Here is the Grand Ole Opry line-up for this weekend:
Friday April 10th
7:00: Marty Stuart(host); Jimmy C Newman; John Conlee; Connie Smith
7:30: Jimmy Dickens(host); Mel McDaniel; Jim Ed Brown; Ricky Skaggs
8:00: Bill Anderson(host); Jan Howard; Mike Snider; Point Of Grace
8:30: Vince Gill(host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jean Shepard; The Whites
Saturday April 11th
First Show:
7:00: Jimmy Dickens(host); The Whites; Mike Snider; Jo Dee Messina
7:30: Mel Tillis(host); Jean Shepard; John Conlee; Rhonda Vincent
8:00: Marty Stuart(host); Connie Smith; Ricky Skaggs; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson(host); Martina McBride; Vince Gill
Second Show:
9:30: Jimmy Dickens(host); Jim Ed Brown; Mike Snider; Martina McBride
10:00: Mel Tillis(host); Kenyon Lockry; Riders In The Sky; Jo Dee Messina
10:30: Marty Stuart(host); Rhonda Vincent; Connie Smith; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson(host); Ricky Skaggs; Vince Gill
Generally, the weekend of Easter is one of the strongest line-ups at the Opry and this weekend is no exception. From the members of the Hall of Fame(Jimmy Dickens, Bill Anderson, Vince Gill and Mel Tillis); to a couple of the hottest female singers in country music today(Martina McBride and Jo Dee Messina); to the top female in bluegrass(Rhonda Vincent); to the legends(Jim Ed Brown and Jan Howard); and to a couple of the most popular members of the Opry(Marty Stuart, Connie Smith and Ricky Skaggs), there is something to please everyone. Should be a sell-out weekend. Finally, Rhonda Vincent will be hosting the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree on Saturday night, which as always, is free.
I was at the early show Saturday night. It was my 299th show to see in person. This was one of the strongest Opry shows from beginning to end that the Opry has had since probably last October or November. You know it is a strong night when Ricky Skaggs/John Conlee/Vince Gill etc are guesting instead of hosting. The man sitting next to me was from Texas. It was his first time to see the Opry in person, he was on the front row and trust me, he was shaking his head in amazement at the "bigness" of it all at 8:30 after 3/4 of the show was over. I told him that it was then about to get really "electric." After the 8:30 portion with Bill Anderson, Martina McBride and Vince Gill back to back. . .the guy was truly speechless.
ReplyDeleteIt really was a great show(and again I have seen 299 of them). I listened to the second show on WSM on the way home and it was even a better late show. I know they take a lot flack, particularly in recent times but Kudos to Opry management for a terrific lineup on this night. . .and please don't tamper or mess any further with the format/length of the Opry. It has been successful the way it is for 84 years and on a "great" night there is truly nothing else like it anywhere in the world.