This week's Grand Ole Opry line-up has created some comments regarding the quality of the show and being worth the ticket price. Just for comparison purposes, here are the past Opry line-ups for the 2nd Saturday in April. While this is just a one Saturday night look, I think it represents where the Opry has gone over the past dozen or so years.
April 12, 2014
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Elizabeth Cook; Jimmy C Newman; The Swon Brothers; Bobby Osborne
Intermission
8:15: Ray Pillow (host); Jean Shepard; Mallary Hope; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Jim Ed Brown (host); The Secret Sisters; Darryl Worley
April 13, 2013
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Mark Wills; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jimmy C Newman; The Grascals
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Stonewall Jackson; Lennon and Maisy Stella; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne; Scotty McCreery
April 14, 2012
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Lonestar
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Gary Morris; Hunter Hayes
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Suzy Bogguss; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Craig Morgan
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Lonestar
10:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Gary Morris; Craig Morgan
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Hunter Hayes; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Suzy Bogguss
April 9, 2011
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Elizabeth Cook
7:30: John Conlee (host); The Whites; Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Stonewall Jackson; Joey+Rory; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Mandy Barnett; Joe Diffie
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Elizabeth Cook
10:00: John Conlee (host); The Whites; Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jesse McReynolds; Joey+Rory; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Mandy Barnett; Joe Diffie
April 10, 2010
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Emerson Drive
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jeannie Seely; Jack Greene; Jerrod Niemann
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Jean Shepard; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Steve Wariner (host); John Conlee; Connie Smith; Mandy Barnett
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Emerson Drive; Mandy Barnett
10:00: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; Jerrod Niemann
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jan Howard; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Vince Gill (host); John Conlee; Connie Smith
April 11, 2009
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Mike Snider; Jo Dee Messina
7:30: Mel Tillis (host); Jean Shepard; John Conlee; Rhonda Vincent
8:00: Marty Stuart (host); Connie Smith; Ricky Skaggs; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Martina McBride; Vince Gill
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jim Ed Brown; Mike Snider; Martina McBride
10:00: Mel Tillis (host); Kenyon Lockry; Riders In The Sky; Jo Dee Messina
10:30: Marty Stuart (host); Rhonda Vincent; Connie Smith; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Ricky Skaggs; Vince Gill
April 12, 2008
1st show
6:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Bobby Osborne; The Wrights
7:00: Jason Aldean; Jewel; Jason Michael Carroll; John Anderson
8:00: Ray Pillow (host); Charlie Louvin; Jamey Johnson; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jean Shepard (host); Jesse McReynolds; Joe Nichols
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); The Wrights; Jason Michael Carroll
10:00: Jeannie Seely (host); John Anderson; Jewel
10:30: Jean Shepard (host); Jesse McReynolds; Jason Aldean; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Ray Pillow (host); Jamey Johnson; Joe Nichols
April 14, 2007
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Steve Wariner; Jean Shepard
7:00: Vince Gill (host); The Wreckers; The Whites; Oak Ridge Boys
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Connie Smith; Mike Snider; Marty Stuart; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jimmy C Newman; Raul Malo
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Steve Wariner; The Wreckers
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Mike Snider; Connie Smith; Marty Stuart
10:30: Vince Gill (host); Jean Shepard; Oak Ridge Boys; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds; Raul Malo
April 8, 2006
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Jimmy Wayne
7:00: Jean Shepard (host); Charlie Walker; Jimmy C Newman; Cherryholmes
7:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Billy Walker; Bobby Osborne; Trent Willmon
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jack Greene; Jeannie Seely; Buddy Jewell; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Vince Gill
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Jimmy Wayne
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jean Shepard; Vince Gill
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Stu Phillips; Cherryholmes; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Trent Willmon
11:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jack Greene; Buddy Jewell
April 9, 2005
1st show
6:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jimmy C Newman; The Whites
7:00: Vince Gill (host); Joe Nichols; Rebecca Lynn Howard; Loretta Lynn
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Osborne Brothers; Jean Shepard; Malibu Storm; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Mel McDaniel; Jeannie Seely; Craig Morgan
2nd show
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); The Whites; Jimmy C Newman; Loretta Lynn
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Jack Greene; Rebecca Lynn Howard
10:30: Vince Gill (host); Jean Shepard; Craig Morgan; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Osborne Brothers; Joe Nichols
11:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Mel McDaniel; Malibu Storm
April 10, 2004
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mel McDaniel; Jim Ed Brown; Craig Morgan
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; The Whites; Dan Seals
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; Billy Walker; Sherrie Austin
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Rodney Atkins; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds; Riders In The Sky; Mandy Barnett
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jim Ed Brown; Dan Seals
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Billy Walker; The Whites; Craig Morgan
10:30: Mike Snider (host); Charlie Louvin; Sherrie Austin; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jean Shepard; Jack Greene; Rodney Atkins
11:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Ray Pillow; Jesse McReynolds; Mandy Barnett
April 12, 2003
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mel McDaniel; Connie Smith
7:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Steve Azar; Keith Urban; The Whites
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jean Shepard; Jim Ed Brown; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Elizabeth Cook; Jack Greene
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mel McDaniel; Connie Smith
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Billy Walker; Jesse McReynolds; Keith Urban
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Charlie Walker; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jean Shepard; Steve Azar
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Ray Pillow; Elizabeth Cook; Jack Greene
April 13, 2002
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Osborne Brothers
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Kevin Denny; Jimmy C Newman; Chris LeDoux; Willie Nelson; Charley Pride
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Bill Carlisle; Billy Walker; Jean Shepard; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; Jim Ed Brown; Mandy Barnett
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Chris LeDoux
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Stonewall Jackson; Connie Smith; Osborne Brothers
10:30: Jean Shepard (host); Billy Walker; Charley Pride; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Charlie Louvin; Jim Ed Brown; Mandy Barnett
11:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Ray Pillow; Kevin Denney
April 14, 2001
1st show
6:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Osborne Brothers; Bill Carlisle; Mel McDaniel
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jeannie Seely; Jim & Jesse; Billy Walker; Del McCoury Band
7:30: John Conlee (host); Chad Brock; Jack Greene; Victoria Shaw; Kent Blazy; Pat Alger
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Mike Snider; Ricky Skaggs; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Brad Paisley; hal Bynum
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); The Whites; John Conlee; Mel McDaniel
10:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Mike Snider; Chad Brock
10:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jim & Jesse; Del Reeves; Riders In The Sky; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Victoria Shaw; Kent Blazy; Pat Alger; Brad Paisley
11:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Elizabeth Cook; Del McCoury Band; Hal Bynum
I could go on, but I think the point has been made. The decline did not happen overnight, but you can see it year-by-year. Even in the early 2000's, the majority of the line-ups featured Opry members and the guest artists were generally names that were recognized.
Like I said, I could go on, but for true Opry fans, it gets a little depressing.
One constant that I see real quick is that almost all the members on these shows had been there 10 plus years and most 20 plus. Which goes back to my drum beat that the show would be long gone without the long time loyal members! I know there have been discussions here before that maybe those long standing member made the show stale and drove off crowds. I'd sure like to think otherwise.
ReplyDeleteThis was roughly the first ten years of Mr. Fishers rein. It started down hill fast after 2007 and went to you know where when they went to one show in 2013 .
And what are the odds that non member Rhonda Vincent shows up in this select list!
Nice job Byron. Don't know how you pull these out so fast.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Jim, you are so right. It is the veteran Opry members that were carrying the load. As these veterans have passed away, the younger artists are not stepping up to take their place.
ReplyDeleteByron, you did a great job. And I don't know that Fisher has made bad judgments so much as this is largely what he wanted--cheaper shows that people still will pay to see.
ReplyDelete