For those of you who were maybe hoping that the Opry would add a "big" name or two to this weekend's line-ups. Sorry!!! T.G. Sheppard gets added to Friday night and Blaine Larsen gets the Saturday night slot.
T.G. Sheppard is interesting in that he has been playing the Opry on occasion over the past several years. He is in a group of country veterans who have seen the better part of the career pass and are not touring or recording as much and playing the Opry gives them a venue to sing and keeps them in the public eye. T.G. has particuarly been doing the Opry Country Classics show. But, T.G. did not always think highly of the Opry. In the 1970s, when T.G.'s career was at its peak, gave the following interview about the Opry and made these observations:
"I played the Opry only once. I guess we could play it more, but we just don't, because we're what they call the 'new breed.' And a lot of the 'new breed' doesn't play the Opry." He went on to talk about the time he did play the Opry. "We'll, it was very strange. I don't know --I think every performer experiences that whenever you go to the Opry for the first time. You know, you're standing in the middle of history. I guess it's pretty much like if you're a politician and you get to walk into the Oval Office and sit behind the President's desk for two or three seconds. You know that you're sitting where all the guests have sat. My appearance at the Opry was a humbling experience for me, no matter what my music form may be. I sang 'Last Cheaters's Waltz', a very good country song. And 'Devil in a Bottle,' another very country song. The reaction was good. The audiences at the Opry are very enthusiastic people. Most of them come from all walks of life, and from all across America, to witness whoever is on that night. It's strange to me that in a time when everybody's complaining about business being off, the Opry still pack's them in every weekend and nobody knows who's going to be there. There's no box office draw! The music form itself, I guess, is the draw."
I guess over the years, T.G. thinks more of the Opry.
The Grand Ole Opry has posted this weekend's line-ups. As usual, there will be one show on Friday night and one show on Saturday, both nights at Two Rivers Baptist Church across from the Opry House in Nashville.
On Friday night, the Opry will feature Sam Bush, Del McCoury and Mel Tillis, while on Saturday night, Dailey & Vincent along with Joey+Rory will be featured.
Friday September 10
7:00: Jeannie Seely(host); Jim Ed Brown; Sam Bush
7:30: Jimmy Dickens(host); Jan Howard; Del McCoury Band
INTERMISSION
8:15: Mel Tillis(host); Stonewall Jackson; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jean Shepard
8:45: Mike Snider(host); Connie Smith; T.G. Sheppard
Saturday September 11
7:00: Jimmy Dickens(host); Jimmy C. Newman; Blaine Larsen
7:30: Jean Shepard(host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Joey+Rory
INTERMISSION
8:15: The Whites(host); Jack Greene; Del McCoury Band
8:45: Riders In The Sky(host); Connie Smith; Dailey & Vincent
With the Opry at Two Rivers Baptist Church on Saturday night, there will be no square dancers on the show. Also, as you can see, there is still a slot to fill on Friday night and Saturday night.
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