The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the 2 shows this weekend. The "star" attraction looks like the group, Little Big Town. They are scheduled to close out the show on both nights. Joining them in that final segment, and hosting, will be Vince Gill.
As far as who will be joining them on the Friday Night Opry, guest artists include Mandy Barnett, Joe Mullins & His Radio Ramblers, Andy Griggs and Rhett Walker Band, who are described as a "Southern rock and Christian rock band." Once again, as I said last week, just what the Opry needs. I would have to double check, but I think it is their first Opry appearance.
Saturday Night's Grand Ole Opry will feature guest artists Kree Harrison, The Willis Clan and Chuck Wicks, all of whom frequent the Opry stage. Also making a guest appearance will be James House, who has been around a long time and is seeing a career revival taking place. And yes, he is actually described as a "country singer."
Friday May 2
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Andy Griggs; Jimmy C Newman; Jean Shepard
7:30: Connie Smith (host); Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers; Rhett Walker Band
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds; Mandy Barnett
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Little Big Town
Saturday May 3
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Chuck Wicks; Jim Ed Brown
7:30: Connie Smith (host); Kree Harrison; The Willis Clan
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); George Hamilton IV; James House; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Little Big Town
The Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree will be hosted by Glenn Doublas Tubb and they will be celebrating the 67th anniversary of the Midnight Jamboree. That should be a great night of celebration.
Looking back at past Grand Ole Opry line-ups, here is the line-up from 5 years ago, the weekend of May 1 & May 2, 2009:
Friday May 1
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Heidi Hewfield
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Del McCoury Band
8:00: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; Lee Greenwood
8:30: Marty Stuart (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Connie Smith
Saturday May 2
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Mandy Barnett
7:30: Marty Stuart (host); George Hamilton IV; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Connie Smith
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jean Shepard; Trace Adkins; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Mike Snider (host); Jimmy C Newman; Martina McBride
Here is the Opry line-up from 10 years ago, the weekend of April 30 & May 1, 2004:
Friday April 30
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Connie Smith; Mandy Barnett
8:00: John Conlee (host); Charlie Walker; Jean Shepard; Sherri Austin
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jan Howard; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Dan Seals
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Katrina Elam; Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
9:30: Mike Snider (host); Hank Locklin; Jimmy C Newman; BR549
Saturday May1
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Dan Seals
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Billy Walker; Osborne Brothers; Mandy Barnett
7:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Charlie Louvin; Jean Shepard; Rebecca Lynn Howard
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Trent Willmon; Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jack Greene; Sierra Hull; Alison Krauss
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Dan Seals
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Stu Phillips; Billy Walker; Sierra Hull; Alison Krauss
10:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Trent Willmon; Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jean Shepard; Osborne Brothers; Mandy Barnett
11:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jack Greene; Rebecca Lynn Howard
Finally, it was on May 1, 1993 that Charley Pride became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Charley had first appeared on the Opry on January 7, 1967 and had made numerous Opry appearances over the years. He had been asked several times to become an Opry member but always felt that the time wasn't right as he was doing a lot of touring and living in the Dallas area. But in 1993, with his touring settling down he felt the time was right.
Charley wrote about the Grand Ole Opry and joining the cast in his autobiography "Pride", that was published in 1994. Regarding the night he became a member, he wrote, "'It's about time,' someone said to me, as though the Opry membership had been closed to me before this May evening in 1993. In truth, I've had a standing invitation to join the club since the mid-1960s and had not accepted purely out of financial and scheduling considerations. Members must commit to a certain number of appearances each year. The Opry is rich in tradition and prestige, but spare in stipend. When I was first invited to join, the commitment was to play more than twenty Saturdays a year and the pay was eight dollars a song. Now the time was right. Although I still maintained a full work schedule eight or nine months out of the year, the itinerary was such that the commitment to the Opry family created no hardship. Rather it was an opportunity to snuggle closer to the roots of country music."
On the night he was inducted, Charley appeared on the pre-show with Porter Wagoner that was televised by TNN. On the Opry itself, he was introduced by Jimmy C Newman. He sang "Kiss an Angel Good Morning" and dedicated the second song, "On the Wings of a Dove" to Roy Acuff, who had passed away in November. He then read a letter that was sent to him from Henry Cannon, Minnie Pearl's husband. Due to her stroke, Minnie could not attend but the letter read, "Minnie and I are so happy and proud of you. We've always loved you. What would I give if Roy and Minnie could be there to welcome you."
As he was reading the letter, he broke down in tears. After completing the letter, he did "Kawliga." When he came off stage, he was greeted by Porter Wagoner and Stonewall Jackson. What was interesting is that early in his career, Stonewall and Charley did a show together in Shreveport and Stonewall would not let his band back up Charley. That night at the Opry, Charley wrote that Stonewall took off his guitar that was around his neck and gave him a hug.
Here is the running order from May 1, 1993, the night Charley Pride became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
4 Guys (host): If It's From the Country, It's Coming from the Heart
Wilma Lee Cooper: Sweeter Than the Flowers
4 Guys: (?)
6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Grandpa Jones (host): Don't 'Cha Cry, Melinda
Jim Ed Brown: Lying in Love With You/The 3 Bells
Grandpa Jones: 4 Stoned Walls & A Ceiling
7:00: Shoney's
Del Reeves (host): Lay A Little Lovin' On Me
Charlie Louvin: Will You Visit Me On Sundays
Jean Shepard: Many Happy Hangovers to You
Osborne Brothers: Rock of Ages
Eddie Raven: Wjo Do You Know in California/Bayou Boys' Sleep All Day; Run All Night
Del Reeves: The Race is On
7:30: Standard Candy
Jimmy C Newman (host): Cajun's Dream
Jan Howard: Crazy Arms
Riders In The Sky: Lonely Yukon Stars
Charley Pride: Kiss An Angel Good Morning/Wings of A Dove/Kaw-Liga
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya
8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Charlie Walker: Who Will Buy the Wine
Oswald: Columbus Stockade Blues
Porter Wagoner: Happy Birthday
Charlie Cushman: Sally Goodin
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Bill Cheatham
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home
8:30: Kraft
Hank Snow (host): Breakfast With the Blues
Billy Walker: A Million and One
Roy Drusky: Mississippi
Ray Pillow: Invitation to the Blues
Connie Smith: I've Got My Baby On My Mind
Hank Snow: I'm Not At All Sorry For You
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Del Reeves: There She Goes
Stonewall Jackson: Side Steppin the Blues
Charley Pride: Every Heart Should Have One/Mountain of Love/Kiss An Angel Good Morning/Kaw-Liga
Porter Wagoner: On A Highway Headed South
10:00: Little Debbie
Grandpa Jones (host): Banjo Sam
4 Guys: My Special Angel
Jean Shepard: Wabash Cannonball
Grandpa Jones: Old Camp Meeting Time
10:15: Sunbeam/Tennessee Pride
Jim Ed Brown (host): Everyday People
Bill Carlisle: Rusty Old Halo
Jim Ed Brown: Will the Circle Be Unbroken/I Saw the Light/I'll Fly Away/Gone At Last
10:30: Picadilly
Billy Walker (host): Charlie's Shoes
Lost & Found: Left Over Biscuits
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain
10:45: Opry Book
Osborne Brothers (host): Midnight Flyer
Charlie Louvin: See the Big Man Cry
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Liberty
David Crowe: Sally Goodin
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Rambling Rose
Riders In The Sky: Son of the Western Soil
Justin Tubb: You Nearly Lose Your Mind
Eddy Raven: Sometimes A Lady/I've Got Mexico
Hank Snow: Old Shep
11:30: General Jackson
Jimmy C Newman (host): Pistol Packin' Mama
Connie Smith: Then And Only Then
Roy Drusky: All For the Love Of A Girl
Mike Snider: Squirrel Hide
Jimmy C Newman: Colinda
Congratulations again to Charley Pride on 21 years of Opry membership, and as always, enjoy the Opry this weekend!!!!
I'm still very much missing Mike Snider these days.
ReplyDeleteDavid, I'm wondering too.
ReplyDeleteByron, I'll never forget how he broke down when reading the telegram. It was a very special moment, indeed.
Did anyone catch the Opry Country Classics last night? I got to listen up to Daryle Singletary's first song. Larry, Rhonda and Jim Ed all went over big. Jim Ed got huge applause to the point I thought they might have stood but it was not mentioned. Larry made the comment that last week young Chris Janson was on and tore the crowd up running all over the stage with high energy, then just now we have a smooth veteran that just comes out here and stands in one place and sings so great and gets such wonderful applause, that's what this place and the Opry is all about. I thought to myself that maybe he should explain that to management. I agree that is what it should be about but as of late it leans toward the high energy kids.
ReplyDeleteI just thought Larry's comment was on target and it was interesting to hear it said on stage since so many of us feel that way.
I'll have to listen to the rest of the show when it is posted!
Jim
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteHuh? Which Jim are you? Not our Jim from Indiana! Please try to be more coherent.
Chris Janson is the anti-Opry.
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeletePlease forgive the snarky comment above. It's not in the spirit of the forum. I promise to try to suppress some of my more, ah, spontaneous comments.
Fred,
ReplyDeleteJim from Knightsville, Indiana here. It was me, sometimes I post when I get a short break at work and I can be a bit incoherent.
Please understand that I was not applauding Chris Janson. My point was that Larry was saying that the audience enjoyed the veterans like Jim Ed just as much as they can or do the rock kids. What I was getting at is that whether Larry knew or meant to, he made a good case for the management to continue to make good use of the veterans because they still could please the crowd.
In no way do I want to hear Janson or any of these other loud whining off key folks that claim to like or appreciate country tradition and then cite all these rock acts as their influence. However, I think we are going to be stuck with them. Therefore, my only hope is that they would acknowledge the great response to folks like Jim Ed, Jean, Bobby, Jesse and others along with the good younger country and bluegrass folks like Rhonda Vincent, Dailey an Vincent, Old Crow and others.
What I was trying to make of Larry's comment is that there is still room for the pure singer, traditional music and veterans.
Sorry I wasn't clear. I know we are usually on the same page and we still are.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteJim, thank you for your graciousness. Re-reading your earlier post, I think you were clear enough; it was my reading skills that were deficient.
We are indeed like-minded about the music, and it is a pleasure to read your thoughts and insights.
Best, Fred
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteMike Snider's absence also makes me uneasy. I checked his web site, and there is no mention of a problem with his Opry affiliation. Maybe he is just taking time off? One can hope!
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteTuned into the Opry just now and heard some lout singing, "Lay me down and love me just right." Off!
End of diatribe.
From ANONYMOUS-PA: We also have been listening tonight; that must have been Chuck Wicks, which was the weakest part of the show. Always glad when Little Jimmy Dickens is "in the house" !!! There were some issues with microphones though; had trouble several times hearing comments; we listen on XM so I believe the problem was at the Opry. Other than Wicks, it was a very good show tonight.
ReplyDeleteListened in from valencia, Spain tonite as always. Chuck Wicks sucked, but the rest of the show was good. Recently, I have been enjoying the lineup on WSM on Saturday nites: The Gosspel According to Gatlin, Golden Era of The Opry, and Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree. Larry´s new show is awesome... gives some great insight, along with great stories, and also plays some awesome music from the legends that we hold dear and true.
ReplyDeleteTonite, the Golden Era is spotlighting Loretta Lynn, Hank Locklin, Archie Campbell, etc. From around 1964-1966. Shows run from 11:30 p.m.-1:00 a.m. EST (5:30 a.m.- 7:00 a.m. in Spain) on WSM after Lary Gatlin.