The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-up for the 2 shows this weekend. They are still at the Ryman Auditorium with 1 show on Friday and 1 show on Saturday. With Saturday being Christmas Eve, I was concerned with what kind of line up they would have, and over all it is ok.
Saturday night will feature non-members Laura Cantrell, Eddy Raven, David Ball and Suzy Bogguss. The Friday night Opry will have Julie Roberts, Dale Ann Bradley and Jimmy Wayne performing. I also notice that Stu Phillips is listed for Friday night. As I mentioned the last time he was scheduled, he has cancelled out on his last few scheduled appearances so let's see if he can make it this weekend. I know he has had some voice issues.
Friday December 23
7:00: John Conlee (host); Jeannie Seely; Julie Roberts
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Stu Phillips; Dale Ann Bradley
INTERMISSION
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds; Elizabeth Cook
8:45: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jim Lauderdale; Jimmy Wayne
Saturday December 24
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Jim Lauderdale; Laura Cantrell
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Johnny Counterfit; Eddy Raven
INTERMISSION
8:15: George Hamilton IV (host); Bobby Osborne & Rocky Top X-Press; David Ball; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Jim Ed Brown (host); Riders In The Sky; Suzy Bogguss
There are 12 artists scheduled for both Friday and Saturday night, of whom 7 are Opry members that will be on the Friday night show, and 6 Opry members on Saturday night.
The host of the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree will be Dianne Sherrill and she will be joined by Laura Cantrell. And yes, the show will be live at midnight on Christmas Eve.
I have gone through my files and have located some past Opry line ups from when the Grand Ole Opry took place on Christmas Eve and I will be posting some of those over the next couple of days.
Merry Christmas!!!!
One of the problems with any Christmas lineup is that some Opry performers aren't in town. I believe that Jimmy C. Newman, who rarely misses a Saturday night, goes home to Louisiana, for example. But so few members, especially compared with the list you posted from 1988 ... pitiful.
ReplyDeleteStu Phillips was on last night and I hate to say it because I do like Stu, but he sounded absolutely terrible. It is just so sad when a singer loses their voice and keeps trying to continue.
ReplyDeleteStu did mention that he had been in a very serious car accident and had gone over a cliff, which he said was why he had not been on the Opry in a while. He said it was through God that he was still with us. He did sing C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S.
Here is a Christmas wish from me to Stu: I hope that your voice comes back to what it once was.
I don't know who else has noticed this, but over the past several weeks, they seem to be saying Friday Night Opry less and less and saying some other words. For example, when going to a commerical, Eddie will say, "We will return to our broadcast after these words.", instead of saying we will return to the Friday Night Opry. Other times he will say the "now back to the show" instead of saying back to the Friday Night Opry. I know it is a small thing, but I wonder why the change.
(from Byron)