November Opry Highlights

November is another busy month for the Grand Ole Opry and here are the moments that have defined the month through the history of the Opry: 

November 9, 1895: The man who started it all, George D. Hay was born on this date in Attica, Indiana. A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, he came to Nashville and WSM in 1925 and in November of that year started the WSM Barn Dance, later to be named the Grand Ole Opry. As his influence at WSM and the Opry declined as the years went on, he would eventually leave Nashville and move to Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he passed away in 1968.

November 11, 1899: Kirk McGee, one of the Opry's original performers, was born in Franklin, Tennessee. Kirk, along with his brother Sam, would perform on the Opry with a variety of performers and often backed up the square dancers. After Sam's death, Kirk continued at the Opry, appearing solo and as a member of The Fruit Jar Drinkers. Kirk would remain with the Opry until his death in 1983.

November 28, 1912: Early Grand Ole Opry member Robert Lunn was born in Franklin, Tennessee. He was nicknamed the "Original Talking Blues Man." Robert first appeared on the Grand Ole Opry on March 31, 1934, and he stayed with the Opry until he retired in 1958. What is interesting is that he was known for his "Talking Blues" yet he never recorded the song until 1947. He was very popular and did many early Opry tent shows, often appearing with Roy Acuff.

November 6, 1925: Uncle Dave Macon, Sid Harkreader and Dr. Humphrey Bate performed a show at the Ryman Auditorium that was broadcast on WSM radio. This is considered the first country music concert to have been broadcast on WSM and actually predates the Opry. 

November 9, 1925: George D. Hay began working at WSM radio in Nashville, with the title of "Radio Director." Later in the month, he would put Uncle Jimmy Thompson in front of a WSM microphone on a Saturday night, which was the beginning of the WSM Barn Dance, later renamed the Grand Ole Opry.

November 28, 1925: At 8:00 p.m. and originating from the fifth-floor studio at the National Life and Accident Insurance Company's headquarters in downtown Nashville, George D. Hay stepped up to a microphone and introduced Uncle Jimmy Thompson on WSM radio. This is considered as the birth of the Grand Ole Opry. The first tune played by Uncle Jimmy was "Tennessee Wagoner," after which Uncle Jimmy continued for the next hour. The show resulted in a number of letters being sent to WSM and encouraged George D. Hay to carry on the following week. He did and the Opry has continued for 101 years. 

November 2, 1926: Former Grand Ole Opry member Charlie Walker was born in Texas. This former disc jockey joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1967 and would remain a member of the Opry until his death in 2008. Each of the occasions that I had the opportunity to speak to Charlie; I always found him friendly and interesting.

November 30, 1931: Teddy Wilburn was born. Teddy, along with his brother Doyle, were longtime members of the Grand Ole Opry. After Doyle's death, Teddy remained as a solo artist on the Opry, until his death in 2003. There are many who make the argument that the Wilburn Brothers deserve a spot in the Country Music Hall of Fame, and I can't say that I disagree with them. They have been finalists' numerous times but just can't seem to get over the hump. 

November 1, 1937: Grand Ole Opry member Bill Anderson was born. Bill became an Opry member in 1961 and is still an active member today. Not only has the Country Music Hall of Fame member have numerous hit records to his credit, but he is also considered one of the great songwriters in the history of country music and this past year he was elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Bill, who will be 89 this year has been an Opry member for over 65 years, more than any other member in the history of the Opry. 

November 30, 1940: Minnie Pearl made her Grand Ole Opry debut. Minnie would become one of the most beloved members in the history of the Grand Ole Opry and would be an Opry member for over 50 years.

November 2, 1948: Roy Acuff was defeated in his campaign to become the Governor of Tennessee. While Roy would remain a big supporter of Republican candidates, Roy himself would never run for public office again. Roy's campaign mixed country music and politics. He would usually start off his appearances with music, then get into the political speeches. By then, most of the crowd would begin to filter out. 

November 6, 1948: While official records are many times hard to come by it would appear that this was the date that Jimmy Dickens first became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Jimmy was an Opry member until leaving in 1957; however, he returned to the cast in 1975. Jimmy then stayed with the Opry until his death in January 2015. When you add it all up, he was an Opry member for just over 49 years. Known primarily for his comedy and silly songs, Jimmy was also one of the best ballad singers during his time. 

November 13, 1949: The Grand Ole Opry sponsored its first overseas tour, as a group of Opry performers traveled to England, Germany and the Azores as part of a USO sponsored tour. Among the Opry stars making the trip were Roy Acuff, Rod Brasfield, Jimmy Dickens, Red Foley, Minnie Pearl and Hank Williams.

November 22, 1952: The first Country Music Disc Jockey convention took place in Nashville. Among the activities that took place was the Grand Ole Opry birthday celebration, the first time a formal event was held to recognize the Opry's anniversary. The DJ convention would continue to grow, eventually growing into such events as Country Music Month and Fan Fair. While the DJ meetings would move to February, the Opry still celebrates his birthday/anniversary each fall, now usually taking place the first or second weekend in October.

November 13, 1953: Del Wood became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Del was known for her ragtime piano playing, and her #1 record, "Down Yonder." Del would remain as a member until her death in October 1989.

November 14, 1953: Bill Carlisle joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. Bill was an Opry member for just over 49 years, until passing away on March 17, 2003, the same year that he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. At times, Bill, along with his daughter Sheila and son Bill, Jr., would be listed on the Opry program as The Carlisles. 

November 28, 1953: Future Grand Ole Opry member Hank Locklin made his first guest appearance on the show. 

November 19, 1954: After returning to Nashville from the Army, Faron Young made his first Opry appearance on the Friday Night Frolics. Faron would eventually join the Opry, staying until being fired in 1964 for failing to make the required number of yearly appearances. While he would come back to make guest appearances, he would not rejoin the cast. 

November 20, 1954: Western singer and television star Gene Autry made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Gene, who was one of the early members elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, was based out west and didn't venture to Nashville very often. He was on the Prince Albert portion that night and of course sang "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer." 

November 21, 1955: Jean Shepard became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Jean, who passed away in 2016, was an Opry member for over 60 years, the first female to achieve that accomplishment. Not only was November 21 the date that Jean joined the Opry, but it was also her birthday and wedding anniversary. It should be noted that after Jean joined the Opry in 1955, she never left.

November 3, 1956: The great Stonewall Jackson originally joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. While it is now over 65 years since Stonewall originally joined, it should be noted that Stonewall was fired from the Opry in 1964 for failing to make the required number of annual appearances. He rejoined the cast in 1969. Stonewall's last appearance on the Opry was several years ago when he was recognized upon his 60th anniversary of joining the Opry. Sadly, Stonewall had some serious health problems later in his life and passed away in December 2021. And yes, even with his time away from the Opry, Stonewall made it to 60 years as an Opry member. 

November 10, 1956: The Wilburn Brothers, Teddy and Doyle, became official members of the Grand Ole Opry. Teddy and Doyle, along with other family members, originally came to the Opry in the 1940s, however due to child labor laws, they were sent packing. Thankfully, with the help of Roy Acuff and Webb Pierce, the brothers returned and became one of the most successful brothers acts in the history of country music.

November 9, 1960; Hank Locklin accepted an invitation to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Hank had made his first Opry guest appearance on November 28, 1953. Over the years, he would continue to guest until finally becoming an Opry member. Hank would remain an Opry member until his death in March 2009, 6 month short of 50 years as an Opry member. (Hank's first actual appearance as a member would take place on November 12. 

November 3, 1961: The Country Music Association announced the first class of inductees to the new Country Music Hall of Fame. In that first class were Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose and Hank Williams. Roy Acuff would join that group the following year to become the first living inductee into the Hall.

November 25, 1961: Former Grand Ole Opry announcer, and WSM air personality, Eddie Stubbs was born in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Before joining WSM, Eddie was a fiddle player with the Johnson Mountain Boys, and then later he was a part of Kitty Wells' band. Eddie retired from WSM in 2020 and has apparently left Nashville behind in his rear-view mirror. 

November 29, 1961: A group of Opry members, which included Jim Reeves, Marty Robbins, Bill Monroe, Patsy Cline and Grandpa Jones, performed before a sold-out audience at Carnegie Hall in New York.

November 7, 1964: Minnie Pearl performed on the Grand Ole Opry for the final time before taking a leave of absence from the show. If not for taking the leave, Minnie would have been dismissed from the Opry the following month as part of the Purge of 1964. Minnie was just so busy traveling and doing television shows that she wasn't around Nashville all that often. Minnie would return to the Opry on February 12, 1966.

November 28, 1964: Willie Nelson became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Willie was an Opry member for just several years, as Nashville was tough on him and he eventually left Music City, returning to his native Texas and reinventing his career. While at the Opry, Willie would constantly complain about the low pay and having to give up every Saturday night to be there. Since leaving the Opry, Willie has been back a few times, but not many. 

November 25, 1965: Leroy Van Dyke was fired/suspended as a member of the Grand Ole Opry for failing to meet the Opry's attendance requirements. Leroy had joined the Opry's cast a few years earlier. While Leroy never returned as an Opry member, he has made many guest appearances on the show. According to people I have spoken to over the years, Leroy still feels that he should be considered an Opry member. 

November 25, 1967: Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton performed on the Grand Ole Opry together for the first time. Dolly's first Opry appearance since 1959 was the previous month, however on that show, Porter and Dolly did not do a duet. The song they performed that night was "The Last Thing on My Mind." While not an Opry member at the time, Dolly would join the cast in January 1969.

November 23, 1968: Tennessee native, Dinah Shore, made a surprise guest appearance on the Opry. While she was born in Tennessee, Dinah found success during the Big Band period of the 40s and was one of the top vocalists of that decade. 

November 20, 1968: While not specific to the Grand Ole Opry, the first televised Country Music Association Awards show was televised on NBC. While the awards started in 1966, it took several years to find a network interested in airing it. The show was televised from the Ryman Auditorium with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans as the hosts. As a side note, the show was taped and played at a later date as network executives were not sure how the country performers would act on live television. 

November 12, 1971: Construction officially started on the new Grand Ole Opry House at Opryland USA. It was a massive project, taking until March 1974 to complete. While there were initial worries about the Opry leaving downtown and the Ryman Auditorium, the Opry has done just fine in its new home.

November 27, 1971: Grand Ole Opry member Margie Bowes made her final appearance as a member of the Grand Ole Opry cast. Margie, who came to the Opry in the late 1950s, would return a couple of times for guest appearances but when she left the Opry, she basically moved away from the music business. Margie passed away in October 2020.

November 10, 1973: David Akeman, known professionally as Stringbean, made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Later that night, when he and his wife Estelle returned home, they were ambushed and murdered by two men who were waiting in their home to rob them. The bodies were found the following morning by their neighbor and good friend, Grandpa Jones, who had come to pick up Stringbean for a fishing trip. Nashville, and the Opry, was shaken by the murders, with many Opry members, led by Roy Acuff, calling for the death penalty. Grandpa Jones left Nashville for a number of years, moving to Arkansas and opening his own dinner theater. The killers were quickly caught and convicted. One died in prison and the other is out on parole.

November 11, 1975: The Grand Ole Opry's 50th anniversary special was aired on ABC-TV. The show featured a number of the Opry's stars, along with guest appearances by a number of others. 

November 24, 1975: One of the Opry's early members, Asher Sizemore, passed away at the age of 69. Asher appeared on the Opry with his son, known as "Little Jimmie." While there is some confusion as to when they started on the Opry, the date appears to be September 24, 1932. They were on the Opry for most of the 1930s, leaving the Opry in 1942. Years after they left the Opry, the pair would continue to perform on various radio stations, primarily in the Midwest.

November 29, 1975: This would appear to be the final date that Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton performed on the Opry together. While they would both be scheduled to work the show, they would appear on separate segments. The popular duo would not get back together again until the night of Roy Acuff's 50th anniversary as an Opry member in February 1988. 

November 11, 1977: Future Grand Ole Opry members Riders In The Sky made their debut appearance on the Opry, bringing the sound of Western music back to the Opry stage. The would join the cast several years later. 

November 1, 1978: Tanya Tucker made a guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Tanya, who was 20 at the time, had made several previous appearances on the Opry and was well received. However, on this particular night, from those who were there, she sang more rock than country, which disappointed those who were there. 

November 18, 1978: Grand Ole Opry member Del Wood was recognized upon her 25th anniversary as a member of the Opry's cast. Del, known as the "Queen of the 88's" was one of the few instrumentalists to have recorded a No. 1 record. 

November 5, 1983: Glen Campbell made his first guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. He performed a melody of his hits.

November 21, 1985: Reba McEntire officially became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Reba had actually joined the show earlier when she was asked to join during a taping of the Opry's 60th anniversary show. Since the show was taped for later broadcast, news of her Opry membership was kept under wraps. Reba, whose Opry appearances have become few and far between, has been an Opry member for 41 years. 

November 3, 1990: Minnie Pearl was honored as an Opry member for 50 years. She joined the cast in 1940. As a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, this comedian is considered one of the great stars in the history of the Grand Ole Opry. As part of the celebration, Dwight Yoakam sent 50 dozen roses to Minnie. 

November 15, 1992: The Grand Ole Opry radio program was inducted into the Museum of Broadcast Communication's Hall of Fame.

November 23, 1992: Grand Ole Opry member Roy Acuff passed away in Nashville, just one month after his final appearance on the Opry. His influence at the Opry, and with country music in general, cannot be overstated. Thanks in large part to Acuff-Rose Publishing, Nashville became the home of country music. Roy was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for over 50 years, and for many years he was the Opry's most popular member. There are many who feel that his death was the first nail in the coffin that had led to the many changes that have taken place at the Opry over the past several decades.

November 28, 1992: Marty Stuart became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be Marty's 34th year as an Opry member. Marty joined the Opry's cast the week after Roy Acuff passed away and I thought Marty would be great addition to the Opry. Sadly, Marty seems to have gone in a different direction, and he doesn't appear as often as many would like. On a happier note, it was announced in 2020 that Marty had been elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

November 27, 1993: Joe Diffie became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Sadly, Joe passed away in 2020 from Covid. He left us much too early. 

November 6, 1993: Grand Ole Opry member David Houston made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. David was a really good ballad singer. However, toward the end of his career, his voice was failing him. 

November 30, 1993: Just weeks after his final Opry appearance, David Houston passed away at the age of 57. David, who came to Nashville and the Opry from the Louisiana Hayride, had one of the biggest hits in the history of country music with "Almost Persuaded." David had joined the Opry in 1972. In addition to his solo career, David also toured and recorded with Barbara Mandrell. 

November 30, 1995: Martina McBride became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Martina joined during a CBS television special that celebrated the Opry's 70th anniversary. This will be her 31st year as an Opry member. Loretta Lynn, who Martina said was a big influence on her while she was learning the business, did the formal induction. Regarding Martina, I love this story that I have repeated several times: She actually appeared on the Opry as part of the 70th anniversary birthday bash that was televised by TNN. She was the last performer on the televised segment before the cake was to be brought out, along with the cast singing "Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry" which always concluded the televised segment. During her portion, she sang two ballads that ran long, causing the cake and singing to be delayed until the next segment, which was not televised. There were many unhappy viewers at home who missed this Opry tradition, and many unhappy Opry members, who missed the chance to be onstage during the televised segment. Martina was very upset afterwards, believing that her mistake on the timing of her songs, cost her a chance of becoming an Opry member, something she always dreamed of. She apologized to everyone she could fine that night, and dreams do come true as the following month, she became an Opry member. I really don't know what has happened to Martina, but she has not made an Opry appearance in years. 

November 23, 1996: Trace Adkins made his first appearance as a guest on the Opry. 7 years later, in August 2003, he would become an Opry member. Trace has told the story several times that on the night of his first appearance, Grandpa Jones, who was hosting the segment, forgot his name. Not unusual for Grandpa.

November 8, 1997: Johnny Paycheck became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. For Johnny, this came pretty late in his life, and after several years of trying to rebuild his image and career after some series legal issues that included prison. Johnny Russell did a lot of work behind the scenes to help Johnny become a member, convincing Opry management that Johnny had cleaned up his act. Sadly, Johnny became ill a few years after joining the show. On a side note, this was also the night that future Grand Ole Opry member Terri Clark made her Opry debut. 

November 7, 1998: Jimmy Dickens was honored for 50 years of Opry membership. Jimmy, who originally joined the Opry in 1948, was joined that night by Waylon Jennings, Bill Anderson, Carl Smith and Bobby Bare. Nashville also honored Jimmy by proclaiming the day as "Jimmy Dickens" day in the city. 

November 5, 1999: In a stunning move, Opry General Manager Pete Fisher announced a reorganization of the Opry Staff Band, which resulted a several of the band members being dismissed. Included in that list were Buddy Harman, Leon Rhodes, Joe Edwards, Ralph Davis and Ray Johnston. According to Pete Fisher, "After several months of observing what was going on with the staff band, I made a decision to restructure it, not only to achieve efficiency, but also to upgrade the quality so that we're providing the best service we can." Personally, I did not think there was any issue with the quality of the staff band and neither did Vince Gill, who was quoted as saying, "Leon Rhodes can play circles around most guitar players, and Buddy Harman can play circles around most drummers. The sad thing is, younger ain't better." It sure didn't take Pete Fisher long to begin making changes at the Opry. 

November 23, 2000: Dolly Parton and Vince Gill hosted a CBS televised special celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry. The special had been taped a week after the Opry's actual 75th celebration in October. 

November 24, 2000: Grand Ole Opry member Johnny Russell made his final appearance on the Friday Night Opry, thus ending his performing career as ill health forced his retirement. Johnny's final Saturday night appearance had taken place the previous week, on Saturday November 18. Johnny passed away several years later after a period of declining health.

November 8, 2002: The Grand Ole Opry was broadcast for the first time on Sirius satellite radio. For many, it was the first time that they were able to listen to an entire Opry show, while for others, it was the first time to enjoy the show without static.

November 23, 2002: Jim & Jesse McReynolds performed on the Opry for the final time. Jim McReynolds, who was in the final stages of an illness that would lead to his death on December 31, sang and played his guitar while sitting. The brothers had been Opry members since 1964.

November 30, 2002: Tim McGraw made his first guest appearance on the Opry. While never becoming an Opry member, Tim would appear on the Opry stage a few more times.

November 1, 2003: Grand Ole Opry member Holly Dunn made her final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Holly made the decision to give up her musical career and moved to New Mexico to pursue her passion as an artist. Sadly, and unlike a few other Opry members who retired from performing, Holly was fired as an Opry member several years later in a move that made absolutely no sense. 

November 17, 2003: Grand Ole Opry member Don Gibson passed away in Nashville. Don was one of the greatest songwriters in the history of country music and in 2001 he had been elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Don joined the Opry on May 20, 1958 but was fired in December 1964 for failing to meet the required number of Opry appearances. He rejoined the show several years later, but even after coming back, his appearances were few. His last Opry show was on March 16, 1996.

November 24, 2003: Grand Ole Opry member Teddy Wilburn passed away. Teddy had been in declining health and had not performed on the Opry in several years. He, along with his brother Doyle, joined the Opry's cast in the 1950s and were instrumental in the early career of Loretta Lynn. 

November 14, 2005: Following in the footsteps of Porter Wagoner, Trisha Yearwood rang the bell to open the trading day on the New York Stock Exchange in honor of the Opry's 80th anniversary. 

November 14, 2005: The Grand Ole Opry returned to Carnegie Hall in New York for just the 3rd time in its history, this time to promote the Opry's 80th anniversary. The show included performances by Trace Adkins, Bill Anderson, Jimmy Dickens, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Ricky Skaggs and Trisha Yearwood.

November 26, 2005: Grand Ole Opry member Jean Shepard was honored upon her 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Jean had joined the Opry's cast in November 1955. Sadly, Jean's recognition did not take place during the televised segment that evening. 

November 11, 2006: The Academy of Country Music presented its Pioneer Award to Little Jimmy Dickens during a Grand Ole Opry performance at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. The honor was announced six months prior.

November 18, 2006: Grand Ole Opry member Stonewall Jackson hosted the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree and was honored upon his 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Sadly, due to Stonewall's lawsuit against Gaylord and the Opry, he did not appear on the Opry to commemorate the occasion. 

November 24, 2006: Longtime Grand Ole Opry Staff Band member Jimmy "Spider" Wilson quit. He had been a member of the Staff Band for over 50 years and reportedly quite due to being kept off the televised portion of the Opry. 

November 2, 2007: Lady A (as they are now called) made their debut on the Grand Ole Opry. It would take a while but in 2021, the trio became members of the Grand Ole Opry, in an induction that took place during the Opry's 95th special. 

November 19, 2007: During Charlie Daniel's 11th annual Christmas For Kids benefit at the Ryman Auditorium, Opry member Martina McBride surprised Charlie on stage with an invitation to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Charlie, who passed away last year, always said that being an Opry member was one of the highest honors he had achieved in his life. 

November 8, 2008: Actor Kevin Costner and his country and western band, Modern West, performed on the Grand Ole Opry for the first time.

November 14, 2009: The Grand Ole Opry streamed part of its show on MySpace. The segment featured Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Jake Owen and Rodney Atkins. This was the first time that the Opry attempted a broadcast like this and despite numerous technical issues, the Opry considered it a success.

November 9, 2010: Grand Ole Opry member Charlie Louvin made his final Opry appearance, in a show that took place at the Ryman Auditorium. Charlie was an Opry member for over 50 years and like Jean Shepard, Charlie always made it a point of telling folks that once he joined the Opry with his brother Ira, he never left. For what it is worth, Jean made the same comments regarding Charlie. 

November 10, 2012: Charles Esten, star of the ABC-TV series "Nashville" made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Over the decade, Charles has appeared on the Opry almost 200 times. He has been the one star of the now cancelled series that continues to appear on the Opry. 

November 21, 2015: Jean Shepard celebrated her 60th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. She appeared in a segment hosted by Bill Anderson, her first Opry appearance in a year. During the show, she announced her retirement and this was Jean's final appearance on the Opry.

November 5, 2016: Grand Ole Opry member Stonewall Jackson was recognized and honored upon his 60th anniversary of when he first joined the Grand Ole Opry. This was also Stonewall's last appearance on the show.

November 15, 2016: During a guest appearance on the Tuesday Night Opry, Carrie Underwood surprised Crystal Gayle during a guest appearance, with an invitation to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Crystal's official induction took place the following January.

November 24, 2016: Former Grand Ole Opry member Holly Dunn passed away in New Mexico from ovarian cancer. Holly joined the Opry's cast in October 1989 and was a member of the Opry until she was fired in the 2000's, after leaving Nashville and moving to New Mexico. In addition to her Opry duties, Holly also was a regular host of the Opry Backstage show and hosted a radio show in Detroit for a time. 

November 19, 2017: Grand Ole Opry member, and Country Music Hall of Fame member, Mel Tillis passed away in Florida after an extended illness. Mel had joined the Opry in June 2007 after a very successful career as a singer, songwriter and actor.

November 15, 2018: Grand Ole Opry member Roy Clark passed away. The Country Music Hall of Fame member had joined the Opry's cast in 1987 and while he did not appear often, it was always a treat to see Roy on the Opry. 

November 6, 2020: The Friday Night Opry returned after being suspended in March due to the Covid pandemic. 

November 23, 2020: Grand Ole Opry member Hal Ketchum passed away after a period of declining health. Hal came to Nashville and the Opry via New York and always did an amazing job when performing on the show. 

November 2, 2021: Mandy Barnett became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Mandy had been surprised late in September with an invitation to join the cast, delivered by Connie Smith. Mandy had been a guest on the Opry hundreds of times, and her membership was well deserving and well received.

November 9, 2021: Future Grand Ole Opry member Jelly Roll made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Jelly Roll would continue to make guest appearances and became an Opry member in March 2026. 

November 1, 2024: Steven Curtis Chapman was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. 

November 28, 2025: The Grand Ole Opry celebrated its 100th anniversary with two shows on the Friday Night Opry. Over two dozen Opry members appeared on the shows that night to celebrate the historic occasion,

There you have it for this month. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. 

Grand Ole Opry 10/30 & 10/31

If it seems like The Oak Ridge Boys have been on the Opry quite often in 2026, you would be right as the quartet has appeared over 25 times this year. You can add two more appearances to the list as this weekend the group will be appearing on both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. 

Joining the group on Friday night are Opry members Riders In The Sky, The Whites and John Conlee. Saturday night, in addition to The Oaks, Bill Anderson returns, joined by Rhonda Vincent and Charlie McCoy. 

The non-members appearing on Friday night include gospel great Jason Crabb, Nate Smith, Trish Suhr and Chancey Williams. John Berry returns on Saturday night, along with MaRynn Taylor and John Wesley Rogers, who will be making his Opry debut. 

Saturday is Halloween. Once again, I will miss Jeannie Seely as she always had a way to make Halloween special. 

(I am sorry to post that once again, I do not have the running order for the shows this weekend. Hopefully this will be corrected, and I will once again be able to post the running order for the shows. Thanks for everyone's patience). 

Friday October 31, 1997 was one of those special nights at the Grand Ole Opry as former Opry member Kitty Wells returned to the Opry. The occasion was special as Kitty and her husband Johnny Wright were celebrating 60 years of marriage. 

From the Nashville Tennessean Friday October 31, 1997: 

Can you imagine waking up to the same person for 60 years? Kitty Wells and Johnny Wright celebrated their diamond anniversary Thursday, and Wells will add to the weekend's upbeat atmosphere by performing on the Grand Ole Opry both Friday and Saturday. Some 45 years ago, Wells became the first woman in country history to have a solo No. 1 record. It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels, an answer to Hank Thompson's The Wild Side of Life, spent six weeks at the top. Wells became the queen of country music and strung together 35 Top 10 hits, including Buck Owens-penned Mommy For A Day, the Harlan Howard written Heartbreak U.S.A., and Makin' Believe, which became a hit again for Emmylou Harris. Wells is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and a 1991 recipient of the Grammy's Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Here is the posted lineup for the Friday Night Opry, October 31, 1997:

7:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Oswald & Charlie, Jimmy C Newman, Connie Smith, Johnny Russell
8:00: Grandpa Jones (host): Bill Carlisle, Jeannie Seely, Hank Locklin
8:30: Bill Anderson (host): Kitty Wells, The Whites
9:00: Ricky Skaggs (host): Skeeter Davis, Mike Snider, The 4 Guys
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host): Charlie Walker, Jeanne Pruett, Ray Pillow, Del Reeves

As was mentioned in the Tennessean article, Kitty was scheduled for all three shows that weekend. Here is the posted lineup from the first show on Saturday November 1:

6:30: Grandpa Jones (host): Connie Smith
6:45: Jimmy Dickens (host): Bill Carlisle
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Jeanne Pruett, George Hamilton IV, Jimmy C Newman, The Whites
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host) Diamond Rio, Kitty Wells
8:00: Bill Anderson (host): Charlie Louvin, Johnny Russell, Del Reeves, Opry Square Dance Band, Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Ricky Skaggs (host): Skeeter Davis, Mike Snider, Hank Locklin, The 4 Guys

Finally, the running order from the second show that night: 

9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Oswald & Charlie: Prairie Queen
Charlie Louvin: The Kneeling Drunkard's Plea
Bobby Wright: I Wish You Could Have Turned My Head (And Left My Heart Alone)
Kitty Wells, Johnny Wright & Bobby Wright: Ashes of Love/Dust On The Bible
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home

10:00: Opry Book
Grandpa Jones (host): Fix Me A Pallet Down On The Floor
Diamond Rio: Walking In Jerusalem Just Like John/Meet In The Middle

10:15: Banquet/Con Agra Frozen Foods
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take An Old Cold Tater
Jeanne Pruett: A Poor Man's Woman
Jimmy Dickens: We Could

10:30: Purnell's Sausage
Bill Anderson (host): Did She Mention My Name
Jimmy C Newman: Diggy Liggy Lo
Bill Anderson: Always Remember

10:45: Your Quality Certified Home Builders
Mike Snider (host): Instrumental
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Durang's Retreat
Mike Snider: The Fur Coat

11:00: Coke
Ricky Skaggs (host): If I Lose
Del Reeves: The Only Girl I Can't Forget
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Stonewall Jackson: A Wound Time Can't Erase
The Whites: Steal Away And Pray
Ricky Skaggs: Little Community Church

11:30: Opry Book
Johnny Russell (host): Me & Bobby McGee
The 4 Guys: Cottonfields/Mariah
George Hamilton IV & V: We Will Meet Again
Jeannie Seely: Bubbles In My Beer
Johnny Russell: Orange Blossom Special 

Kitty Wells joined the Opry in September 1952. But prior to that, she already had been in the business for an extensive amount of time, and in fact, had retired, deciding to stay home while her husband Johnny Wright and brother-in-law Jack Anglin carried on. In early 1952 at the urging of her husband Johnny, Kitty recorded "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels," the answer song to "Wild Side of Life" by Hank Thompson. It quickly went to the top of the charts. With the hit record to her credit, Johnny Wright pushed to have her become a member of the Opry, of which Johnny & Jack were already members. 

"We were trying to get her on the Opry," Johnny said, "but Vito Pellettieri, the guy that cleared all the songs, on the show, says 'You can't sing that song on the Opry because of the lyrics.' Roy Acuff went up and talked to Jim Denny and Jack Stapp, and he told them 'Kitty Wells is a female Roy Acuff. She sells songs with her sincerity.' And Honky-Tonk Angels got to be such a hit you know that they had to let her sing it." And the hits and awards just kept coming and while Roy was recognized as the King of Country Music, Kitty earned the title Queen of Country Music. 

Kitty Wells remained an Opry member December 1964 when the Opry purged their cast of members who failed to meet the required number of annual appearances. Johnny Wright would claim that he, along with Kitty, were not fired with the rest, but had quit because of the percentages that were paid to the WSM Artists' Service Bureau which booked Opry members road appearances. Johnny was quoted as saying that they quit because they didn't want to pay the fees anymore. 

Even though she left the Opry, Kitty would continue to make occasional appearances over the years, including the one in 1997. Years later, it was reported that she had a desire to rejoin the Opry however the request was not granted. 

Mid-Week Opry Shows

One of the special nights on the Grand Ole Opry calendar is the annual show in October when the "Opry Goes Pink" when the Grand Ole Opry once again unites with Susan G. Komen in the fight against breast cancer! The signature barn background will light up pink, and a portion of every ticket sold benefits this powerful cause.

You can always count on a strong lineup for this special show and this year is no different as Megan Moroney is on the schedule. Joining Megan is Deana Carter, MacKenzie Carpenter, Opry member and breast cancer survivor Mandy Barnett, and Benny G. Rounding out the lineup are a couple of Opry debuts, Jillian Cardarelli and Briley King. 

The Wednesday Night Opry will be highlighted by an appearance by Brothers Osborne. Joining the duo are Opry members Henry Cho and Rhonda Vincent, Colby Acuff, Megan Wood, Rick
Trevino, and making her Opry debut, Meels. 

The Thursday Night Opry is a special show with the theme: “Grand Ole Opry: Celebrating 50 Years of the CCMA”

The special Opry celebration will bring together generations of Canadian Country Music artists, honoring the longtime connection between the Opry and the Canadian country music community. Canadian artists scheduled to perform include Opry member Terri Clark, as well as Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Paul Brandt, Tami Neilson, Brett Kissel, Tenille Arts and two artists who will be making their Opry debuts: Gord Bamford and Jess Moskaluke. 

The evening will also feature special guest announcers Jackie Rae Greening, longtime radio personality and programmer and Shannon Ella, four-time CCMA Award winner and iHeart Radio personality.

The celebration will feature an especially meaningful Opry moment from this year’s CCMA Awards. During Saturday night’s broadcast, Stella Lefty’s Opry debut performance of “Boston” recorded from the Opry stage, was featured as part of the awards show. The evening also brought an unforgettable surprise when Shannon Ella invited Jess Moskaluke to make her Opry debut during the October 29 “Grand Ole Opry: Celebrating 50 Years of the CCMA” show.

From artists who have helped build the foundation of Canadian country music to the voices carrying its story forward, “Grand Ole Opry: Celebrating 50 Years of the CCMA” will honor the special place Canadian country music holds within the wider country music community, and the longstanding relationship between Canadian artists and the Grand Ole Opry.

               

Grand Ole Opry 10/23 & 10/24

Thoughts on John Anderson: I never saw John Anderson in concert, but I saw him several times on the Grand Ole Opry. He certainly had one of the unique voices in country music and deserved his election to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2024. While he did appear on the Opry a few times throughout his career, he never became an Opry member. Personally, I think he would have been a good one, but I do not know if there was any interest on his part, or on the part of Opry management. In the end, he could have been another one who slipped between the cracks. 

It's hard to fathom that on Sunday night he was at the Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion Ceremony and appeared in good health and spirits, then seeing the news on Wednesday that he had passed away. 71 is way too young and while he will be missed, we will always have the wonderful memories and music that he made over the course of his career. And let's not forget that when he worked in construction in the early 1970s, he helped to put the roof on the new Grand Ole Opry House. 

Last Saturday night, Grand Ole Opry member Vince Gill celebrated his 35th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. No, I was not there on Saturday night, but I did listen to the entire show on the radio. It was wonderful and I have no complaints with the artists who were on, which included Ricky Skaggs, Amy Grant, Charlie Worsham, Patty Loveless, the Square Dancers and Vince. Wendy Moten was on the original schedule but cancelled due to illness, while Keb' Mo' made a surprise appearance. 

What surprised me was the limited number of acts scheduled. We saw the same thing on the Saturday night of the birthday weekend. Over the years, we have seen the number of acts on a typical Opry show shrink in numbers, until landing on what is now the standard seven or eight acts. Thankfully, on Saturday night, as on the birthday weekend, Vince was closing the show and he was able to stretch himself out to almost 30 minutes. With the quality of acts appearing, I don't think there were any complaints, nor should there be. 

I have written before that I know it is hard to book an Opry show, especially now that the show is running almost every day of the week. I think that also explains why we have seen the recent upsurge in new Opry members, especially the veteran acts who are more likely to be available for an Opry show, along with the high number of acts making their Opry debuts. But even with that, some of the lineups are running a bit thin. 

Again, just to be clear, I thought the birthday weekend shows, along with Saturday night, were both excellent shows. My concern is just the limited number of acts on the schedule.

Speaking of Vince Gill, and moving ahead to this weekend, Vince is back on the schedule for both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry shows. Joining Vince on Friday night are Opry members T. Graham Brown and Riders In The Sky Also scheduled is John Berry and The Castellows. Rounding it out are two artists making their Opry debuts: Mat Kearney and Branden Walter. 

Saturday night was originally a two-show night on the schedule, but last week it was changed to just one show. Joining Vince on Saturday night are members Riders In The Sky (back for a 2nd night), Old Crow Medicine Show, Charlie McCoy and Dailey & Vincent. Very frequent Opry guest Charles Esten is scheduled, as is Greylan James, who is making his Opry debut. 

Finally, the Sunday Night Opry continues through the month of October and this weekend Gene Watson, The Whites and Dailey & Vincent head up the lineup. 

Guesting is the incredible songwriter, Jimmy Webb. I have seen Jimmy in concert, and he puts on a wonderful show, For those not familiar, has written “Up, Up and Away,” “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” “Wichita Lineman,” “Galveston,” “Highwayman,” “All I Know,” “Didn’t We” and “MacArthur Park.” Rounding out the Sunday lineup are The Cleverlys, Matt Schuster and Lennon Stella. 

(I am still waiting on the final running order for the shows this weekend)

Monday October 24, 1983, was a sad day in the history of the Grand Ole Opry as one of the Opry's earliest members, Kirk McGee passed away. 

From the Nashville Tennessean October 25, 1983: 

Grand Ole Opry member Kirk McGee, one of the show's mainstays of traditional country music, died late yesterday afternoon of a heart attack at his home in Franklin. 

David Kirkland McGee was born near Franklin Nov. 4, 1899, and lived his entire life in and around the Williamson County community. In addition to his lifetime of performing, McGee sold real estate and farmed there. The 83-year-old singer/guitarist delighted audiences on the Opry with his fluid playing style, sentimental parlor songs, and humorous ditties from 1926 to this past Saturday night, the date of his last performance. 

In his long career, McGee played with such famed country entertainers as Hall of Fame member Uncle Dave Macon, The Fruit Jar Drinkers and Fiddlin' Arthur Smith. His most successful musical pairing, however, was always with his brother Sam McGee, who died in 1975 following a farm accident. 

The brothers first recorded in 1926, the same year they teamed up with Uncle Dave Macon for road shows around Middle Tennessee. Kirk preferred the stately, elegant, romantic old songs. Sam performed the light-hearted comic tunes and bluesy numbers. In 1928 the brothers recorded what are possibly the only five and six string banjo duets in country music history. In the 1930s they teamed up with Arthur Smith to form the Dixieliners, one of the greatest of the old-time string bands. 

In the late 1950s the McGee Brothers were "discovered" by collegiate folksong revivalists. At that time both recorded for folk labels and toured college campuses. After Sam's death, Kirk continued as an Opry soloist and as a member of The Fruit Jar Drinkers. 

Opry publicist Jerry Strobel said last night, "I think everybody liked Kirk. Course, he was just here Saturday night so this is very sad. He's had heart problems, but this is still a sudden shock." 

McGee is survived by his wife Ruby Watson McGee, and by his three daughters Ona, Dorothy, and Jean. 

Kirk McGee made his final Grand Ole Opry appearance the previous Saturday night, October 22. It was also the final night that The Fruit Jar Drinkers appeared as a group on the Opry as with the death of Kirk, the group disbanded. Here is the running order of the Opry from that night 43 years ago: 

1st show
6:30: Bonanza
Jimmy C Newman (host): Jambalaya
Vic Willis Trio: Shenandoah
Cajun Country: Happy Cajun

6:45: Rudy's
Stonewall Jackson (host): Don't Be Angry
Osborne Brothers: Little Cabin on the Hill
Stonewall Jackson: Waterloo

7:00: Shoney's
Grandpa Jones (host): Nashville on My Mind
Billy Grammer: The Old Spinning Wheel
Jan Howard: One Every Hour As Often As Needed for Pain
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
Ray Pillow: You're One Memory That I'd Like to Make Again/Julie Loved Boston More Than Me
Grandpa Jones: Gone Home

7:30: Standard Candy
Jim Ed Brown (host): Pop-A-Top
Jeannie Seely: When Will I See You Again
Teddy Wilburn: Because He Lives
The Other Brothers: Just Sittin' & Pickin'
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sally Goodin
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Roy Drusky: Blues in My Heart
Jeanne Pruett: We Came So Close
Bill Carlisle: Is Zat You Myrtle
Del Wood: Gloryland March/Down Yonder
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away

8:30: Acme
Hank Snow (host): Ninety Miles An Hour (Down A Dead-End Street
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Johnny Russell: Red Necks, White Socks & Blue Ribbon Beer
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Saturday Night Hop
The 4 Guys: You Make It Right
Hank Snow: Begger To a King

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Grandpa Jones (host): Kitty Klide
The 4 Guys: Shenandoah
Jimmy C Newman: Colinda
Vic Willis Trio: Let It Be Me
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walkin'
Jan Howard: Tainted Love
Grandpa Jones: My Mother's Manion is Higher Than Mine

10:00: Little Debbie
Charlie Walker (host): My Window Faces South
Billy Grammer: Homestead on the Farm
The Other Brothers: Whatever Happened to the Cowboys
Charlie Walker: San Antonio Rose

10:15: Sunbeam
Osborne Brothers (host): Wreck of the Old 97
Ray Pillow: Too Many Bridges Need Burning
Osborne Brothers: Old Flames

10:30: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Just A Friend
Del Wood: Roll Out the Barrel/Cajun Stripper
Onie Wheeler and Charlie Collins: Mother Prays Loud in Her Sleep

10:45: Beech-Nut
Jim Ed Brown (host): Fools
Jeannie Seely: When Your Heart's Been Stepped On
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Green Back Dollar
Jim Ed Brown: Four Walls

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): In The Misty Moonlight
Jeanne Pruett: I Oughta Feel Guilty
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Sugar Tree Stomp
Justin Tubb: Pull the Covers Over Me
Kirk McGee: I Was Sorta Wondering
Hank Snow: So Goes My Heart

11:30: Hardee's
Roy Drusky (host): Mississippi
Bill Carlisle: Business Man
Bill Carlisle Jr. and Sheila Carlisle: Just to Satisfy You
Johnny Russell: Kaw-Liga
Roy Drusky: Wings of a Dove

The following Saturday night, October 29, the show was dedicated to Kirk McGee. Here is the dedication that was read by Hal Durham at the start of the late show that night: 

Ladies and gentlemen, one of the Grand Ole Opry voices you won't be hearing tonight is that of Kirk McGee, who died this past week of a heart attack. Mr. McGee, who was 83, had been a member of this musical family almost all of its 58-year history. Together with his late brother, Sam, he helped preserved the great traditions of country music. Following Sam's death several years ago, Kirk carried on very capably as a solo act and was a member of The Fruit Jar Drinkers. Tonight, our thoughts are with Kirk's family and the sorrow that we feel at his passing is tempered by the gratitude we feel for his many years we were able to share with him. As the Grand Ole Opry continues now, we want to dedicate our show to the memory of Kirk McGee. 

Kirk McGee: another of the Opry's early members who have largely been forgotten today. 

Mid-Week Opry Shows

Back to a full week of shows beginning with the Tuesday Night Opry. Opry members Rhonda Vincent, T. Graham Brown and Del McCoury Band are on the scheduled. Joining that group are comedian Brad Upton, Opry NextStage artist Graham Barham, Josh Baldwin, John Foster and making their Opry debut, Franklin Jonas & The Byzantines. 

Franklin Jonas is a New Jersey-born artist and songwriter crafting emotionally raw, story-driven music through his project, Franklin Jonas & The Byzantines. Franklin and his band blend Americana with modern textures — creating a sound that feels both timeless and newly unearthed. Known for a high-energy live show, the band has performed in support of The Jonas Brothers, The Maine and Hunter Hayes. Franklin Jonas & The Byzantines' forthcoming debut album will be released in early 2027. 

Tuesday October 20
7:00: T. Graham Brown, John Foster, Franklin Jonas & The Byzantines, Del McCoury Band
Intermission
8:20: Josh Baldwin, Brad Upton, Graham Barham, Rhonda Vincent

It will be an interesting Wednesday Night Opry as Sam Smith will be making his Opry debut. It should be an interesting debut. Sam has had a tremendous career as he is a five-time GRAMMY® winner and he holds two Guinness World Records — for the most consecutive weeks in the U.K. Top 10 Album Chart (for their 2014 debut, In the Lonely Hour) and for having the first James Bond theme to reach No.1 on the U.K. charts (for the Oscar and Golden Globe-winning “Writing’s On the Wall”). Sam has amassed over 64 million equivalent album sales, 396 million single sales, and over 57 billion career streams across their catalog of critically acclaimed albums: In the Lonely Hour, The Thrill of It All, Love Goes, and Gloria, which Rolling Stone praised as “their deepest album yet,” and includes the global smash single “Unholy” ft. Kim Petras. “Unholy” spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and four weeks at No. 1 on the UK Official Singles Chart. However, he is not without controversy. 

Joining Sam Smith on the Wednesday Night Opry are Mandy Barnett, T. Graham Brown, Charlie McCoy, Jamie O'Neal, Maggie Rose, John Foster and Ruston Kelly. 

Wednesday October 21
7:00: T. Graham Brown, Jamie O'Neal, John Foster, Maggie Rose
Intermission
8:20: Ruston Kelly, Mandy Barnett, Sam Smith, Charlie McCoy

Finishing up the week on Thursday night is Opry Country Classics. Larry Gatlin is the host, with the Opry's newest member Rhett Akins the Spotlight Artist. Rounding out the classics show are DEK of Hearts, Wilson Fairchild and Charlie McCoy. 

Opry Country Classics
Thursday October 21
7:00
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Rhett Akins
Also Appearing: The Gatlin Brothers, Wilson Fairchild, DEK of Hearts, Charlie McCoy

Grand Ole Opry 10/16 & 10/17

It is going to be a special weekend at the Grand Ole Opry as on Saturday night, Vince Gill will be honored upon his 35th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. 

But before we get to Saturday night, there is a Friday Night Opry to begin the weekend that will feature Grand Ole Opry members Mandy Barnett, Riders In The Sky and John Conlee. 

The Stanley Brothers are formally being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday as the Medallion Ceremony will be taking place. Ralph Stanley was a member of the Grand Ole Opry and to honor his father, Ralph Stanley II and The Clinch Mountain Boys will be appearing on Friday night. Also on the schedule are Lacy J. Dalton, Tigirlily Gold, Nate Smith, and making his Opry debut, Andy Grammer. 

While Vince Gill actually joined the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday August 10, 1991, on Saturday night, he will celebrate his 35th anniversary as a member of the Opry's cast. 

From The Tennessean, Friday August 9, 1991: 

Gold Record awardee, Grammy winner, Country Music Association honoree and all-around nice guy Vince Gill becomes the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry this weekend. 

Gill will be inducted into the Opry cast during the 7:30 p.m. portion of Saturday night's show hosted by Roy Acuff. The segment will be televised live on The Nashville Network. 

Gill's When I Call Your Name was one of the biggest country records of 1990. It won Song of the Year from the CMA and a Grammy Award from the Recording Academy. He's been scaling the charts since then with Pocket Full of Gold, Liza Jane and other hits. 

A brilliant tenor singer, multi-instrumental wizard and top songwriter, Gill is adept in bluegrass, rock, swing, and a wide variety of other styles. This many-faceted entertainer appears frequently on other artist's albums. In fact, he co-wrote Alabama's current No 1. single, Here We Are. 

I know it has been mentioned many times what an asset Vince is to the Grand Ole Opry. Since joining the cast, he has continually supported the show and has challenged many of his contemporaries to do the same. While his appearances have increased even more frequently over the past several years, taking in his 35 years as an Opry member, he has averaged 20 appearances per year. Yes, he continues to set the example. 

Joining Vince on Saturday night will be Opry members Patty Loveless and Ricky Skaggs, Charlie Worsham, Wendy Moten, and Amy Grant. 

Friday October 16
7:00: Mandy Barnett, John Conlee, Andy Grammer, Tigirlily Gold
Intermission
8:20: Lacy J. Dalton, Ralph Stanley II & The Clinch Mountain Boys, Nate Smith, Riders In The Sky

Saturday October 17
1st show
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Ricky Skaggs, Wendy Moten, Amy Grant, Charlie Worsham, Patty Loveless, Vince Gill

2nd show
9:30: Opry Square Dancers, Ricky Skaggs, Wendy Moten, Amy Grant, Charlie Worsham, Patty Loveless, Vince Gill

I don't know how the show will go on Saturday night, but one of the best Grand Ole Opry shows I have ever attended, and I have been to over 300 shows, was the night in 2016 when Vince celebrated his 25th Opry anniversary. The show that night included Bill Anderson, Amy Grant, Patty Loveless, Charlie Worsham, Andrea Zonn, Ashley Monroe, The Time Jumpers, Opry Square Dancers, Rodney Crowell and Jenny Gill. I looked at my notes from that night, and Vince was on stage the entire show with his band. There were no Opry Staff Band and no Opry singers. What was amazing was that the first show lasted just under 3 hours, with the second show not starting until 10:30. That show did not end until 1:00 a.m. It was just an amazing night. 

While Vince Gill joined the Opry on August 10, 1991, he made his Opry debut on July 29, 1989. Here is the posted Opry schedule from that night: 

1st show
6:30: Billy Walker (host): Jan Howard
6:45: Stonewall Jackson (host): Del Wood
7:00: The 4 Guys (host): Skeeter Davis, Ray Pillow, Larry Boone
7:30: Jimmy C Newman (host): Jeannie Seely, Wilma Lee Cooper, Vince Gill
8:00: Roy Acuff (host): Charlie Louvin, Connie Smith, Opry Square Dance Band, Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Del Reeves, Jean Shepard, Roy Drusky, Jeanne Pruett

2nd show
9:30: Ray Pillow (host): The 4 Guys, Ernie Ashworth, Teddy Wilburn, Del Wood
10:00: Bill Walker (host): Larry Boone
10:15: Roy Acuff (host): Carlisles
10:30: Jimmy C Newman (host): Vince Gill
10:45: Stonewall Jackson (host): Jeannie Seely, Opry Square Dance Band, Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Roy Drusky, Connie Smith, Justin Tubb, Jean Shepard
11:30: Del Reeves (host): Jeanne Pruett, Charlie Louvin

Finally, here is the running order from Saturday August 10, 1991, the night Vince Gill officially became an Opry member: 

1st show
6:30: Bonanza
Del Reeves (host): Girl on the Billboard
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Del Reeves: A Dozen Pair of Boots

6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Charlie Walker (host): Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Bill Carlisle: Leave that Liar Alone
Charlie Walker: Drinking Champagne/Take Me Back to Tulsa

7:00: Shoney's
Jim Ed Brown (host): Everyday People
Jan Howard: You Don't Know Me
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain
Wilma Lee Cooper: Wildwood Flower
Ray Pillow: That Ain't No Way to Treat My Heart
Jim Ed Brown: Scarlet Ribbons

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top/Kentucky
Vince Gill: Look At Us/When I Call Your Name

8:00: Martha White
Jimmy C Newman (host): Colinda
Jeannie Seely: Too Far Gone
Boxcar Willie: Cowboys & Horses; Hobos & Trains
Roy Drusky: Wings of A Dove
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sugar in the Gourd
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya

8:30: Pops Rite
Hank Snow (host): A Vanishing Breed
Jean Shepard: Home In San Antone/Time Changes Everything/Roly Poly
4 Guys: Tennessee
Mike Snider: Shuckin the Corn
Hank Snow: I Almost Lost My Mind

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General Stores
Del Reeves (host): Bells of Southern Bell
Skeeter Davis: O Happy Day
Vic Willis Trio: Colorado
Teddy Wilburn; Somebody's Back in Town
Bill Carlisle: Business Man
Del Reeves: Luckenbach Texas

10:00: Little Debbie
Jim Ed Brown (host): Southern Loving
Charlie Louvin: When I Stop Dreaming
Jim Ed Brown: The Old Lamplighter

10:15: Tennessee Pride/Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Just A Friend
Vince Gill: Pocket Full of Gold/When I Call Your Name

10:30: Pet Milk
Charlie Walker (host): San Antonio Rose
Jan Howard: Somebody's Always Saying Goodbye
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon

10:45: B.C. Powder
Jimmy C Newman (host): Big Mamou
David Houston: My Elusive Dreams
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Blackberry Blossom
Jimmy C Newman: Mottland

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Between Fire & Water
Jean Shepard: Slippin Away
Justin Tubb: Waltz Across Texas
Osborne Brothers: Bluegrass Melodies/Midnight Flyer
Hank Snow: I've Done at Least 1 Good Thing in My Life

11:30: Creamette
Boxcar Willie (host): Fireball Mail/Train of Love/Hank Me Down My Walking Cane/Wreck of the Old 97/I'm Moving On/Wabash Cannonball/Night Train to Memphis
Jeannie Seely: Go Down Swinging
4 Guys: Elvira/Elizabeth/Old Flames/Church on the Cumberland Road/Dumas Walker
Mike Snider: Snuff Dipper
Boxcar Willie: Cowboys & Horses; Hobos & Trains

While I was not at the Opry on the night of Vince's induction, I do remember watching it on The Nashville Network and I just had a feeling then that Vince knew what it was about, being an Opry member and he would be a member that could be counted on in the future. 

To conclude the weekend, there is a Sunday Night Opry on the schedule. The only Opry members on the schedule are Riders In The Sky. Rounding out the show are Wyatt McCubbin, Caylee Hammack, The Steel Wheels, Tia Sillers, Kyle Morgan, Ryan and Rory and Appalachian Road Show. 

Sunday October 18
7:00: Riders In The Sky, Wyatt McCubben, The Steel Wheels, Kyle Morgan
Intermission
8:20: Ryan and Rory, Tia Sillers, Caylee Hammack, Appalachian Road Show

For The Steel Wheels, it will be their Opry debut. 

Mid-Week Opry Shows

On the Tuesday Night Opry this week, the Grand Ole Opry will welcome a new member as Rhett Akins officially joins the cast.

Tuesday October 13
7:00: Jon Pardi, Jamey Johnson, Jason Aldean
Intermission
8:20: Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Rhett Akins

It is certainly going to be star-studded evening, and I look forward to listening. Rhett will be the 3rd Opry member to join in 2026, following Suzy Bogguss and Jelly Roll. 

While there will be no Wednesday Night Opry this week, Opry Country Classics will be taking place on Thursday night. 

Opry Country Classics
Thursday October 15
7:00
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Jo Dee Messina
Also Appearing: The Gatlin Brothers, Mae Estes, Radney Foster, Lorrie Morgan, Clay Walker

A very nice classics show.