Before beginning my look at the shows scheduled for this week, I hope that everyone had a very thankful and grateful Thanksgiving and that each one of you were able to enjoy the day with family and friends. I am thankful for all of you who read the blog, or post comments. I am always surprised that people actually read what I write and I thank each and every one of you. We don't always agree on everything except for the fact that each of us are fans of the Grand Ole Opry and care about the show. Thanks again!!!
As far as the Opry this weekend, Saturday night has 2 shows scheduled and that is because this was another of the nights that Keith Urban was scheduled to perform and the Opry set up 2 shows due to the expected ticket demand. The tickets sold quickly, but like the other date that Keith was forced to cancel, there were again unhappy fans who had tickets for the shows this weekend. Newcomer Hunter Hayes is scheduled for Saturday night and some fans on the Opry's facebook page were trying to pass him off as being as good as a younger Keith Urban. Don't know about that, but they tried.
Also appearing on Saturday night will be Charlie Daniels, who is set for both shows. And Stu Phillips is scheduled for the 2nd show on Saturday. He has had to cancel his last couple of Opry appearances as he appears to be having some vocal issues. I always thought Stu was a fine ballad singer and I hope he is well enough to appear.
Friday November 25
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Jim Ed Brown; James Wesley
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bobby Osborne & Rocky Top X-Press; Sherrie Austin
INTERMISSION
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); Jan Howard; Jack Greene; Mandy Barnett
8:45: John Conlee (host); Jean Shepard; Del McCoury Band
Saturday November 26
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Hunter Hayes
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; Elizabeth Cook
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Ray Pillow; Del McCoury Band; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Connie Smith; Charlie Daniels Band
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Hunter Hayes
10:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); George Hamilton IV; Elizabeth Cook
10:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Stu Phillips; Del McCoury Band; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Connie Smith; Charlie Daniels
The breakdown this week is 13 artist on Friday night, which is the most in a while, of whom 10 are Opry members. Each show on Saturday has 12 artists, with 10 Opry members.
The host of the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree will be Jim Glaser of the famous Glaser Brothers. The Glaser Brothers are former members of the Opry and it would have been nice if the Opry had invited Jim to be part of the show this weekend. Appearing with him will be the Chuck Wagon Gang. The Midnight Jamboree sounds like it might be a good show to listen to this weekend.
I check every day to see if you've written anything new.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work.
With WSM now sending out a very high quality AAC+ internet stream, I can listen to WSM a LOT, and this blogspot helps compliment the Nashville experience.
I am disappointed that the Chuck Wagon Gang is not featured on the Opry tonight. I am currently listening to their live performance on WSM from the Ernest Tubb Record Shop just around the corner from the Ryman Auditorium. Given the significance of this weekend in Chuck Wagon Gang history it seems only fitting that they should be invited to perform in the Mother Church.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, why Pete Fisher doesn't seem to want any association with the Midnight Jamboree is beyond me. Unless he figures that the old-timers who sometimes perform on there don't belong at the Opry, much as he feels about a lot of the Opry's senior members.
ReplyDeleteNo Jimmy Dickens for Saturday night. Jim Ed Brown is hosting the 1st segment on the 1st show. Don't know who will host the 1st segment on the 2nd show, but I would say Mike Snider is an option as he is only scheduled on the 1st show. Ray Pillow is also available.
ReplyDeleteI will say that Jimmy's voice on Friday night sounded a little weak when he was singing. Not sure if that is why he cancelled out.
He sounded a little weak, but I also noticed he wasn't scheduled on the Tuesday Night Opry the other night. Anyway, we hope The Potato is well.
ReplyDeleteGee, I can remember when there were enough members present on a Saturday night that if somebody canceled, there were still enough people around to host and fill in.
Jean Shepard is hosting the opening segment of the 2nd show. I forgot she was only scheduled for the 1st show tonight.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I remember those days when there were more than enough artists to host a segment. I know that Jimmy C Newman hasn't hosted a segment in probably 2 years, but I was still hoping they would move him up.
On a good note, I thought Ray Pillow sounded great tonight. Why he is not on the Opry more, or allowed to sing more than 1 song, I will never know.
Byron, considering that Ray is 74, he sounds magnificent; he's sound great if he were 40. I don't get it, either.
ReplyDeleteOnce upon a time, Hal Durham said that, basically, Hall of Famers host. He made an exception now and then, but pretty much stuck with that. Fisher doesn't seem to care about that in Jean's case, and it doesn't seem to matter to him that no other man has been an Opry member longer than Jimmy C.
I wasn't aware that there was a disconnect between Fisher and the Jamboree but it really does not surprise me. Maybe Fisher is doing what he has to do to maintain survival of the Opry but his policies leave me scratching my head in bewilderment. I think David McCormick would make a better manager of the Opry.
ReplyDeleteAnon (I'll call you that for short), I don't know that there is a disconnect, except between Fisher and any old-timer he hasn't personally made an Opry member (or ones he might be a little scared of). My attitude is, giving that week's host one song on the Opry wouldn't be the end of the world, unless Fisher thinks it would be. They're both on WSM. They're both country music attractions in Nashville. It seems to me a little cross-promotion might benefit everybody.
ReplyDeleteI know that back in the day, there was a lot of cross promotion going on with the Jamboree and the Opry. Of course, when the owner of the Jamboree is an Opry member, you can understand that. And, when Justin took over the Jamboree after Ernest became ill, he was still doing the Opry and promoting the show. I can also remember that whatever Opry member was hosting the Jamboree, they would mention it on the Opry. You still hear that once in a while, but not much.
ReplyDeleteIn all fairness to the Opry and the Jamboree, the Jamboree has selected some people as hosts that have been performers out of Texas that do not have much name recognition up in Nashville. I can understand those people not being on the Opry, but a Jeannie C. Riley or Jim Glaser, I don't understand.
I know that when the Opry went to one show on Saturday night that it really killed the attendance at the Jamboree. Some nights I was there and the place would only be a quarter full. I know it has made a comeback of late, which is great to see. I am still surprised that the show is free.
One last comment regarding the legends. I heard that Stu Phillips cancelled out again on Saturday night and they didn't replace him with anyone. To me, that is Pete Fisher basically telling the artist that I have to schedule you, but I don't need you. The fact that he does not even replace him with someone else, tells you what Pete thinks of Stu. I can almost hear it in the Opry office, "Oh, Stu can't make it. No big deal, just have Del sing another song."
(from Byron)
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