Thursday, May 14, 2015

Grand Ole Opry 5/15 & 5/16

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the schedule for the two shows this weekend, the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. Also posted is next week's Tuesday Night Opry line-up.

Looking at the shows this weekend, Opry member Lorrie Morgan is scheduled for both nights, and she will be hosting the final segment on both shows. As usual, it is nice to see Lorrie back on the Opry stage. In what I find as an interesting segment, on Friday night Lorrie will be hosting with Opry members Pam Tillis, Jan Howard and Jeannie Seely as her guests. I would not be surprised if there was some sort of group singing taking place. They are all friends and legends at the Opry.

Also scheduled for both nights, and hosting segments, are Opry members John Conlee, Connie Smith and Riders In The Sky, with Opry member Mike Snider also set. Joining those members on Friday night will be Opry members Bobby Osborne and Terri Clark. What is interesting with Terri, and I am not sure if anyone else has noticed, is that on each of her appearances this year she has been scheduled for the first segment, each time hosted by John Conlee. And each time, she has done her wonderful John Conlee impression of "Rose Colored Glasses." Rounding out the Friday night line-up are guest artists Ashley Clark, Aaron Tippin and "Nashville" star Charles Esten. With the news that "Nashville" has been renewed on ABC for another season, we can expect a continued stream of actors from the show performing on the Opry.

Joining those already mentioned on Saturday night will be Opry member Jesse McReynolds, along with guest artists Jackie Lee, Logan Brill, Charlie Nagatani, Love and Theft and Dailey & Vincent. What I find interesting in that group is Dailey & Vincent is listed as the only guests scheduled for the final segment with Lorrie. Love and Theft and Jackie Lee have made several Opry appearances this year, while Logan Brill will be making her Opry debut. For those interested, she is listed as a contemporary country artist.

Friday May 15
7:00: John Conlee (host); Terri Clark; Mike Snider
7:30: Connie Smith (host); Ashley Clark; Aaron Tippin
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Charles Esten
8:45: Lorrie Morgan (host); Pam Tillis; Jan Howard; Jeannie Seely

Saturday May 16
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Jackie Lee; Mike Snider
7:30: John Conlee (host); Logan Brill; Jesse McReynolds
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); Charlie Nagatani; Love and Theft; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Lorrie Morgan (host); Dailey & Vincent

All in all, it looks like a very nice weekend, with Friday looking the better of the two nights.

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago, the weekend of May 14 & 15, 2010. The shows both nights took place at Two Rivers Baptist Church, across Briley Parkway from the Grand Ole Opry House.

Friday May 14
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jesse McReynolds; Andy Griggs
7:30: Lorrie Morgan (host); Jack Greene; Matt Kennon
Intermission
8:15: Jimmy C Newman (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Holly Williams
8:45: Jean Shepard (host); Jan Howard; Charlie Daniels Band

Saturday May 15
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Matt Kennon
7:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jean Shepard; Holly Williams
Intermission
8:15: Steve Wariner (host); Jack Greene; Riders In The Sky
8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); Charlie Louvin; The Whites

And from ten years ago, the weekend of May 13 & 14, 2005:

Friday May 13
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jimmy C Newman; Bobby Pinson
8:00: John Conlee (host); Stu Phillips; Jean Shepard; Jason Aldean
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely; Elizabeth Cook
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Joni Harms
9:30: Diamond Rio (host); Connie Smith; Osborne Brothers

Saturday May 14
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Osborne Brothers; Dan Seals
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Lane Turner
7:30: John Conlee (host); Jim Ed Brown & The Browns; Trent Willmon
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Billy Walker; Jean Shepard; Joni Harms; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jack Greene; Alison Brown Quartet w/Joe Craven

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely; Dan Seals
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Osborne Brothers; Billy Walker; Lane Turner
10:30: Jean Shepard (host); Charlie Louvin; Trent Willmon; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: John Conlee (host); Jim Ed Brown & The Browns; Alison Brown Quartet w/Joe Craven
11:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Ray Pillow; Jack Greene; Joni Harms

Finally, for this week's featured line-up, it was 33 years ago this weekend, May 15, 1982 that Ricky Skaggs became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Ricky, of course, has kept the bluegrass sound alive at the Opry and since he joined and particuarly for the past decade, has been a very loyal member of the Opry and the Opry is certainly better off with him as a member.

Here is the running order of the Grand Ole Opry from Saturday May 15, 1982, the night that Ricky Skaggs became a member:

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Jack Greene (host): I Need Somebody Bad Tonight
Boxcar Willie: Fireball Mail/Train of Love/Hand Me Down My Walking Cane/Wreck of the Old 97/Orange Blossom Special/Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms/Night Train to Memphis
Jack Greene: You Are My Treasure

6:45: Rudy's
Stonewall Jackson (host): Don't Be Angry
Stu Phillips: Have I Told You Lately That I Love You/You Win Again/Release Me
Jeannie Seely: I'm Almost Ready
Stonewall Jackson: Me & You & A Dog Named Boo

7:00: Shoney's
Archie Campbell (host): Make Friends
Jim & Jesse: Then I'll Stop Going For You
Charlie Louvin: The House on the Hill
Connie Smith: I Just Had You On My Mind
Justin Tubb: Texas Dance Hall Girl
Archie Campbell: Comedy

7:30: Standard Candy
Ernest Tubb (host): Driving Nails in My Coffin
Jean Shepard: America, Tighten Up Your Belt
Billy Walker: Welcome Back to My Heart
Ricky Skaggs: Cryin' My Heart Out Over You/Blue Moon of Kentucky
Crook Brothers/Tennessee Travelers: Lafayette
Ernest Tubb: Waltz Across Texas

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jimmy C Newman: (?)
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Tennessee Ernie Ford: Get A Little Dirt On Your Hands/Sixteen Tons
Roy Acuff & Tennessee Ernie Ford: I'll Fly Away

8:30: Acme
Hank Snow (host): Paper Roses
4 Guys: It's High Time to Get Back on My Feet
Roy Drusky: Blues In My Heart
Wilburn Brothers: What You Think Is Fair
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Sugar Tree Stomp
Hank Snow: I Keep Dreaming Of You All the Time

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Ernest Tubb (host): The Women Make A Fool Out of Me
Stonewall Jackson: Ol' Chunk of Coal
Ernie Ashworth: Memphis Memory
Ricky Skaggs: Cryin' My Heart Out Over You
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Boxcar Willie: Train Melody
Ernest Tubb: Journey's End

10:00: Little Debbie
Billy Walker (host): Welcome Back to My Heart
Ray Pillow: My Love Belongs to You
Vic Willis Trio: Faded Love
Billy Walker: Behind Closed Doors

10:15: Sunbeam
Archie Campbell (host): Make Friends
Jeannie Seely: You Don't Need Me, But You Will
Archie Campbell: Comedy

10:30: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Billy Grammer: The Prisoner's Song
Connie Smith: Once A Day/Sing, Sing, Sing

10:45: Beech-Nut
Jimmy C Newman (host): La Cajun Band
Jean Shepard: America, Tighten Up Your Belt
Crook Brothers/Tennessee Travelers: Arkansas Traveler
Cajun Country: Cajun Stripper

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): From A Jack to A King
Charlie Walker: T For Texas
Justin Tubb: Travelin Singing Man
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cracklin Hen
Jan Howard: Beneath Still Waters
Kirk McGee: Victory Rag/Freight Train
Hank Snow: I'm Moving On

11:30: Bama
Marty Robbins (host): Ribbon of Darkness
4 Guys: Marie, The Dawn is Breaking
Roy Drusky: There'll Never Be Anyone Else But You For Me
Wilburn Brothers: What You Think Is Fair
Marty Robbins: Don't Worry/Cool Water/That's All Right/18 Yellow Roses/I Don't Know Why/Devil Woman/Begging to You/Jumper Cable Man/Return to Me/Beyond the Reef/Good-Hearted Woman/El Paso

The show lasted until 12:45, thanks to the final Marty Robbins segment. I am pretty sure there were no complaints about this show.

Finally, the Tuesday Night Opry on May 19 will feature the Opry's annual "Salute the Troops" show. This is a part of the Opry's month long celebration of our nation's troops and their families, which helps benefit the USO and MusiCorps. Highlighting the night will be the MusicCorps Wounded Warrior Band, who will be making their 2nd Opry appearance and they, along with others, will be greated with a red carpet arrival.

7:00: John Conlee; Craig Morgan
7:30: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers; Trace Adkins
Intermission
8:15: MusicCorps Wounded Warrior Band; Vince Gill
8:45: Kellie Pickler; Lee Greenwood

Enjoy the Opry this weekend!!!


9 comments:

  1. Mandy Barnett has been added to the final segment on Saturday night. That rounds out the line-up for this weekend.

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  2. I counted at least 30 members in the night Ricky Skaggs debuted as a member. Friday night, there are 10, and I think that's the most this year.

    Bill Anderson reported on Facebook that his doctor feels he is healing beautifully from his surgery, which was for some skin cancer--apparently not serious, but obviously not pleasant! He said he hopes to be back on the Opry by the end of the month.

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  3. Fred, Bismarck:

    Notice that E.T. introduced Ricky on both shows. This was no accident. There was a big argument going on at the time, about the direction of country music, at which E.T. was at the center. E.T.obviously loved Ricky and what he was doing for tradition.

    E.T. would have only 6 more months of touring before his last show in Ohio.

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  4. 1982 was one of those years at the Opry as on August 14, Ernest Tubb made his final appearance on the Opry and on August 28, Marty Robbins appeared on his final Opry show. 2 of the legends that were there the night Ricky became a member would be gone from the Opry within a few months.

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  5. Mike Snyder just played with the 'Opry staff band fiddle player and that was all the "band" he had.
    He made some mention of that fact that his band could make more money elsewhere, but when Connie Smith tried to smooth it all out, I thought I could feel some tension.
    May not mean anything, but I have to wonder.

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    2. In all honesty, that probably has been the most historically accurate rendition of old-time music on the Opry stage for a long time-- just a fiddle and a banjo (I assume-- I haven't heard the show yet).

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  6. I thought it was hilarious - especially the part about the opry not having enough time to create a hatch print in commemoration of his last performance. I love her. And I think he was just being funny. I've heard him say the same thing at different places.

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