Grand Ole Opry 10/12 & 10/13-Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry

This weekend the Grand Ole Opry will celebrate its 93rd birthday with a big weekend of activity. There will be two shows on Friday and Saturday night, along with the Charley Pride birthday concert on Saturday afternoon, with lots of activities and entertainment around the Opry House area.

So how did these birthday celebrations originate?

Since 1952 the annual fall festival once known as the DJ Convention has honored the Grand Ole Opry while consolidating Nashville's role in the country music industry. Later called Country Music Week, the event originally commemorated the Grand Ole Opry Birthday Celebration and was first organized by radio station WSM, using Acuff-Rose Publications' DJ list.

The first event took place on November 22, 1952, and involved some 100 DJs who welcomed to WSM and treated to a Grand Ole Opry show. The 1953 celebration extended over two days with record companies and publishers hosting receptions and BMI giving its first country music awards for radio airplay. In addition, DJs organized the Country Music Disc Jockeys Association (CMDJA), precursor to the Country Music Association (CMA). By 1958 attendance had grown to 2,000 DJs; entertainers were making special appearances; and several trade magazines were bestowing awards. In addition to formal and informal parties, there were now panels on industry issues such as record labels' service to disc jockeys, programming, and merchandising.

In that year, CMDJA disbanded, and CMA was organized at the fall DJ convention. Since then, CMA has made the event an ongoing project. In 1963 the CMA began a successful push to have state governors proclaim October as Country Music Month, and the festival was shifted from November to October to avoid winter weather. By then attendance had reached 3,500, and ASCAP held its first country awards ceremony.

In 1969 the first Country Radio Broadcasters seminar was held, and soon after the organization established its own board of directors. That event is now held in February and is no longer a part of the Grand Ole Opry birthday weekend. In 1972 CMA organized the first Fan Fair to relieve the congestion of Country Music Week and to give artists and fans a special spring event at which to meet each other. Since then, Fan Fair has given way to the CMA Music Festival, now held annually in June.

At one time, the Grand Ole Opry birthday show was a "must" attend event for all Grand Ole Opry members, as well as many non-members. Back in the 1950s, and through the 1960s, the Opry birthday show was a seven hour event, with almost 40 artists appearing on the show. As the other events, such as Fan Fair and the Country Radio Broadcaster seminar have moved to different dates, and Country Music Month and Country Music Week have largely disappeared, the Opry birthday weekend has lost some of its luster. Gone is Opryland, the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Concert, and the meet and greet with the stars. But each year, the Opry continues to celebrate and recognize another milestone and this year will be no different.

Scheduled to appear this year on all four shows this weekend are Grand Ole Opry members Old Crow Medicine Show, Charley Pride, John Conlee, and Riders In The Sky. Joining that group on both shows Friday Night will be Pam Tillis, Joe Diffie, The Whites, Connie Smith and Terri Clark. Scheduled for just the first show is Mike Snider, while Jeannie Seely is only set for the nightcap.

Saturday night, in addition to Old Crow, John, Charley and the Riders, Bill Anderson, Bobby Bare, and Trace Adkins are scheduled for both shows, while Mike Snider and Jeannie Seely are lined up for the opener, with Bobby Osborne and Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers set for the late show.

There are only two non-Opry members scheduled for this weekend. Newcomer Morgan Evans is scheduled for both shows on Friday night, while frequent Opry guest Charles Esten is set for both Saturday night shows.

Friday October 12
1st show
7:00: Pam Tillis (host); Mike Snider; Charley Pride
7:30: John Conlee (host); Morgan Evans; Joe Diffie
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); The Whites; Terri Clark
8:30: Old Crow Medicine Show (host); Connie Smith

2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Terri Clark; Charley Pride
10:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Morgan Evans; Joe Diffie
10:30: John Conlee (host); The Whites; Riders In The Sky
11:00: Old Crow Medicine Show (host); Connie Smith

Saturday October 13
1st show
7:00: John Conlee (host); Charley Pride; Mike Snider
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Charles Esten; Bobby Bare
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Trace Adkins; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Old Crow Medicine Show (host); Riders In The Sky

2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Charley Pride; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Charles Esten; Bobby Bare
10:30: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); Trace Adkins; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Old Crow Medicine Show (host); Riders In The Sky

For those looking to venture to the Ernest Tubb Record Shop for the taping of the Midnight Jamboree at 10:00, George Hamilton V will be hosting. That should be a very nice show.
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the weekend of October 10 & 11, 2008. It was also the weekend of the Opry's 83rd birthday celebration.

Friday October 10
1st show
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); The Whites; Jamey Johnson
7:30: Jean Shepard (host); Ray Pillow; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Mandy Barnett
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jan Howard; Phil Stacey; Rhythm-N-Motion
8:30: George Hamilton IV (host); Jack Greene; The Time Jumpers

2nd show
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Connie Smith; Jamey Johnson; Marty Stuart
10:00: Jean Shepard (host); The Whites; Mandy Barnett
10:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Ernie Ashworth; Phil Stacey; Rhythm-N-Motion
11:00: George Hamilton IV (host); Jack Greene; The Time Jumpers

Saturday October 11
1st show
7:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jim Ed Brown; Helen Cornelius; Jean Shepard
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jimmy C Newman; Connie Smith; Opry Square Dancers
8:00: Darryl Worley; Lorrie Morgan; Hal Ketchum; Kenny Rogers

2nd show
9:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jeannie Seely
10:00: Jim Ed Brown (host) w/Helen Cornelius; Stu Phillips; Jean Shepard; Kenny Rogers
10:30: Hal Ketchum (host); Stonewall Jackson; Jack Greene; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Connie Smith; Darryl Worley

Now from 50 years ago, Saturday October 12, 1968:

1st show
6:30: Glaser Brothers (host); Stu Phillips; Del Wood
6:45: The Four Guys (host); Stringbean
7:00: Roy Acuff (host); Charlie Walker; Jeannie Seely; Ray Pillow
7:30; Porter Wagoner (host); Del Reeves; Lonzo and Oscar; Crook Brothers
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Willis Brothers; Marion Worth; Archie Campbell
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Grandpa Jones; Cousin Jody; Bob Luman; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Glaser Brothers (host); Stu Phillips; Willis Brothers; Del Wood
10:00: Bob Luman (host); Jeannie Seely; The Four Guys
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Charlie Walker; Ray Pillow
10:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Stringbean
10:45: Jim Ed Brown (host); Lonzo and Oscar; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Archie Campbell; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Del Reeves (host); Grandpa Jones; Marion Worth; Cousin Jody
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Looking back, it was on Saturday October 14, 1989 that the Grand Ole Opry celebrated it's 64th birthday. It was also the night that Holly Dunn became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Holly Dunn was nothing if not versatile. This native of San Antonio, Texas burst onto the country music scene in the mid 1980s, with a self-penned tribute to her preacher father called "Daddy's Hands." The song earned Holly's first two Grammy Award nominations and set her off on a whirlwind career. Over the course of 25 years, Holly racked up three Grammy award nods, the Academy of Country Music's New Female Vocalist Award (1986), and the Country Music Association's Horizon Award (1987). In 1989 Holly was inducted into the famed Grand Ole Opry cast and also awarded Songwriter of the Year by BMI. Along the way, Holly hosted her own radio show on WWWW in Detroit, Michigan (1997), and for two years (2001-2002) was host of TNN's Opry Backstage weekly television show.

Holly toured the world extensively throughout her career. She recorded 10 albums, and achieved at least Top Ten status for 14 of her singles, reaching the coveted No. 1 spot four times. "Milestones," her greatest hits package, was certified gold shortly after release in 1991.

But Holly's talents did not begin and end with music. Because her mother was a talented oil painter, Holly grew up with a natural love and talent for making fine art as well. To that end, in 2003 Holly kept a long standing promise to herself and walked away from the music business to pursue her passion for art. She joked in interviews throughout the years, that she only made music to pay for her art supplies. She was able to pursue her craft full time and it was a gift that Holly did not take lightly. With the same combination of hard work and God given talent, Holly once again turned her passion into success.

Sadly, Holly Dunn passed away on November 14, 2016 from a rare form of cancer.

Here is the running order from 29 years ago, Saturday October 14, 1989, the night Holly Dunn became an Opry member:

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Jimmy Dickens (host): May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Jimmy Dickens: When Your House is Not a Home

6:45: Rudy's
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me and You and A Dog Named Boo
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry

7:00: Shoney's
Bill Monroe (host): Gonna Have a Feast Here Tonight
Charlie Louvin: The Precious Jewel
Jan Howard: The One You Slip Around With
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Jean Shepard: I'm Just an Old Bridge that Keeps Burning
Blake Williams: Bluegrass Breakdown

7:30: Standard Candy
Jack Greene (host): Statue of A Fool
The Whites: Pins and Needles/He Hasn't Lost His Touch
Holly Dunn: Daddy's Hands/There Goes My Heart Again
Minnie Pearl/Jack Greene and the Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry
Jack Greene/Holly Dunn and the Opry Cast: Satisfied/I Saw the Light

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Connie Smith: The Key's In the Mailbox
Minnie Pearl: Comedy
Pee Wee King: The Tennessee Waltz
Porter Wagoner: Ol' Slewfoot
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Arkansas Traveler
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light

8:30: Music Valley Merchants
Hank Snow (host): The Call of the Wild
Grandpa Jones: Old Blue
Roy Drusky: More and More
Hank Locklin: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me
Hank Snow: These Hands

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Country Music Has Gone to Town
Ray Pillow; 'til the Best Comes Along
Charlie Louvin: The Precious Jewel
Jean Shepard: I'll Sail My Ship Alone
The Whites: Alabama Jubilee
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home/I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name

10:00: Little Debbie
Jimmy Dickens (host): Me and My Big Loud Mouth
Holly Dunn: There Goes My Heart Again
Jimmy Dickens: Shopping for Dresses

10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Bill Carlisle: Knothole
Roy Acuff and the Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry

10:30: Pet Milk
Bill Monroe (host): Stay Away from Me; You're Causing Me Trouble
Skeeter Davis: My Last Date with You/Silver Threads and Golden Needles/The End of the World
Bill Monroe: Down This Long Lonesome Highway

10:45: B.C. Powder
Grandpa Jones (host): Darby's Ram
Charlie Walker: Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sugar in the Gourd
Grandpa Jones: Gone Home

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): That Heart Belongs to Me
Jan Howard: Rock Me Back to Little Rock/Evil on Your Mind
Pee Wee King: Slowpoke
Justin Tubb: Walking; Talking; Cryin'; Barely Beating Broken Heart
Hank Snow: I Almost Lost My Mind

11:30: Creamette
Jack Greene (host): Walkin' On New Grass
Roy Drusky: Take Good Care of Her
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me, I'm Falling
Connie Smith: You've Got Me Right Where You Want Me/Sing, Sing, Sing
Jack Greene: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me

As we wish the Grand Ole Opry a happy 93rd birthday, I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!! For myself, I will be in Nashville and look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones.