Grand Ole Opry 4/5 & 4/6

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, along with next weeks Tuesday Night Opry.

Overall, the shows are pretty solid considering that the ACM Awards are in Las Vegas on Sunday night and most of the "big" names in country music will be out there for the weekend. As far as the Friday Night Opry, Marty Stuart will be returning to the Opry stage for the 2nd time since being honored in December for 20 years of Opry membership. (His 1st appearance will be the night before at the Opry Country Classics show). Joining Marty on Friday Night will be the Sleepy Man Banjo Boys, who have played the Opry previously, along with Amanda Shires. Among the veteran artists, Darryl Worley and Restless Heart will be visiting, along with bluegrass sensation Rhonda Vincent.

The Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night will feature guest artists Point Of Grace and Bucky Covington, along with Opry members John Conlee, Connie Smith and Bill Anderson, all of whom will be appearing both nights. And speaking of Connie Smith, she will be hosting a segment on Saturday night. If I have my records right, this will be her 3rd time hosting, as she hosted a segment last year and one many years ago. Just an opinion on my part, but I like the fact that the Opry is using different artists to host segments. In addition to Connie this weekend, Craig Morgan got another shot last week and he did well. I think it brightens up the show instead of having the same acts hosting week after week. I know back in the day, you had the usual hosts such as Roy Acuff, Hank Snow, Ernest Tubb, Porter Wagoner, Grandpa Jones and Bill Monroe among many others, but the Opry also used just about any other male artists at times to host, including some of the "lower end" acts. It just seems like in the last 5-10 years, the Opry has kind of gotten in a rut regarding the segments.

Friday April 5
7:00: John Conlee (host): Rhonda Vincent; The Whites
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host): Amanda Shires; Restless Heart
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host): Jan Howard; Jimmy C Newman; Darryl Worley
8:45: Marty Stuart (host): Sleepy Man Banjo Boys; Connie Smith

Saturday April 6
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host): J.T. Hodges; Jim Ed Brown
7:30: John Conlee (host): Carolyn Dawn Johnson; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host): Jesse McReynolds; Bucky Covington; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Bill Anderson (host): Jean Shepard; Point Of Grace

And you will notice that Jimmy Dickens is not on the schedule for this weekend. Last weekend, Jimmy surprised everyone by making an appearance both Friday night and Saturday night. Friday he was on John Conlee's segment, while Saturday he was with Jeannie Seely. He came out with his guitar and told some of his jokes. He sounded a little weak, but otherwise looked pretty good. The audience both nights gave him a standing ovation. Perhaps he will be on again this weekend and just didn't want to commit until he knew for sure. Also, I am fine with Jimmy not hosting a segment and just coming out and telling some jokes. He is funny and if the voice isn't quite there to sing, that is ok.

The Opry also announced the line-up for the Tuesday Night Opry, April 9:

7:00: The Henningsens; Connie Smith
7:30: Jimmy Wayne; Dailey & Vincent
Intermission
8:15: Jim Ed Brown; Holly Williams
8:45: Lorrie Morgan; Pam Tillis

A pretty solid show and it is nice to see both Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis back at the Opry. They have each made previous appearances this year and both are scheduled for some future shows. They have been missed at the Opry and with their family history, should be supporting the show more.

Now, for our look back in Grand Ole Opry history:

For a period of time in the Opry's history, they held annual reunion shows, also called "Old-Timers' night", when they invited back former Opry members. These shows usually took place in either March or April. One of the shows took place on Saturday April 4, 1981, 32 years ago. Here is the line-up from that night:

1st show
6:30: Mrs Grissoms
Charlie Walker (host): San Antonio Rose
Stu Phillips: Great El Tigre
Charlie Walker: Crazy Arms

6:45: Rudy's
Jack Greene (host): I'll Be There
Jan Howard: The Story of Hondo Crouch
Ernie Ashworth: Memphis Memory
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Skeeter Davis: Take It Easy
Curly Fox: The Old Gray Mule
Wilburn Brothers: I'm Gonna Tie One On Tonight
Duke of Paducah: Comedy
Porter Wagoner: Trouble In Amen Corner

7:30: Standard Candy
Jimmy C Newman (host): Happy Cajun Country
David Houston: Texas Ida Red
Zeke Clements: Where Could I Go, But to the Lord
Billy Grammer: Somebody Loves You
Crook Brothers/Tennessee Travelers: Sally Goodin
Jimmy C Newman: Cajun Country Special

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Connie Smith: Give Them All to Jesus
Pee Wee King: Tennessee Waltz
Alcyone Beasley: Silver Threads Among The Gold
Jack Shook: Tumbling Tumbleweeds
Alcyone Beasley & Jack Shook: (?)
Bill Carlisle: Is Zat You Myrtle
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away

8:30: Acme
Hank Snow (host): Storms Never Last
4 Guys: Swing Down Chariot
Ray Pillow: Too Many Memories
Lonzon & Oscar: Delta Dirt
Paul Howard: Stay A Little Longer
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
Hank Snow & Kelly Foxton: Before the Next Teardrop Falls

2nd show
9:30: Kelloggs
Porter Wagoner (host): Y'All Come
4 Guys; Woman, Woman
Justin Tubb: Pull the Covers Over Me
Jeannie Seely: Somebody's Knockin'
Vic Willis Trio: Shenendoah
Porter Wagoner: I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name

10:00: Little Debbie
Jack Greene (host): Sing For The Good Times
Curly Fox: The Old Gray Mule
Wilma Lee Cooper: Walking My Lord Up Calvary Hill
Jack Greene: Try A Little Kindness

10:15: Sunbeam
Jimmy C Newman (host): Louisiana Cajun Band
Skeeter Davis: Just When I Needed You Most
Zeke Clements: Why Should I Cry Over You/Just A Little Lovin
Wade B. Landrey: Orange Blossom Special

10:30: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): I Couldn't Believe It Was True
Pee Wee King: Deck of Cards
Howdy Forrester & Jimmy Riddle: Jesse Polka

10:45: Beechnut
Roy Drusky (host): Strangers
Connie Smith: When God Dips His Love Into My Heart
Crook Brothers/Tennessee Travelers: Arkansas Traveler
Roy Drusky: Last Farewell

11:00: Coke
Hank Snow (host): With This Ring I Three Wed
Billy Grammer: Kentucky
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Duke of Paducah: Comedy
Kirk McGee: Milk'em In The Evening Blues
Hank Snow & Kelly Foxton: After The Love Is Gone

11:30: Bama
David Houston (host): Texas Ida Red
Lonzo & Oscar: Up This Hill And Down
Paul Howard: It Makes No Difference Now
Bill Carlisle: Too Old To Cut The Mustard
David Houston: After All

Another of the shows took place on April 7, 1984, 29 years ago:

1st show
6:30: Jim Ed Brown (host): 4 Guys
6:45: Bill Monroe (host): Stonewall Jackson; Clyde Moody
7:00: Grandpa Jones (host): Skeeter Davis; Jordanaires; Jimmy C Newman; Jan Howard
7:30: Bill Anderson (host): Ricky Skaggs; Ferlin Husky; Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:00: Roy Acuff (host): Jean Shepard; Roy Drusky; Sid Harkreader;
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Pee Wee King; Curly Fox; Wilma Lee Cooper; Boxcar Willie

2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson (host): Ray Pillow; Jim Ed Brown; David Houston; Jordanaires
10:00: Bill Monroe (host): Jeannie Seely; Clyde Moody
10:15: Grandpa Jones (host): Lonzo & Oscar; Pee Wee King
10:30: Roy Acuff (host): Charlie Louvin
10:45: Ricky Skaggs (host): Bill Carlisle; Crook Brothers.Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Jean Shepard; Ferlin Husky; Jimmy C Newman; Justin Tubb
11:30: Roy Drusky (host): Boxcar Willie; Curly Fox; 4 Guys

There you have it. A big week coming up with the Hall of Fame announcement on Wednesday.