The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-up for the first two shows of 2015 and it looks to be like the year is going to be off to a pretty good start. The Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry are both looking like they will be two pretty nice shows.
First, it is nice to see Connie Smith back on the Opry schedule after missing the past several months. This should be an exciting year for Connie as 2015 will be her 50th anniversary from when she first joined the Opry, back in 1965. Appearing with her both nights, and hosting the segments that she is featured on, will be her husband Marty Stuart. Also scheduled both nights are Opry members Larry Gatlin, Riders In The Sky, Mike Snider, Jeannie Seely and Bill Anderson.
Joining this group on the Friday Night Opry will be Opry members Ricky Skaggs and The Whites. Guest artists include The Henningsens, who are scheduled for both nights, along with Randy Montana. Randy has been around for a couple of years now and has guested on the Opry before. In 2011 he released his only album to date, which didn't quite make to into the Top 40. Also scheduled for Friday night is the legendary group, The Chuck Wagon Gang. The original Chuck Wagon Gang was formed in 1935. It has been over 30 years since their last Opry appearance and they will be on the segment hosted by Marty Stuart. Yes, there is a connection there as on Tuesday February 10th, a documentary will be premiered which will be hosted by Marty Stuart.
Saturday's Grand Ole Opry will feature guest artists Craig Wayne Boyd, Lauren Alaina and EmiSunshine. For Craig Wayne Boyd, this will be his first Grand Ole Opry appearance. Many of you have probably heard of him before as he won season 7 of "The Voice" as a member of Blake Shelton's team. He does have a true country voice and is working on his first album. Lauren Alaina has appeared several times previously on the Opry, as has EmiSunshine. All of 10 years of age, she does gospel and Americana music and has been impressive in her previous appearances.
Friday January 2
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Randy Montana; Jeannie Seely
7:30: Larry Gatlin (host); The Whites; Ricky Skaggs
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Mike Snider; The Henningsens
8:45: Marty Stuart (host); Connie Smith; The Chuck Wagon Gang
Saturday January 3
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); The Henningsens; Jeannie Seely
7:30: Larry Gatlin (host); Mike Snider; Craig Wayne Boyd
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Lauren Alaina; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Marty Stuart (host); Connie Smith; Emisunshine
Recently the Opry has had a hard time coming up with enough hosts. That is not the case this weekend as folks who usually host, such as Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider and Connie Smith, all capable of hosting, are not this weekend. And it is nice to see more than 3 or 4 Opry members on the schedule for both nights.
The Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree is offering live shows for much of the month of January and this week's host will be Opry member Marty Stuart. I would say that he should draw a nice crowd for this week's show.
And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 5 years ago, the weekend of January 1 & 2, 2010:
Friday January 1
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jim Ed Brown; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Josh Thompson
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Sunny Sweeney
8:00: John Conlee (host); Jan Howard; Johnny Counterfit; Mountain Heart
8:30: Mike Snider (host); George Hamilton IV; Jean Shepard; Exile
Saturday January 2
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Big Kenny
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Riders In The Sky; Jack Greene; Cherryholmes
8:00: John Conlee (host); Jesse McReynolds; Jett Williams; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; Jim Ed Brown; Suzy Bogguss
Now from 10 years ago this weekend, December 31, 2004 and January 1, 2005:
Friday December 31
7:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); w/Helen Cornelius; Jimmy C Newman; Stevens Sisters
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Stu Phillips; Billy Walker; T.G. Sheppard
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Rebecca Lynn Howard
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Charlie Walker; Shawn Camp
9:30: Jean Shepard (host); Ashley Gearing; Jack Greene
Saturday January 1
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Stevens Sisters
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jack Greene; T.G. Sheppard
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Billy Walker; Jean Shepard; T. Graham Brown
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); w/Helen Cornelius; Jan Howard; Rebecca Lynn Howard; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Osborne Brothers; Dierks Bentley
And from 15 years ago, Friday December 31, 1999 and Saturday January 1, 2000:
Friday December 31, 1999
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Skeeter Davis; Bill Carlisle; Jett Williams; Jack Greene
8:00: Jean Shepard (host); Jan Howard; Jim Ed Brown; Linda Davis
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeanne Pruett; Del Reeves; Sisters Wade
9:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Charlie Louvin; Billy Walker; Riders In The Sky
9:30: The Whites (host); Jimmy C Newman; Stu Phillips
Saturday January 1, 2000:
1st show
6:30: Jean Shepard (host); Bill Carlisle; Jett Williams; Osborne Brothers
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jimmy C Newman; 4 Guys; The Whites
7:30: Lorrie Morgan (host); Stonewall Jackson; Brad Paisley
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Mike Snider; Gail Davies; Jim Ed Brown; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); George Hamilton IV; Jeannie Seely; Del McCoury Band
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jean Shepard; Osborne Brothers; Lorrie Morgan
10:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jeannie Seely
10:15: Jimmy Dickens (host); Brad Paisley
10:30: Bill Anderson (host); The Whites; Jett Williams
10:45: Billy Walker (host); Jan Howard; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Mike Snider (host); Jeanne Pruett; Jack Greene; Gail Davies
11:30: George Hamilton IV (host); Charlie Walker; Ray Pillow; Del McCoury Band
For this week's featured line-up, I go back to 55 years, to Saturday January 2, 1960. There are two interesting facts about this night and line-up. First, according to many reports, Billy Walker became an Opry member the night before, on January 1, 1960, yet he is not scheduled for this show. Secondly, the following week, January 9, 1960, Patsy Cline would become a member of the Opry. On this particular night, she was scheduled for two different segments.
7:30: Pet Milk
Marty Robbins (host): Sweet Lies
Rusty and Doug: The Love I Want
Justin Tubb: I'm A Big Boy Now
June Carter: Comedy Routine
Marty Robbins: El Paso
Jerry Byrd: Slippery Elm
Glaser Brothers: Bay Of Mexico
Justin Tubb: Mine Is A Lonely Life
Marty Robbins: Just Married
8:00: Martha White
Flatt and Scruggs (host): Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
Carl Butler: Grief In My Heart
Benny Martin: If I Can Stay Away Long Enough
Alex Houston: And Elmer
Flatt and Scruggs: I'm On My Way
Carl Butler: Don't Steal From A Poor Man
Cousin Jake: Old McDonald Had A Farm
Crook Brothers: Lost Indian
Benny Martin: Me And MY Fiddle
Flatt and Scruggs: Foggy Mountain Rock
8:30: Prince Albert
Don Gibson (host): I'm Moving On
Archie Campbell: Comedy Routine
Billy Grammer: Loveland
Tommy Jackson: Black Mountain Rag
Don Gibson: No One Stands Alone
Chet Atkins: Wildwood Flower
Minnie Pearl: Comedy Routine
Billy Grammer: It Takes You
Stringbean: Train Special 500
Don Gibson: Don't Tell Me Your Troubles
Tommy Jackson: Sally Goodin
9:00: Jefferson Island Salt
Porter Wagoner (host): Uncle Pen
George Morgan: You're The Only Good
Harvie June: Poor Wildwood Flower
Cousin Jody: Horses Carry Tales
Porter Wagoner: Your Kind Of People
Jordanaries: I Ain't Never
Minnie Pearl: Comedy Routine
Fruit Jars: Sally Johnson
George Morgan: Come Away From His Arms
Porter Wagoner: Pay Day
9:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): Chasin' A Rainbow
Bill Monroe: Tomorrow I'll Be Gone
Patsy Cline: Eyes Of A Child
Lonzo and Oscar: Gotta' Find Julie
Hank Snow: I Heard My Heart Break Last Night
Rusty and Doug: The Love I Want
Bill Monroe: Dark As The Night-Blue As The Day
Patsy Cline: Walking After Midnight
Hank Snow: Golden Rocket
10:00: Jamsion Bedding
Marty Robbins (host): El Paso
Carl Butler: Grief In My Heart
Rusty and Doug: I Like You
Crook Brothers: Arkansas Traveler
Marty Robbins: Hanging Tree
Glaser Brothers: She Loves The Love I Give Her
Carl Butler: I'll Cry Tomorrow
Rusty and Doug: Love Me To Pieces
Marty Robbins: I Can't Quit
10:30: Pops-Rite Popcorn
Don Gibson (host): I'm Moving On
Justin Tubb: Almost Lonely
Stringbean: Barnyard Banjo Picking
Don Gibson: Who Cares
Fiddle Tune: Leather Britches
10:45: De Con
Flatt and Scruggs (host): If I Should Wander Back Tonight
Benny Martin: Nine Pound Hammer
Harvie June: Mama Don't Chase My Love Away
Flatt and Scruggs: I'm Crying My Heart Out Over You
Fiddle Tune: Soldier's Joy
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): The Last Ride
Billy Grammer: Kissing Tree
Lonzo and Oscar: Going Down The Road Feeling Bad
Fruit Jars: Old Joe Clark
Hank Snow: The Party Of The Second Part
Jordanaries: He's Got The Whole World In His Hands
Sam and Kirk: Roll On, Buddy, Roll On
Billy Grammer: Loveland
Hank Snow: My Blue Eyed Jane
11:30: Phillips & Buttorff
George Morgan (host): Cry Baby Heart
Bill Monroe: Wait A Little Longer Please Jesus
Cousin Jody: Mocking Bird
George Morgan: Candy Kisses
Bill Monroe: Scotland
11:45: Wall-Rite
Porter Wagoner (host): Tell Her Lies And Feed Her Candy
Patsy Cline: Oh Lonsome Me
Rusty and Doug: I Like You
Porter Wagoner: Satisfield Mind
I think we can all agree that the 1960 show was a very nice night to have been at the Opry. As for this week, the year is off to a good start so enjoy the Opry this weekend!!
Wonderful to see Larry Gatlin back on the Opry schedule. Hope that mel Tillis will come back soon to the Opry, since he wasn't able to perform on December 6th and 7th....
ReplyDeletePrediction: Emisunshine steals Saturday night's show.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpL-DhXdAuQ
Last evening, a couple of facebook posts appeared that stated Jimmy Dickens had died. Of course, these idiots did not bother to check first on the facts. I saw this morning that Jimmy is doing a little better, that coming in a comment from Pete Fisher, who visited him last evening. He is still in critical care and no other information is being released.
ReplyDeleteThanks Byron, pretty soon I'll have friends telling me he is dead and that would have freaked me out.
ReplyDeleteJim
Knightsville, IN
This kind of stupidity happened even before the internet, but it's worse now. It's good to know he's doing a little better. Here's hoping he gets to tell some jokes on the Opry soon about not being dead!
ReplyDeleteCan only hope that this is another Lazarus episode for Little Jim.
ReplyDeleteI've lost count of how many times he's been in critical condition and his family has requested prayer.
Not many true heroes left for me, but he's one of 'em.
Good news, it seems.
ReplyDeletehttp://theboot.com/little-jimmy-dickens-health-improvements/
Nice job by Riders In The Sky, Jeannie Seely, Larry Gatlin and Bill Anderson last night at the Opry. All did dedications to Jimmy Dickens. Bill's was especially emotional as he did "I Wonder If God Likes Country Music." And a very nice job by Pete Fisher with the dedication. He was well prepared and did a very nice job highlighting Jimmy's career.
ReplyDeleteNow on the other hand, Lauren Alaina was just terrible and if she never comes back to the Opry I will be happy. Bill introduced her and she was either crying or some type of emotional state that she could not start. No, not because of Jimmy Dickens but because her dad was with her and he is some sort of recovering addict. If that is the case, I am happy for him. But last night was for Jimmy and not her dad and she didn't have to turn into some speech about how great he was and how much he went through. That could have been saved for Entertainment Tonight!! (yea, I know I sound a little harsh, but she was the only downer on the night.)
For some reason the Ernest Tubb Record Shop was closed from 6-10 last night. People started arriving early for the good seats to the Midnight Jamboree with Marty Stuart and had to stand outside and eventually the line went around the corner. It was raining so the fans had to deal with that. All I could think of was what a lost sales opportunity to a shop that has had some tough times. It also shows that the fans will come out when there is a host worthy of it. Hopefully a lesson was learned and they will stay open and accomodate those who come.