Grand Ole Opry 12/7 & 12/8

The big news at the Grand Ole Opry for this weekend is that Marty Stuart will be celebrating 20 years as an Opry member by hosting the final hour long segment on both shows Saturday night. As noted before, the actual date that Marty joined the Grand Ole Opry was November 28, 1992, so he is a couple of weeks late in celebrating. Joining Marty will be Connie Smith, along with Old Crow Medicine Show and Charley Pride. In addition, knowing how Marty feels about our Native Americans, he has invited Chief Phyliss Anderson and the Choctaw Dancers to join him on both shows.

As far as the Friday Night Opry is concerned, American Idol favorite Scotty McCreery will be on. He has performed on the Opry previously, and I am sure he will be singing selections from his Christmas album, and he will be holding an autograph session at the Opry Shop after the show. Also on Friday night will be Opry members Diamond Rio and Charley Pride, along with guest artist Kristen Kelly.

As I mentioned before, I will be in Nashville this weekend and at all 3 Opry shows. It should be a good weekend.

Friday December 7
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Kristen Kelly; George Hamilton IV
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jesse McReynolds; Diamond Rio
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host): Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Scotty McCreery
8:45: Charley Pride (host); Jean Shepard; The Whites

Saturday December 8
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; Del McCoury Band
8:00: Marty Stuart (host); Connie Smith; Opry Square Dancers; Old Crow Medicine Show; Chief Phyliss Anderson and the Choctaw Dancers; Brandy Clark; Charley Pride

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Del McCoury Band
10:30: Marty Stuart (host); Connie Smith; Opry Square Dancers; Old Crow Medicine Show; Chief Phyliss Anderson and the Choctaw Dancers; Brandy Clark Charley Pride

Looks like there are still 2 slots to fill on Saturday night.

Now it's time to look back at Opry History. For this week, here is the line-up from Saturday December 12, 1964, close to 48 years ago this weekend. As usual for that time, there was 1 show on Saturday night. As you look at the line-up, you can see how "loaded" it is and an example of how the Opry became such a big show. Also, notice that Roy Acuff is hosting the 11:00 portion instead of Hank Snow. Looking at some of the line-ups from that period that I have, Hank was hosting the majority of the 11:00 segments, but not all. And finally, this show took place the weekend following the firing of the 12 Opry members. Notice that none of them are on this particular show, while many of the Opry's members are there. As a final note, the only guest artist that performed on this particular night (not considering June Stearn who was part of Acuff's road show), was Connie Smith. She was not a member as of yet.

7:30: Luzianne
Porter Wagoner (host): One Way Ticket to the Blues
Jean Shepard: He Plays the Bongo (I Play the Banjo)
Billy Walker: Cross the Brazos at Waco
Osborne Brothers: Take this Hammer
Porter Wagoner: I've Enjoyed As Much of this As I Can Stand
Curly Fox: Mountain Dew
Ernest Ashworth: Just One Time
Cousin Jody: Steel Guitar Rag
Porter Wagoner: I'll Go Down Swinging

8:00: Martha White
Flatt & Scruggs (host): Sally, Don't You Grieve
Leroy Van Dyke: Your Money
Crook Brothers: Instrumental (?)
June Carter: I Want You Again
Flatt & Scruggs: Father's Table Grace
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby
Carter Family: Keep on the Sunny Side
Leroy Van Dyke: Anne of a Thousand Days
Earl Scruggs: Home Sweet Home

8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train to Memphis
Wilburn Brothers: Making Plans
Margie Bowes: Big City
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: This Train
Del Wood: 12st Street Rag
Connie Smith: Once A Day

9:00: Pet Milk
Ernest Tubb (host): Thanks A Lot
Bill Monroe: Christmas Time's A Comin
Hank Locklin: I Was Going Home to You
Loretta Lynn: Happy Birthday
Ernest Tubb: Blue Christmas
George Hamilton IV: Truck Driving Man
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Fruit Jar Breakdown
Bill Monroe: Careless Love
Ernest Tubb: A Memory (That's All You'll Ever Be To Me

9:30: Kelloggs
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Charlie Louvin: Less and Less
Stringbean: Chewing Gum
Glaser Brothers: A Girl Like You
Hank Snow: Black Diamond
Lonzo & Oscar: Charming Betsy
Marion Worth: Shake Me, I Rattle

10:00: Shicks
Flatt & Scruggs (host): Nine Pound Hammer
Jean Shepard: A Tear Dropped By
Ernest Ashworth: Heartbreak Avenue
Del Wood: Cattle Call
Flatt & Scruggs: The Good Things Out Weigh The Bad

10:15: SSS Tonic
Porter Wagoner (host): Sorry On The Rocks
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: I Couldn't Care Less
Billy Walker: Circumstances
Cousin Jody: Mockingbird
Speck Rhodes: Stop that Ticklin Me

10:30: Harveys
Hank Snow (host): Breakfast with the Blues
Leroy Van Dyke: Anne of a Thousand Days
Curly Fox: Orange Blossom Special
Hank Snow: My Memories of You

10:45: Newport
Ernest Tubb (host): I'm Looking High And Low for My Baby
Anita Carter: You Win Again
Crook Brothers: Soldiers Joy
Loretta Lynn: Honky Tonk Girl
Ernest Tubb & Loretta Lynn: Mr and Mrs. Used to Be

11:00: Coca-Cola
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Wilburn Brothers: I'm Gonna Tie One On Tonight
George Hamilton IV: Abilene
Glaser Brothers: Picture on the Wall
June Stearn: Release Me
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Fire on the Mountain
Margie Bowes: Overnight
Sam & Kirk McGee: What's Gonna Become of Me

11:30: Lava
Hank Locklin (host): Flying South
Bill Monroe: It's Mighty Dark for Me to Travel
Charlie Louvin: I Don't Love You Anymore
Stringbean: Pretty Little Widow
Hank Locklin: Send Me The Pillow You Dream On
Lonzo & Oscar: Old Leather Saddle
Marion Worth: Kentucky Waltz
Bill Monroe: Shenandoah  Breakdown

For 1 more line-up from the past, I go to Saturday December 11, 1976, which was just 12 years after the line-up I posted above. I am just posting the artist line-up, but notice the difference (and it is a big difference!!)

1st show
6:30: Justin Tubb (host); Willis Brothers
6:45: Wilburn Brothers (host); Jimmy C Newman; Stu Phillips
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Skeeter Davis; Jim & Jesse; Ernie Ashworth
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Lonzo & Oscar; Crook Brothers/Ralph Sloan Dancers; Brother Oswald
8:00: Bill Monroe (host); Wilma Lee Cooper & Stoney Cooper; Billy Grammer; Marion Worth
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jeanne Pruett; Bill Carlisle; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Wilburn Brothers; Willis Brothers; Ernie Ashworth
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Skeeter Davis; Stu Phillips
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Jim & Jesse
10:30: Bill Monroe (host); Lonzo & Oscar; Justin Tubb
10:45: Billy Grammer (host); Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper; Crook Brothers/Ralph Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Marion Worth; Fruit Jar Drinkers
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Jeanne Pruett; Bill Carlisle

Wow!!!