Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Grand Ole Opry 12/31 & 1/1

After a very quiet week in Nashville, The Grand Ole Opry closes out 2021 this weekend and welcomes in 2022 with two very nice shows to close out the final night of the year and to open the first night of the new year. While there are no superstars listed, there is some good variety both nights with something that should please everyone. 

Grand Ole Opry members scheduled for both nights include Jeannie Seely, Bobby Osborne and Mandy Barnett. While no other Opry members are scheduled for the Friday Night Opry, Rhonda Vincent will be performing on Saturday night. On a personal note, isn't it great to be listing Mandy Barnett under the heading "Opry member" and so nice to see Bobby listed for both nights. He is certainly carrying on the bluegrass tradition in fine style. 

Elizabeth Cook is guesting on Friday night and if my records are correct, she is now the non-member who has appeared on the Opry the most times. The number is well into the hundreds (actually close to 500), as she has been appearing on the Opry over the past 20 years. 

Also scheduled for Friday is one of the bright young songwriters/singers in Nashville today, Erin Enderlin. Linda Davis, The Steel Woods and Hall of Fame member Don Schlitz completes the schedule. 

Don is also scheduled for Saturday night, joined by fellow Hall of Famer Charlie McCoy, along with Drew Baldridge, and the designated comedian for this week, Brian Bates.

Friday December 31
7:00: Jeannie Seely, Erin Enderlin, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Elizabeth Cook
Intermission
8:15: Linda Davis, The Steel Woods, Mandy Barnett, Don Schlitz

Saturday January 1
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Drew Baldridge, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Mandy Barnett
Intermission
8:15: Charlie McCoy, Brian Bates, Don Schlitz, Rhonda Vincent
_____________________________________________________________________

Now from 50 years ago, New Year's Day January 1, 1972:

7:00: Shoney's
Billy Grammer (host): I Saw Your Face in the Moon
Ernie Ashworth: Wanted Man
Tommy Overstreet: Take Me Home Country Roads
Billy Grammer: Detroit City
Ernie Ashworth: Jesus Was a Soul Man
Tommy Overstreet: Gwen, Congratulations
Billy Grammer: He Touched Me

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Nobody's Darling But Mine
Stringbean: Old Joe Clark
Onie Wheeler: Mother Prays Loud in Her Sleep
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Turn Your Radio On
Stringbean: Battle of New Orleans
Howdy Forrester: Sally Goodin
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light

8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host) w/Uncle Josh, Roland White and Haskel McCormick: It's Mighty Dark for Me to Travel
Grandpa Jones: Raining on the Mountain, Now, My Love
George Morgan: Easy Loving
Crook Brothers: Ida Red
Lester Flatt: I Can't Tell the Boys from the Girls
Grandpa Jones: Mountain Dew
George Morgan: The Gentle Rains of Home
Uncle Josh: Fireball

8:30: Stephens
Stonewall Jackson (host): Muddy Water
Charlie Louvin: To Take Up Where Goodbye Began
The 4 Guys: Cottonfields/Mariah
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Charlie Louvin: I Placed a Call
Harold Weakley: Where No One Stands Alone
Stonewall Jackson: Waterloo

9:00: Luzianne
Bill Monroe (host): Love, Come Home
Lonzo and Oscar: There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea
Barbara Mandrell: Satisfied
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Fire on the Mountain
Bill Monroe: My Little Georgia Rose
Lonzo and Oscar: Out of Hand
Barbara Mandrell: Rocky Top
Bill Monroe: Bluegrass Breakdown

9:30: Kellogg's
Tex Ritter (host): Jealous Heart
Willis Brothers: I Can't Help It/You Cheatin' Heart/Cold, Cold Heart/I Saw the Light
Bill Carlisle: Knothole
Marion Worth: I Really Don't Want to Know
Tex Ritter: Fall Away
Bill Carlisle: What Kinda Deal is This

10:00: Fender
George Morgan (host): Easy Loving
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Coming Down from God
Stringbean: Pretty Polly
George Morgan: Walking Shadow; Talking Memory

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On
Tommy Overstreet: The Games People Play
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Will You Be Loving Another Man
Stonewall Jackson: Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Grandpa Jones: The Valley of the Never Do No Good
Lester Flatt: Is Anybody Going North to Cincinnati

10:45: Beechnut
Bill Monroe (host) and James William Monroe: I Haven't Seen Mary in Years
Charlie Louvin and Diane McCall: I'm Gonna Leave You
Bill Carlisle: Same Ole Tale that the Crow Told Me
Crook Brothers: Arkansas Traveler

11:00: Coca Cola
Tex Ritter (host): Wayward Wind
Willis Brothers: I Still Do
Barbara Mandrell: Tonight My Baby's Coming Home
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Tex Ritter: High Noon
Willis Brothers: Bob
Kirk McGee: Railroad Blues

11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): Lovesick Blues
Marion Worth: Burning Bridges
Lonzo and Oscar: Ol' Slewfoot
Marty Robbins: I Walk Alone/Begging to You/Don't Worry/My Woman; My Woman; My Wife/Wedding Bells/Big Boss Man/They'll Take Her Love From Me/Dear Lord, Forgive

Tommy Overstreet was on the Opry this particular evening and I mention it because there have been reports over the years that Tommy had been asked to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry and turned down the invitation. 

Born Sept. 10, 1937, in Oklahoma City, Tommy Overstreet came by his talent naturally. His cousin Gene Austin (who he called his uncle) was a prominent entertainer starting in the 1920s.

He moved to Nashville in 1967 to manage the Music City operations at Dot Records. Though he enjoyed his work, the singer never gave up his dreams of the stage, electing to become a recording artist for the label.

He first charted with 1969's "Rocking a Memory (That Won't Go to Sleep)," which peaked at No. 73 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. It wouldn't take long for him to eclipse that peak, with 1971's "Gwen (Congratulations)" making it all the way to No. 5. That would be the first of 23 appearances in the top 40. His biggest hit was 1972's "Ann (Don't Go Runnin)," which narrowly missed the top of the chart, settling in at No. 2.

His rich voice, combined with his muscular build and movie-star looks, helped propel him into the spotlight as a frequent guest on the top TV variety shows of the day, such as Hee Haw and The Midnight Special. His final appearance on the charts came in 1986 with "Next to You," which made it to No. 74.

In the late 1980s, the singer became one of the first country performers to base his operations in Branson, Mo., which became a haven for artists who still had devoted fanbases. He said it was love from the start.

"I had a friend who had moved there, and he said, 'Tommy, you've got to come see this place.' He had become a little disenchanted with Nashville. I fell in love with the area, and we lived there for about seven years."

It was a slower pace for the singer, who admitted that his fast pace of the 1970s might have cost him. "There were 329 one-nighters, then 36 days in Nashville in a year's time," he said. "I also recorded two albums and did a European tour for 18 days. Unfortunately, my ex-wife and I separated and divorced. The music business and what we do in that career is not great for relationships. You're gone too much. I wouldn't encourage anyone to work that hard. I shouldn't have. I should have stopped and smelled the roses and spent more time with my family. But you learn those things in hindsight. Hindsight is 20/20. As you go down this road, you do what you think is the best thing at the time, and I did. Unfortunately, it cost me some heartbreak and disappointments, but that's how life is."

Things ended on a happy note for the singer, who remarried and had two more children. "Life is dear to me," he said. "I've had a wonderful time, met some interesting people, and had some success along the way. I've had a blessed life, and I can't complain at all."

Tommy Overstreet passed away in November 2015. 

I personally always enjoyed Tommy and I have a couple of his albums in my collection. 

There you have it as 2022 gets underway. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend. 

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Grand Ole Opry Christmas Night 12/25

Merry Christmas!! The Grand Ole Opry will be having only one show this weekend, on Christmas night. There will be no Friday Night Opry on Christmas eve (Friday) as they decided to give everyone the night off to enjoy the holiday with their families. 

For the show on Saturday night, expect a lot of Christmas music as the show is being advertised as such. The line-up looks very solid with Opry members Jeannie Seely, Bobby Osborne and Riders In The Sky on the schedule. 

Nice to see two of my favorites, T. Graham Brown and Darin & Brooke Aldridge on the schedule. I know there are many of us who feel that T. Graham is in line to become an Opry member in the near future. 

Saturday December 25
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Jake Hoot; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; T. Graham Brown
Intermission
8:15: Teea Goans; Riders In The Sky; Darin & Brooke Aldridge; John Berry

Christmas night from 50 years ago, Saturday December 25, 1971: 

7:00: Shoney's
Tex Ritter (host): Wayward Wind
Archie Campbell: Make Friends
Jimmy C Newman: Alligator Man
Ernie Ashworth: Wanted Man
Tex Ritter: Fall Away
The 4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On
Jimmy C Newman: Louisiana Dirty Rice
Ernie Ashworth: My Bottle is Dry

7:30: Standard Candy
Wilburn Brothers (host): It Looks Like the Sun's Gonna Shine
Earl Scruggs Revue: Nashville Skyline Rag
Ray Pillow: Step Aside
Tom T Hall: Chattanooga Dog
Earl Scruggs Revue: Swing Lo, Sweet Chariot
Ray Pillow: Since Then
Tom T Hall: That's How I Got to Memphis

8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host) and Bill Monroe: Will You Be Loving Another Man/Little Cabin Home on the Hill
Grandpa Jones: Jingle Bells
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Lord, I'm Coming Home
Charlie Louvin and Diane McCall: I'm Gonna Leave You
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Stu Phillips: I'd Rather Be Sorry
Stringbean: Mountain Dew
Lester Flatt: Shuckin' the Corn

8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Tex Ritter: Here Was a Man
Jean Shepard: Safe In These Loving Arms of Mine
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Del Reeves: The Best is Yet to Come
Lonzo and Oscar: Charming Betsy
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Del Wood: Are You From Dixie
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light

9:00: Luzianne
Ernest Tubb (host): Thanks A Lot
Dottie West: Six Weeks Every Summer; Christmas Every Other Year
Earl Scruggs Revue: T for Texas
Wilburn Brothers: Christmas at the Opry
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
George Morgan: Easy Loving
Jack Greene: Statue of a Fool
Jeannie Seely: All Right, I'll Sign the Papers
Ernest Tubb: The Women Make a Fool Out of Me

9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): As Love Goes
Willis Brothers: Women's Liberation
Marion Worth: For the Good Times
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Jim Ed Brown: Morning
Tom T Hall: The Year that Clayton Delaney Died
Jimmy C Newman: A Fallen Star
Hank Snow: My Blue Eyed Jane

10:00: Fender
Bill Monroe (host): Were You There
Wilma Lee Cooper: I Don't Care if Tomorrow Never Comes
Charlie Louvin: I Placed a Call/Will You Visit Me on Sundays
Stringbean: Herding Cattle
Ray Pillow: Heart Over Mind

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): When I Lay My Burden Down
Tex Ritter: Christmas Carols by the Old Corral
Jean Shepard: I Thought of You/It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels/You Win Again/A Dear John Letter
Del Wood: Gloryland March

10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Is Anybody Going North to Cincinnati
Grandpa Jones: The Valley of the Never Do No Good
Stonewall Jackson: Life to Go
Lester Flatt: Sugar Tree Stomp

10:45: Beechnut
Ernest Tubb (host0: Blue Christmas
Wilburn Brothers: The War Keeps Dragging On
Stu Phillips: Help Me Make it Through the Night
Crook Brothers: Mississippi Sawyer
The 4 Guys: Shenandoah

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): In the Misty Moonlight
Dottie West: Put Your Hand in the Hand
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Lonzo and Oscar: Easy Loving
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby
Sam McGee: Buck Dancer's Choice
Hank Snow: Christmas Roses

11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): Singing the Blues
Marion Worth: I Really Don't Want to Know
Charlie Walker: My Baby Used to Be that Way
Marty Robbins: I Walk Alone/Long Gone Lonesome Blues/I'm So Afraid of Losing You Again/Today I Started Loving You Again/They'll Never Take the Love from Me/Begging to You/Don't Worry/Big Boss Man/The Best Part of Living/Walking the Floor Over You

What a line-up!!! You certainly will not see a show like that today. Marty's segment alone lasted well over 30 minutes did not end until just after 12:30. Certainly those attending got their money's worth that night. 

Finally, there is only one member of the Grand Ole Opry who joined the cast on Christmas Day and that would be Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers. They joined the cast in 1976 and will be celebrating their 45th anniversary as members of the Grand Ole Opry. Here is the line-up from that night: 

1st show
6:00: Bill Monroe (host); Ray Pillow; Marion Worth; David Hooton; Ernie Ashworth
6:30: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host); Charlie Louvin; Del Wood
6:45: Ernest Tubb (host); Skeeter Davis; Billy Grammer
7:00: Roy Acuff (host); Charlie Walker; Minnie Pearl; Jimmy C Newman; Stu Phillips
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Dottie West; Justin Tubb; Crook Brothers; Stoney Mountain Cloggers; Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Jack Greene; Jeannie Seely; Vic Willis; Bob Luman
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jeanne Pruett; Stonewall Jackson; Bill Carlisle; Jim and Jesse; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Ernest Tubb (host); Charlie Louvin; Skeeter Davis; Wayne Hammond; David Hooten; Billy Grammer
10:00: Bill Monroe (host); Ray Pillow Ernie Ashworth; Del Wood
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Marion Worth; Charlie Walker
10:30: Lester Flatt (host); Jack Greene; Jeannie Seely; Jimmy C Newman
10:45: Porter Wagoner (host); Justin Tubb; Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers; Crook Brothers; Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Bob Luman; Vic Willis; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Kirk McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Jeanne Pruett; Bill Carlisle

When Larry Gatlin joined the Opry, he was like many of the others who joined during that period. They were starting to hit it big and as their stardom grew, they kind of left the Opry behind. Happily, in the past dozen or so years, Larry has been making regular Opry appearances and seems to have found happiness in being on the Opry stage. He is good for the Opry, bringing a lot of energy and fun. 

There you have it for Christmas night 2021. Depending on when you read this, you will be either waiting on Santa or have already finished opening your gifts. Either way, I hope Santa is good to all of you. Enjoy the Opry tonight and Christmas blessings to all. 





Monday, December 20, 2021

Tuesday Night Opry 12/21

Before getting into the Tuesday Night Opry, I thought I would post the press release in regards to the Grand Ole Opry's ticket buying process as there have been some comments and questions raised: 

DECEMBER 16, 2021 – Los Angeles – Opry Entertainment Group (OEG) and AXS — a global leader in ticketing — today announced AXS as OEG’s official and exclusive ticketing partner. Under the partnership, AXS will provide its full suite of solutions for all OEG properties on a single platform, streamlining tour and show ticketing operations to offer a premium experience for fans. OEG properties include the Grand Ole Opry, Ryman Auditorium, its Ole Red venues in Orlando, Fla.; Gatlinburg, Tenn.; Nashville, Tenn.; Tishomingo, Okla.; and its recently announced Ole Red in Las Vegas (expected 2023).

The partnership also creates new opportunities to align with AXS’ parent company AEG and its live event business, AEG Presents. The companies also expect this alliance to unlock future creative collaborations with marquee music festivals and additional content opportunities for OEG’s Circle TV Network.

“This partnership with AXS will allow us to deepen our relationship with our customers across our venues and provide them a secure, safe and convenient way to access all of their OEG tickets in one place,” said Scott Bailey, President of Opry Entertainment Group. “This partnership was created with our future in mind and opens doors for us to collaborate with AXS and AEG on a deeper level as we expand our offerings and continue to grow our business.”

Added Bryan Perez, President and CEO of AXS: “The Opry Entertainment Group is the jewel in the crown of one of the greatest music cities in the world. AXS will super serve these landmark venues and their customers with our suite of state-of-the-art technologies and marketing solutions, enabling each property to tailor their ticketing experiences and maintain the individual identities which make them so iconic in Nashville and beyond.  We’re thrilled to partner with such a seminal brand as we build out our presence in the city.” 

As part of the elevated ticketing experience, fans will gain access to services like AXS Mobile ID — identity-based ticketing technology that allows customers to safely discover, transfer, and manage tickets for all OEG events in a single app. Fans can also take advantage of the AXS Official Marketplace, a one-stop shop where they can securely buy and sell authenticated tickets, with guaranteed protection from fraudulent merchants and transactions.

About AXS:

AXS is a global ticketing platform, offering best-in-class ticketing technology in a single platform to suit every client size and type, from small music clubs to the largest sports stadiums. AXS is the ticketing partner for over 300 premier venues, sports teams, event organizers around the world, including AEG, The O2, STAPLES Center, T-Mobile Arena, Tele2Arena, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Minnesota Timberwolves, Toyota Center, Houston Rockets, NCAA and the Vegas Golden Knights. AXS powers both primary and resale marketplaces, leveraging integrated technology and analytics to enable clients to sell the right ticket to the right fan at the right price. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, AXS employs more than 350 professionals in multiple locations worldwide, including Cleveland, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, London, and Stockholm.

About Opry Entertainment Group:

Rooted in the unparalleled country music history of the Grand Ole Opry, Opry Entertainment Group produces multi-platform entertainment experiences through its growing portfolio of entertainment venues, including the world-famous Grand Ole Opry, the iconic Ryman Auditorium, WSM Radio, the Blake Shelton-inspired Ole Red brand and Circle TV Network. Through concerts, tours, music inspired restaurants, retail, publishing, digital content, and more, Opry Entertainment Group connects millions of music fans to the artists they love through experiences they’ll never forget. Opry Entertainment Group is a subsidiary of Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP). 

I know this has raised a lot of questions regarding the Opry ticket office and the ability to still purchase advance tickets by calling the ticket office. Time will tell but I do know that the ticket office is still open and the last time I called, the wonderful representatives, who many of us know by name, were still handling ticket requests. 

For those who purchase the tickets on the Opry website, there is a big difference in the look of the site and the procedures involved. My own advice is to be careful. You will notice ticket prices fluctuating and also resale tickets available, many times at inflated prices for the shows with high ticket demand. 
_____________________________________________________________________ 

Now moving ahead, the Tuesday Night Opry this week will be the final one for 2021. 

7:00: Jeannie Seely, Dillon Carmichael, The Malpass Brothers, Emily West
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson, Lee Roy Parnell, John Crist, Rhonda Vincent

Rhonda Vincent posted that she is bringing her entire Branson Christmas show to the Opry on Tuesday night. Looking forward to that. 



Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Grand Ole Opry 12/17 & 12/18

Let's start off this weekend with a little quiz. Who can tell me which non-Opry member has appeared on the show the most in 2021? I will give you a clue. This weekend, he is on both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. If your guess was Gary Mule Deer, you have my congratulations. This weekend will mark Gary's 28th and 29th appearances on the Opry for this year. I know that many of us have heard Gary with the same jokes over and over, but to the new listeners or those attending the Opry for the first time, he is funny and of all the comedians that the Opry offers, he seems to get the most response from the audience. 

Comedy seems to have become a part of each Opry show. Of the current cast members, the only one that I could classify as a comedian, along with his musical skills, is Mike Snider. But with only one Opry appearance in 2021, Mike seems to have disappeared from the Opry. So that leaves management booking guest comedians. The most prominent, in addition to Gary Mule Deer, seem to be Henry Cho, John Crist, Chonda Pearce, Aaron Weber, Killer Beaz, along with a few others who have made one or two shows. I have nothing against comedy but I do miss country comedy. Minnie Pearl, Rod Brasfield, Duke of Paducah, Jerry Clower, Archie Campbell and Mike Snider (all of whom Opry members), were country comedians. That is the part of comedy that is missing from the Opry today. 

Now to the shows for this weekend. 

Looking at the line-ups for this weekend, Grand Ole Opry member John Conlee is on the schedule for both nights. He will be joined on Friday night by Connie Smith and Riders In The Sky, while on Saturday night, Jeannie Seely, Bobby Osborne, Bill Anderson and Ricky Skaggs are listed on the schedule. 

As previously noted, comedian Gary Mule Deer will be appearing both nights this weekend. While I have nothing against those appearing on Saturday night, the line-up of guest artists for Friday night is strong, beginning with Kathy Mattea. Earlier this fall, Kathy signed on as the new host of Mountain Stage, which is produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Mountain Stage has been taking place for 38 years and has aired just over 900 shows. As a West Virginia native who has appeared on the show many times, she is definitely the perfect host. 

Also appearing on Friday night is Jason Crabb, along with Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers. In 2019, Joe Mullins and his group were named the IBMA's Entertainers of the Year. They have appeared on the Opry since 2013, and for those who don't know, Joe is from Southwest Ohio and owns several radio stations in the Dayton/Springfield area that play classic country music. 

Taking a look at Saturday night, in addition to Gary Mule Deer, Lauren Alaina will be making another Opry appearance. Lauren has made no secret in various interviews of her desire to become an Opry member some day. Also scheduled for Saturday is Ingrid Andress. 

Friday December 17
7:00: John Conlee; Restless Road; Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers; Connie Smith
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky; Gary Mule Deer; Jason Crabb; Kathy Mattea

Saturday December 18
7:00: Opry Square Dancer; Jeannie Seely; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Ingrid Andress; John Conlee
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson; Gary Mule Deer; Ricky Skaggs; Lauren Alaina

No live TV on Circle this week as Opry Live will be USO Holiday Special featuring Josh Turner, Craig Morgan, Lauren Alaina, Carrie Underwood, Jesse James Decker, Luke Combs and The War & Treaty. These were all previously taped at the Grand Ole Opry. 
_______________________________________________________________________

From the week before Christmas 50 years ago, Saturday December 18, 1971 ( I highlighted the Christmas songs performed that night)

7:00: Shoney's
Bill Anderson (host): Po' Folks Christmas
Jan Howard: Love is Like a Spinning Wheel
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Ernie Ashworth: Wanted Man
Bill Anderson and Jan Howard: Dis-Satisfied
Bill Carlisle: Have a Drink on Me
Stonewall Jackson: Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Bill Anderson: Quits

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Billy Walker: When a Man Loves a Woman
Jack Greene: She's All I Got
Jeannie Seely: I'm Sorry If My Love Got In Your Way
Roy Acuff: You Win Again
Jean Shepard: Safe in These Loving Arms of Mine
Billy Walker: Circumstances

8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): Will You Be Loving Another Man
Grandpa Jones: The Ball-Headed End of a Broom
The 4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: The Banks of the Ohio
Lester Flatt: Little Cabin Home on the Hill
Crook Brothers: Chicken Reel
Grandpa Jones: It's Raining Here This Morning
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Satisfied
Lester Flatt: Foggy Mountain Breakdown

8:30: Stephens
Porter Wagoner (host): Be a Little Quieter
Dolly Parton: Coat of Many Colors
Osborne Brothers: Take Me Home Country Roads
George Morgan: Easy Loving
Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton: The Right Combination/The Pain of Loving You/Burning the Midnight Oil
Lonzo and Oscar: Moving On #2
Osborne Brothers: Sometimes You Just Can't Win
Dolly Parton: Joshua

9:00: Luzianne
Tex Ritter (host): There's a New Moon Over My Shoulder
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Stringbean: Mountain Dew
Ray Pillow: Since Then
Tex Ritter: Here Was a Man
Jeannie C Riley: Houston Blues
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf

9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): There's a Fool Such as I
Willis Brothers: Women's Liberation
Marion Worth: Shake Me; I Rattle
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
Stu Phillips: C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
Marion Worth: Put Your Hand in the Hand
Hank Snow: No One Will Ever Know

10:00: Fender
Roy Acuff (host): I Saw the Light
Tex Ritter: Fall Away
Jean Shepard: Second Fiddle
Stonewall Jackson: Washed My Hands in Muddy Water
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

10:15: Union 76
Porter Wagoner (host): You Gotta Have a License
Dolly Parton: Coat of Many Colors
Billy Walker: A Million and One
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Ray Pillow: The Waitress
Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton: Burning the Midnight Oil

10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Grandpa Jones: Are You From Dixie
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Coming Down from God
George Morgan: Gentle Rains of Home
Willis Brothers: For the Good Times
Lester Flatt: Turkey in the Straw

10:45: Beechnut
Bill Monroe (host): Christmas Time's 'A Coming
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
Jeannie Seely: Loving Him Was Easier Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again
Bill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Crook Brothers: Cotton Eyed Joe
Brenda Carrollton: Snowbird

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Phil Campbell: Eight More Miles to Louisville
Stringbean: Hot Corn; Cold Corn
Jeannie C Riley: Roses & Thorns
Lonzo & Oscar: Easy Loving
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Gray Eagle
Sam McGee: Wheels
Hank Snow: The Sea Shores of Old Mexico

11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): Devil Woman
Marion Worth: I Really Don't Want to Know
Stu Phillips: I'd Rather Be Sorry
The 4 Guys: Cottonfields/Maria
Marty Robbins: I Walk Alone/They'll Never Take Her Love From Me/El Paso

Surprising that for the week before Christmas that there were so few Christmas songs sang that night. You would have expected more. 

Finally, one more. This one from 78 years ago, Saturday December 18, 1943. At the time, the Opry had just marked its 18th year. 

8:00: Purina
Bill Monroe: Doghouse Blues
Zeke Clements: Smoke on the Water
Bill Monroe and Clyde Moody: I Wonder Where You Are Tonight
Uncle Dave Macon and Dorris: Keep My Skillet Good and Greasy
Danielle Quartette: Every Time I Feel the Spirit
Jamup and Honey: Jokes
Golden West Cowboys: Riding Up to Glory
Sam and Kirk McGee: Who Broke the Lock
Chubby Wise: Cacklin Hen
Bill Monroe: Lil Liza Jane
Uncle Dave Macon and Dorris: Lonesome Road Blues

8:30: Crazy Water Crystals
Paul Howard: Be Honest with Me
Marie and Clyde Dillaha: Cowards Over Pearl Harbor
Eddy Arnold: Mommy Please Stay Home with Me
Crook Brothers: Shortnin' Bread
Robert Lunn: I'm in the Army Now
Lenny and Tommy Thompson: Raise the Window Mother Darling
Possum Hunters: Billy in the Low Ground
Smith Sisters: No Letter Today
Uncle Rufus: Great Grand Dad
Gully Jumpers: Arrington Breakdown
Paul Howard: Dear Old Sunny South by the Sea

9:00: Royal Crown
Golden West Cowboys: Goodbye Liza Jane
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Eighth of January
Ernest Tubb: Answer in Walking the Floor Over You
Curly Williams: I'll Be Around Somewhere
Bill Monroe: California Blues
Spike and Spud: Midnight Flyer
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Big Joe
Ernest Tubb: I Dreamed of an Old Love Affair
Curly Williams: There'll Be Some Changes Made
Becky Barfield: I Want Someone
Hal Smith: Cotton Eyed Joe

9:30: Prince Albert
Roy Acuff: Whoa Mule Whoa
Roy Acuff: Put My Rubber Doll Away
Minnie Pearl: Columbus Stockade
Mack McGarr: Rock and Rye Polka
Ford Rush: Put on Your Old Gray Bonnet
Old Hickory Quartette: Molly Darling
Whitey Ford, the Duke of Paducah: Jokes
Jimmy Riddle: 12th Street Rag
Roy Acuff: When the Saints Go Marching In
Hoe Down: Fishers Hornpipe

10:00: Wall Rite
Bill and Clyde: I'm Going Back to Old Kentucky
Clyde Moody: If I Had My Life to Live Over
Blue Grass Quartette: Old Country Church
Sally Ann: Put Me in Your Pocket
Chubby Wise: Wagoner

10:15: Weatherman
Daniel Quartette: Heaven's Radio Station Is on the Air
Uncle Dave Macon and Dorris: You Are Getting More Like Your Dad Every Day
Eddy Arnold: I Walk Alone
Marie and Clyde Dillaha: I'm Sending You Red Roses
Possum Hunters: Billy Wilson
Uncle Dave Macon and Dorris: From Jerusalem to Jericho
Daniel Quartette: Jesus Hold My Hand
Possum Hunters: Possum Hunter's Dream

10:30: Cherokee Mills
Roy Acuff: The Heart That Was Broken for Me
Roy Acuff: Radio Station S-A-V-E-D
Rachel and Oswald: Jessie James
Jimmy Riddle: Put Your Arms Around Me
Jug Band: Blackeyed Susan

10:45: Lazyu
Crook Brothers: Golden Slippers
Uncle Rufus: My Mother's Prayer
Sam, Kirk, Floyd and Goldie: Chittlin' Cooking Time in Georgia
Robert Lunn: Tooth Picking Time in False Teeth Valley
Lenny and Tommy Thompson: Open Range Ahead
Gully Jumpers: Breakdown in T

11:00: Roy Acuff Song Book
Roy Acuff: Write Me Sweetheart
Roy Acuff: What Good Will It Do
Rachel and Oswald: Weary Lonesome Blues
Roy Acuff: Tear Stained Letter
Jimmy Riddle: 12th Street Rag

11:15: Ernest Tubb Song Book
Ernest Tubb: I'll Get Along Somehow
Ernest Tubb: When the World Has Turned You Down
Ernest Tubb: Drop Your Net
Ernest Tubb: I'm Wondering Now

11:30: Sal-Kill
Golden West Cowboys: Pretty Little Widow
Little Becky Barfield: Keep a Light in Your Window Tonight
Trio: There's a Blue Sky Way Out Yonder
Pete Pyle: I Dreamed of an Old Love Affair
Spike and Spud: Song of the Blind
Golden West Cowboys: Little Girl Go Ask Your Mama

11:45
Paul Howard: With Tears in My Eyes
Smith Sisters: We'll Keep 'Em  Flying
Curly Williams: When My Blue Moon Turns to Gold
Zeke Clements: I Dreamed I Spent Christmas in Heaven
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Jackie Boy
Paul Howard: Home in San Antone
Curly Williams: Where We Never Grow Old
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Dixie-Home Sweet Home

That goes way back with some interesting and in some cases, long forgotten names. 

There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.


Monday, December 13, 2021

Tuesday Night Opry 12/14

One of the gambles you take in purchasing a ticket to the Opry is when you purchase a ticket expecting to see a certain artist. When that artist cancels, it doesn't make you happy. With that said, I am sure there are some unhappy folks this week as Lady A, who was originally on the Opry's schedule for Tuesday night, has cancelled. They have been replaced by Sister Sadie. Nothing against Sister Sadie, but they certainly are not up to the popularity or star power of Lady A. 

While the Opry's tickets are non-refundable, in past situations the Opry has shown a willingness to work with the ticket buyers, and in some cases, allowing for a one time exchange for a future show. Not sure if they are doing that in this case, but hopefully they are working with any unhappy ticket buyers. 

Here is the line-up for the Tuesday Night Opry December 17

7:00: Riders In The Sky, Jeannie Seely, Henry Cho, Nefresh Mountain
Intermission
8:15: Jameson Rodgers, Charles Esten, Sister Sadie, Chris Janson

Nefresh Mountain will be making their Opry debut and this group is considered one of the new boundary pushing bluegrass groups. The group was formed in 2014, first hitting the charts in 2016. The are currently touring in support of their third album. 

As those of us who have been Opry fans for a while, and understand how the Opry works, we realize that when you buy a ticket to an Opry show, it is with the expectation that you really don't know who will be appearing. You hope for the best and sometimes you get the best while other times you don't. Sadly, the way the Opry advertises and pushes some of the shows, today's new Opry fans don't understand the true concept of the Opry. 


Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Grand Ole Opry 12/10 & 12/11

I want to start off with a couple of thoughts on Stonewall Jackson, who passed away last Saturday after a long illness. 

I was heartened to see on the various social media sites, the kind words that were written about Stonewall, with many fans speaking specifically of the meetings with Stonewall, and how he appreciated the fans. That is not really surprising as Stonewall was from that generation who valued their fans and took the time to visit with them and in many cases, becoming friends. I had met Stonewall just a couple of times, once at Opryland and also at the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree. He was funny and gracious.

Many of the comments were in regards to Stonewall Jackson not being in the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the fact that he should be. I agree. During the course of his career, Stonewall had only two #1 hits, "Waterloo" and "B.J. the D.J." All told, he had 11 Top 10 hits, with his final one being "Me & You & A Dog Named Boo," in 1971. His chart career was relatively short, first hitting in 1958 and last in 1973. (By the way, I had heard that Stonewall didn't really like "Me & You & A Dog Named Boo," but it turned out to be a good record for him). Later in the 70s and 80s he would sing "I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal," which became a big hit for John Anderson. That version of the song took away the thunder from Stonewall's recording. 

Sadly, in many ways Stonewall will be remembered not for being a Grand Ole Opry member for over 60 years, nor the last of the current Opry members to have joined the cast in the 1950s, but instead for suing Gaylord Entertainment, The Grand Ole Opry and Pete Fisher in 2006 for age discrimination. Stonewall stood up for others, such as Charlie Louvin, Del Reeves and Billy Walker, and while there was an out of court settlement made to Stonewall, that act will probably cost him any chance that he had for the Hall of Fame. 

Those of my generation remember Stonewall as one of the great honky-tonk singers of his time, and while he didn't have huge chart success, it seemed you could not turn on a country station in the 60s and early 70s without hearing a Stonewall Jackson song. Taking in the body of his work, and his personality, if I had a vote, I would vote Stonewall into the Hall of Fame. 
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Now a look at the Grand Ole Opry for this weekend and the name that stands out on the schedule is Grand Ole Opry member Randy Travis, who is scheduled for Saturday night. Randy joined the Opry on December 20, 1986, so I am going to assume there will be some type of recognition upon Randy's 35th anniversary as a member of the Opry's cast. While not an Opry member, fellow Hall of Fame member Don Schlitz is also scheduled with Randy and I am going to guess that Don will be on stage with Randy and performing a couple of the hits he wrote for Randy. 

Looking at the rest of the weekend, Grand Ole Opry members Old Crow Medicine Show is scheduled for both nights, joined by John Conlee. Connie Smith is listed for Friday night, while Jeannie Seely, Bobby Osborne and Carly Pearce are on Saturday's slate. 

Jon Pardi is guesting both nights, while Brittney Spencer, Killer Beaz and Charlie Worsham are down for Friday. 

Friday December 10
7:00: John Conlee; Brittney Spencer; Charlie Worsham; Connie Smith
Intermission
8:15: Killer Beaz; Jon Pardi; Old Crow Medicine Show

Saturday December 11
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; John Conlee; Old Crow Medicine Show
8:00: Carly Pearce; Don Schlitz; Randy Travis; Jon Pardi

After no live Circle television over the past couple of weeks, the final hour on Saturday night will be televised live. 

Now from 50 years ago, Saturday December 11, 1971. The show featured guest appearances by Roy Clark, Tommy Cash and Jimmy Dickens, who was not a member of the Opry at that time. 

7:00: Shoney's
Billy Walker (host): When a Man Loves a Woman
Stringbean: Run Little Rabbit, Run
Lonzo and Oscar: Rocky Top
Billy Walker: She Goes Walking Through My Mind
Stringbean: Train 45 Heading South
Lonzo and Oscar: Charming Betsy
Billy Walker: Singing the Blues/Lovesick Blues/How Great Thou Art

7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Anderson (host): But You Know I Love You
Jan Howard: Love is Like a Spinning Wheel
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die
Del Wood: Let the Good Times Roll
Bill Anderson and Jan Howard: Dis-Satisfied
Jan Howard: Rock Me Back to Little Rock
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Lord; I'm Coming Home
Bill Anderson: Quits

8:00: Martha White
Billy Grammer (host): Columbus Stockade Blues
Jean Shepard: Safe in the Loving Arms of Mine
Grandpa Jones: I Don't Love Nobody
Crook Brothers: Sally Goodin
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On
Jean Shepard: Heart, We Did All That We Could
Grandpa Jones: The Valley of the Never Do No Good
Billy Grammer: He Is the Light of the World

8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jim and Jesse: Freight Train
Roy Clark: Thank God & Greyhound You're Gone/I Never Picked Cotton
Roy Acuff: Night Train to Memphis
Howdy Forrester: Dusty Miller
Jim and Jesse: When I Stop Dreaming
Roy Clark and Donna Darlene: Ashes of Love

9:00: Luzianne
Tex Ritter (host): Take Him Fishin'
Tommy Cash: I'm Gonna Write a Song
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Soldier's Joy
Tex Ritter: A Funny Thing Happened to Me on the Way to Miami
Tommy Cash: Six White Horses

9:30: Kellogg's
Charlie Walker (host): My Baby Used to Be That Way
The 4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On
Jimmy Dickens: Out Behind the Barn
Peggy Little: Little Henry Hurt
Charlie Walker: Got My Mind on the Border of Mexico
The 4 Guys: She's All I Got
Jimmy Dickens: John Henry
Peggy Little: My God is Real

10:00: Fender
Billy Walker (host): Funny How Time Slips Away
Stringbean: Battle of New Orleans
Lonzo and Oscar: Easy Loving
Billy Walker: A Million and One

10:15: Union 76
Bill Anderson (host): Love Is a Sometimes Thing
Jan Howard: Love is Like a Spinning Wheel
Billy Grammer: What a Friend
Del Wood: Are You from Dixie
Bill Anderson: Always Remember

10:30: Trailblazer
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host): There's a Big Wheel
Grandpa Jones: A Dollar Short
Jean Shepard: Silver Threads and Golden Needles
Jim and Jesse: Snowbird

10:45: Beechnut
Roy Acuff (host): Just a Friend
Roy Clark: The Tips of My Fingers
Crook Brothers: Mississippi Sawyer
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

11:00: Coca Cola
Tex Ritter (host): Texas
Jimmy Dickens: There's No Place Like Home for Christmas
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cacklin Hen
Tex Ritter: A Funny Thing Happened to Me on the Way to Miami
Sam McGee: Under the Double Eagle
Tex Ritter: Fall Away

11:30: Elm Hill
Charlie Walker (host): Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
The 4 Guys: Cottonfields/Maria
Tommy Cash: Rise & Shine/The Farmer & The Lord
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon

There were a few cancellations that night as Bobby Bare, George Morgan, Marion Worth and Justin Tubb were all on the schedule but cancelled. 

I want to mention Donna Darlene, who did a duet with Roy Clark that evening. 

Donna Darlene, born in November 1938, was from Kane, Pennsylvania. She started singing at a young age and appeared on various radio stations in Western Pennsylvania. By the summer of 1954, Donna was part of the Bob Spicker and the Sunset Ramblers group, helping out on vocals and playing bass. In the mid 1950s, Donna was appearing on the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree, appearing with Dusty Owens. Donna recorded for several record labels including Stardust, Wizard and Admiral, with limited success. Donna was married at one time to Doug Kershaw and then to Shot Jackson. She passed away on June 24, 2017. 

Finally, there will be another of the Opry's Country Christmas shows on Sunday night, December 12. Trace Adkins was originally on the schedule, but I see that he is now off. As to the rest: 

Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: The Isaacs
Also Appearing: Gatlin Brothers; Connie Smith; Mandy Barnett; Charlie McCoy; Riders In The Sky

I have to say that the first couple of shows have been very good, as the Gatlins, Mandy, Charlie and Riders have formed a nice regular group on the show. This has turned out to be a wonderful idea by the Opry and hope this tradition continues in years to come. 

There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend. 


Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Tuesday Night Opry 12/7

Here is the line-up for the Tuesday Night Opry:

7:00: John Conlee, Riders In The Sky, Cam, Dailey & Vincent
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson, Jason Boland & The Stragglers, John Crist, Jimmie Allen



Sunday, December 5, 2021

Opry Country Christmas 12/5 & 12/8

Following a great Opry Country Christmas show last Sunday night, there will be two more shows this week featuring Christmas music from the decorated Grand Ole Opry House. 

Larry Gatlin will once again be hosting both nights, with the Gatlin Brothers, Mandy Barnett, Riders In The Sky and Charlie McCoy scheduled once again for both nights. 

Sunday December 5
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Lorrie Morgan
Also Appearing: Gatlin Brothers, John Berry, Mandy Barnett, Charlie McCoy, Riders In The Sky

Wednesday December 8
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: John Turner
Also Appearing: Gatlin Brothers, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Jake Hoot, Mandy Barnett, Charlie McCoy, Riders In The Sky

If last Sunday is any indication, both of these shows promise to get everyone in the holiday spirit. 


Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Grand Ole Opry 12/3 & 12/4

Who else finds it hard to believe that the Kentucky Headhunters will be making their Grand Ole Opry debut this Saturday night? 

During all of their years as entertainers, GRAMMY® Award-winning southern rock, blues and country group The Kentucky Headhunters have never performed on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. That all changes on Saturday, Dec. 4 when the boys from the Bluegrass State walk into the Opry’s hallowed wooden circle for the very first time.

“I must say The Kentucky Headhunters had to take a deep breath, twice, when our publicist Don Murry Grubbs called to say we had been asked to be on the Grand Ole Opry stage for the first time,” says Headhunters guitarist and vocalist Richard Young. 

In the early '90s when the Headhunters released their debut album, Pickin' on Nashville, Bill Monroe approached Roy Acuff about having the group perform on the Opry stage.

"Mr. Acuff said, ‘I think they are probably good boys and would do a fine job, but let's get 'em a haircut first," reminisces Young. "Needless to say, it never happened. We are so looking forward to our first appearance on the Opry stage in 30 years. We still got our hair, too. Well, most of it!”

The Kentucky Headhunters, declared "the great American rock 'n' roll band" by Billboard, began their professional journey in 1968 when brothers Fred and Richard Young and cousins Greg Martin and Anthony Kenney formed the southern blues-rock band Itchy Brother. The band later became The Kentucky Headhunters. Their first album from the early '90s, Pickin' on Nashville, was released by Mercury Records and surprised the world, becoming a bona fide hit, selling over two million copies. The album won a GRAMMY® Award, three CMA Awards, an American Music Award and an ACM Award. It spawned four consecutive Top 40 country hits: "Walk Softly on This Heart of Mine," "Dumas Walker," "Oh Lonesome Me," and "Rock 'n' Roll Angel." The Kentucky Headhunters are Richard Young, Fred Young, Greg Martin and Doug Phelps. To date, the band has sold over eleven million records worldwide.

Last month, the Headhunters released their first album of all-new material in half a decade. The twelve-track compilation, That’s A Fact Jack!, is available now via Practice House Records.

Personally, I had thought that the Headhunters had appeared on the Opry before, but in checking my records, I found that Brother Phelps did appear on the Opry after they had left the group. So I guess that clears up that mystery. 

As to the rest of the Opry line-ups for the first weekend in December, Grand Ole Opry member and Country Music Hall of Fame member Ricky Skaggs is on the schedule for both nights. While Jeannie Seely is the only other Opry member on the schedule for Friday night, Saturday night's show, in addition to Ricky, will have John Conlee, Del McCoury Band, Riders In The Sky, Connie Smith and Bobby Osborne performing. 

Besides the Kentucky Headhunters making their Opry debut this weekend, Tim Dugger will also be performing on the Opry for the first time, with his appearance taking place on Friday night. That show will also feature a return appearance by Birdtalker, along with Tyler Rich, Holly Williams, the veteran group Shenandoah and Christian recording artists Keith & Kristyn Getty. Saturday night, in addition to the Headhunters, has Clare Dunn and Suzy Bogguss on the schedule. 

Friday December 3
7:00: Jeannie Seely; Tyler Rich; Holly Williams; Shenandoah
Intermission
8:15: Birdtalker; Tim Dugger; Ricky Skaggs; Keith & Kristyn Getty

Saturday December 4
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; John Conlee; Del McCoury Band; Clare Dunn; Riders In The Sky; Connie Smith
Intermission
8:15: Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Suzy Bogguss; The Kentucky Headhunters; Ricky Skaggs

A native of Alabama, Tim Dugger began performing music when he was a child in the '90s, getting his start singing at church. He veered toward country music as a teenager, playing in a series of bands, graduating to bars as he reached the end of his teens. Soon, he was hawking his original material at shows, which often followed the NASCAR circuit.

During the mid-2000s, when he was heading out of his teens, Dugger had a reality TV show called Highway to Fame in development. The show finally hit the air in 2012, featuring Dugger along with several other fledgling country singers.

He continued to perform regularly through the mid-2010s, writing and recording original material along the way. These songs would regularly appear as digital singles on the internet. By 2015, he'd signed with Curb Records, working with producer Jim Ed Norman on the material that comprised his debut EP, Beer on a Boat.

Over the next four years, Dugger regularly played live, maintaining his strong connection to the NASCAR circuit. He released his second EP, the Brandon Hood-produced Signs of a Good Time, early in 2020.
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I have to say, that in my humble opinion, the Saturday show looks very, very good. Six of the Nine artists are Opry members, and the case can be made that Suzy Bogguss would make a good member. The Kentucky Headhunters are an interesting act, while Clare Dunn has done a good job on the Opry in her pervious appearances. Sadly, there will be no live TV again this weekend. 
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Now from 50 years ago, Saturday December 4, 1971: 

7:00: Shoney's
Jack Greene (host): The Whole World Comes to Me
Jeannie Seely: All Right, I'll Sign the Papers
Billy Walker: Smokey Places
Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely: She's All I Got
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me
Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away
Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely: Much Oblige
Jimmy Dry: Sing Me a Sad Song

7:30: Standard Candy
Del Reeves (host): A Dozen Pair of Boots
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Poor Ellen Smith
Stringbean: Mountain Dew
Jimmy C Newman: Blue Christmas
Del Reeves: Philadelphia Fillies
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Satisfied
Stringbean: Y'all Come
Jimmy C Newman: A Fallen Star
Del Reeves: A Dime at a Time

8:00: Martha White
Bill Monroe (host): True Life Blues
Jean Shepard: Help Me Make it Through the Night
Stu Phillips: For the Good Times
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Bill Monroe: Highway of Sorrow
Jean Shepard: Safe in the Loving Arms of Mine
Stu Phillips: Great El Tigrae
Bill Monroe: Stoney Lonesome

8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Connie Smith: I'm Sorry if My Love Got in Your Way
The 4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On
Mac Wiseman: Jimmie Brown, the Newsboy
Roy Acuff: The End of the World
Connie Smith: Too Much to Gain to Lose
The 4 Guys: Cottonfields/Maria

9:00: Luzianne
Billy Grammer (host): Gotta Travel On
Dottie West: Six Weeks Every Summer; Christmas Every Other Year
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Dance All Night
Billy Grammer: God Will Take Care of You/What A Friend
Dottie West: Country Girl
Bill Carlisle: Polka Salad Annie

9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Willis Brothers: Big Daddy
Lonzo and Oscar: Lonesome Road Blues
Hank Snow: On the Sea Shores of Old Mexico
Willis Brothers: Women's Liberation
Lonzo and Oscar: Easy Loving

10:00: Fender
Billy Walker (host): When A Man Loves A Woman
Jack Greene: Hanging Over Me
Jeannie Seely: All Right; I'll Sign the Papers
Billy Walker: A Million and One

10:15: Union 76
Jimmy C Newman (host): Jambalaya
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: On the Banks of the Ohio
Stringbean: Ruby
Jimmy C Newman: Back Pocket Money

10:30: Trailblazer
Bill Monroe (host): Christmas Time's A' Coming
Jean Shepard: Silver Threads & Golden Needles
Willis Brothers: Cimarron
Bill Monroe: White House Blues

10:45: Beech-Nut
Roy Acuff (host): Little Pal
Connie Smith: I'll Fly Away
Bill Carlisle: I'm Movin'
Crook Brothers: Ragtime Annie
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Snowbird
Dottie West: Me & Bobby McGee
Billy Grammer: Detroit City
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Dottie West: Put Your Hand in the Hand
Billy Grammer: Theme from Dr. Zhivago
Sam McGee: Wildwood Flower
Hank Snow: As Love Goes

11:30: Elm Hill
Stu Phillips (host): Help Me Make it Through the Night
The 4 Guys: You Can Tell the World About This/Sweet Caroline
Lonzo and Oscar: Columbus Stockade Blues
Stu Phillips: Welcome to My World
Mac Wiseman: Homestead on the Farm

Del Reeves was scheduled for a second spot however he did not make it. 

There you have it for the first weekend of December. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend. 

December Opry Highlights

As we enter the final month of 2021, I think we can all say that we are very happy to see this year end. What a year and I think I can speak for everyone when I say it was a challenge to a lot of people. Like every place else, the Grand Ole Opry was seriously affected. As the Opry prepares to close out another year, here are the important dates and events that have taken place regarding the Opry, or Opry members, during the month of December:

December 2, 1889: Herman Crook was born. Herman was one of the Opry's original members, joining the show when it was still called the WSM Barn Dance. Herman's first Opry appearance was on July 24, 1926, and he was with the show until his death in June 1988, just short of 62 years. When he passed away, the Crook Brothers were the last of the originals on the Opry, and they never wavered from the traditional string band sound. As Roy Acuff said, "He loved country music, but he wanted it country. He didn't go for any of this rock n' roll type stuff."

December 14, 1899: DeFord Bailey was born. DeFord was another of the Opry's original members, making his first appearance on June 19, 1926. DeFord was there the night Opry founder George D. Hay changed the name of the show from the WSM Barn Dance to the Grand Ole Opry, and he played the first song on the newly named show. DeFord was with the Opry until he was fired in 1941, in a move that left DeFord very bitter. Despite repeated efforts by Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl and Bill Monroe, among others, DeFord stayed away from the Opry until returning on February 23, 1974, when he appeared for the Opry's first reunion show. DeFord would make several more Opry appearances before passing away in 1982. In 2005 he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

December 11, 1914: James Clell "Tex" Summey was born. Known professionally as Cousin Jody, he first came to the Opry with Roy Acuff in 1937, and he later worked with Pee Wee King and Lonzo & Oscar. He also performed as a solo act, until health issues forced him to retire. He passed away in 1975, and it should be noted that he was the first person to play the dobro and steel guitar on the Opry stage and he was the one who brought the original dobro sound with Roy Acuff.

December 19, 1920: Jimmy Dickens was born in Bolt, West Virginia. Jimmy first came to the Opry in 1948. While he left the show for a period of time, Jimmy returned to the Opry in 1975 and remained an Opry member until his death in January 2015. It is pretty safe to say that at the time of his death, Jimmy might have been the most beloved member of the Opry. He was certainly popular and at times, very funny.

December 12, 1925: Dr. Humphrey Bate and his group soon to be known as the Possum Hunters, appeared for the first time on George D. Hay's Saturday night program. There are many who feel that Dr. Bate was the first performer to play country music on a Nashville radio station.

December 26, 1925: The WSM Barn Dance was formally listed for the first time on the WSM program schedule that was printed in the Nashville Tennessean. The listing read, "Because of this recent revival in the popularity of the old familiar tunes, WSM has arranged to have an hour or two every Saturday night starting Saturday December 26. Uncle Dave Macon, the oldest banjo picker in Dixie, and who comes from Readyville, Tennessee, and Uncle Jimmy Thompson of Martha, Tennessee, will answer any requests for old-time melodies."

December 5, 1926: While upgrading its signal, WSM radio goes off the air through the end of the year. The signal was upgraded from 1,000 watts to 5,000 watts. Because of this, the WSM Barn Dance missed a couple of Saturday night shows. 

December 10, 1927: While there seems to be some confusion as to the exact date, it would appear that his was the date that the WSM Barn Dance became known as the Grand Ole Opry. The Barn Dance came on the air at 8:00. In the hour prior to the start of the Barn Dance program, WSM aired a classical musical show on the NBC radio network called "Music Appreciation Hour." At the conclusion of the Music Hour show that particular night, Barn Dance founder George D. Hay announced, "For the past hour we have been listening to music taken largely from Grand Opera; from now on we will present the Grand Ole Opry." While this is the story that was told by George D. Hay, there seem to be no independent verification of this event. In fact, some historians who have looked back at the WSM program schedules,  believe that the date was actually December 8, 1928, a year later, as the "Music Appreciation Hour" did not begin on WSM until that year. However, to back up the 1927 claim, others have pointed out that on December 11, 1927, the Nashville Tennessean used the word "Grand Ole Opry" in their editions of the paper. Either way, the new name stuck.

December 17, 1927: George W. Wilkerson and his Fruit Jar Drinkers first appeared on the Grand Ole Opry. Along with the Crook Brothers, the Fruit Jar Drinkers would continue on the Opry into the 1980s. 

December 29, 1928: Uncle Jimmy Thompson, the first performer on the Grand Ole Opry made his final appearance on the program. It has been written that Uncle Jimmy was not the best person to work with. 

December 13, 1930: Grand Ole Opry member Buck White was born, Along with his daughters Sharon and Cheryl, The Whites have been Opry members since 1984. Buck, who is now 91, has not appeared on the Opry since the Covid pandemic has taken place, but in recent weeks, he along with Sharon White, have been visiting backstage. 

December 7, 1931: Grand Ole Opry member Bobby Osborne was born in Leslie County, Kentucky. Along with his brother Sonny, Bobby became an Opry member in 1964. At the age of 90 Bobby still appears often on the Opry and, of course, always does "Rocky Top," sounding as good as ever.

December 7, 1940: After making several guest appearances during the month of November, this is the first date that Minnie Pearl is listed in the Opry program as a regular member of the Opry.

December 30, 1944: Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys made a guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, appearing on the Prince Albert portion of the show that was broadcast on the NBC radio network. Minnie Pearl, who was there that night, remembered that a lady in the balcony was so excited that she fell out of the balcony onto the Ryman stage. And after Roy Acuff heard the electrified fiddles that Bob brought, he made the statement that the Opry would be ruined forever. What is interesting, that while Bob brought electrified fiddles with him, both Pee Wee King and Ernest Tubb had been playing electric instruments on the Opry previous to that night. There is another story from that night, regarding the use of drums and Bob being told to keep his drummer behind the curtain. Much like the electric fiddles, Bob's drummer was not the first to drum on the Opry, as Harold "Sticks" McDonald, a member of Pee Wee King's Golden West Cowboys, had brought drums to the Opry several years prior. He supposedly used them for a couple of weeks until George D. Hay told Pee Wee to take the drums home and leave them there. While that may be true, within a few years, many of the Opry's acts included drums.

December 8, 1945: Earl Scruggs made his Grand Ole Opry debut as a member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys. He was the final member to join what many consider the greatest of Bill's many renditions of the Blue Grass Boys, and what many feel was the greatest bluegrass band ever. That group included Lester Flatt, Chubby Wise and Harold Watts. This group would only stay together until 1948. After leaving Bill's group, Earl would team up with Lester Flatt, before moving on to play a more progressive sound with his sons.

December 30, 1950: Future Grand Ole Opry member, for a very short time, Lefty Frizzell, made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. He did his two big hits, "If You've Got the Money, I've Got the Time," and "I Love You A Thousand Ways." 

December 28, 1956: Grand Ole Opry member George Morgan quit the Opry in order to appear on a competing radio station and the Ozark Jubilee. He would return to the Opry several years later. 

December 7, 1957: One of the Grand Ole Opry's early homes, the Dixie Tabernacle, burnt down as fire destroyed the building which was on the east side of Nashville. 

December 21, 1957: Elvis Presley made a backstage visit to the Grand Ole Opry where he was seen visiting with several Opry members including Hank Snow, Ray Price and Faron Young. While he didn't perform that night, he did go out on stage and wave to the audience.

December 28, 1958: Grand Ole Opry member Joe Diffie was born. Sadly, Joe passed away in 2020 from Covid. He has certainly been missed. 

December 12, 1959: While performing on the Opry, Bill Monroe was served with divorce papers from his wife, Carolyn Brown. She charged that Bill was having an affair with his bass player, Bessie Lee Mauldin. The story goes that Carolyn was waiting for Bill outside the Opry that night and when he came out the Ryman's back door, she really laid into him.

December 24, 1960: The final Prince Albert Grand Ole Opry show was broadcast on the NBC network. The decline of radio and the rise of television led to the decision to end the Opry's broadcasts. Hank Snow was the host for that final broadcast, and I am happy to say that I have a recording of that show.

December 3, 1961: "Doctor" Lew Childre passed away. Lew, who was born in 1901, became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1945. He remained with the Opry through most of the 1950's.

December 6, 1964: The Grand Ole Opry fired 12 of its members for failing to meet the required number of yearly appearances on the show. The Nashville Tennessean wrote, "Twelve top country and western stars will not appear on the Grand Ole Opry in 1965, and have been prohibited from using the Opry name in their outside billings, it was learned yesterday. Another entertainer, long-time favorite Minnie Pearl, has been given a leave of absence from the show for the coming year, but will continue to use the Opry billing in her present contracts," a WSM spokesman said. Those who were dismissed from the Opry were George Morgan, Don Gibson, Billy Grammer, Johnny Wright, Kitty Wells, the Jordanaires, Faron Young, Ferlin Husky, Chet Atkins, Justin Tubb, Stonewall Jackson and Ray Price. It was later found that Chet Atkins was not an actual Opry member, which led to some comments concerning if the Opry's management really knew what was going on at the show. At the time, Opry members were required to appear 26 times per year. Many of those fired would later return to the show as members, including George Morgan, Don Gibson, Billy Grammer, Justin Tubb and Stonewall Jackson, while Minnie Pearl would return after her leave of absence. While never rejoining the cast, the remaining ones would appear on the show as guest artists.

December 23, 1967: Jack Greene became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Jack started as a member of Ernest Tubb's Texas Troubadours before going on to a very successful solo career. Jack would remain an Opry member until his death in 2013. During his induction he sang his monster hit "There Goes My Everything." 

December 14, 1973: Lorrie Morgan, age 14, made her first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Lorrie was brought on stage by her father, Opry member George Morgan. She sang "Paper Roses." A decade later, Lorrie would become an Opry member.

December 15, 1973: Grand Ole Opry member Skeeter Davis was suspended by the Opry's management for comments she had made the previous Saturday night while performing on the Opry. As Skeeter said, "Hank Williams got kicked off the Opry for drinkin' too much old wine. Me? I got kicked off for singing about the new wine." What actually happened was that Skeeter was on her way to the Ryman Auditorium for an Opry appearance when she witnessed the arrest of what were known as "Jesus Freaks," which was another name for the young people who were protesting not only in Nashville, but around the country. The arrests enraged Skeeter and on the Opry, she expressed her rage by talking about it, singing about it, and weeping about it. When she came off the stage after performing, she faced an angry Opry management. She was told that she was no longer considered an Opry member. Happily for all, and especially for Skeeter, she was invited back to the Opry 18 months later.

December 29, 1973: Opry member Tex Ritter made his final Grand Ole Opry appearance. Tex, who had joined the Opry in 1965, would pass away after suffering a heart attack, the following week.

December 7, 1976: Roy Acuff gave an interview to the Nashville Banner in which he stated that the Ryman Auditorium, the former home of the Grand Ole Opry, should be torn down to keep tourists away from Lower Broadway, which had turned into a very troubled area of town. 

December 25, 1976: Larry, Steve and Rudy, The Gatlin Brothers, became members of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be their 45th year as Opry members, and according to my records, the only members to join the cast on Christmas day. In addition to their Opry appearances, Larry Gatlin serves as host of the Opry Country Classics show held in the Spring and Fall at the Ryman Auditorium.

December 12, 1978: ABC aired "Merry Christmas From The Grand Ole Opry," a holiday special that featured Crystal Gayle, Chet Atkins, Roy Acuff, Barbara Mandrell and Minnie Pearl.

December 27, 1978: Grand Ole Opry member Bob Luman passed away at the age of 41. Bob joined the Opry in 1965 and was known for his rockabilly sound that was very popular with many of the Opry's younger fans. While some on the Opry felt Bob's music had too much rock in it, he was a popular member of the cast and enjoyed great support. His last Grand Ole Opry appearance was on Saturday December 2, 1978, while Friday December 15 was his final Friday Night Opry appearance.

December 15, 1979: Kelly Foxton made her first Grand Ole Opry appearance as Hank Snow's new duet partner. It was an interesting pairing to say the least. Many feel it was an attempt by Hank to rejuvenate his career that had grown stagnate.  

December 26, 1981: Kelly Foxton made her final Grand Ole Opry appearance as Hank Snow's duet partner. The partnership, which produced several albums, never really succeeded. 

December 8, 1982: Marty Robbins passed away in a Nashville hospital at the age of 57. Probably the Opry's most popular member, he was famous for hosting the 11:30 segment when he was in town, and making the last half hour of the Opry his own, often performing well past the traditional midnight sign off time. Just that previous October, Marty had been elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

December 10, 1982: Longtime Smoky Mountain Boy Jimmy Riddle passed away. Over the years, Jimmy was an integral part of Roy Acuff's sound.

December 24, 1983: Longtime Grand Ole Opry sponsor Kellogg's sponsored the 9:30 segment of the Opry for the final time. The following week, Dollar General would assume the sponsorship. One of the joys of listening to the Kellogg's segment on the Opry was hearing the Willis Brothers singing the Kellogg's theme. 

December 7, 1984: Roy Acuff returned to the Grand Ole Opry, recovering from heart related issues that kept him off the Opry since summer. 

December 20, 1986: Randy Travis became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be Randy's 35th year as an Opry member. Randy had a string of hits in the 1980s and 1990s, and helped to bring back a more traditional sound to country music. Sadly, Randy has suffered a serious of health setbacks and will probably never perform on the Opry again. However, he has visited the show several times in the past couple of years, and he always receives a great audience response when introduced on stage. Randy is also a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

December 17, 1993: Herman Harper, the famous and very popular bass singer for the Carol Lee Singers, passed away. Herman had been a member of the Oak Ridge Boys back in the day when they were considered one of the country's top gospel acts. Herman last appeared on the Opry several weeks prior.

December 24, 1994: Vic Willis was scheduled to perform on the Grand Ole Opry for the final time. The Willis Brothers, originally known as the Oklahoma Wranglers, came to the Opry in 1946. After leaving in 1949 to tour with Eddy Arnold, they returned in 1957. In addition to Vic, the group included brothers Guy and Skeeter. Skeeter had passed away in 1976, while Guy retired in 1979 due to health issues. Vic continued on, forming the Vic Willis Trio, until he passed away early in 1995 from injuries suffered in an automobile accident.

December 30, 1994: Grand Ole Gospel Time, which followed the Friday Night Opry and hosted by Reverend Jimmie Snow, Hank's son, was broadcast for the final time. The show was taped on Friday night and broadcast on WSM Sunday mornings. Airing for 23 years, the show would feature a number of Grand Ole Opry performers including Connie Smith, Billy Walker and Roy Acuff, and feature such guests as Johnny Cash and Dennis Weaver.

December 10, 1996: Faron Young passed away in Nashville in what was a tragic end to his life. Faron was a former member of the Grand Ole Opry and was fired as part of the "Purge of 64." While he never rejoined the Opry's cast, Faron would come back and make several guest appearances.

December 19, 1999: Former Grand Ole Opry member Marion Worth passed away at the age of 69. Marion joined the Opry in 1963, and while never a superstar, she was very entertaining and a fan favorite. She left the Opry cast in 1980, when she went into semi-retirement and continued to perform for a time in Las Vegas.

December 20, 1999: The legendary Hank Snow passed away at his Rainbow Ranch in Madison, Tennessee after a period of declining health. Hank joined the Opry in January 1950 and was just weeks shy of 50 years of Opry membership. Hank last appeared on the Opry in September 1996, and is considered one of the all-time Opry greats.

December 16, 2000: Brad Paisley was surprised on stage by Jimmy Dickens and Jeannie Seely, in a segment hosted by Bill Anderson. Jimmy & Jeannie were dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the reason for the surprise visit was the delivery of an invitation for Brad to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Brad tearfully accepted and the following February he would officially join the cast.

December 30, 2000: Grand Ole Opry member Skeeter Davis made her final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Skeeter, who had been battling various illnesses, would enter a period of declining health that made it difficult for her to continue performing. Skeeter passed away in December 2004. Additionally, after being notified the previous month that he was being terminated, this was the final night that Jerry Strobel was employed as the Opry House manager. Jerry had worked at the Opry for over 30 years.

December 21, 2001: Josh Turner made his first guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. His debut song was "Long Black Train" after which Josh received a standing ovation. Over the next several years, Josh would make dozens and dozens of guest appearances, until finally becoming a member in October 2008.

December 14, 2002: Toby Keith made his Opry debut. While he has never become an Opry member, he has appeared on the Opry a few times over the years. 

December 31, 2002: Grand Ole Opry member Jim McReynolds, one half of Jim & Jesse, passed away in Gallatin, Tennessee after a long illness. Jim & Jesse, along with the Virginia Boys, became Opry members in March 1964, and are considered one of the greatest acts in bluegrass music history.

December 16, 2004: Former Grand Ole Opry member Martha Carson passed away. Martha was a member of the Opry in the 1950s. She left the Opry for a year, taking a leave of absence, however when it came time for her to return, the Opry told her they had no room for her. While she claimed to never have appeared on the Opry again, she did make several guest appearances before her death. 

December 30, 2006: The Grand Ole Opry's 2nd Saturday night show concluded at midnight for the final time. The following week, both Saturday Grand Ole Opry shows were cut to 2 hours, with the late show ending at 11:30.

December 29, 2007: Dailey & Vincent made their Grand Ole Opry debut as a duo. Both had appeared on the Opry previously with other performers, Jamie Dailey with Doyle Lawson and Darrin Vincent with Ricky Skaggs. 

December 16, 2011: Grand Ole Opry member Jack Greene made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Jack, who joined the cast in 1967, was in declining health which forced him into retirement. Jack passed away in 2013 from Alzheimer's. Just as he began his Opry membership, he finished with "There Goes My Everything." 

December 13, 2013: Grand Ole Opry member Joe Diffie was honored for 20 years of Opry membership. Joining Joe on the Opry that evening were Opry members Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley.

December 14, 2013: Rock legend Peter Frampton made his Grand Ole Opry debut, performing with Ricky Skaggs. They performed two of Peter's big hits, "Show Me The Way" and "Baby, I Love Your Way." It was another special night at the Opry. 

December 20, 2014: Grand Ole Opry member Jimmy Dickens made his final Grand Ole Opry appearance. On Christmas Day, Jimmy was admitted to a Nashville hospital and would pass away shortly after the first of the year. Jimmy's final song? "Out Behind the Barn."

December 4, 2015: "American Saturday Night: Live At The Grand Ole Opry" debuts in movie theaters. The picture featured performances by Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, The Band Perry and Brett Eldredge.

December 11, 2015: Grand Ole Opry member Mel Tillis made his final Opry appearance on the Friday Night Opry. Mel, who joined the Opry in 2007, entered a period of declining health after the first of the year, that would ultimately lead to his passing in November 2017.

December 17, 2016: Brad Paisley sang "Out Behind The Barn," then unveiled a wax statue of Little Jimmy Dickens during the Grand Ole Opry at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. The figure will go on display when Madame Tussauds opens a Music City location in the spring

December 30, 2016: During a guest appearance on the Friday Night Opry, Marty Stuart, with help from John Carter Cash, surprised Dailey & Vincent with an invitation to become the Opry's newest members. This was also the 100th guest appearance for Dailey & Vincent. Their actual Opry induction would take place the following March.

December 1, 2017: Grand Ole Opry member Marty Stuart celebrated his 25th anniversary as member of the Opry. Helping Marty celebrate were Connie Smith, Charlie Worsham, Old Crow Medicine Show, Dallas Frazier, Kenny Lovelace, Marty's mother Hilda, and the Grand Ole Opry Square Dancers.

December 23, 2017: Grand Ole Opry member Ray Pillow made his final appearance on the Opry. Ray, who joined the Opry cast in 1966, apparently has made the decision to retire from performing.

December 31, 2017: Longtime Grand Ole Opry announcer, and WSM personality, Hairl Hensley passed away. Hairl was a WSM and Grand Ole Opry announcer for 35 years, joining the station in 1972. He was a member of the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame.

December 21, 2018: Grand Ole Opry Staff Band member Jimmy Capps was honored upon his 60th anniversary of performing on the Grand Ole Opry. Jimmy originally came to the Opry as part of the Louvin Brothers group and continued after they left. In honor of Jimmy, the rehearsal room backstage at the Opry House was renamed the "Jimmy Capps Music Room." Jimmy, who passed away in 2020 after a short illness, should receive some future consideration for the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

December 21, 2018: On the same night that Jimmy Capps was honored, Vince Gill surprised long-time and frequent Opry guest Mark Wills with an invitation to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Mark had made many Opry appearances over his career and his membership was well deserved. 

December 6, 2019: The legendary singer Dionne Warwick made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry. 

December 12, 2020: Grand Ole Opry member Charley Pride passed away from Covid. Charley had been an Opry member for over 25 years and always received a huge ovation each time he appeared. Charley is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

There you have it for the final month of the year. As usual at the Opry, there was a lot of activity during the month.

Monday, November 29, 2021

Tuesday Night Opry November 30

The Grand Ole Opry closes out the month of November with the Tuesday Night Opry, featuring one of the Opry's newest members, Carly Pearce. Also appearing will be Matthew West, so I am going to assume that Matthew and Carly will be doing their duet together. 

7:00: Connie Smith; Riders In The Sky; Skip Ewing; Home Free
Intermission
8:15: Aaron Weber; Matthew West; Carly Pearce

Also listed on the schedule is Dallas Wayne with no specific time slot

I will admit that I was one of those who saw Skip Ewing's name on the line-up and wondered what ever happened to him as that was a name that I had not seen in years. 

For Skip Ewing, there’s a mystique about the West, a land populated by fascinating characters and shaped by unforgettable legends. Ewing’s new album, Wyoming, is as expansive as the majestic landscape of his current home and as deep as his roots in Tennessee, where he evolved from early days as an Opryland performer to one of Nashville’s most successful singer/ songwriters. A native of Redlands, CA, Ewing also spent some of his formative years in South Carolina and Colorado before moving to Nashville in 1984.

Ewing has had songs recorded by Keith Urban, Zach Brown Band, George Strait, Keb Mo, Willie Nelson, and numerous others. His #1 hits include Collin Raye’s “Love, Me,” Diamond Rio’s “I Believe,” Kenny Chesney’s “You Had Me From Hello,” Clint Black’s “Something That We Do,” Brian White’s “Rebecca Lynn,” “Someone Else’s Star,” and “I’m Not Supposed to Love You Anymore.” 

After a detour that took him to new territory geographically, professionally, and spiritually, he’s crafted his first new album in more than a decade. “I started writing the album in 2018. At the time, I didn’t know if I’d ever do another music project,” Ewing admits. “I had sold everything in Nashville, my furniture, my house. I sold everything except my instruments and some art. In the meantime, I’d been coming to Wyoming every year since the early 2000s.”

Though music would remain his first love, Ewing developed a passion for horses and discovered he had a gift for working with them. “I rode thousands of miles horseback,” Ewing says, “I devoted myself to horsemanship. I learn so much from them about who I am and how I can better myself.”

Soon, Ewing found himself in a particularly creative season of his life. “I started writing again,” Ewing says. “My wife came home one day, and I played her another song, and she said, ‘Honey, it’s time to put all the journeys together. The world needs to hear this.”

“I wasn’t writing for any specific genre; I was writing for the hearts and ears of the people I believed would listen. I was writing as an artist. I was out here letting myself draw from whatever musical wells I had, and whatever was in me,” Ewing explains. “I was writing imagining I was going to share it with people all over the world. That made a big difference in where I went, and it felt good to be free,” he says.

“You can hear that I’m happy. There’s so much warmth and encouragement around this record. People are genuinely excited to hear it. And when they listen, they’re excited to share it. I’m praying that leads to the immense good fortune of getting to create music for a living again.



Sunday, November 28, 2021

Opry Country Christmas 11/28

I know it was mentioned already, but the Opry will be putting on several Opry Country Christmas shows this holiday season with Larry Gatlin as the host. The first show is tonight and in addition to Larry, the show will also feature the following: 

Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Steve Wariner
Also Appearing: The Gatlin Brothers, Jason Crabb, Mandy Barnett, Charlie McCoy, Riders In The Sky, Jeannie Seely

A very nice line-up for the first show. For those who have not heard any of these artists singing their Christmas favorites, you are in for a treat tonight. 

The show will be broadcast on WSM. 

Saturday November 28, 1925

Saturday November 28
Announcer: George D. Hay
Artist: Uncle Jimmy Thompson

The first night. At the time, it had no name. Soon it was to be called the WSM Barn Dance, later the Grand Ole Opry.

History was made and is repeated every Saturday night. 

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Grand Ole Opry 11/26 & 11/27-Thanksgiving Weekend

The weekend after Thanksgiving and the Christmas shopping season is officially upon us. Depending on when you read this, you are either getting ready for Thanksgiving, or hopefully have had a nice Thanksgiving and getting ready for the big weekend of shopping and football games. As far as the Grand Ole Opry this weekend, the shows both nights look solid, with a nice group of Opry members performing. 

Looking at the schedule for this weekend, Grand Ole Opry members Jeannie Seely and Riders In The Sky are scheduled for both nights. They will be joined on the Friday Night Opry by Mark Wills and Dailey & Vincent, while on Saturday night, Bill Anderson and Bobby Osborne are set to perform. 

In looking at the list of non-members, the name that stands out this weekend is Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, as Doyle will be making his final Opry appearance. Doyle has announced that he will be retiring from performing at the end of the year. Doyle, a member of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, has been one of the most influential leaders in bluegrass music and while never an Opry member, has appeared on the Opry numerous times over his career. 

As Doyle stated, “I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. 2022 will be coming up on 60 years in music, and I feel like this is the time to step away from my position as a bandleader. I think it’s been 43 years for me in this role. In a few days I’ll be 77 years old, and while my voice has held up well and my hands feel good, I want to leave while I can still feel proud of my performance on stage.”

As Doyle said in his quote, he planned on retiring at the end of 2022, however last month he announced that he had decided that the end of 2021 would be it for him. Doyle will be missed on the bluegrass circuit. 

While Doyle Lawson will be appearing only on Friday night, comedian Gary Mule Deer is scheduled for both nights, joined on Friday night by veteran country artist Darryl Worley and making her Opry debut, Sierra Ferrell. The final artist scheduled for Friday is Gail Davies, who it seems hasn't appeared on the Opry for a number of years. 

Saturday night's line-up, in addition to Gary Mule, has Caroline Jones scheduled, along with the legendary T. Graham Brown, The SteelDrivers, and making his Opry debut, Sam Grow. 


Friday November 26
7:00: Mark Wills; Gail Davies; Jeannie Seely; Riders In The Sky; Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Intermission
8:15: Darryl Worley; Gary Mule Deer; Sierra Ferrell; Dailey & Vincent

Saturday November 27
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Sam Grow; Bill Anderson; The SteelDrivers
Intermission
8:15: Caroline Jones; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Gary Mule Deer; T. Graham Brown; Riders In The Sky

No live TV again this weekend as Circle will be showing a previously recorded show featuring Connie Smith, Marty Stuart, Tennessee Mafia Jug Band and Lee Ann Womack. 
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As mentioned, there are a couple of artists who will be making their Opry debuts this weekend. 

Sierra Ferrell is from West Virginia. A singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist left home in her early 20s to journey across the country with a troupe of nomadic musicians, playing everywhere from truck stops to alleyways to freight-train boxcars speeding down the railroad tracks. After years of living in her van and busking on the streets of New Orleans and Seattle, she moved to Nashville and soon landed a deal with Rounder Records on the strength of her magnetic live show. Now, on her highly anticipated label debut Long Time Coming, Ferrell shares a dozen songs beautifully unbound by genre or era, instantly transporting her audience to an infinitely more enchanted world.

Co-produced by Stu Hibberd and 10-time Grammy Award-winner Gary Paczosa (Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Gillian Welch), Long Time Coming embodies a delicate eclecticism fitting for a musician who utterly defies categorization. “I want my music to be like my mind is—all over the place,” says Ferrell, who recorded the album at Southern Ground and Minutia studios in Nashville. “I listen to everything from bluegrass to techno to goth metal, and it all inspires me in different ways that I try to incorporate into my songs and make people really feel something.” In sculpting the album’s chameleonic sound, Ferrell joined forces with a knockout lineup of guest musicians (including Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien, Chris Scruggs, Sarah Jarosz, Billy Strings, and Dennis Crouch), adding entirely new texture to each of her gracefully crafted and undeniably heartfelt songs.

As she continues to embark on her own career. Sierra has appeared at several major festivals, such as The Avett Brothers at the Beach, AmericanaFest and Out on the Weekend, while also touring with Parker Milsap and Charley Crockett. 
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After the breakout success of his first studio album, 2019’s Love and Whiskey, a lot has changed for Average Joes Entertainment star Sam Grow. That milestone project followed years of grinding work, writing his own tunes, booking his own shows and recording his own EPs … but it was all rewarded.

Love and Whiskey hit Number One on iTunes’ Country Albums chart – doing so with zero radio airplay – and since then he’s only poured more gas on the fire. Grow’s 2020 single “Song About You” burned red hot, pulling in more than 50 million streams and getting named one of Spotify’s “Best Country Songs” in the process. Grow’s been featured on Billboard’s coveted “7 Country Acts To Watch” list, and touted by Music Row as a sure-bet for future superstardom, among other accolades, as the temperature continues to spike. 

“I feel like right now I’m making some of the best music I’ve ever made,” he says – and honestly, that’s saying a lot, since the Maryland native is the definition of a “prolific creator.” Since his 2014 arrival in Nashville, he’s dropped three EPs and his milestone debut album, never letting more than a few years pass between releases. But things are different now.

“2020 was a big revelation to me, of how important music is to people’s lives – even in the worst times,” he says. “To be able to put on a song and not feel alone, even when the world seems like it’s crashing around you, that’s such an intimate thing.”
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Now from 50 years ago, Saturday November 27, 1971: 

1st show
6:30: The 4 Guys (host); Stringbean; Margie Bowes
6:45: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host); Ernie Ashworth; Del Wood
7:00: Charlie Louvin (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Grandpa Jones; Jack Barlow; Diane McCall
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Jean Shepard; Merle Kilgore; Crook Brothers
8:00: George Morgan (host); Skeeter Davis; Archie Campbell; Louie Roberts
8:30: Wilburn Brothers (host); Peggy Little; Jay Lee Webb; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Ed Hyde

2nd show
9:30: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host); Margie Bowes; Louie Roberts; Harold Weakley
10:00: The 4 Guys (host); Stringbean; Jack Barlow
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Earl Scruggs Revue
10:30: Charlie Louvin (host); Diane McCall; Grandpa Jones; Del Wood
10:45: George Morgan (host); Jean Shepard; Crook Brothers
11:00: Archie Campbell (host0; Skeeter Davis; Merle Kilgore; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Phil Campbell; Sam McGee
11:30: Wilburn Brothers (host); Peggy Little; Jay Lee Webb

I highlighted Margie Bowes as these were her last shows as a member of the Grand Ole Opry cast. She would appear a couple of more times as a guest, usually in relation to the Opry's annual reunion shows. 
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Saturday November 26, 2005 was a special night at the Grand Ole Opry as Jean Shepard was recognized upon her 50th year as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. 

Here is the running order from the show that night: 

1st show
6:30: Cracker Barrel
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take an Old Cold Tater
Osborne Brothers: Mansion for Me/Rocky Top
Danielle Peck: Isn't That Everything/I Don't
Jimmy Dickens: Another Bridge to Burn

7:00: Tootsie's
Mike Snider: Soldier's Joy/Angeline the Baker/Old Molly Hare
Jan Howard: He Thinks I Still Care
Mel McDaniel: Stand Up
Restless Heart: (?)/Dancy's Dream
Mike Snider: Fire on the Mountain

7:30: Standard Candy
Hal Ketchum (host): Past the Point of Rescue
Jean Shepard: A Satisfied Mind/Second Fiddle
Shannon Brown: Can I Get an Amen/Corn Fed
Hal Ketchum: Stay Forever

8:00: Martha White/Tennessee Pride
Jeannie Seely (host): Winter Wonderland
Billy Walker: Behind Closed Doors
Cherryholmes: You Don't Know What Love Is/Dixie Hoedown
Opry Square Dance Band: Cherokee Shuffle
Jeannie Seely and Danny Davis: What's Going on In Your World
Jack Greene: Walkin' the Floor Over You/There Goes My Everything
Marty Stuart: Badlands/Beyond the Point of Return
Jeannie Seely: I'll Be Home for Christmas

2nd show
9:30: Cracker Barrel
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed
Mike Snider: (?)/If My Nose was Runnin' Money
Danielle Peck: Isn't that Everything/I Don't
Jimmy Dickens: We Could

10:00: Martha White
Hal Ketchum (host): It's A Five O'Clock World
Osborne Brothers: Nobody's Darling But Mine/Rocky Top
Restless Heart: Bluest Eyes in Texas/Why Does it Have to Be Wrong or Right
Hal Ketchum: Small Town Saturday Night

10:30: J.W. Tours
Jean Shepard (host): I Thought of You/It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels/You Win Again/A Dear John Letter
Jack Greene: Statue of a Fool
Shannon Brown: Can I Get an Amen/Corn Fed
Opry Square Dance Band: Tennessee Waggoner
Jean Shepard: Blanket on the Ground

11:00: Opry Cruise/Country Christmas
Jeannie Seely (host): Burning That Old Memory
Mel McDaniel: Louisiana Saturday Night/Stand Up
Marty Stuart: Hillbilly Rock/It Takes One To Know One/Country Boy Rock 'N Roll
Jeannie Seely and Danny Davis: What's Going On In Your World
Billy Walker (host): Smokey Places/A Million & One
Cherryholmes: When He Reached Down His Hand for Me/Nine Yards
Jeannie Seely: I'll Be Home for Christmas

A couple of notes from that night: both Porter Wagoner and Bill Anderson cancelled out. Porter was supposed to host the 8:00 segment on the 1st show and Bill the 8:30 segment. Jeannie Seely ended up hosting both. On the late show, it was the same deal as Bill Anderson was scheduled to host the 11:00 segment and Jeannie at 11:30. Jeannie ended up hosting the final hour. 

As far as Jean Shepard, her Opry career did not stop at 50. Jean would go on to be an Opry member for just over 60 years, becoming the only female, as of this writing, to have reached the 60 year mark as an Opry member.

To finish up, let's go back to Saturday November 26, 1955, which was Jean's first Saturday night at the Opry as a member (her actual induction date was November 21). Here is the running order from that night: 

7:30: Marty Robbins; Minnie Pearl; Don and Rita
7:45: George Morgan; Goldie Hill; Eddie Hill
8:00: Flatt and Scruggs; Jim Reeves; Hawkshaw Hawkins; Jean Shepard; Moon Mullican; Possum Hunters; Maybelle Carter
8:30: Ferlin Husky; Rod Brasfield; Louvin Brothers; Del Wood; Minnie Pearl Chet Atkins
9:00: Hank Snow; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Lonzo and Oscar; Bill Monroe; Carlisles; Marty Robbins
9:30: Ray Price; Slim Whitman; Anita Carter; Cousin Jody; Crook Brothers; Grandpa Jones; Chet Atkins; Jordanaires
10:00: George Morgan; Bill Monroe; Moon Mullican
10:15: Marty Robbins; Carlisles; Goldie Hill
10:30: Jim Reeves; R.D. Heardon; Jean Shepard
10:45: Hank Snow; Jimmie Snow; Gully Jumpers
11:00: Lonzo and Oscar; Ferlin Husky; Rod Brasfield; Slim Whitman; Grandpa Jones; Maybelle Carter; Crook Brothers
11:30: Ray Price; Louvin Brothers; Eddie Hill; Sam and Kirk McGee; Cousin Jody; Dot and Smokey; Fruit Jar Drinkers

There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend. 





Sunday, November 21, 2021

Tuesday Night Opry 11/23

A very good line-up for the Tuesday night Opry. 

7:00: Jeannie Seely; Jake Hoot; Riders In The Sky; Mandy Barnett
Intermission
8:15: Charlie McCoy; Gary Mule Deer; Lee Greenwood; Lauren Alaina

Interesting that we are seeing another guest appearance by Lauren so soon after her last appearance and with another appearance scheduled before the end of the year. 


Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Grand Ole Opry 11/19 & 11/20

Looking at the line-ups for the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry this weekend, I see that Opry member Rhonda Vincent is scheduled for both nights and that brings a smile to my face. 

For years and years, Rhonda had a dream and desire to be a member of the Opry. Sadly, under the previous general manager, the invitation to join never came. Happily, after a change at the top, the invitation for Rhonda to join came in 2020, with her official induction taking place in February 2021. 

Talk about being a loyal member of the Opry, and taking her Opry membership seriously, the two shows this weekend will mark Rhonda's 22nd and 23rd Opry appearances of the year, with only Jeannie Seely, Riders In the Sky and Connie Smith appearing more often. 

Here is a perfect example of Rhonda's devotion to the Opry. After appearing on the Tuesday night Opry this week, Rhonda was off to Branson, Missouri to appear Wednesday and Thursday at the Mansion Theater, and then back to Nashville to perform at both Opry shows this weekend. A very busy week for Rhonda. 

So who else will be joining Rhonda at the Opry this weekend? As far as Opry members, John Conlee is on the schedule for both nights, with Connie Smith listed for Friday night with Jeannie Seely and Bobby Osborne on the schedule for Saturday night. 

A number of interesting guest artists this weekend. Starting with Friday night, Kristian Bush is back on the schedule, along with comedian Chonda Pierce. Additionally, there is Eric Paslay, Caitlyn Smith and Hayes Carll. Can't honestly say that any of these are huge names, but they certainly fill out the show with a lot of variety. 

Saturday night has a return appearance by Kat & Alex, along with The War and The Treaty, and John Crist, another of the comedians who seems to be in the rotation that the Opry is using. 

On an added note, there is no live Circle TV Opry show this weekend as the network will be showing a previously recorded show. 

Friday November 19
7:00: John Conlee; Eric Paslay; Caitlyn Smith; Hayes Carll
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith; Chonda Pierce; Kristian Bush; Rhonda Vincent

Saturday November 20
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Kat & Alex; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; John Conlee
Intermission
8:15: Rhonda Vincent; John Crist; The War and The Treaty

And now from 50 years ago, here the running order from Saturday November 20, 1971: 

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Jimmy C Newman (host): Diggy Liggy Lo
Ernie Ashworth: A New Heart
Jimmy C Newman: A Fallin' Star/Boo Dan

6:45: Rudy's
George Hamilton IV (host): West Texas Highway
Barbara Mandrell: After Closing Time
George Hamilton IV: Anyway
Barbara Mandrell: Treat Him Right
George Hamilton IV: Country Fried

7:00: Luzianne
Bill Monroe (host): Cotton Eyed Joe
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Poor Ellen Smith
Grandpa Jones: Make Me a Pallet Down on the Floor
Connie Smith: Louisiana Man
Bill Monroe: The Little Community Church
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Satisfied
Grandpa Jones: My Dear Old Southern Home
Connie Smith: In the Garden
Bill Monroe: (?)

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Bobby Bare: Four Strong Winds
Willis Brothers: Women's Liberation
Crook Brothers: (?)
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light
Bobby Bare: Miller's Cave
Willis Brothers: For the Good Times
Roy Acuff: Cabin in Gloryland

8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): It's Mighty Dark for Me to Travel
Stringbean: Train 45 Heading South
Archie Campbell: Hey, Waiter
Mac Wiseman: I'll Still Write Your Name in the Sand/The Bluebirds Singing for Me
Stringbean: Y'all Come
Haskel McCormick: McCormick's String Picnic
Lester Flatt: Before I Met You

8:30: Stephens
Ernest Tubb (host): A Good Year for the Wine
Wilburn Brothers: We Need a Lot More Happiness
Stu Phillips: I'd Rather Be Sorry
Marion Worth: You Don't Have to Be a Baby to Cry
Ernest Tubb: Blue Christmas
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Wilburn Brothers: The War Keeps Draggin' On
Ernest Tubb: Kansas City Blues

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
George Hamilton IV (host): Early Morning Rain
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: The Banks of the Ohio
George Hamilton IV: She's a Little Bit Country
Barbara Mandrell: Tonight My Baby's Coming Home
Jimmy C Newman: Cry, Cry Darling
George Hamilton IV: Country Fried

10:00: Fender
Roy Acuff (host): Little Pal
Bobby Bare: Detroit City
Howdy Forrester: Sally Goodin'
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

10:15: Union 76
Bill Monroe (host): You Won't Be Satisfied That Way
Grandpa Jones: Are You From Dixie
Bill Monroe: Sally Goodin'

10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host) and Bill Monroe: Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Mac Wiseman: Shackles & Chains
Lester Flatt and Mac Wiseman: Will You Be Loving Another Man
Uncle Josh: Just Joshin'

10:45: Beechnut
Ernest Tubb (host): I'm Looking High & Low For My Baby
Connie Smith: How Great Thou Art
Crook Brothers: 8th of January
Ernest Tubb: Shenandoah Waltz

11:00: Coca Cola
Archie Campbell (host): Make Friends
Stringbean: Little Pink
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Phil Campbell: Mule Skinner Blues
Stringbean: Hot Corn; Cold Corn
Sam McGee: Victory Rag
Archie and Phil Campbell: Release Me

11:30: Elm Hill
Wilburn Brothers (host): It Looks Like the Sun's Gonna Shine
Marion Worth: For the Good Times
Stu Phillips: Help Me Make it Through the Night
Wilburn Brothers: The War Keeps Draggin' On
Marion Worth: Okie from Muskogee
Stu Phillips: Danny Boy
Wilburn Brothers (with Lester and Leslie): The Old Country Church

A pretty solid show from 1971 with future Opry member Barbara Mandrell appearing. 

There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.