The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-up for this weekends shows. There will be 1 show on Friday night and 2 shows on Saturday night. Unless ticket demand shows otherwise, this will be the final Saturday with 2 shows until April. The shows this week, as they will be until February, will be at the Ryman Auditorium.
This week's Friday night Opry features Mel Tillis and Jimmy Wayne, while the Saturday night shows will feature Emmylou Harris. Emmylou pretty much only plays the Opry when it is at the Ryman Auditorium and she has said many times that she considers the Ryman a much better place to play on the Opry than at the Grand Ole Opry House. Also being featured on each of her segments on Saturday will be Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen and The Low Anthem. Chris Hillman and Herb Pedesen have a new CD out that features the great Louvin Brothers song, later recorded as a hit by Emmylou, "If I Could Only Win Your Love." And yes, this is the same Chris Hillman from the Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers and The Desert Rose Band. Herb Pedersen and Chris have worked together for a long time. The Low Anthem is a folk band based out of Rhode Island. They have been around since 2006 and have developed a following. We know from the past the Emmylou is given a lot of freedom to ask whoever she would like to appear with her on the Opry and I think this is the case again this weekend.
Friday December 10
7:00: Jeannie Seely(host); The Whites; Emily West
7:30: Jimmy Dickens(host); Jimmy C. Newman; Del McCoury Band
INTERMISSION
8:15: Jim Ed Brown(host); Jack Greene; Jimmy Wayne
8:45: Mel Tillis(host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Connie Smith
Saturday December 11
First Show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens(host); Jimmy C. Newman; Del McCoury Band
7:30: Mike Snider(host); Jean Shepard; Heidi Newfield
8:00: Jim Ed Brown(host); Jan Howard; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Emmylou Harris(host); Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen; The Low Anthem
Second Show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens(host); Jeannie Seely; Del McCoury Band
10:00: Mike Snider(host); Connie Smith; Heidi Newfield
10:30: Jean Shepard(host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Emmylou Harris(host); Chris Hillman & Herb Pedersen; The Low Anthem
Obviously, there is one spot to fill on each of the shows before the square dancers.
The Tuesday Night Opry on December 14 will be the final Tuesday night show until March. Here is the line-up for this weeks show.
7:00: The Whites; Danny Gokey
7:30: Jimmy C. Newman; Del McCoury Band
INTERMISSION
8:15: Rascal Flatts; Elizabeth Cook
8:45: Jimmy Dickens; Diamond Rio
Now a bad way to finish out the Tuesday night series for this year.
Just thought I'd mention that Chris Hillman made his Opry debut 42 years ago, on March 15, 1968, when he performed with The Byrds. It's so fitting that he'll be performing in the segments that Emmylou Harris will be hosting-- he's the person who suggested to Gram Parsons that she might make a good duet partner for him, and since Gram Parsons is the person who introduced her to country music, in a very real sense, without Chris Hillman, Emmylou Harris might never have become a member of the Opry, let alone a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the mention. Funny how different events can be tied together.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that Jimmy Dickens was missing tonight, and Jimmy C. Newman shifted to the 7:00 segment while The Whites moved over to host at 7:30, with Ray Pillow pinch-hitting.
ReplyDeleteAnd did you notice that they allowed Ray Pillow to do 2 songs? Good for him. Maybe that was the deal he cut with Pete Fisher when he was called. And, it just goes to show that the true Opry legends answer their phone and respond when asked to appear at the last minute.
ReplyDeleteDid they say anything about Connie Smith? She was replaced by Darryl Singletary and I see she is off tonights lineup too.
ReplyDeleteNothing was said about Connie Smith and why she cancelled.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Saturday night, on the warm-up show, Jimmy Dickens is still being advertised as being on. Also, Jim Ed Brown is taking Connie Smith's spot on the 2nd show. Chuck Mead is taking the slot before the square dancers on both shows.
That should bring everyone up to date as of 7:00.
No Jimmy Dickens tonight. Jeannie Seely hosted the first segment instead of Dickens. She was not scheduled on the first show. Not sure what the plan is for the 2nd show. Jimmy was scheduled to host the 1st segment of that show and Jeannie Seely was to be the first guest. I am going to guess that Jeannie will host and either no one else will appear or maybe someone will hang over from the 1st show.
ReplyDeleteJeannie Seely did host the 1st segment of the 2nd show, with Jimmy C. Newman staying and playing the 2nd show.
ReplyDeleteJimmy Dickens has cancelled for the Tuesday Night Opry and has been replaced by Gene Watson. With his 90th birthday coming up in a week, I hope he is doing ok. I know it has been cold with snow in Nashville.
ReplyDeleteAs I recall, he missed more shows last winter, too. I suspect, since he's susceptible (I think) to colds and worse, they want to keep him in when there's weather like this.
ReplyDeleteI was at the Ryman in 1973. It was some time between christmas and new years and I thought it was the "last" of something... either broadcast, or live show at the Ryman .... or something. the lineup was amazing and it's a memory of my youth that I've always treasured. Do you have access to the line up at that time? I feel like it was New Year's eve.
ReplyDeleteLarry, I don't have the whole line up from that night, which would have been December 29, 1973. What I have are the Opry members who were on the first show:
ReplyDelete6:30-Bill Anderson(host); Justin Tubb
6:45: Bill Monroe(host); Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper
7:00: Roy Acuff(host); Tex Ritter; Del Wood
7:30: Ernest Tubb(host); Charlie Louvin; Willis Brothers
8:00: Lester Flatt(host); Ernie Ashworth
8:30: Hank Snow(host); Jim & Jesse; 4 Guys
Also, Marty Robbins hosted the 11:30 segment.
Sorry, that is all I had from that night. And, there were some great Opry stars on.
(from Byron)