The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the 2 shows this weekend and all I can say, after the discussion posts over the past week regarding Chris Janson, is that he is not scheduled this weekend!!! Just so everyone is clear, and not to open up another "can of worms", but there are performers I like, musical wise, and some I don't. Chris just happens to be one of the ones I don't care for. Yes, I have seen him several times at the Opry, and he does bring excitement to the show. And the crowd always gives him a good reception. It's just my personal taste and nothing more.
I know Chris has been scheduled a lot on the Opry, as have The Willis Clan, and I do appreciate them supporting the Opry. And it is obvious that the Opry management, with some incentives, are trying to help in pushing their careers. There is nothing new with that as in the past you have seen the same Opry support for Sarah Darling, Mandy Barnett and Jimmy Wayne, among others. Years back, Lorrie Morgan, Brad Paisley and Josh Turner were also pushed by the Opry and it help to establish their fine careers.
But then again, the Opry wouldn't be in this position of pushing these young singers if more than 5 Opry members would be scheduled for a show. And that is all we have on Saturday night. Just 5 out of 60+. You can almost predict at some point of seeing a Friday or Saturday night show with just 1 or 2 members and the rest guests. And it continues to appear that Opry membership for the vast majority of the members, is just another award to have printed in their biography rather than an acutal commitment to appear and support the show.
As far as this weekend, the Friday Night Opry will feature Opry member Lorrie Morgan making a return Opry appearance. This will be her first appearance since last month's 30th anniversary recognition and I am glad whatever anger Lorrie felt toward the Opry seems not to be permanent. Joining Lorrie will be guest artists Gene Watson, Andy Griggs, Jimmy Wayne and Jeanne Robertson.
Saturday's Grand Ole Opry will feature a guest appearance by The Willis Clan along with Jamie Lynn Spears. I admit that I have watched Jamie, who is the younger sister of Britney Spears, on Zoey 101. Jamie has moved to Nashville and is trying to make it as a country singer. All I can say, is good luck to her.
Friday July 11
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Sunny Sweeney; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
7:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jimmy Wayne; Gene Watson
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); The Whites; Jeanne Robertson
8:45: Lorrie Morgan (host); Andy Griggs; Connie Smith
Saturday July 12
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Sara Haze
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jeanne Robertson; Exile
Intermission
8:15: Jeannie Seely (host); Jesse McReynolds; Jamie Lynn Spears; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Bill Anderson (host); Emily West; The Willis Clan
And now, keeping with our new tradition, here is the Grand Ole Opry posted line-up from 5 years ago this weekend, July 10 & 11, 2009:
Friday July 10
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Chris Young
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jan Howard; Ashton Shepherd
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jean Shepard; The Whites
8:30: Mike Snider (host); Connie Smith; Diamond Rio
Saturday July 11
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Caitlin & Will
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jim Ed Brown; Jennifer Hanson
8:00: Mike Snider (host); The Whites; Billy Dean; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jean Shepard; Alison Krauss w/The Cox Family
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Caitlin & Will
10:00: Mike Snider (host); Jack Greene; Alison Krauss w/The Cox Family
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Charlie Louvin; Jennifer Hanson; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jean Shepard; Billy Dean
And now, from 10 years ago this weekend, July 9 & 10, 2004:
Friday July 9
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Connie Smith; Jimmy C Newman; Mark Wills
8:00: John Conlee (host); Old Crow Medicine Show; Jan Howard; The Whites
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Osborne Brothers; Jean Shepard; Rodney Atkins
9:00: Bill Anderson (host: Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Ray Scott; Gene Watson
9:30: Mike Snider (host); Jeannie Seely; Jack Greene; T Graham Brown
Saturday July 10
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Trent Willmon
7:00: Hal Ketchum (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jack Greene; Anita Cochran
7:30: Steve Wariner (host); Jean Shepard; Mike Snider; Connie Smith
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Billy Walker; Jim Ed Brown; Andy Griggs; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: John Conlee (host); David Lee Murphy; Lee Roy Parnell
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; John Conlee; Hal Ketchum
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); The Whites; David Lee Murphy; Lee Roy Parnell
10:30: Steve Wariner (host); Jeannie Seely; Trent Willmon; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jean Shepard; Anita Cochran
11:30: Mike Snider (host); Ray Pillow; Billy Walker; Andy Griggs
As always, enjoy the Opry this weekend!!!!
Someone earlier broached the question why is Gene Watson not an Opry Member??? I would also like to know why Lee Greenwood or Crystal Gale have not been offered membership. Any thoughts on that????
ReplyDeleteIMHO...I would like to see Mandy Barnett get membership, she would be like a Norma Jean, Jean Sterns type performer that would add quality and solid scheduling on a weekly basis.
I was just thinking, reading the lineup, how it would be a wonderful weekend for Gene Watson to get that Opry membership invitation.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see Rhonda Vincent become an Opry member. She and her group do some great and solid bluegrass; furthermore, if I'm not mistaken, she's wanted to become a member for quite a long time.
ReplyDeleteRegarding Lee Greenwood: He was offered Opry membership, if I remember right in the late 1980s, but he turned it down. At the time, his career was really going strong with "God Bless The USA" and other hits and he told Opry management that he was so busy that he felt he couldn't give the Opry the time it deserved and didn't feel it was right to join. Opry management told Lee that they appreciated that, and even though he wasn't going to be a member, he could still appear on the Opry whenever he wanted.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Gene Watson, yes, I think he would make a great member. He is 71 now, not that it matters as the Opry has added older members over the past several years including Charlie Daniels, Mel Tillis and the Oak Ridge Boys. He is not Nashville based, but neither are other Opry members. I have heard no rumors regarding Gene and I think the Opry is happy just to have him as a guest.
With Rhonda Vincent, some feel that her association with Martha White, a former Opry sponsor, has been a factor in her not getting an Opry invitation. But I don't think the door is closed on her. This one could still happen.
The Opry's last new members were Old Crow Medicine Show and that was almost 9 months ago. They are due for a new member and really are due for a female member as it has been a few years since they have added one.
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to say we've seen about as little of Old Crow as we have of other modern Opry signings -- two (count 'em) appearances since Marty recruited them.
I agree with Rhonda Vincent as a member. I would like to see her style of bluegrass, and frankly I like her style of picking much much more than Allison Krauss. THe fact that Martha White could possibly be held against her is absurd; people need to get past the economics and make it about the art.
ReplyDeleteBack on the 'Opry by popular demand, Chris Janson!
ReplyDeleteWednesday, July 16th!
For what it's worth, I support every name mentioned above for future 'Opry membership. They have appeared a whole lot more than a big bunch of "regular" members.
What was with all the gab tonight by Andy Griggs?
ReplyDeleteJim
Knightsville, IN
I think Gene Watson would be a great member who would support the Opry by making regular appearances unlike some who rarely darken the doors after membership is bestowed I guess those kind of memberships are offered in hopes of landing a super star appearance sometime when guilt gets them down. Carrie Underwood and Oakridgeboys have supported and made many appearances; not the token members!!
ReplyDelete