Mid-Week Opry Shows

The Ernest Tubb Record Shop has posted news about the return of The Midnite Jamboree, live from The Ernest Tubb Record Shop 417 Broadway. Here is the post: 

We’re bringing back one of country music’s most cherished traditions — The Midnite Jamboree!

Founded by Ernest Tubb in 1947, the Midnite Jamboree became a cornerstone of Nashville’s musical heritage — a place where country legends and rising stars alike took the stage after the Opry to perform live on WSM Radio.

On Saturday November 15 at 10pm, the Midnite Jamboree returns, live from the Ernest Tubb Record Shop, featuring a house band and rotating guest performances, carrying forward the spirit of the original broadcast that helped shape Music City

While this is wonderful news, there is a downside to all of this: the Jamboree will no longer be free!!

General Admission:
$19.59 (including fees and sales tax)

VIP Table for 2:
$114.45 (including fees and sales tax)
Premium Seat Package - Private front row table with velvet seats for 2 people.

Table for 4:
$133.18 (including fees and sales tax)
Private table up front with seats for 4 people

Table for 2:
$67.61 (including fees and sales tax)
Private bar-height table with seats for 2 people

I really have no words. For over 50 years, the Midnite Jamboree was free, and it featured wonderful entertainment. You could usually count on an Opry member, or frequent Opry guest hosting and you never knew who would drop in to just visit or do a special number. The artists were friendly, and you could always get a picture or autograph. And it was all free!!

To say I am disappointed, would be an understatement. It will be interesting to see how this progresses and what artists will be included as the rotating guest performers. I can add that I will not be one of those driving downtown after the Opry, paying an exuberant rate for parking, then fighting the Broadway crowd to pay $20 to see the Jamboree. 

Now looking at the midweek Opry shows for this week, some nights are better than others at the Grand Ole Opry House, and Tuesday night will be one of those as the legendary singer James Taylor will be making his debut on the Opry. And while James Taylor will be making his Opry debut, it will also be a special Veterans Day show that will feature Opry member Craig Morgan, along with Scotty Hasting and Gary Sinise & The Lt. Dan Band. 

Tuesday November 11
7:00: Craig Morgan, Scotty Hasting, Jamey Johnson, Gary Sinise & The Lt. Dan Band
Intermission
8:35: Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, James Taylor

Making an observation, it almost seems as it will be two distinctly separate shows with the first half devoted to Veterans Day, and the second half wrapped around James Taylor, with Emmylou Harris and Vince Gill scheduled. 

Opry Country Classics has wrapped up for the year, so starting this week the Thursday Night Opry will be presented as a traditional Opry show. Opry members Charlie McCoy, Riders In The Sky and The Whites are scheduled. Maggie Rose is back for another Opry appearance as is the delightful Sunny Sweeney. William Prince and Tylar Farr round it out. 

(lineup TBD)

Grand Ole Opry 11/7 & 11/8

I would call this a pretty quiet weekend at the Grand Ole Opry as both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, while having solid lineups, have no real newsworthy events taking place either night. 

Taking a look at the Friday Night Opry, members T. Graham Brown, Don Schlitz and Mark Wills head up the lineup. The very talented Sierra Hull returns, as does the husband/wife duo of John Carter Cash and Ana Cristina Cash. Frank Ray and Grupo Frontera, who are making their Opry debut, round out the schedule. 

Don Schlitz, who has made more Opry appearances than any other Opry member thus far in 2025, is back on Saturday night, joined by Bill Anderson. Also scheduled is John Berry, Caroline Jones, Opry NextStage act Tigirlily Gold and Charlie Worsham. Rounding out Saturday night is comedian/storyteller Quinn XCII, who will be making his Opry debut. 

Friday November 7
7:00: T. Graham Brown, Frank Ray, Sierra Hull, Mark Wills
Intermission
8:20: Grupo Frontera, John Carter & Ana Cristina Cash, Don Schlitz

Saturday November 8
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, John Berry, Bill Anderson, Grand Master Fiddle Champions, Tigirlily Gold
Intermission
8:20: Caroline Jones, Quinn XCII, Opry Square Dancers, Charlie Worsham, Don Schlitz

Just a couple of quick observations: usually when Mark Wills is on the Opry he opens the show. On Friday he is scheduled in the final slot prior to intermission. On Saturday night, John Berry opens the show. Personally, I think that every Opry show should have an Opry member as the first act. 

Finally, it is always a treat and a special night when the Grand Master Fiddle Champions appear. For those interested, the 54th Annual Grand Master Fiddler Championship will be held on Saturday and Sunday November 8 and 9, 2025 at the Mockingbird Theater and the Turner Theater in the Factory at Franklin. Contestants from all over the world will be competing for the Champion titles in Youth and Open categories. The contest is Free to attend. There is no entry fee and parking is free. 

Grupo Frontera, who is making their Opry debut on Friday night, is an American regional Mexican band from Edinburg, Texas. Grupo Frontera was formed in 2019, originally performing at weddings and parties, which lead them to releasing their debut EP in March 2022, En Vivo, Vol. 1. Their release includes covers of songs such as Vicente Fernández's "Estos Celos" and Diego Verdaguer's "La Ladrona". A month later, they released their second EP, containing a cover of Morat's "No Se Va" which eventually went viral on TikTok and would chart at the end of the year. In December 2022, a second collaboration with Fuerza Regida, after "911 (En Vivo)", titled "Bebé Dame" reached number one on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs charts and peaked at number 25 on Billboard Hot 100, becoming their first top 40 hit.

Quinn XCII (pronounced Ninety-Two), who is debuting on Saturday night, has carved out a distinctive lane with his infectious blend of pop, alternative, and genre-bending storytelling—delivered with heart, humor, and unmistakable charm. To date, Quinn XCII has amassed over 4 billion global streams, earned multiple Platinum singles including “Straightjacket,” “Kings of Summer,” and “Love Me Less,” and Gold-certified hits such as “Stay Next To Me,” “Flare Guns,” “Another Day In Paradise,” “Stacy,” and “Always Been You.” 

It was a special night 27 years ago, as on Saturday November 7, 1998, Grand Ole Opry member was honored upon his 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Actually, it was the 50th anniversary of when Jimmy first joined the Opry, as we all know he left for a pretty long period of time, 17 years to be exact. 

Regardless, here is the running order from that night: 

1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Jimmy C Newman (host): Cajun's Dream
Skeeter Davis: Silver Threads & Golden Needles
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya

6:45: Kodak
Jack Greene (host): Highway To The Sky
Bill Carlisle: Too Old To Cut The Mustard

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Company's Comin'
Brother Oswald: Mansion On The Hill
The Whites: If It Ain't Love
Billy Grammer: Legend In My Time
Leroy Van Dyke: Walk On By
Christie Lynn: Chains
Porter Wagoner & Cristie Lynn: The Last Thing On My Mind

7:30: Standard Candy
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind The Barn 
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Bobby Bare: Detroit City
Jimmy Dean: Drinking From My Saucer

8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): No Fair Falling In Love
Charlie Louvin: In The Cross
Del Reeves: Bells of Southern Bell
Sweet Adelines: Who Will Pay
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Cherokee Shuffle
Bill Anderson: Po' Folks

8:30: Physicians Mutual
Johnny Russell (host): Truck Driving Man
Charlie Walker: There's A Star-Spangled Banner Waving
The 4 Guys: In My Tennessee Mountain Home
Lari White: You Can't Go Home Again
Stu Phillips: Only God
Johnny Russell: Act Naturally

2nd show
9:30: Opry Book
Porter Wagoner (host): Opry Book
Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away
Jan Howard: Oh, Lonesome Me
Billy Grammer: Unknown Soldier
Leroy Van Dyke: Auctioneer
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home
Porter Wagoner & Christie Lynn: Milwaukee, Here I Come

10:00: Lincoln Mercury
Jimmy C Newman (host): La Cajun Band
Skeeter Davis: I Can Call Jesus Anytime
Jimmy C Newman: Cochon De Lait/Tex-A-Cajun

10:15: Banquet
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take An Old Cold Tater
Bobby Bare: Marie Laveau
Jimmy Dickens: Another Bridge To Burn

10:30: Epiphone Guitar
Bill Anderson (host): Did She Mention My Name
Sweet Adelines: Who Will Buy
Bill Anderson: The Paper

10:45: Joggin In A Jug
Charlie Walker (host): San Antonio Rose
Jeanne Pruett: Temporarily Yours
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Durang's Hornpipe
Charlie Walker: There's A Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere

11:00: Coca Cola
The 4 Guys (host): Walking With My Baby By The San Francisco Bay
Lari White: Take Me/You Can't Go Home Again
Jack Greene: Over There
Stu Phillips: Great El Tigre
The 4 Guys: Amazing Grace

11:30: Opry Book
Johnny Russell (host): Folsom Prison Blues
Del Reeves: You Comb Her Hair/Hound Dog
The Whites: Doing It By The Book

The 7:30 portion, where Jimmy was honored, was televised by TNN. In addition to his good friends Bobby Bare and Jimmy Dean, who both performed on the show, Carl Smith and Waylon Jennings were both backstage and there was also a report that Garth Brooks also attended. 

In addition, Grand Ole Opry members gave Jimmy a custom-made Gibson guitar and Tennessee Governor Don Sundquist proclaimed Saturday as "Little Jimmy Dickens" day in Tennessee. 

I know it bugged a lot of people, including some members of the Opry, that later in Jimmy's career, that it was stated that Jimmy had been a member of the Opry for over 60 years, which was not the case. Eventually the introduction was switched to say that he first joined the Opry in 1948. 

That takes nothing away from the career that Jimmy had. His most popular songs included, starting in 1949, "Take An Old Cold Tater," Country Boy," "Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed," "Hillbilly Fever," "Out Behind the Barn," "We Could," "Family Reunion," and "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose." That last song was released in 1965 and was the only No. 1 single of his career. 

Jimmy Dickens was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1983, and it was well deserved. 

That takes care of it for this weekend. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend. 

Mid-Week Opry Shows

Now that the Grand Ole Opry birthday month has concluded, the Opry is back to a more normal schedule this week with just two shows on the calendar, the Tuesday Night Opry and Thursday's Opry Country Classics. For November, the Wednesday and Sunday night shows are off the schedule. 

Taking a look at the Tuesday Night Opry, Opry members Rhonda Vincent, Don Schlitz and Chris Janson are on the schedule. Bluegrass group Sister Sadie returns, along with Madeline Edwards and making his Opry debut, Gareth. 

Tuesday November 4
7:00: Rhonda Vincent, Gareth, Madeline Edwards
Intermission
8:20: Sister Sadie, Don Schlitz, Chris Janson

Opry Country Classics on Thursday Night will be hosted by Larry Gatlin and The Kentucky Headhunters will be the Spotlight Artist. 

Thursday November 6
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: The Kentucky Headhunters
Also Appearing: Gatlin Brothers, Tony Jackson, Linda Davis, Charlie McCoy

Grand Ole Opry 10/31 & 11/1

Friday night marks the end of the Grand Ole Opry's 100th birthday month. And what a month it was! During the Friday Night Opry on October 3, Garth Brooks made a surprise appearance as he celebrated his 35th year as an Opry member. Then the following weekend, Kathy Mattea was inducted as the Opry's newest member, and not only that, but Kathy surprised her good friend Suzy Bogguss with an invitation to become an Opry member. 

The third weekend of the month saw the Opry honor Roy Acuff and Minnie Pearl, with a show that featured the return of Patty Loveless to the Opry stage. Finally, last weekend, the annual Opry Goes Pink show took place with Amy Grant doing the honors of lighting up the Opry backdrop, and Carrie Underwood appearing. 

Other highlights of the month included WSM's 100th anniversary on October 5, Sabrina Carpenter making her Opry debut on October 7, with Connie Smith being honored upon her 60th year as a member of the Opry on October 8.

All in all, it was a spectacular month and there is more to come in November as James Taylor will be making his Opry debut on November 11 and of course, the big night on Friday November 28 when the Opry celebrates its 100th anniversary with two shows that night. Thus far 24 Opry members, along with one future Opry member (Suzy Bogguss) are on the schedule with hopefully a few more to come. It promises to be a long historic night. 

As the Grand Ole Opry finishes up the month of October, the Friday Night Opry has Opry members T. Graham Brown, The Whites, Connie Smith, Gene Watson and Riders In The Sky on the schedule. Taylor Hicks is back for another Opry appearance, as are Breanna Nix, Elizabeth Cook, who it appears has made the most Opry appearances of any non-member, and the Opry debut of Hannah McFarland. 

Friday October 31
7:00: T. Graham Brown, The Whites, Breanna Nix, Connie Smith, Taylor Hicks
Intermission
8:20: Elizabeth Cook, Gene Watson, Hannah McFarland, Riders In The Sky

Hannah McFarland is signed to The CoreRecords/Capital Records and was named to Pandora’s 2025 Artists To Watch-Country list. She released her debut EP Broken Hearts in February 2025 and quickly landed on coveted lists like New Music Friday from NPR’s All Songs Considered. Hailed by Holler. as “one of country music’s quiet geniuses,” She also appeared on Hits Daily Double’s New & Developing Artists round-up, joining the ranks of past honorees like Luke Combs and Chris Stapleton. Regarding her Opry debut, Hannah said “I wrote a bucket list of my biggest dreams as a kid, and leading at No. 1 was playing the Grand Ole Opry,” McFarland says. “I couldn’t be more grateful to have been asked to make my debut. It feels surreal to have something I’ve been praying and working hard for finally happening, and I can’t wait to take in every second I have in the circle.”

Now turning the page to November and taking a look at Saturday night, Opry members Riders In The Sky are back to make it a two-show weekend, joined by John Conlee and Don Schlitz. Louise Mandrell is back for another Opry visit, along with Louis York, Ben Rector, Walker Montgomery and making her Opry debut, Elizabeth Nichols. 

Saturday November 1
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Riders In The Sky, Walker Montgomery, Elizabeth Nichols, Louis York
Intermission
8:20: John Conlee, Louise Mandrell, Opry Square Dancers, Ben Rector, Don Schlitz

Elizabeth Nichols was surprised by Waylon Wyatt with an invitation to make her Opry debut during a recent sold-out show at The Basement East. The singer/songwriter has only been in Nashville for a short time. In June she released her debut EP Tough Love and has followed that up with several new releases. She continues to write with plans to record new music. 

This week, the Grand Ole Opry spotlight remembers Holly Dunn, who made her last Grand Ole Opry appearance on November 1, 2003. 

Holly Dunn was born on August 22, 1957 in San Antonio, Teas. She sang with bands in high school and college before moving to Nashville after graduating from Abilene Christian University. Known as a singer/songwriter, during the 80s and 90s, she released 10 albums, and she had 19 singles that reached the Hot Country Songs Charts. 

She had her first Top 10 hit in 1986 with "Daddy's Hands," which reached No. 7 on the country charts. With the release of her second album, "Cornerstone," she had three Top 10 hits in succession: "Love Somebody Like Me," "Only When I Love," and "Strangers Again." 

After signing with Warner Bros. Records in 1989, she reached No. 1 with "Are You Ever Gonna Love Me" and in 1990 with "You Really Had Me Going." In 1991, she released her first greatest hits package, Milestones: Greatest Hits. It included the new release "Maybe I Mean Yes", which became controversial due to some listeners with Holly asking that radio stations no longer play the song. 

Later, she joined country music radio station WWWW in Detroit, Michigan, as morning show co-host. It was not her first time behind the radio mike, as she had served as a DJ during her college years. However, the decision forced her to give up touring for a time. Later, she co-hosted Opry Backstage on the Nashville Network in 1999–2002.

In 2003, she retired from her music career to pursue her passion for creating art. Her website is still active and features examples of her artwork. Her final album "Full Circle" featured gospel music. 

Holly was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in March 2016 and passed away on November 15, 2016.

Here is the running order from Saturday November 1, 2003, the night Holly Dunn appeared on the Grand Ole Opry for the final time: 

6:30: Tennessee Pride
Porter Wagoner (host): I'm Gonna Act Right
The Whites: Keep On The Sunny Side
Osborne Brothers: My Favorite Memory/Rocky Top
Jean Shepard: A Phone Call Away
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home
Porter Wagoner & Penny DeHaven: Milwaukee, Here I Come

7:00: Rutledge Hill Press/Standard Candy
Sara Evans: (?)
Jimmy Dickens: Me & My Big Loud Mouth/Out Behind The Barn
III Tyme Out: (?)/Rocked On The Deep/A Phone Call Away
Sara Evans: Perfect/On The Back Seat of A Greyhound Bus/
Buddy Jewell: (?)Help Pour Out The Rain/Abilene On Her Mind

8:00: Martha White
Jeannie Seely (host): Pride
Holly Dunn: Daddy's Hands
Pat Boone: Love Letters In The Sand/Under God
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Cherokee Shuffle
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me

8:30: Tootsie's
Bill Anderson (host): Wild Weekend
Jim Ed Brown: The Old Lamplighter
Mandy Barnett: Mansion On The Hill
Brad Paisley: Happy Birthday Bill/Celebrity
Bill Anderson: Still

2nd show
9:30: Coca Cola
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleepin' At The Foot of The Bed
The Whites: Pins & Needles/Keep On The Sunny Side
Mel McDaniel: Louisiana Saturday Night/Stand Up
Jimmy Dickens: What Will I Do Then

10:00: Country Music Hall of Fame
Jim Ed Brown (host): Southern Loving
Osborne Brothers: Fastest Grass Alive/Rocky Top
Sara Evans: Perfect/Suds In The Bucket
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells

10:30: Dream Works
Jean Shepard (host): Second Fiddle
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain/Cross The Brazos At Waco
Buddy Jewell: Sweet Southern Comfort/Help Pour Out The Rain
Jean Shepard: Slippin' Away
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: (?)

11:00: Cingular Wireless
Bill Anderson (host): I Love You Drops
III Tyme Out: (?)/The Moundville Pen
Pat Boone: Love Letters In The Sand/Under Bod
Bill Anderson: Happy Birthday To Me

11:30: Merle Haggard CD
Jeannie Seely (host): Burning That Old Memory
Ray Pillow: I Wonder Who's Missing You Now
Holly Dunn: You Really Had Me Going
Mandy Barnette: No One Will Ever Know/Who Could It Be
Jeannie Seely & Danny Davis: Today I Started Loving You Again

Brad Paisley was a surprise guest that night as it was Bill Anderson's birthday and Brad came out to honor Bill. The legendary Pat Boone was also on the schedule, as were future Opry members Sara Evans and Mandy Barnett. 

Holly Dunn joined the Grand Ole Opry on October 14, 1989, and she was a popular choice, and a popular member of the Opry cast. However, after Holly retired from the music industry and moved to New Mexico, Opry general manager Pete Fisher made the decision to terminate Holly's Opry membership. 

“I had really participated as a younger member,” Holly Dunn told the The 9513.com in February of 2010 in one of their Where Are The Now? segments. “I hosted the TV show and backstage show for two years. I was Bill Anderson’s substitute host when he couldn’t be there. And I did commercials for them and radio for them. I loved the Opry and what it stood and stands for.”

But that love was not reciprocated. No longer living in Nashville, but still willing to keep up with her Opry commitments, Holly Dunn received word that she had been removed as a member.

“I have some amazing memories. I wish there was a way, though — just to make a suggestion to them — to keep a list of folks that were members in the past,” she said. “This whole total expunging you from the list is sort of a little harsh, I think. There are people on that list that I know for a fact might make it once a year if they’re lucky. It’s a little subjective. That’s my only gripe.”

(The quotes are from an article on Saving Country Music, a site that I highly recommend) 

As I wrote, there was really no excuse in firing Holly as there were numerous Opry members who went years between Opry appearances. Yet, they kept, and continue to keep, their Opry membership. There has been some behind the scenes speculation and rumors as to why she was fired, but I will leave it at that. 

That takes care of it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend. 

Mid-Week Opry Shows

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is on their farewell tour and on Tuesday night, the iconic group will be making an appearance on the Tuesday Night Opry. And while they may not be in the same class as the Dirt Band, The Forrester Sisters will also be appearing. Rounding out the lineup are Opry members Dailey & Vincent, comedian Brian Bates, Braxton Keith, Hailey Whitters and the newest sensation in country music, John Foster. 

Tuesday October 28
7:00: Dailey & Vincent, Braxton Keith, The Forrester Sisters, John Foster
Intermission
8:20: Hailey Whitters, Brian Bates, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

The Wednesday Night Opry will feature Opry members Mandy Barnett and Charlie McCoy. Maggie Rose, Chase Matthew and Chancy Williams are guesting. The final act on the Wednesday schedule is Jesse James Decker & Jana Kramer. I'll be honest: I have seen Jesse James Decker on the Opry a couple of times, and I can't say that I am excited to see her back on the Opry schedule. 

Wednesday October 29
7:00: Mandy Barnett, Colin Stough, Lindsey Stirling, Maggie Rose
Intermission
8:20: Chancey Williams, Jessie James Decker & Jana Kramer, Chase Matthew, Charlie McCoy

Finally, Opry Country Classics is back on Thursday night. Larry Gatlin will be the host and Trace Adkins is the Spotlight Artist. Rounding out that lineup are The Gatlin Brothers, Erin Enderlin and Sister Sadie. 

Thursday October 30
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Trace Adkins
Also Appearing: Gatlin Brothers, Erin Enderlin, Bryce Leatherwood, Sister Sadie

Grand Ole Opry 10/25 & 10/26

It's the final full weekend in October as the Grand Ole Opry will be closing out the last full weekend of Opry 100 birthday shows. There will be two shows each night as Grand Ole Opry member Carrie Underwood is back for both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. 

The shows this weekend will bring Carrie's number of Opry appearances up to 10 for the year, plus the NBC 100th anniversary show in March. Once again, and it should really be no surprise, Carrie sets the example for her contemporaries who can't seem to find their way to the Opry House door. 

Joining Carrie on the Friday Night Opry are Opry members T. Graham Brown, Connie Smith and Don Schlitz. Charles Esten continues to add to his list of guest appearances, as he is on the schedule, as is Junior Brown and making his Opry debut, Preston Cooper. 

Friday October 24
1st show
7:00: T. Graham Brown, Connie Smith, Preston Cooper, Junior Brown
8:00: Charles Esten, Don Schlitz, Carrie Underwood

2nd show
9:30: T. Graham Brown, Preston Cooper, Connie Smith, Carrie Underwood
10:30: Junior Brown, Charles Esten, Don Schlitz

On Saturday night, one of the highlights each year on the Grand Ole Opry's calendar is the annual Opry Goes Pink show, when the Opry joins together with Susan G. Komen in the fight against breast cancer. This year, it will be Amy Grant flipping the switch at the start of the show that will turn the barn backdrop pink for the night. In recognition of the night, a portion of every ticket sold will be donated to the Susan G. Komen foundation. 

Joining Carrie on the Saturday night shows are members The Whites, Riders In The Sky, Mandy Barnett and The Isaacs. Guesting, in addition to Amy Grant, is Sophia Scott. 

Saturday October 25
1st show
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Amy Grant, The Whites, Sophia Scott, Riders In The Sky
8:00: Mandy Barnett, The Isaacs, Carrie Underwood

2nd show
9:30: Opry Square Dancers, Amy Grant, The Whites, Carrie Underwood
10:30: Riders In The Sky, Sophia Scott, Mandy Barnett, The Isaacs

Overall, the Opry shows in October have been outstanding and this weekend is no exception. 

Taking a look back, it was 22 years ago on Saturday October 25, 2003, that Del McCoury became a member of the Grand Ole Opry: 

The invitation to Del to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry took place earlier in the month, on October 2. Here is the article from the Tennessean the following day: 

Del McCoury, who first performed on the Grand Ole Opry as the guitarist for Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, was asked last night to become the next cast member of the venerable radio show. The surprise invitation came during the International Bluegrass Music Assocation's annual awards show, at which McCoury and his Del McCoury Band won the Entertainer of the Year category for the eighth time in nine years. 

As he accepted his award, Opry members and bluegrass stalwarts Sonny Osborne and Ricky Skaggs walked onstage next to McCoury. "We want to know what you might be doing October 25th," Skaggs said. Flummoxed for a moment, McCoury hesitated. Osborne broke in" We'd like to ask you a very important question. How would you like to maybe, on October 25th, become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry?"

A standing ovation precluded any attempt by McCoury to immediately answer the question. Later he managed to say, "I'm so honored to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry." 

Since its birth in 1925, the Opry has aired on Nashville station WSM-AM 650. The bluegrass genre's first Opry star was Monroe himself, under who McCoury apprenticed in 1963 and 1964. McCoury's music has grown popular lately beyond the bluegrass world, as his high, keening voice has been heard at in places such as the "jam-band" oriented Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tenn. "We've been trying to take our music to other venues and kind of cross musical lines," McCoury said. 

Now here is the running order from Saturday October 25, 2003, the night Del McCoury officially became a member of the Grand Ole Opry: 

1st show
6:30: Tennessee Pride
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind The Barn
The Whites: Hangin' Around
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells
Jimmy Dickens: Mountain Dew

7:00: WSMonline.com/Standard Candy
Emerson Drive: Dreaming About You/Waiting On Me
George Hamilton IV: Truck Driving Man (host)
Rodney Atkins: My Old Man/Honesty
Del McCoury Band: 1952 Vincent White Lightening/Hillcrest Drive
Del McCoury & Patty Loveless: I'm Working On A Building
George Hamilton IV: Abilene

8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Sugarfoot Rag
Jimmy C Newman: Allons Ah Lafayette
Jean Shepard: Slippin' Away
Mel McDaniel: Louisiana Saturday Night/Stand Up
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Snowflake Reel
Porter Wagoner: Suppertime

8:30: Tootsie's
Mike Snider (host): Shuckin' The Corn
Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away
Connie Smith: Darling, Are You Ever Coming Home
Hal Ketchum: Waiting Redemption/Stay Forever
Mike Snider: If My Nose Was Runnin' Money

2nd show
9:30: Coca Cola
Jimmy Dickens (host): Me & My Big Loud Mouth
The Whites: Making Believe/Swing Down Chariot
Mel McDaniel: Louisiana Saturday Night/Stand Up
Jimmy Dickens: I'd Rather Sleep In Peace

10:00: Caribbean Cruise
Porter Wagoner (host): Company's Comin'
Jan Howard: The One I Slip Around With
Jeannie Seely: When He Leaves You
Emerson Drive: Fall Into Me/Fishing In The Dark
Porter Wagoner: I've Enjoyed As Much Of This As I Can Stand

10:30: Dreamworks
Hal Ketchum (host): Without Your Love
Stu Phillips: If Loving You Means Anything
Connie Smith: I'll Come Runnin' To You/You've Got Me Right Where You Want Me
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Whiskey Before Breakfast
Hal Ketchum: It's A 5 O'clock World 

11:00: Cingular Wireless
Jean Shepard (host): Gone, Gone, Gone
Billy Walker: Word Games
Jimmy C Newman: Diggy Liggy Lo/Cajun Stripper
Del McCoury Band: I'll Dry My Tears/A Cheap Love Affair
Jean Shepard: Together Again

11:30: 
Mike Snider (host): Acorn Hill/Crazy Creek
Rodney Atkins: My Old Man/Honesty
Jack Greene: Walking The Floor Over You/Night Live
Mike Snider: Snuff Dipper

Patty Loveless was a surprise guest that night and did the formal induction of Del as an Opry member. 

Over the past couple of decades, Del has been a fine Opry member, making regular appearances on the Opry and has always been well received. 

Finally, there is a Sunday Night Opry that will feature Opry members Steven Curtis Chapman, Riders In The Sky and Don Schlitz. Guesting are The Castellows, The Cleverlys, Evan Honer and Austin Snell. 

There you have it for this week as the Grand Ole Opry closes out the month of October. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys Carrie Underwood at the Opry this weekend. 

Mid-Week Opry Shows

It's another full week of Grand Ole Opry shows beginning with the Tuesday Night Opry, which is being called "Opry Country Heat Takeover." 

On Tuesday night, Amazon Music’s Country Heat and the Grand Ole Opry unite for a special takeover livestream. The show features live performances from Country Heat artists, exclusive interviews during a 20-minute intermission, and the iconic Opry stage reimagined with bold orange branding. Stream it live on Prime Video and Twitch.

Grand Ole Opry members Lainey Wilson and Lauren Alaina are on the schedule, with Gabby Barrett, Dan & Shay, Russell Dickerson, Carter Faith and Noeline Hofmann rounding out the schedule. 

Tuesday October 21
7:00: Lauren Alaina, Russell Dickerson, Noeline Hofmann, Carter Faith
Intermission
8:20: Gabby Barrett, Dan + Shay, Lainey Wilson 

Taking a look at the Wednesday Night Opry, Opry members Dustin Lynn, T. Graham Brown, Rhonda Vincent and Charlie McCoy are listed. Darci Lynne will be making a return appearance, along with Restless Road, Jack Schneider and making her Opry debut, Sacha. 

Wednesday October 22
7:00: Rhonda Vincent, T. Graham Brown, Sacha, Restless Road
Intermission
8:20: Jack Schneider, Darci Lynn, Charlie McCoy, Dustin Lynch

Finally, Opry Country Classics returns on Thursday night. Larry Gatlin is back as the host, with his brothers, Steve and Rudy, joining him. Also appearing are The Bellamy Brothers, Gene Watson, The Grascals and Wendy Moten.