A couple of changes in the line-up. Connie Smith has been added for Friday and Saturday night. Jimmy C. Newman added for Friday night. Bobby Osborne has cancelled.
The Grand Ole Opry has announced line-ups for this weekend's shows. The highlight for many Opry fans will be the Saturday appearance of Loretta Lynn. The long time Opry member has made infrequent appearances in recent years, so this weekend will be a treat for her fans. Also appearing this weekend will be Charlie Daniels, Pam Tillis, Joe Diffie and Marty Stuart.
Here are the line-ups:
Friday April 23
7:00: Pam Tillis(host); John Conlee; The Whites
7:30: Jimmy Dickens(host); Jeannie Seely; The Steeldrivers
INTERMISSION
8:15: Marty Stuart(host); Jimmy C. Newman; Jack Greene; Connie Smith
8:45: Bill Anderson(host); Stonewall Jackson; Charlie Daniels Band
Saturday April 24
First Show
7:00: John Conlee(host); The Whites: Jason & The Long Road To Love
7:30: George Hamilton IV(host); Jimmy C. Newman; Connie Smith; Point Of Grace
8:00: Jeannie Seely(host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Joe Diffie; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Mike Snider(host); Jack Greene; Loretta Lynn
Second Show
9:30: John Conlee(host); The Whites; Loretta Lynn
10:00: Mike Snider(host); Jimmy C. Newman; Jason & The Long Road To Love
10:30: George Hamilton IV(host); Jan Howard; Point Of Grace; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jeannie Seely(host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Joe Diffie
With many of the Opry's usual segment hosts out of town this weekend, George Hamilton gets the opportunity to hosts two segments on Saturday night. Also, Jesse McReynolds and Jimmy C. Newman are doing both shows on Saturday and The Whites are appearing on all three shows over the weekend. And, there are still slots to fill for this weekend.
Finally, just a note on Gaylord and the Opry. We have commented before on what appears to be lower attendance at the Opry shows. Over the past several days, Gaylord has released their 2009 annual report and have scheduled their shareholders meeting. Getting a look at the report and trying to get a feel for how the Opry is doing is a little bit hard, as Gaylord includes the Opry in the category called "Opry and Attractions", which includes items other than the Opry. I can tell you that "Opry and Attractions" income and revenue are down for the 3rd consecutive year, which is not good news if you like the Opry. At some point, you would have to think that this would have to turn around, or as Gaylord moves more into the hotel and convention business, they could be looking to sell the Opry to create more revenue to expand their hotel holdings.
Many of us have thought that maybe the Opry would be better off if someone other than Gaylord Entertainment were the owners of the Opry, but you can never tell. As Opry fans, let us hope that good decisions are made about the future of the show.
Just a couple of comments on last night's Opry show. I listened to the first show and it was a very good show. The artists sounded great.
ReplyDeleteI was especially anxious to hear Loretta Lynn. It is no secret that she has had some health issues over the past few years and is getting up there in age. But, in my opinion after listening last night, she sounded very good. She did "Your Looking At Country," and of course "Coal Miners Daughter." Mike Snider asked her to do a 3rd song, and she did "Don't Come Home A Drinkin." The crowd response was very good and enthused.
Now my only complaint. She rushed through the songs like she was on a time limit. She sang them well, but fast. She is not the only one I have heard do this on the Opry, or in live shows. I just wish she would have slowed down just a bit and watched the speed. I did hear her say thanks, but nothing else to the audience between songs. I know she is not a talker, so that was fine. And, I know from watching her on stage that she does acknowledge the audience.
Just a comment, but it was great that she was on the Opry again and I hope she will return more often. And, the voice is still there.
I listened to and noticed how quickly she was on and off, but she did indeed sound very good. I had the feeling that it was a response to last week, when, I believe, the shows ran a little long, and maybe there was a bit of a crackdown.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the Midnight Jamboree had a guest announcer, Keith Bilbrey. It was good to hear him again.
In regards to the time of the show, I have noticed that several of the segment hosts in recent weeks are not doing a final number at the end of the segment. It happened with Mike Snider last night and Jeannie Seely only did one verse of "Don't Touch Me."
ReplyDeleteI did notice that on the week I was there, that the first show ran over by about 7 or 8 minutes and that they were really pushing the people out, faster than they normally do. The 2nd show started right at 9:30, so there was only about 20 minutes between shows.
In the old days, the break was always a half hour. If the first show ran long, the second show would start late.
Even though they are owned by the same company, WSM still watches the time carefully as that is commercial time they could be losing if the show runs over.
I remember when TNN started televising the Opry that Bill Anderson and Jim Ed Brown got some extra apperances as hosts because, I suspect, they were so experienced with television that they handled the clock better. Porter Wagoner would have been similar, but he also had the habit of doing what he felt like doing out there!
ReplyDelete