Grand Ole Opry Line-Up 10/15 & 10/16

The Grand Ole Opry has posted this weekend's line ups. There is 1 show on Friday night and 2 shows on Saturday night. The Friday Night Opry is the Opry's 2nd annual "Opry Goes Pink" as the Opry honors and salutes breast cancer awareness. The Opry backdrop will be pink for the night and the show will feature a performance by The Judds.

7:00: Marty Stuart(host); Jimmy C. Newman; Connie Smith
7:30: Jimmy Dickens(host); Jean Shepard; John Anderson
INTERMISSION
8:15: Bill Anderson(host); Jan Howard; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Joey+Rory
8:45: Mike Snider(host); The Judds

The Saturday Night Grand Ole Opry will feature a performance on the first show by long-lost Opry member Randy Travis. Randy's last Opry appearance was on Saturday night November 8, 2008, when he performed on both shows. This was also the night Kevin Costner made his Opry debut. Also in 2008, Randy appeared as a suprise guest on the Opry on March 15, when he invited Carrie Underwood to become an Opry member. Prior to 2008, his last Opry appearance was in 2001, when he appeared on the show 2 times.

Saturday night's show will also feature Jimmy Wayne, who will be at the Opry for the 2nd week in a row. Holly Williams will also be appearing, along with Eamonn McCrystal. I had to look that one up, as to be honest, I had never heard of him before so I looked him up. It looks like he is connected to Randy Travis, because on his website it mentions that he opened for Randy on his Ireland tour in 2009. He appears to be making personal appearances and is working on a new album. And, he is signed with Elizabeth Travis's Management Group. So, he sounds like a younger talent that Randy is trying to bring along. That would appear why he is appearing with Randy on the first show, but is not on the 2nd show. I am guessing that he was booked on the Opry as a package deal with Randy, to expose him to a bigger audience.

First Show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens(host); Connie Smith; Holly Williams
7:30: Mike Snider(host); Jeannie Seely; The Whites; James Wesley
8:00: Riders In The Sky(host); Jim Ed Brown; Jimmy Wayne; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson(host); Eamonn McCrystal; Randy Travis

Second Show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens(host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Holly Williams
10:00: Mike Snider(host); Jean Shepard; The Whites
10:30: Riders In The Sky(host); Stonewall Jackson; James Wesley; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson(host); Jim Ed Brown; Jimmy Wayne

Same order of segment hosts for each show. Leona Williams will be the host for this week's Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree, taping at 10:00pm.

Finally, I did forget to mention that the Opry has a new picture history book out, highlighting the Opry's 85th birthday. I think the book is much better than some of the recent efforts as more has been added. All the Opry members are pictured, as you would expect, and some of the pictures have been updated. The Opry's history is covered more than in the past books, with more historical events noted. There is a list of Opry members by the decade, a couple of pages on WSM radio, and of course, a section on the flood. The is also the usual behind the scenes pictures featuring the Opry staff and various Opry departments. All in all, not a bad effort.

I did notice in the book there is one change. They have changed the date that George Jones became an Opry member from March 31, 1973 to August 11, 1956 and he is now listed as one of those who have been an Opry member for longer than 50 years. Interesting!! For years and years, they have used the 1969 date as George's induction date, as that is the date he returned to the Opry after being gone for a number of years, much like Jimmy Dickens. I don't know why they decided to change his induction date and as far as I know, there has been no public recognition given to George regarding him being a 50 year member. Either way, congratulations to George. It would be nice if he did the Opry more often.