the famous, "Jogging In A Jug". They just happen to be one of my all-time favorites. Now a sponsor on the Friday Night Opry, and also sponsoring on Tuesday night, is the "Low T Center" located in Brentwood, Tennessee. Yep, a men's testosterone clinic is now an Opry sponsor. So much for having national presenting sponsors on the Opry each week. In recent weeks, we have also seen the Country Music Hall of Fame return, along with Fiddler's Inn and Johnny Walker Tours. Makes you wonder if they are having trouble attracting sponsors.
Now for this week's archive show, I go back to Saturday November 17, 1990, 22 years ago this Saturday. On this particular night, Jim Ed Brown cancelled his appearance as he was admitted to St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville for heart by-pass surgery, while the TNN televised segment was hosted by Jack Greene and featured Suzy Bogguss.
1st show
6:30: Bonanza
Jimmy C Newman (host): Lafayette
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Jimmy C Newman: Cajun Stripper/Jambalaya
6:45: Hall of Fame
Grandpa Jones (host): Old Blue
Jeannie Seely: One Bad Old Memory
Grandpa Jones: When the Southbound Rolls Away
7:00: Shoney's
Jimmy Dickens (host): May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Skeeter Davis: I Ain't Never
Mel McDaniel: Take Me to the Country/Preaching Up A Storm/Stand Up
Jimmy Dickens: Life Turned Her That Way
7:30: Standard Candy
Jack Greene (host): Walkin' On New Grass
Billy Grammer: Sittin' On Top of the World
Bill Carlisle: Leave that Liar Alone
Suzy Bogguss: All Things Made New Again/I Wanna Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Roy Acuff and All: Happy Birthday Glenn Davis
Connie Smith: The Keys in the Mailbox/Louisiana Man
Del Reeves: Wild Blood/Girl On The Billboard
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Snow Flake Reel
8:30: Pops Rite
Hank Snow (host): Conscience, I'm Guilty
Charlie Louvin: If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again
The Whites: Doing It By the Book
Mike Snider: Shuckin the Corn
Hank Snow: Born for You
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Jimmy Dickens (host): Family Reunion
Roy Drusky: Somewhere My Love
Wilma Lee Cooper: Legend of the Dogwood Tree
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walkin'/Muddy Water
Jimmy Dickens: What Will I Do Then
10:00: Little Debbie
Grandpa Jones (host): Going Down The Country
Ray Pillow: Dim Lights, Thick Smoke/Too Many Memories
Grandpa Jones: It's Raining Here This Morning
10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train to Memphis
Bill Carlisle: I've Waited Too Long
Marshall Barnes: Tender Years
Roy Acuff: Ball Knob, Arkansas
10:30: Pet Milk
Jimmy C Newman (host): La Cajun Band
Mel McDaniel: Louisiana Saturday Night
Jimmy C Newman: (?)
10:45: B. C. Powder
Jack Greene (host): I Don't Believe I'll Fall In Love Today
Jan Howard: Somebody's Always Saying Goodbye
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Durham's Bull
Jack Greene: What Locks the Door
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Paper Roses
Charlie Louvin: The Precious Jewel
Justin Tubb: Texas Dance Hall Girl
The Whites: Fight on the Same Side/Swing Down Chariot
Hank Snow: I've Done At Least One Thing That Was Good In My Life
11:30: Creamette
Charlie Walker (host): San Antonio Rose
Connie Smith: Did We Have to Come This Far to Say Goodbye/How Great Thou Art
Johnny Russell: No One Will Ever Know
Charlie Walker: Silver Dew on the Bluegrass Tonight
This week's Midnight Jamboree archieve show will be hosted by Rhonda Vincent. Enjoy.
Sorry to hear about Stonewall's surgery but here's hoping it does solve his problem--and when you're 80, I would say, it's a sign that you're otherwise healthy when you have that kind of surgery.
ReplyDeleteI had noticed the sponsor changes recently and wondered what was up. I suspect there are plenty of sponsors interested, but I wonder if the Opry is trying to demand that they be partner sponsors or wanting too much of a commitment.
I wonder if part of Fisher's thinking on the Friday Night Opry is that Charlie Daniels is the big act, he'll probably fill a lot of the show, and Snider would essentially just be signing off afterward?
I'm completely satisfied with Mike Snider hosting anytime. To me, it's a glimmer of what the Opry used to be. I miss those days.
ReplyDeleteI miss Goo-Goo....
ReplyDelete