September Opry Highlights

The Opry's 100th year continues. We have now reached September and are only one month away from the Grand Ole Opry's 100th anniversary. Here are the September highlights: 

September 15, 1903: The "King of Country Music" Roy Acuff was born in Maynardsville, Tennessee. Roy came to the Opry in 1938, and except for a brief period of time, would remain a part of the Opry until his death in 1992. I think it is safe to say that Roy has been the most influential member in the history of the Opry and even though he passed away 30 years ago, his presence is still felt at the Opry. 

September 13, 1911: Bill Monroe, "The Father of Bluegrass Music" was born in Rosine, Kentucky. Bill came to the Opry in October 1939 and never left.

September 17, 1923: Hank Williams was born. Really nothing else needs to be said. While his time at the Opry was relatively short, it was very eventful and historical in many ways. 

September 26, 1925: One of the most popular members in the history of the Grand Ole Opry, Marty Robbins was born near Glendale, Arizona. Marty came to the Opry in 1953, and shortly after that first appearance, he became an Opry member. Marty, who made the 11:30 segment into his own personal concert, stayed with the Opry until his death in December 1982.

September 26, 1926: Jerry Clower was born near Liberty, Mississippi. This former fertilizer salesman joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1973 and was the last member to join the cast before the Opry moved to the new Grand Ole Opry House in March 1974. Jerry, who was a great comedian and storyteller, passed away in 1998 following heart surgery.

September 22, 1928: The Grand Ole Opry is cancelled as WSM aired a speech by Republican senator William Borah and a rebuttal by Democratic governor Alfred Smith. In the early days of the Opry, there were times when the show did miss a Saturday night. 

September 1, 1931: Lecil Travis Martin, better known as "Boxcar Willie," was born in Sterrett, Texas. Boxcar made his debut on the Opry in 1980 at the age of 49. Roy Acuff loved him, and Boxcar became an Opry member the following year. One of the early performers who operated his own theater in Branson, Boxcar passed away in 1999.

September 5, 1931: The Vagabonds made their Grand Ole Opry debut, becoming one of the show's most popular acts during the decade. Like many of the early acts on the show, they would only stay for a relatively short period of time and have been largely forgotten over time. 

September 12, 1931: The "Possum" George Jones was born in Saratoga, Texas. George originally came to the Opry in 1956, and throughout his career, he would come and go. He was still an Opry member when he passed away in 2013. Although his Opry appearances were few and far between, George was always proud of his Opry membership and it was noted in one of the displays at the George Jones Museum in downtown Nashville, which has since closed. 

September 8, 1932: Probably the greatest female singer in the history of country music, Patsy Cline was born in Winchester, Virginia. Patsy joined the Opry in January 1960, simply by asking, as being an Opry member was one of her earliest dreams. Patsy, who influenced so many other females, passed away in March 1963 at the age of 30. She would later be elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

September 24, 1932: It was a big night at the Grand Ole Opry as Zeke Clements, Curly Fox and Asher Sizemore, along with his son Jimmy all made their first appearances on the Grand Ole Opry. I think it is safe to say that little Jimmy was the youngest member in the history of the Opry. 

September 11, 1938: Country Music Hall of Fame members, The Delmore Brothers, made their final appearance as members of the Grand Ole Opry. One of the early members, this duo influenced many other brother acts that followed. While popular at the Opry, the duo left due to a disagreement with Opry founder George D. Hay.

September 4, 1943: Curley Williams and his Georgia Peach Pickers made their debut on the Grand Ole Opry. 

September 15, 1945: Wally Fowler became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Wally was the founder of the Oak Ridge Quartet, who eventually became known as the Oak Ridge Boys. After Wally joined the Opry, he was frequently featured on the Prince Albert portion, where he would traditionally sing a gospel song. Later in life, Wally ran into some financial problems that led to him selling the rights to the Oak Ridge Quartet name. Wally passed away in 1994.

September 18, 1947: The Grand Ole Opry brought a country music show for the first time to Carnegie Hall in New York city. Opry members featured on that first show included the headliners, Ernest Tubb and Minnie Pearl. The show as scheduled for a two-night run and both nights were sold out. Here is how Ernest Tubb remembered those nights, "The radio and newspaper people ignored us the first night we were there, but we turned away six thousand people and the next night, every reporter was there." Billboard magazine reported that "such screaming and wild applause after each number hasn't been heard in town since Frank Sinatra brought out the bobbysoxers at the Paramount." The shows were so successful that country music, and the Opry, would make a return visit.

September 11, 1948: It would appear that this was the last night that Eddy Arnold appeared as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. At the time, Eddy was the Opry's biggest star, and he left the Opry to headline his own CBS network radio show. Eddy would later do an interview with Ralph Emery in which he talked about leaving the Opry. "I thought I had done as much as I could do there. I had two network radio programs outside the Opry." On his final night as a member, Eddy finished his set and stood on the stage looking out over the Ryman Auditorium. He thanked Harry Stone, WSM, and the Opry fans, and then turned to walk away from the microphone. Harold Bradley, who backed Eddy on guitar that night, would say, "We went around the curtain and he and Minnie Pearl hugged and both of them cried like babies because he was leaving." Eddy also created some controversy because he was the first "star" to leave the Opry and not return. Irving Waugh of WSM said, "We hated to see Eddy leave. But, as I recall, it didn't make that much difference to the Opry. At that stage, people were lined up all the way around the block to get in. New people, including Hank Williams were coming all the time." By the way, once Eddy left the Opry, he never returned as a member. 

September 24, 1948: WSM began the Friday Night Frolics, later to be known as the Friday Night Opry. The show took place from Studio C at WSM, where it would remain until moving to the Ryman Auditorium in 1964. The show was created originally as a way to keep Eddy Arnold on WSM radio.

September 25, 1948: George Morgan became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He was brought to the show specifically to replace the recently departed Eddy Arnold. George came to the Opry from the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree. There is a wonderful story that George told regarding his first visit to Nashville. He didn't know where the Ryman Auditorium was, and he asked a stranger on the street for directions. That stranger ended up being Eddy Arnold and the Ryman was literally across the street. 

September 13, 1952: Webb Pierce made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Webb would become an Opry member a year later to help fill the void after Hank Williams was fired. Webb was an Opry member until February 1957, when he left after a dispute with management over booking fees and commissions that were being charged for road shows. Webb would return for guest appearances throughout his career. 

September 26, 1953: Skeeter Davis made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Skeeter would later become an Opry member, joining in 1959. There are many of us who have great memories of Skeeter and miss her a lot. She was always colorful and fun. 

September 3, 1955: According to some records, this is the date in which Jim Reeves made his move from the Louisiana Hayride to the Grand Ole Opry. The following month, Jim would become a member of the cast.

September 10, 1955: Justin Tubb became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This popular singer and songwriter, Justin, at the time, was the youngest member of the cast when he joined. The son of Opry legend Ernest Tubb, Justin would remain an Opry member until his death in 1998 at the age of 62. After the death of his father, Justin would take over the operation of the Midnite Jamboree for a period of time before leaving the show. 

September 24, 1956: WSM radio fired Grand Ole Opry manager Jim Denny. Jim had started with WSM and the Opry back in the early days of the show and was involved behind the scenes in various capacities including being in charge of the Opry's concession business, where he saw for the first time how much money the Opry was making and how much more potential there was. Over time, he became not only the Opry's manager, but a powerful force at WSM and the Opry. In fact, too powerful for some. He was fired from the Opry because he refused to give up his ownership of Cedarwood Publishing Company, which the Opry viewed as a conflict of interest. Shortly after his death, Jim Denny would become one of the early members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

September 25, 1956: Following the firing of Jim Denny, Dee Kilpatrick was named the Grand Ole Opry's "general director," a new title. He was also named the manager of the WSM Artists' Service Bureau, which was the Opry's in-house booking agency. Dee, a former record company executive, said at the time, "They asked me what I thought was wrong. We'll, back when I was working with Mercury Records, I was at the Opry almost every Saturday night I was in town, and I could look at the audience and see what was wrong. The Opry didn't appeal to the younger audiences that you have to have if you're going to keep growing. All I could see were older people and little, teeny kids. There weren't any teenagers." Kilpatrick would begin to add younger acts to the Opry's cast, including the Everly Brothers and Porter Wagoner. If nothing else, Dee recognized one of the Opry's biggest problems, which would continue on for many, many years.

September 29, 1956: Rose Maddox joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. Rose did not stay at the Opry for very long, as several of the Opry's members, including Roy Acuff, did not care for her style or stage appearance. In an interesting sidenote, I seem to remember reading somewhere that Roy ended up buying Rose's Cadillac. 

September 6, 1958: Grand Ole Opry member Rod Brasfield made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Rod was remembered for his appearances on the Prince Albert portion of the Opry, along with fellow comedian Minnie Pearl. Sadly, Rod had a lot of personal issues that would eventually lead to his death. 

September 13, 1958: Ben Smathers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers became members of the Grand Ole Opry. For most of their years, the Stoney Mountain Cloggers would rotate every other weekend as the featured square dancers, backing up groups such as the Crook Brothers and the Fruit Jar Drinkers. Ben Smathers passed away in 1990, and the Cloggers would remain a part of the Opry until 1993.

September 30, 1958: Grand Ole Opry member Marty Stuart was born in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Before beginning his solo career, Marty was a part of Lester Flatt's Nashville Grass and Johnny Cash's touring band. Marty joined the Opry in November 1992.

September 17, 1960: Loretta Lynn made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Loretta, who would go on to have one of the most amazing careers of any female in the history of country music, would become an Opry member several years later, in 1962. Loretta passed away in October 2022, just days after reaching her 60th year as an Opry member. 

September 16, 1961: Leroy Van Dyke made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Leroy would become an Opry member in October of 1962. He stayed as an Opry member for just a couple of years as he was let go from the show for failing to appear the required number of times. Since then, he has been back to guest on the Opry. Now over 90 years old, Leroy is still touring and sounding good.

September 25, 1962: Country Music Hall of Fame member, and legend, Loretta Lynn became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. After appearing on the Opry often during the early part of her career, her appearances dropped off after stardom hit. Her last Opry appearance was in January 2017, the night her sister, Crystal Gayle became an Opry member. Shortly after, Loretta suffered a stroke that ended her performing career. 

September 27, 1963: The National Life and Accident Insurance Company purchased the Ryman Auditorium from the city of Nashville for a reported $200,000. WSM, which operated the building, immediately changed the name of the building to the Grand Ole Opry House, even though everyone still called it the Ryman. By becoming the owners of the building. National Life was able to make some much-needed repairs to the place to bring it up to code.

September 11, 1964: The Friday Night Frolics moved from WSM Studio C to the Ryman Auditorium and renamed the Friday Night Opry.

September 18, 1965: While the Opry recognizes an August date as to when she became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, this is the date that Connie first appeared on the Opry as a member. Also joining the cast of the Grand Ole Opry, the same day was Bob Luman. Regardless of the date, Connie is now a 60+ year member of the Grand Ole Opry and is in select company, one of only three females to have reached 60 years as an Opry member. 

September 2, 1967: Standard Candy Company, the makers of the famous Goo Goo Clusters, became an Opry sponsor. Standard Candy would remain with the Opry until January 2006, when the company elected not to renew the sponsorship. At the time, the Opry was changing how they viewed the sponsorship of the show, deciding to go with presenting sponsors at an additional cost for advertisers. 

September 16, 1967: Jeannie Seely became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Jeannie was one of the first female artists to host a segment at the Opry on a regular basis. Jeannie, who made more Grand Ole Opry appearances in the history of the show than any other member, passed away in August 2025 after a period of declining health. 

September 19, 1968: Former Grand Ole Opry member Red Foley passed away in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Red came to the Opry in 1946 and stayed for a decade before moving on to Springfield, Missouri. While at the Opry, he was the host of the Prince Albert portion of the show. He passed away while on a tour.

September 13, 1969: Earl Scruggs made his first appearance as a solo member of the Grand Ole Opry. Earlier in the year, he and Lester Flatt ended their partnership, with each pursuing solo careers. On the Opry that night, Earl performed "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" with his sons Gary and Randy.

September 20, 1969: Bobby Bare rejoined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. Bobby would stay as a member until he left the Opry in March 1974 when the Opry moved from the Ryman Auditorium to the new Grand Ole Opry House. In April 2018, the Opry surprised Bobby by restoring his Opry membership. Bobby is now retired and at last report, is doing well. 

September 13, 1975: Don Gibson, who was fired from the cast of the Grand Ole Opry in 1964, rejoined the Opry. While never appearing often on the Opry, it was nice to have Don back as a member and whenever he appeared, it was a special night.

September 17, 1977: Reba McEntire made her first guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. On that first night, Reba sang "Sweet Dreams" and "Invitation To The Blues." Several years later, Reba would become an Opry member.

September 1, 1978: Grand Ole Opry member Hank Snow hosted his first annual concert for abused children at the Grand Ole Opry House. Among Hank's guests that night were Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn and Ernest Tubb. The shows would continue for several years before Hank ended the annual event.

September 9, 1978: Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings made a guest appearance on the Opry. 

September 15, 1979: Stevie Wonder made a guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. He sang "Behind Closed Doors" in a duet with Skeeter Davis. That is a recording I would love to hear. 

September 6, 1984: Ernest Tubb passed away in a Nashville hospital after a long illness. Ernest had been in declining health for a number of years and had last appeared on the Opry in August 1982. He joined the Opry in 1943 and in 1965 Ernest was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. It can certainly be said, that in addition to Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe and Hank Snow, Ernest was one of the pillars of the Opry. 

September 13, 1984: President Ronald Reagan appeared for a tribute to Roy Acuff at the Grand Ole Opry House. Among those appearing that night were Minnie Pearl, Porter Wagoner, Lee Greenwood, Chet Atkins and Ray Stevens. The appearance was part of President Reagan's re-election campaign.

September 9, 1989: Del Wood made her final appearance as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Del, who had joined the Opry in the early 1950s on the strength of her hit, "Down Yonder" passed away a month later at the age of 69 after suffering a stroke. Del was one of the artists who made it known that she didn't care for a lot of the younger acts appearing on the Opry. 

September 16, 1989: Chely Wright made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry. At one time, there was talk of Chely becoming a member of the Opry however her career took her in a different direction that did not include the Opry. 

September 4, 1991: Grand Ole Opry member Dottie West passed away in a Nashville hospital as a result of injuries suffered in an earlier car accident. Dottie had been a part of the Opry's cast since 1964. She had a great career and influenced a number of female artists.

September 4, 1992: Former Grand Ole Opry member Carl Butler died in Franklin, Tennessee. Carl first appeared on the Opry in 1948 and along with his wife Pearl, joined the cast in 1962. Not only was Carl a great singer, but he was also known as a fine songwriter. Carl and Pearl did not stay as Opry members for very long, and after leaving the Opry the couple continued to tour. After Pearl's death, Carl would occasionally appear on the Opry.

September 11, 1993: The Stoney Mountain Cloggers made their final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Margaret Smathers, the widow of Ben Smathers, made the decision that it was time to retire the group. On the final night, they were featured on the televised segment and Opry member Vince Gill made a special request to be on the Opry on that final night, and on their specific segments. 

September 29, 1993: Bob Whittaker became the general manager of the Grand Ole Opry, replacing Hal Durham who was promoted within the company. Bob would remain with the Opry until retiring in 1998. Over the years, Bob, who passed away earlier this year, made it known that he knew what direction that Opry was going to go in, which led to his retirement. 

September 6, 1996: Grand Ole Opry legend Hank Snow made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Hank was in declining health and made a low-key decision to retire. Hank passed away in 1999, just two weeks short of his 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

September 9, 1996: Grand Ole Opry, and bluegrass legend, Bill Monroe passed away, Bill had been in declining heath since suffering a stroke earlier in the year. Bill had been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1939, and he brought the sound of bluegrass to the Opry stage.

September 13, 1996: LeAnn Rimes made her debut on the Friday Night Opry. She performed three songs that night including her hit single "Blue," which was written by the legendary Bill Mack.

September 20, 1996: Grand Ole Opry member Jimmy Dickens returned to the Opry after a two-month absence due to vocal issues. Those of us who remember Jimmy in his final years at the Opry know that those vocal issues would never completely go away. 

September 20, 1997: During a guest appearance on the Opry, Johnny Paycheck was asked by Opry general manager Bob Whittaker if he would like to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Of course, Johnny said yes and was inducted later in the year.

September 12, 1998: President of the Grand Ole Opry Group Bob Whittaker announced his retirement. Bob had replaced Hal Durham as the Opry's general manager and later as Opry group president. Bob would eventually be replaced as the Opry's general manager by Pete Fisher, who took over the following June.

September 18, 1998: Paying tribute to her father, Hank Williams, Jett Williams performed "Your Cheatin' Heart" on the Grand Ole Opry. During her appearance, she told those attending that Hank never sang the song during any of his concert appearances. 

September 28, 2000: In preparation of the Grand Ole Opry's 75th anniversary, Governor Don Sundquist declared October as Grand Ole Opry month in the state of Tennessee. He was joined at the announcement ceremony by Opry members Martina McBride and Little Jimmy Dickens.

September 29, 2000: Future Grand Ole Opry member Keith Urban made his first solo guest appearance on the Opry. 

September 28, 2002: After an absence of 10 years, Tanya Tucker made a guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. She was joined on stage by the Jordanaires as she performed her debut hit "Delta Dawn."

September 13, 2003: The United States Postal Service unveiled a stamp featuring Roy Acuff. The ceremony took place at the Grand Ole Opry House. The portrait on the stamp was based on a photo that appeared in a 1949 edition of "Collier's" magazine. On that same night, Vince Gill and members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band performed a tribute to Roy on at the Grand Ole Opry.

September 19, 2004: Grand Ole Opry member Skeeter Davis passed away in Nashville at the age of 72. Skeeter had battled cancer and other health related issues for a number of years. Skeeter was always known for her bright outfits and her big smile that brought a lot of joy to those watching her perform.

September 23, 2004: Just days after the death of Skeeter Davis, another long time Grand Ole Opry member passed away as Roy Drusky died after a battle with lung cancer. Roy joined the Opry in the late 1950s and was known for his smooth voice and great ballad songs.

September 10, 2005: Future Grand Ole Opry member Jamey Johnson made first guest appearance on the Opry. It took a while, but finally a few years ago, Jamey was invited to become an Opry member, something that he had wanted for a long time. 

September 1, 2006: Taylor Swift made her Grand Ole Opry debut. 

September 8, 2007: Grand Ole Opry member Hank Locklin made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.

September 29, 2007: During a guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, Josh Turner was asked by Roy Clark if he would like to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Of course, Josh said yes and would join the cast a month later. Also, on the same night, Porter Wagoner made his final Saturday night appearance on the Opry.

September 18, 2008:  As Craig Morgan sang "Rose Colored Glasses," Grand Ole Opry member John Conlee walked on stage during a free show for soldiers at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to invite Craig to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. 

September 27, 2008: Grand Ole Opry member Marty Stuart celebrated his 50th birthday at the Grand Ole Opry. Appearing with Marty that night was Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, Connie Smith and The Carolina Chocolate Drops, along with The Fabulous Superlatives.

September 28, 2010: The Grand Ole Opry House reopened after being renovated following the flood that stuck Nashville the previous May. Since the flood, the Opry had moved around to several different venues, with the majority of time spent at the Ryman Auditorium. On the reopening night, the final hour was televised by GAC and the segment opened with the cast coming out and singing "Will The Circle Be Unbroken." Brad Paisley and Jimmy Dickens led the way. Also, during that night's show, Blake Shelton was asked by Trace Adkins to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

September 13, 2011: Grand Ole Opry legend Wilma Lee Cooper passed away. Wilma and her husband Stoney joined the Opry in 1957, coming to Nashville from the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree. After Stoney's death, Wilma Lee continued on as a solo member of the Opry. In February 2001, she suffered a stroke while performing on the show, which ended her performing career. She did return to the Opry stage in 2007 upon her 50th anniversary as an Opry member, and again in September 2010 upon the reopening of the Grand Ole Opry House.

September 13, 2011: George Jones made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. It was a show that celebrated George's 80th birthday and included Alan Jackson, Joe Diffie, Lee Ann Womack and the Oak Ridge Boys.

September 27, 2011: Rascal Flatts were invited to become the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry. They were officially inducted in October during the Opry's 86th birthday weekend. This will be their 15th year as Opry members, and while they have not appeared on the Opry in years, hopefully they will be back soon. 

September 27, 2011: Johnny Wright passed away in Nashville. He was the husband of Kitty Wells and a former member of the Grand Ole Opry, performing as part of Johnny & Jack.

September 25, 2012: Loretta Lynn celebrated her 50th anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member. Joining Loretta that night were Miranda Lambert, Crystal Gayle, Trace Adkins, Lee Ann Womack and Pistol Annies, making their Opry debut singing "Fist City."

September 6, 2014: Long time Grand Ole Opry member George Hamilton IV appeared on the Opry for the final time. During his performance, he sang his big hit "Abilene." After a short illness, George passed away several weeks later, on September 17.

September 29, 2015: "Grand Ole Opry 90th Anniversary Family Album" was published. The book featured all of the current and former Grand Ole Opry members, as well as a history of the Opry. The book has been updated a couple of times since with currently the 97th edition still on sale at the Opry shop. 

September 25, 2016: Grand Ole Opry legend, and Country Music Hall of Fame member Jean Shepard passed away. Jean last appeared on the Opry in November 2015, when she was honored on her 60th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, becoming the first female to have been an Opry member for that period of time. It should also be noted that once Jean joined the Opry, she took her Opry membership seriously and never left. And she was very vocal about that. 

September 8, 2017: Grand Ole Opry member Troy Gentry passed died as a result of a helicopter crash. Troy, who was half of the duo Montgomery Gentry, was 40. Along with Eddie Montgomery, the group joined the Opry on June 23, 2009. On the same day, former Grand Ole Opry member Don Williams passed away. Don had been a member in the 1970s, however he left the cast a few years after joining.

September 16, 2017: Grand Ole Opry member Jeannie Seely celebrated her 50th year as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. 

September 22, 2017: Grand Ole Opry member Reba McEntire celebrated the 40th anniversary of her debut on the Opry. Joining Reba that night were Carrie Underwood, Vince Gill, and a surprise appearance by Dolly Parton.

September 18, 2018: Dustin Lynch became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. While his membership was a surprise to many, Dustin has done a pretty nice job in appearing at the Opry. 

September 18, 2018: Bobby Bare made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. 

September 25, 2018: Comedian Bill Murry made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Along with the SteelDrivers, he performed the classic song "Paradise."

September 3, 2019: A special exhibit honoring Dolly Parton and her 50 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, opened in Studio A at the Grand Ole Opry House. 

September 14, 2021: The Isaacs were formally inducted as members of the Grand Ole Opry. Ricky Skaggs and The Whites did the honors. The Isaacs had been longtime supporters of the Opry. 

September 28, 2021: Mandy Barnett was invited by Connie Smith to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. At the time, Mandy had made over 500 guest appearances and was well deserving of being invited. 

September 17, 2025: Steve Earle was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Emmylou Harris did the honors, assisted by Marty Stuart, Vince Gill and Connie Smith. 

Mid-Week Opry Shows

There is a full week of Opry shows as the Tuesday and Wednesday night Grand Ole Opry shows are joined this week by Opry Country Classics on Thursday night, as the Classics show begins its fall run. 

Starting off with the Tuesday Night Opry, Opry member Lauren Alaina returns, along with Chris Janson, comedian Henry Cho and Mandy Barnett. There is also an Opry debut as Slater Nalley will be making will be making his first Opry appearance. 

Tuesday September 1
7:00: Mandy Barnett, Lanie Gardner, Slater Nalley, Lauren Alaina
Intermission
8:20: Emily Ann Roberts, Jordan Davis, Henry Cho, Chris Janson

One of the Opry members that I have highlighted in the past for their lack of appearances and commitment to the Opry has been Little Big Town, I am happy to say that Little Big Town is scheduled for the Wednesday Night Opry this week. Stella Lefty will be making her Opry debut, and Ashley Monroe is on the schedule. I only mention Ashley as at one time she was making a string of guest appearances on the show

Wednesday September 2
7:00: T. Graham Brown, Vincent Mason, Stella Lefty, Charlie McCoy
Intermission
8:20: Ashley Monroe, Lori McKenna, Little Big Town

Finally, as mentioned, Opry Country Classics returns this week and it is a loaded show. Larry Gatlin is back as the host, and the Spotlight Artist is The Oak Ridge Boys. If that is not enough, Little Big Town is also scheduled as they make it two nights in a row at the Opry. 

Opry Country Classics
Thursday September 3
7:00
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: The Oak Ridge Boys
Also Appearing: The Gatlin Brothers, Dailey & Vincent, Little Big Town, The Kentucky Headhunters

Yes, a very solid show

Grand Ole Opry 8/28 & 8/29

Starting off this week with the press release from the Grand Ole Opry: 

The Grand Ole Opry will dedicate Saturday night’s show to Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry Member Dolly Parton, honoring her life, legacy, and contributions to country music. Among the artists scheduled for the show is Carly Pearce, who began her career at Dollywood and who Parton surprised with an invitation to become an official Opry member in 2021. The show can be heard on the Opry’s flagship station, WSM-AM, as well as wsmonline.com, opry.com, and SiriusXM channel 58. The Opry’s marquee is set to honor Parton through Saturday evening.

"Dolly Parton was perhaps the most loved and admired artist from her home state of Tennessee," said Colin Reed, Executive Chairman of Ryman Hospitality Properties. "She was also an extraordinary member of the Grand Ole Opry, and her music and sense of humor will live on for generations to come. We are so blessed to have been a part of her incredible career. "

 "Every member of the Grand Ole Opry family has a Dolly story, as does everyone around the world who was ever in her orbit,” said Dan Rogers, Senior Vice President and Executive Producer, Grand Ole Opry. “That’s just one of the things that made her so special. For more than 50 years as an Opry member, she used her talent and success to bring sheer joy to millions. To every artist, she provided inspiration beyond measure. To every fan, she connected in a way that made each of us feel like the most important person in the room. Her impact will live on forever as we all carry forward the kindness, compassion and generosity she shared throughout her life. Dolly always knew exactly what to say. I’m afraid the best I have on this terribly sad day is a genuine, heartfelt, 'Thank you for everything, Dolly. We sure do love you.'”

We have already seen Dolly Parton tributes taking place at the Opry as on Tuesday night the Opry opened with Opry member Rhonda Vincent sharing “This is for Dolly” before performing Parton’s “Coat of Many Colors.” Vincent returned to the stage later to sing Parton’s “9 to 5” and “Jolene.” Additional tributes tonight included Morgan Myles’ performance of Parton’s 1973 classic “I Will Always Love You.” The tributes continued during the Wednesday Night Opry. 

First, taking a look at the Friday Night Opry, Connie Smith returns, as does Opry members Mark Wills, Riders In The Sky, and John Conlee. The Shootouts are back for another Opry appearance, as are bluegrass group Sister Sadie, Hannah McFarland, who made her Opry debut last October, and Adam Chaffins, who will be making his Opry debut on Friday night. 

Saturday night will be special as previously noted, Opry member Carly Pearce will be appearing. On Friday she is scheduled to release her new album, Honest Woman, which includes a number of collaborations. Two of those are with Molly Tuttle and Dan Tyminski, who both are also on the Saturday night schedule. (For those who might not have heard the news, Molly was recently married to Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show). 

Also on the Saturday schedule are members T. Graham Brown and Kathy Mattea, along with Channing Wilson, and Belle Frantz, who will be making her Opry debut. 

Friday August 28
7:00: Mark Wills, Connie Smith, Adam Chaffins, Riders In The Sky
Intermission
8:20: John Conlee, Hannah McFarland, The Shootouts, Sister Sadie

Saturday August 29
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, T. Graham Brown, Channing Wilson, Belle Frantz, Kathy Mattea
Intermission
8:20: Molly Tuttle, Opry Square Dancers, Dan Tyminski, Carly Pearce

It's ironic that Carly is scheduled on Saturday night and I would expect, she will devote a portion of her segment to Dolly. 

I am not sure what else to expect on Saturday night. 

Adam Chaffins, who is debuting on Friday night, is from Eastern Kentucky.  Moving to Nashville after graduation, he found work writing songs for acts like The Infamous Stringdusters and playing bass for artists like Billy Strings. He has recently released Trailer Trash: Doublewide and has garnered praise from The Bluegrass Situation, Holler and All Country News, with earlier singles 'Sugarcoat It,' 'Lucky Me' and 'King of Coal Dust County,' which is currently on the MusicRow Country Breakout Radio Chart. Expanding the Trailer Trash world introduced with his 5-song EP last summer, the new album showcases Chaffins' knack for blending razor-sharp wit with real-world reflections on current events, without ever cheapening the lessons that lurk beneath. It was this quality that led legendary producer Frank Rogers to offer him a publishing deal on the spot -- just the third songwriter in Rogers' career to receive such an offer, after Chris Stapleton and Josh Turner. 

Belle Frantz, who will be part of Carly Pearce's fall tour, received her Opry invite recently from Carly. She has called it one of the biggest moments in her life. A native of Greenwood Springs, Mississippi, she has built a loyal following by honoring the voices that shaped her—including George Jones, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, and her lifelong hero, Reba McEntire.

Following her 2023 debut EP, Why I Sing This Way, she has shared stages with Willie Nelson, Alabama, and Tracy Lawrence, and co-wrote "Lonely's What I Do" with Vince Gill, who later recorded the song. This fall, Frantz enters a landmark chapter with the release of Hymns from a Barstool on November 6, featuring collaborations with Wynonna Judd and Reba McEntire.

One Grand Ole Opry member that doesn't get talked about any more is Jimmy C Newman, who was an Opry member for over 55 years. Jimmy was born on August 29, 1927, and I thought what would have been Jimmy's 99th birthday, it was time to look back. 

Jimmy C Newman was born in High Point, La., near Big Mamou, and raised in a bilingual family with parents who delighted in the cowboy sounds of Gene Autry and the country music of Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family. Newman's father died when he was a teenager, and he left school after six years of education, to work on a farm. During World War II, Newman worked in a defense plant as a welder's helper, and there he met an electrician and music aficionado named J.D. Miller. After Newman's recorded debut in 1946 for Modern Records, Miller became determined to record Newman on his own Feature label. He did so, but without commercial success.

Jimmy collaborated with Miller on Cry, Cry, Darling, and Miller took a recording of the song to Nashville in hopes of raising interest in Newman's strong, emotional singing. Newman re-recorded the song at Fred Rose's Nashville home on Woodmont Avenue, and the song provided for Newman's first introduction to a national country music audience. Cry, Cry, Darling was later recorded by Bill Monroe, Ricky Skaggs, Ronnie Milsap and others.

 In 1954, he joined The Louisiana Hayride, where he performed alongside Johnny Horton, Elvis Presley and others. The Opry beckoned in 1956, though, after he notched five straight top 10 records, including the George Jones- and Darrell Edwards-penned Seasons of My Heart. And in 1957, he notched his highest-charting record with A Fallen Star, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard country chart and peaked at No. 23 on the pop chart.

He went from Dot to MGM in 1958, and to Decca in 1961. In the 1960s he recorded 16 top 40 country hits, including 1963's D.J. for A Day, the first country hit written by Tom Hall, who would later add a "T" to his stage name. Newman was a partner in publishing house Newkeys Music, and Hall began writing for Newkeys in 1963.

Some of Newman's early recordings were Cajun-shaded, most notably his 1954 take on Miller's Diggy Liggy Lo, but most of the material he recorded early on was of the honky-tonk variety. The French Arcadian-sounding Alligator Man hit the top 40 in 1962, though, and Newman recognized that a "Cajun country" blend would set him apart from the competition and honor his roots.

In 1963, he recorded Folk Songs of the Bayou Country, with fiddler Rufus Thibodeaux and accordionist Shorty LeBlanc, and he sang some of that album's lyrics in French. From that point, Newman took care to include Cajun music in his concerts, and to hold high his Louisiana heritage. In 2009, Newman was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, an honor that followed by five years his induction into the Cajun Music Hall of Fame.

Newman's final top 10 country hits came in 1965 and 1966, with two Tom T. Hall songs, Artificial Rose and Back Pocket Money. But he remained a formidable and popular presence on the Opry and on television. (He was frequently featured on The Nashville Network during that station's 1980s and '90s heyday.) His 1974 recording of Lache Pas La Patate sold more than 200,000 copies in Canada, and his 1991 Alligator Man album with his band, Cajun Country, received a Grammy nomination.

Newman, by all accounts, knew how to hold success. Never a chart dynamo, he was a steadily entertaining personality for a majority of country music's commercial life and a spice of life for more than a half-century on the Opry. He was a devoted husband to Mae Newman; their marriage lasted more than 60 years. He was a cultural ambassador for southeastern Louisiana, and a kind and gracious presence offstage.

Jimmy C Newman's final Grand Ole Opry appearance took place on Friday June 6, 2014. Here is the lineup from that night: 

7:00: Riders In The Sky (host): Jimmy C Newman, One More Girl, Scotty McCreery
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host): Mel Tillis. Lorrie Morgan, Jesse Keith Whitley
8:30: Charley Pride (host): Connie Smith, Sara Evans
9:00: Bill Anderson (host): Rascal Flatts

Jimmy was scheduled for the following Friday night but cancelled. 

Jimmy C Newman, from what can be found, joined the Grand Ole Opry on August 4, 1956. For more than 50 years, Newman was a mainstay on the Opry, where he performed rollicking, Cajun-inflected songs such as Alligator Man and Bayou Talk. He added the "C" to his stage name in the early 1960s, saying that it stood for "Cajun," and he took pride in his designation as the first Cajun artist to join the Opry. 

"His role became the Cajun fellow at the Opry, and that's great," said Opry member Marty Stuart. "But if you go back to his 1950s recordings of Cry, Cry, Darling and Seasons of My Heart, you'll witness a country music architect at work. He was a brilliant singer, a brilliant designer of country music."

Over a decade after the passing of Jimmy C. the Cajun sound that he was so famous for has yet to reappear on the Opry. And yes, that sound, along with Jimmy C., is missed. 

One final note about Jimmy C Newman. As has been noted in numerous places, while Johnny Cash introduced Dolly Parton the first time, she appeared on the Opry at the age of 13, it was Jimmy C that gave up his spot to Dolly. She asked and he said yes. Dolly never forgot that kind jester from him and repaid it to him many times over. 

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton has passed away at the age of 80. While the news is shocking, it is somewhat not a total surprise as it had been reported that she had been battling some serious health issues and had been cancelling recent appearances. 

Here is the release: 

Country Music Hall of Famer Dolly Parton passed away today (8/25) in Nashville at the age of 80. Born Dolly Rebecca Parton on Jan. 19, 1946, she went on to become a prolific singer, songwriter, actress, philanthropist and businesswoman with a career spanning nearly 60 years. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton released her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly, in 1967 leading to success throughout the remainder of the 1960s, both as a solo artist and with a series of duet albums with Porter Wagoner. Parton has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, including 44 career Top 10 country albums and 110 charted singles. She has composed more than 3,000 songs, and her catalog of hits includes “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene,” “Coat Of Many Colors,” “Here You Come Again” and “Why’d You Come In Here Lookin’ Like That.” In addition to her work with Wagoner, Parton charted hit duets with Willie Nelson (“Everything’s Beautiful [In Its Own Way]”), Smokey Robinson (“I Know You By Heart”), Ricky Van Shelton (“Rockin’ Years”) and Kenny Rogers (“The Greatest Gift Of All,” “Real Love,” “Christmas Without You,” “I Believe In Santa Claus” and “Islands In The Stream”). She also collaborated with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt on the Trio album; with Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette on the Honky Tonk Angels project; and released “Romeo” with Billy Ray Cyrus, Tanya Tucker, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Kathy Mattea and Pam Tillis. Many of her songs saw crossover success on the pop charts, as well. 

As an actress, Parton can be seen in 9 To 5, The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk. Parton also co-owned Sandollar Productions, which produced her Academy Award winning documentary Common Threads: Stories From The Quilt (1989) as well as the television series “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003) and feature films Father Of The Bride and Father Of The Bride: Part II, among others. She owns The Dollywood Company, which manages a number of entertainment venues, including the Dollywood theme park and Splash Country water park. Parton also found a number of charitable organizations, chief of which is the Dollywood Foundation, which manages a number of projects to bring educations and poverty relief to her native East Tennessee, and the Imagination Library, which provides free books for children from birth to age five. Parton has earned 50 Grammy nominations and won 11 Grammys, including the Lifetime Achievement Award; 10 CMA Awards, including being one of only seven women to take home the organization’s Entertainer of the Year trophy; five ACM Awards; four People’s Choice Awards; three American Music Awards; and 48 BMI Awards. Parton has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1969, and is a 1999 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Parton was named to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001, is a 2008 Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame inductee, and a 2022 inductee to the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. She received the Library Of Congress Living Legend Award in 2004 and the National Medal of Arts in 2005, the same year the CRB presented her with the Artist Career Achievement Award. Parton was recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2006, and three of her compositions – “I Will Always Love You,” “Jolene” and “Coat Of Many Colors” – were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007, 2014 and 2019, respectively. Read Parton’s complete biography via the Country Music Hall of Fame here. A small, private service is being planned for immediate family. In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Mid-Week Opry Shows

The Tuesday Night Opry has Opry members Rhonda Vincent, The Whites and Riders In The Sky scheduled to appear, along with Clay Walker, Home Free, Morgan Myles, Will Moseley and making her Opry debut, Anna Graves. 

Tuesday August 25
7:00: Riders In The Sky, Will Moseley, Anna Graves, Rhonda Vincent
Intermission
8:20: The Whites, Morgan Myles, Home Free, Clay Walker

The Wednesday Night Opry features Opry members Dailey & Vincent and Charlie McCoy. Guesting are Mae Estes, Jamie O'Neal, Brandon Wisham, Home Free (back for a second night in a row) and Mountain Grass Unit, making their Opry debut. 

Wednesday August 26
7:00: Dailey & Vincent, Jamie O'Neal, Brandon Wisham, Home Free
Intermission
8:20: Ward Davis, Mountain Grass Unit, Mae Estes, Charlie McCoy

Anna Graves is a alt-folk artist from southern Minnesota and has built a following through authentic songwriting and live performances, opening for acts like Stevie Nicks, The Head and the Heart, and Maren Morris Opry. Her music blends cinematic pop melodies with folk intimacy, often drawing on themes of vulnerability, heartbreak, and healing Opry. She’s also known for her recent single Hollow Bones, which gained traction on TikTok and was featured in Harper’s Bazaar.

Mountain Grass Unit received their Opry invitation from Opry member Del McCoury. Hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, Mountain Grass Unit has rapidly emerged as one of the most electrifying young bands in modern bluegrass, fusing razor-sharp picking, fearless improvisation, and four-part harmony into a sound that feels both rooted and revolutionary. The quartet — Drury Anderson (mandolin, vocals), Luke Black (guitar, vocals), Josiah Nelson (fiddle, vocals), and Sam Wilson (bass, vocals) — first turned heads with their 2024 EP Runnin’ From Trouble, but 2025 proved to be their true breakthrough year. The band logged nearly 100 national tour dates, sold out over thirty headline shows, and delivered standout festival performances at Telluride Bluegrass, DelFest, Northlands, and WinterWonderGrass.

Grand Ole Opry 8/21 & 8/22

There was a time not long ago when Carrie Underwood would be announced on the Grand Ole Opry schedule and the shows would sell-out very quickly. Well, it would appear that those days have passed. Carrie is scheduled for two shows on Friday and Saturday this weekend, and tickets are still available. If that is not enough, the Opry was offering a Free Limited Edition Carrie Underwood poster if you purchase a ticket for the 9:30 show on either night. 

This doesn't take anything away from Carrie. At some point, every artist's career hits a peak and then flattens out, replaced by the next new thing, In Carrie's case, Lainey Wilson, Megan Moroney and now, Ella Langley have moved to the forefront. That doesn't mean that Carrie can't sell tickets. She still does, but it just takes a little more work. And, not to forget, she is still one of the Opry's most popular members who continues to make appearances on this show. But yes, times have definitely changed. 

Besides Carrie Underwood, the other item of note is the scheduled appearance of Connie Smith on the Friday Night Opry. Connie first joined the Opry on August 21, 1965, thus making this her 61st anniversary as an Opry member. I do find it strangely quiet that there seems to be no mention being made about her Opry anniversary. 

In addition to Carrie and Connie, Opry members Marty Stuart, The Isaacs and Rhonda Vincent are on the schedule for both shows on Friday. Big Daddy Weave is scheduled, and what would an Opry show be without an Opry debut and in this case, it will be The Creekers making their first appearance on the show. 

Saturday night promises to be another big night as in addition to Carrie, Opry member Randy Travis is on the schedule, appearing with James Dupre. Charles Esten is scheduled, and I am sure he will mention, and probably dedicate a song to his "Nashville" co-star, Hayden Panettiere, show tragedy passed away earlier this week. 

Opry members T. Graham Brown and John Conlee are scheduled, while Wyatt McCubbin is listed, as is Jenna Davis, who will be making her Grand Ole Opry debut.  

Friday August 21
1st show
7:00: Rhonda Vincent, Big Daddy Weave, Connie Smith, Marty Stuart
8:00: The Creekers, The Isaacs, Carrie Underwood

2nd show
9:30: Rhonda Vincent, Big Daddy Weave, Carrie Underwood, Connie Smith
10:30: Marty Stuart, The Creekers, The Isaacs

Saturday August 22
1st show
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, T. Graham Brown, Wyatt McCubbin, Jenna Davis, John Conlee
8:00: Charles Esten, James Dupre with Randy Travis, Carrie Underwood

2nd show
9:30: Opry Square Dancers, T. Graham Brown, Wyatt McCubbin, Carrie Underwood, John Conlee
10:30: James Dupre with Randy Travis, Jenna Davis, Charles Esten

The Creekers are a six-piece, band that blends authentic bluegrass music with country and pop influences. The band is from Eastern Kentucky and released their first album, Pour Me In The Creek, in 2024. The Creekers consists of Tanner Horton (vocals, lead guitar), Allen Hacker (vocals, rhythm guitar), Jagger Bowling (bass, vocals), Ashton Bowling (cajon), Scott Sutton (banjo, vocals), and Anna Blanton (fiddle), 

Jenna Davis is considered a rising star. Her debut album, Where Did That Girl Go?, released last year, showcases her undeniable vocals paired with relatable storytelling. The project followed the impressive releases of her SIKE EP and her debut single "DiCaprio"(co-written by Walker Hayes, Kelsea Ballerini and Ross Copperman), which has garnered 26.5 million streams across platforms. Her prior releases have charted impressively on both Spotify and Apple Music, with streams reaching well into the millions, highlighting her rapidly growing fan base and the far-reaching appeal of her music. Now, her latest singles “Hey Girly” and “Entertainment Tonight”, which consistently garners over 2.8 million views per week on TikTok alone and has achieved over 1 million music video views in less than a month, mark the start of her next chapter.

Now taking a look back to Saturday August 22, 1987, the night that Roy Clark became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. 

From The Tennessean (Friday August 21): 

All around entertainer and country star Roy Clark will become the 63rd member of the Grand Ole Opry during ceremonies slated for tomorrow night, Opry officials announced yesterday. Clark, 54, joins the Opry's illustrious and historic cast while in the midst of a busy career that has already spanned parts of five decades.

 A native of Virginia, Clark became a banjo champion while still in his teens and made his first Opry appearance in the late 1940s. "This is a lifetime dream come true for me," Clark said yesterday in a statement released by his publicist Carol Anderson. "I am deeply honored to be officially invited into a musical family I've loved for so long. Saturday night I'll feel like a little kid on Christmas morning." 

In becoming the Opry's newest member, Clark joins such veteran stalwarts as Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe and Minnie Pearl, as well as more recent inductees Randy Travis (1986), Reba McEntire (1985) and Mel McDaniel (1986). 

"I think the Opry has always been entertainment and when you talk about Roy Clark, you're talking about one of the premier entertainers in the world," said Opry House manager Jerry Strobel. "He combines great musicianship and comedy and singing ability with personal warmth and communication with the audience." 

Clark, who was between tour dates in Oregon and Wisconsin yesterday, will be formally into Opry membership on tomorrow's 7:30 p.m. segment of the Opry. The choice of that time slot means his induction will appear on Nashville Network's Grand Ole Opry Live show. 

An internationally known representative of American country music, Clark has won many music-industry awards during his long career. Just a few include the Country Music Association's Comedian of the Year award in 1970, its Entertainer of the Year award in 1973 and its Instrumentalist of the Year honor in 1977 and 1978. He's also the long-time host of the popular syndicated music-comedy show Hee Haw and the recording artists for such hits as The Tips of My Fingers, Yesterday When I Was Young and Somewhere Between Love and Tomorrow. 

Roy had been invited a few times to become an Opry member but turned down the invitation each time as he really wasn't based in Nashville and felt that he could not commit to the show. In fact, the only time he really spent in Nashville was for the twice a year taping of Hee Haw. However, the Opry wanted Roy as a member and felt he would be a great fit for the show. As it turned out, they were fine with Roy as a member with limited appearances and yes, he was a good fit for the Opry.

It was a big weekend at the Grand Ole Opry and here is the posted lineup from all of the shows that weekend, August 21 & 22, 1987: 

Friday August 21
1st show
6:30: The 4 Guys (host): Roy Drusky, Jeannie Seely, Teddy Wilburn, Wilma Lee Cooper
7:00: Jimmy C Newman (host): Lorrie Morgan, Ray Pillow, Tom T. Hall
7:30: Roy Acuff (host): Jean Shepard, Stonewall Jackson
8:00: Del Reeves (host): The Whites, Skeeter Davis
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Reba McEntire, Billy Walker

2nd show
9:30: Charlie Walker (host): Vic Willis Trio, Carlisles, Reba McEntire
10:00: Roy Acuff (host): The 4 Guys, Teddy Wilburn, Jan Howard
10:30: Jimmy C Newman (host): Ray Pillow, Wilma Lee Cooper, Tom T. Hall
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Jean Shepard, Stonewall Jackson, The Whites
11:30: Del Reeves (host): Billy Walker, Skeeter Davis

Saturday August 22
1st show
6:30: The 4 Guys (host): Lorrie Morgan
6:45: Charlie Louvin (host): Del Wood
7:00: Jimmy C Newman (host): Skeeter Davis, Ray Pillow, Jeannie Seely, Ernie Ashworth
7:30: Roy Acuff (host): Jan Howard, Roy Clark
8:00: Jimmy Dickens (host): Tom T. Hall, Wilma Lee Cooper, Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Jean Shepard, Roy Drusky, Stonewall Jackson, Carlisles

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy C Newman (host): Jeannie Seely, The 4 Guys, Tom T. Hall
10:00: Charlie Louvin (host): Skeeter Davis
10:15: Roy Acuff (host): Roy Clark
10:30: Ray Pillow (host): Lorrie Morgan
10:45: Jimmy Dickens (host): Jan Howard, Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Jean Shepard, Wilma Lee Cooper, Ernie Ashworth, Carlisles
11:30: Stonewall Jackson (host): Roy Drusky, Johnny Russell

And now, here is the running order from that night 39 years ago, Saturday August 22, 1987:

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
The Four Guys (host): Mama Rocked Us to Sleep with Country Music
Lorrie Morgan: Lone Star State of Mind
The Four Guys: God Bless the U.S.A.

6:45: Rudy's
Charlie Louvin (host): Let Her Go; Let Her Go; God Bless Her
Del Wood: 12th Street Rag
Charlie Louvin and Jennifer O'Brien: Every Time You Leave

7:00: Shoney's
Jimmy C Newman (host): La Cajun Band
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Ray Pillow: I'll Break out Again Tonight
Jeannie Seely: It's My Fault
Ernie Ashworth: Memphis Memory/Talk Back Trembling Lips
Jimmy C Newman: Colinda
Wade B. Landry: Orange Blossom Special

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jan Howard: Wayfaring Stranger/Heartaches by the Number
Roy Clark: Thank God & Greyhound You're Gone/I Remember When Country was Country/Under the Double Eagle

8:00: Martha White
Jimmy Dickens (host): Me & My Big Loud Mouth
Tom T Hall: Ravishing Ruby
Tom T Hall and Lamb Chop: Old McDonald Had a Farm
Tom T Hall: I Love
Wilma Lee Cooper: Coming Down from God
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Gray Eagle
Jimmy Dickens: Another Bridge to Burn

8:30: Music Valley
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Jean Shepard: I'll Sail My Ship Alone
Roy Drusky: Dear Heart
Stonewall Jackson: Smoke Along the Tracks
Bill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Hank Snow: The Prisoner's Song

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Jimmy C Newman (host): Cajun's Dream
Jeannie Seely: It's My Fault
The Four Guys: Fox on the Run
Tom T Hall: Faster Horses/Old Dogs, Children & Watermelon Wine
Jimmy C Newman: Diggy Liggy Lo

10:00: Little Debbie
Charlie Louvin (host): Kiss Me Again if You're Going Away
Skeeter Davis: My Last Date with You/Silver Threads and Golden Needles/The End of the World
Charlie Louvin: (?)

10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Roy Clark: Come Live with Me/Instrumental/If I Had to Do it All Over Again

10:30: Pet Milk
Ray Pillow (host): You're One Memory That I'd Like to Make Again
Lorrie Morgan: Silver Wings & Golden Rings
Ray Pillow: The Kind of Love I Can't Forget

10:45: Heil-Quaker
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind the Barn
Jan Howard: Take Me as I Am (Or Let Me Go)
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers
Jimmy Dickens: Life Turned Her that Way

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Forever +1; Forever +2
Jean Shepard: The Old Rugged Cross
Ernie Ashworth: The D.J. Cried
Wilma Lee Cooper: I Dreamed About Mama Last Night
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Hank Snow: The Rainbow's End

11:30: B.C. Powder
Stonewall Jackson (host): Don't Be Angry
Roy Drusky: As Long As I Live/It's No Secret
Johnny Russell: No One Will Every Know
Stonewall Jackson: Ol' Chunk of Coal

While Hee Haw was still being taped in Nashville several times each year, Roy would generally schedule his Opry appearances while in town for those tapings. He had made it clear to Opry management when he was asked to join that due to his heavy touring schedule, his Opry appearances would be limited and management was fine with that. 

Roy would remain an Opry member until he passed away on November 15, 2018.

Mid-Week Opry Shows

Taking a look at the Tuesday Night Opry, Opry member Eddie Montgomery will be appearing, along with members Mark Wills and Charlie McCoy. Tigirlily Gold is guesting, along with Sidewalk Prophets, Kenny Whitmire, Devon Gilfillian and Allison Russell. 

Tuesday August 15
7:00: Mark Wills, Allison Russell, Kenny Whitmire, Eddie Montgomery
Intermission
8:20: Devon Gilfillian, Sidewalk Prophets, Tigirlily Gold, Charlie McCoy

The Wednesday Night Opry features members The Isaacs, T. Graham Brown and Riders In The Sky. The War and Treaty will be guesting, along with Bronwyn and Troy Cartwright, who will be making his Opry debut. 

Wednesday August 16
7:00: Dailey & Vincent, Riders In The Sky, Troy Cartwright, The War and Treaty
Intermission
8:20: Bronwyn, Aaron Weber, T. Graham Brown, The Isaacs