Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Grand Ole Opry 3/13 & 3/14

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the two shows this weekend. Once again, the Opry has come up with two very nice shows, highlighted by the appearance on Friday night by Opry member Trisha Yearwood, who will be celebrating 16 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. For Trisha, this will be her first Opry appearance since 2010, when she appeared one time. If you look at her total Opry appearances since she became a member in 1999, this will be her 25th appearance. That's 25 shows in 16 years!

Joining Trisha on the Friday Night Opry will be guest artists The Willis Clan and "Nashville" star Charles Esten. As far as Opry members, Steve Wariner, Jeannie Seely, Jesse McReynolds and The Whites are set for just Friday night, while Bill Anderson, Diamond Rio, Mike Snider, Ricky Skaggs and Vince Gill are set for both nights. Interesting to see Bill leading off the Opry both nights as traditionally we see Bill during the 2nd half of the show. It is also nice to once again see Ricky Skaggs and Vince Gill at the Opry, and as I have mentioned before, both of these folks have really stepped up their Opry appearances so for in 2015. And you will notice that when they have appeared, Ricky usually hosts the segment prior to intermission, while Vince handles the closing segment.

Joining that group on Saturday night will be Opry members Patty Loveless, Connie Smith and Bobby Osborne. It is really nice to see Patty back at the Opry. Joining them will be guest artists Rhett Walker Band and RaeLynn, both of whom have appeared previously. Finally, The Nashville Celts will be making their Opry debut.

Friday March 13
7:00: Bill Anderson (host); Diamond Rio; Mike Snider
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; The Willis Clan
Intermission
8:15: Steve Wariner (host); Jeannie Seely; Jesse McReynolds; Charles Esten
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Trisha Yearwood

Saturday March 14
7:00: Bill Anderson (host); Rhett Walker Band; Mike Snider
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Connie Smith; The Nashville Cats
Intermission
8:15: Diamond Rio (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; RaeLynn; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Patty Loveless

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago this weekend, March 12 & 13, 2010:

Friday March 12
7:00: John Conlee (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jean Shepard; Billy Dean
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jan Howard; The Grascals
Intermission
8:15: Jeannie Seely (host); George Hamilton IV; Jack Greene; Darius Rucker
8:45: Mike Snider (host); Stonewall Jackson; Jim Ed Brown; Oak Ridge Boys

Saturday March 13
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; David Nail
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jean Shepard; Steel Magnolia
8:00: John Conlee (host); Jeannie Seely; Danny Gokey; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Marty Stuart (host); Connie Smith; Joe Diffie

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); David Nail; The Whites
10:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Jack Greene; Steel Magnolia
10:30: John Conlee (host); Charlie Louvin; Danny Gokey; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Marty Stuart (host); Connie Smith; Joe Diffie

And from ten years ago this weekend, March 11 & 12, 2005:

Friday March 11
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Mel McDaniel; Jimmy C Newman; Jon Randall
8:00: John Conlee (host); Jean Shepard; Riders In The Sky; Del McCoury Band
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Josh Turner
9:00: Pam Tillis (host); Charlie Walker; The Whites; Ralph Stanley
9:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Billy Walker; Jeannie Seely; Restless Heart

Saturday March 12
1st show
6:30: Nashville Irish Stepdancers; Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Bobby Pinson
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jim Ed Brown w/Helen Cornelius; Del McCoury Band
7:30: John Conlee (host); Jean Shepard; The Whites; Larry Sparks
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Billy Walker; Osborne Brothers; T. Graham Brown; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Pam Tillis (host); Riders In The Sky; Josh Turner

2nd show
9:30: Nashville Irish Stepdancers; Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Del McCoury Band
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; The Whites; Bobby Pinson
10:30: Pam Tillis (host); Jean Shepard; Jim Ed Brown w/Helen Cornelius; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: John Conlee (host); Larry Sparks; Josh Turner
11:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Ray Pillow; Osborne Brothers; T. Graham Brown

For this week's featured line-ups, there are two to feature. The first involves Trisha Yearwood, as it was on Saturday March 13, 1999 that Trisha became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Trisha was on the televised portion of the Opry in January from the Ryman Auditorium when Ricky Skaggs surprised her with an invitation to become a member.

Trisha has had a varied career as she has not only made her mark as a very successful singer, but she has appeared in several movies and television shows, and has been the author of several cooking books. She was the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year in 1997 and 1998 and has won three Grammy Awards. Her debut single in 1991 "She's in Love with the Boy" went to #1 on the country charts. Over the coarse of she career, she has released ten albums and has had 43 singles, seven of which went to #1. Much like many of the Opry members who joined the cast in the 1990s, her Opry appearances have been few.

Here is the running order of the Grand Ole Opry 16 years ago this Saturday, March 13, 1999, the night Trisha Yearwood became an Opry member.

1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Jimmy C Newman (host): La Cajun Band
Skeeter Davis: I'll Fly Away
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya/Cajun Stripper

6:45: National Corvette Museum
Jim Ed Brown (host): Looking Back to See/Morning/Pop A Top/ The Three Bells

7:00: Shoney's/Standard Candy
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Bill Carlisle: I've Waited Too Long
Janie Fricke: Bouncing Back/Don't Worry 'Bout Me Baby
Porter Wagoner: Fireball Mail/Night Train to Memphis/ Cabin In Gloryland
Rick Wayne: On the Line
Randy Scruggs: Black Mountain Rag
Steve Wariner: Holes in the Floor of Heaven
Trisha Yearwood: Living on the Wrong Side of Memphis/She's In Love With the Boy/Sweet Dreams

8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): No Fair Falling in Love
Marty Stuart: Southern Accent
John Prine: Paradise
Jean Shepard: I'll Sail Me Ship Alone
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Rachel
Bill Anderson: Still

8:30: Physicians Mutual
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed
Ricky Skaggs: Little Maggie
The Whites: I Hear the Wind A' Blowing
Vince Gill: Pretty Little Adrianna/When I Call Your Name

2nd show
9:30: Bluegreen Vacation Resort Development
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Jimmy C Newman: A Good Deal, Lucille
Trisha Yearwood: A Perfect Love/How Do I Live/She's In Love With the Boy
Porter Wagoner: I'll Fly Away

10:00: Lincoln-Mercury
Vince Gill (host): Don't Come Crying To Me
Randy Scruggs: Soldiers Joy
Vince Gill: Whenever You Come Around

10:15: Ray Stevens Show
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take An Old Cold Tater
Mike Snider & Marty Stuart: Rawhide
Jimmy Dickens: Life Turned Her that Way

10:30:
Marty Stuart (host): Doin' My Time
John Prine: Grandpa Was A Carpenter
John Prine & Marty Stuart: Angel From Montgomery

10:45: Jogging In A Jug
Ricky Skaggs (host): I'm Lost and I'll Never Find the Way
Jean Shepard: Tennessee Waltz
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Durang's Hornpipe
Ricky Skaggs: Connemara

11:00: Coca-Cola
Bill Anderson (host): Po' Folks
Holly Dunn: Daddy's Hands
John Conlee: Friday Night Blues
Jeannie Seely: Make the World Go Away
Billy Walker: Come A Little Bit Closer
Bill Anderson: The Paper

11:30: Opry Book
Johnny Russell (host): Folsom Prison Blues
Jack Greene: Statue of A Fool
Jeanne Pruett: Temporarily Yours
Del Reeves: Splish; Splash/Answer the Phone/Hound Dog
Stonewall Jackson: A Wound Time Can't Erase
Johnny Russell: Wabash Cannonball

A very nice Opry show that night!!

For the second line-up, it was on Saturday March 14, 1981 that the Grand Ole Opry was televised for a final time on PBS. PBS first televised an Opry show in 1978 as a fundraiser and it was such a success that they came back to the Opry for the next four years. After the 1981 show, PBS decided to go in a different direction. The final show in 1981 started at 6:00 and the first show ended at 9:08. The second show started at 9:38 but did not end until 1:20, well after PBS ended that night's broadcast. Why did it last so late? Well, let's just say it was thanks to Marty Robbins. The final segment, hosted by Marty, started at 12:09 and did not end until 1:20. As you will be able to see by the songs that Marty sang, he pretty much turned it into a concert at the end of the night.

Here is the running order 35 years ago, Saturday March 14, 1981, the final Opry show televised by PBS.

1st show
6:00: Vietti
Tom T Hall (host): The Year That Clayton Delaney Died
Skeeter Davis: The Rose
Jack Greene: She's the Rock I'm Leaning On
Boxcar Willie: Fireball Mail/Train of Love/Hand Me Down My Walking Cane/Wreck of the Old 97/Orange Blossom Special/Wabash Cannonball/Night Train to Memphis
Lonzo & Oscar: Whatever Happened to Saturday Night
Tom T Hall: Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine

6:30: Mrs Grissoms
Del Reeves (host): Be Glad
Billy Grammer: Somebody Loves You
Justin Tubb: Pull the Covers Over Me
Del Reeves: A Dozen Pair of Boots

6:45: Rudy's
Ernest Tubb (host): Walking the Floor Over You
Jeannie Seely: Roarin' and Runnin'
Del Wood: Keep on the Firing Line
Ernest Tubb: Answer the Phone

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Y'all Come
Jan Howard: The Story of Hondo Crouch
Jimmy C Newman & Wade Landrey: Orange Blossom Special
Wilma Lee Cooper: The Legend of the Dogwood Tree
Charlie Louvin Will You Visit Me On Sundays
Porter Wagoner: Trouble In Amen Corner

7:30: Standard Candy
Grandpa Jones (host): Are You From Dixie
Jean Shepard: Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song
Osborne Brothers: I Can Hear Kentucky Calling Me
Ernie Ashworth: Memphis Memory
Billy Walker: Behind Closed Doors
Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Liberty
Grandpa Jones: Fair and Tender Ladies

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Minnie Pearl: Careless Love
Don Gibson: I Can't Stop Loving You/Oh, Lonesome Me
Roy Acuff: Cabin in Gloryland

8:30: Acme
Hank Snow (host): Paper Roses
Jerry Clower: Nugene Ledbetter Tells A Lie
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
4 Guys: Swing Down Chariot
Hank Snow & Kelly Foxton: Before the Next Teardrop Falls
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbin Ridge

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Ernest Tubb (host): Let's Say Goodbye Like We Said Hello
Tom T Hall: They All Knew Me
4 Guys: Mama Rocked Us to Sleep With Country Music
Jack Greene: I'll Be There
Connie Smith: Give Them All to Jesus
Wilburn Brothers: Arkansas
Ernest Tubb: Waltz Across Texas

10:00: Little Debbie
Porter Wagoner (host): Tennessee Saturday Night
Del Reeves: I Would Like to See You Again
Bill Carlisle: Leave That Liar Alone
Porter Wagoner: Everything I've Always Wanted

10:15: Sunbeam
Grandpa Jones (host): Baptism of Jesse Taylor
Jean Shepard: Chime Bells
Ray Pillow: Too Many Memories
Grandpa Jones: Neighbors

10:30
Roy Acuff (host): Down in Union County
Minnie Pearl: Jealous Hearted Me
Stonewall Jackson: Old Chuck of Coal
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

10:45: Martha White
Jimmy C Newman (host): Cajun's Dream
Osborne Brothers: Strangers
Vic Willis Trio: American Trilogy
Crrok Brothers/Tennessee Travelers: Gray Eagle

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): I've Cried A Mile
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain
Jerry Clower: Uncle Versie's Trial
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Saturday Night Hop
David Houston: Texas Ida Red
Kirk McGee: Milk 'em In the Evening Blue
Hank Snow & Kelly Foxton: Check

11:30: Bama
Marty Robbins (host): Singing the Blues
Jeanne Pruett: Temporarily Yours
Charlie Louvin: Ten Years; Three Kids, Tow Loves To Late
Stu Phillips: I Will
Marty Robbins: Tonight Carmen/Don't Worry/That's All Right/I Don't Know Why
Marty Robbins & Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
Marty Robbins: Completely Out of Love/Love Me/Among My Souvenirs/El Paso City/Jumper Cable Man/Beyond the Reef/An Evening Prayer/Devil Woman/El Paso

Enjoy the Opry this weekend!!


12 comments:

  1. One of my regrets in life is that I didn't watch all of those PBS shows and we had no way to tape them. What a night! What a lineup!

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  2. You made a mistake with the schedule. The group scheduled for Saturday are "The Nashville Celts," not the Nashville Cats. "Nashville Cats" is a song by Del McCoury.

    Wow, I never realized Trisha's number of appearances was that low. But she took a break from music from 2001-05, and from 2008-12, so that kind of cuts into the shortened number of appearances. I'm still hoping that Garth Brooks makes a surprise appearance that night.

    Considering Vince Gill is hosting Patty Loveless' segment on Saturday, it's quite possible they may duet "My King Of Woman/My Kind Of Man."

    I guess Marty Robbins is the reason why the Opry ended its relationship with PBS. If it weren't for him going over time, the Opry probably would still be broadcast in its entirety on PBS.

    The Opry fans all loved Marty Robbins by singing these songs and giving them their money's worth, but I can imagine that WSM, Ernest Tubb and TV Networks were extremely mad at Marty for running over.

    It's too bad that none of the Opry's performers these days have the guts to do more than the amount of songs they're set to do. It would be great to hear them do a few more hits than they're scheduled to do.
    Kyle

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  3. Fred, Bismarck:

    This has to have been the night I was watching and Marty pulled one of his wonderful gags. He told the crowd he understood Roy Acuff had gone home for the night, and by golly he was going to sing one of Roy's songs; and if Roy didn't like it, there was nothing he could do about it. So he launched into a highly dramatic version of "Great Speckled Bird" -- thanks for the memory refresher, Byron -- and pretty soon out came Roy, arms folded, looking miffed. All of which the crowd just ate up, of course.

    I should have remembered this was one of the PBS shows, for these were the only opportunity I ever had to see Marty in his famous closing segments. Thanks, Byron.

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  4. Not sure if anyone mentioned this on any other articles, but singer & songwriter Waye Kemp passed away a couple days ago. He wrote "Love Bug" for George Jones, "I Just Came To Get My Baby" for Faron Young, "One Piece At A Time" for Johnny Cash, and "I'll Leave This World Loving You" for Ricky Van Skelton.

    Brad Paisley scheduled 2 shows on the Opry for Tuesday, March 24. It's going to be nice to see him again, and I can't wait to see what he will do to honor his little buddy Tater. Hopefully these aren't his only 2 shows at the Opry in 2015.

    Trace Adkins rescheduled (for the 3rd time) to appear on the Opry Friday, March 27. Hopefully "3rd time the charm" is right and he stops by.
    Kyle

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  5. From Anonymous in PA: Any word on Jean Shepard's health; she has not been at the Opry for weeks. Also, I think it is great that Trisha Yearwood is appearing at the Opry (finally), after all, she like all the others IS a member, and of course so is Garth. So, why all the hype and speculation about maybe him showing up too; it is Trisha's night and anniversary, why does everyone think he should perform too - he would only upstage everything. This would be a good weekend to be there (minus any of the "Nashville" show people).

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    1. I saw a few pictures from a Larry's Country Diner taping from February 23 & 24. Jean attended, and unfortunately, she was in a wheelchair in them (and had a very depressed look on her face). Hopefully the wheelchair is temporary, like it was a couple years ago.

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  6. Very nice of Bill Anderson to start off the Friday Night Opry with "Family Reunion."

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  7. A very nice Friday Night Opry. As mentioned, Bill Anderson started off the nigth with "Family Reunion." No, he didn't mention Jimmy Dickens, but he did talk about what a great family the Opry is. The crowd was very enthusiastic and remained that way throughout the show. Diamond Rio did their usual fine job and the audience really responded to Mike Snider. Bill did mention that it was Jan Howard's birthday and had the audience wish Jan a Happy Birthday "where ever she is." If I did my math right, Jan was 86 yesterday, which makes her the oldest female Opry member.

    Ricky Skaggs had his usual fun with bluegrass, while The Whites did "Big Wheel" as their only song. And yes, what can you say about The Willis Clan. I have seen them at the Opry before and what a great group of talented kids. You may have seen them on "America's Got Talent" or from their television show.

    Jesse McReynolds was not there and no news on why he cancelled. He has missed a few shows lately. Other than that, Steve Wariner's segment was very nice.

    The final segment was Vince Gill and Trisha Yearwood. Trisha was in great voice and mentioned that it was her 16th anniversary as an Opry member. She dedicated "She's In Love With the Boy" to Porter Wagoner who she said loved the song. After a duet with her sister, she did "Crazy" in memory of Patsy Cline. That was the same song she did the night that she was inducted as an Opry member and she mentioned Patsy's family that was there the night she joined. She was also wearing Patsy's necklace that had been given to her that night. And no, there was no real mention of Garth and Garth was not there. Vince finished out with "Go Rest High On that Mountain" in dedication to his brother, as Friday March 13 was the anniversary of his death that inspired the song.

    Vince did mention to Trisha several times that she was missed at the Opry and it had been a while since she had been around and she needed to get back more often. Trisha did say she missed the Opry and wanted to get back soon. Hopefully that comes true.

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  8. Nice of Vince to engage in some public lobbying. Jesse McReynolds did have some health issues not long ago that he mentioned on Facebook, and there had been a post from him recently, so here's hoping there's nothing major going on. Jan has been a little quiet about her exact age, but I've heard 84 and 85 as well. She looks and sounds good for any of those, and for ages a lot lower!

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  9. Jan's Wikipedia page was recently altered to change her birth year from 1932 to 1929 although the former still appears in the body of the article. No source or reason was given for the change. If the latter is correct she married at 15 which seems awfully young and borderline illegal. I've also seen 1930 given. Like Michael said, all this is moot since she looks and sounds great and is a wonderful lady.

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  10. As we have said, not that it matters, but it would appear that she was born in 1930 which would make her 85. Like others, I have seen her birth year change a few times over the years, just like a few others . And yes, she has kept her voice over the years.

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  11. Does anybody have the 1981 PBS Grand Ole Opry Show, I am looking for only the 2 Ernest Tubb performances from the the 2nd show. I have the rest.

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