Grand Ole Opry 10/26 & 10/27

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the shows this weekend. There will be the usual one show on Friday Night, but the Opry is back to two shows on Saturday. The highlight for this weekend will be the return of Alison Krauss to the Opry stage. Alison is one of those artists that all of us would like to see more at the Opry and it is nice to see her back. Along with Alison on Saturday night will be Opry members Vince Gill, Charlie Daniels, frequent Opry guest Jimmy  Wayne, and the newest member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Connie Smith.

The Friday Night Opry will feature a guest appearance by Sweethearts of the Rodeo, who are back together with a new album out. Sweethearts of the Rodeo consists of sisters Kristine Arnold and Janis Oliver. Janis is the former Mrs. Vince Gill, so it makes total sense that they would be on Friday night and Vince on Saturday night. They have been making the rounds in Nashville this week promoting the new project. Also joining them on Friday night will be Opry members Joe Diffie and Ralph Stanley.

Scheduled to return to the Opry stage this weekend are Jesse McReynolds, who cancelled out last weekend due to a sore throat, and Jimmy Dickens.

Friday October 26
7:00: John Conlee (host); Eric Paslay; Jean Shepard
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jesse McReynolds; Steel Magnolia
Intermission
8:15: George Hamilton IV (host); Sweethearts of the Rodeo; Jimmy Wayne
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Ralph Stanley; Joe Diffie

Saturday October 27
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Canaan Smith; Jimmy C Newman
7:30: Jean Shepard (host); Matraca Berg; Jimmy Wayne
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Alison Krauss; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Vince Gill (host); Connie Smith; Charlie Daniels Band

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Canaan Smith; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
10:00: Ray Pillow (host); Matraca Berg; Jimmy Wayne
10:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Alison Krauss; Opry Sqaure Dancers
11:00: Vince Gill (host); Connie Smith; Charlie Daniels Band

12 acts on Friday Night, with 11 for each show on Saturday. Each show will feature 8 Opry members. The Midnight Jamboree this weekend will feature Wilson Fairchild as the hosts. The are the sons of Harold and Don Reid of the Statler Brothers.

Now it's time for this weeks look back in Opry History. This week I am going back to Saturday October 27, 1979, 33 years ago this Saturday. A salute was given to Bill Monroe by Bud Wendell, Grant Turner and Hal Durham in honor of Bill Monroe's 40th anniversary as an Opry member.

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Stonewall Jackson (host): Why, I'm Walking
Lonzo & Oscar: The Old Homeplace
Stonewall Jackson: A Wound Time Can't Erase

6:45: Rudy's
Jack Greene (host) & Jeannie Seely: If It Ain't Love, Let's Leave It Alone
Jeannie Seely: Take One As Needed For Pain
Vic Willis & Curtis Young: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Jack Greene: Your's For The Taking

7:00: Shoney's
Bill Monroe (host): Mule Skinner Blues
Wilma Lee Cooper: The Unclouded Day
Jim & Jesse: Ashes Of Love
Billy Grammer: Kentucky Waltz/Georgiana Moon/Tennessee Waltz
Bill Monroe (with Wilma Lee Cooper & Jim & Jesse): I Saw The Light

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jean Shepard: Then He Touched Me
Justin Tubb: What's Wrong With The Way That We're Doing It Now
Ernie Ashworth: You Can't Pick A Rose In December
Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Tennessee Wagoner
Roy Acuff: Lord, Don't Give Up On Me

8:00: Martha White
Grandpa Jones (host) & Ramona Jones: Come & Dine
Skeeter Davis: I'll Fly Away
Wilburn Brothers: What A Way To Go
Bill Carlisle: Leave That Liar Alone
Hager Twins: (?)
Charlie Louvin: Love Don't Care
Kathy Barton: Dixie

8:30: Acme
Hank Snow (host): It Takes Too Long To Heal A Broken Heart
Connie Smith: Way Up On The Mountain
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain
4 Guys: Mama Rocked Us To Sleep With Country Music
Marion Worth: Someone Is Looking For Someone Like You
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbbing Ridge
Hank Snow: A Good Gal Nowadays Is Hard To Find

2nd show
9:30: Kelloggs
Jack Greene (host): Lord, I Need Somebody Bad Tonight
Jeannie Seely: Since I Met The Boy
Lonzo & Oscar: Dueling Banjos
Vic Willis & Curtis Young: Last Cheater's Waltz
Wilma Lee Cooper: I Closed My Heart's Door
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything

10:00: Fender
Bill Monroe (host): Bile Them Cabbage Down
Jean Shepard: Slipping Away
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
Bill Monroe: The Gloryland Way

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Sunshine Special
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Jim & Jesse: Paradise
Carolee Singers: A Song The Holy Angels Cannot Sing
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away

10:30: Trailblazer
Grandpa Jones (host): Columbus Stockade Blues
Billy Grammer: Georgiana Moon
Justin Tubb: As Long As There's A Sunday
Grandpa & Romana Jones: Dark As A Dungeon

10:45: Beech-Nut
Charlie Louvin (host): Hey, Daddy
Skeeter Davis: Just When I Needed You Most
Crook Brothers/ Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Katy Hill
Charlie Louvin: Working Man Blues

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Wreck Of The Old 97/One More Ride
Connie Smith: Love Lifted Me/Satisfied
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Holler Poplar
Wilburn Brothers: Knoxville Girl
Kirk McGee: Blue Night
Hank Snow: Just A Faded Pedal From A Beautiful Bouquet

11:30: Little Debbie
Billy Walker (host): I'm A Little Short On Love
4 Guys: Fire/Mama Rocked Us To Sleep With Country Music
Marion Worth: New Lips
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Billy Walker: Cattle Call