The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the two Opry shows this week; the Friday Night Opry along with Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, with both shows at the Ryman Auditorium.
Friday looks like the better of the two nights this weekend and it is nice to see Hal Ketchum back on the Opry schedule. Hal made a couple of Opry appearances over the past several years after being gone from the Opry since 2010 as he has battled some health issues. I know when he made his appearances in 2014 he sounded good. Also joining Hal will be Opry members Del McCoury Band and Vince Gill. I am sure Vince will do some type of tribute to Jimmy Dickens. It is also nice to see a couple of the Opry's veterans, jean Shepard and Jesse McReynolds on the line-up. Guest artists include The Swon Brothers, Kristian Bush, the ever popular Willis Clan, along with Pure Prairie League, who is also scheduled for Saturday night. Considering that Vince is hosting the segment on Friday that they are guesting on, I wouldn't be surprised if Vince, an ex-member, joined them.
Saturday's Grand Ole Opry will feature, along with Pure Prairie League, guest artists Chris Janson, Mark Wills, Brandon Heath and Deana Carter. Deana has made a number of Opry guest appearances over the past couple of years and has been impressive. Also scheduled, and making her Opry debut, is Mickey Guyton. She is another of the new female artists that has been receiving some notice lately.
As far as Opry hosts this weekend, Jeannie Seely, The Whites and John Conlee are hosting on both nights, along with Vince on Friday and Mike Snider on Saturday.
Friday January 9
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); The Swon Brothers; Mike Snider
7:30: The Whites (host); Hal Ketchum; Del McCoury Band
Intermission
8:15: John Conlee (host); Jean Shepard; Jesse McReynolds; The Willis Clan
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Kristian Bush; Pure Prairie League
Saturday January 10
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Chris Janson
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Brandon Heath; Deana Carter
Intermission
8:15: The Whites (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Mark Wills; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: John Conlee (host); Mickey Guyton; Pure Prairie League
Interesting that they have left an empty spot where Jimmy Dickens is traditionally scheduled. I don't know if they have something planned or if someone else, perhaps a surprise guest, will be added.
And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 5 years ago this weekend, January 8 & 9, 2010:
Friday January 8
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Jason Michael Carroll
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Greg Biffle; George Hamilton IV; Jean Shepard; Danny Gokey
8:00: John Conlee (host); Jamie McMurray; Jack Greene; Jim Ed Brown; Chris Young
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Miss Sprint Cup; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Kyle Petty
2nd show
9:30: Mike Snider (host); Jim Ed Brown; Danny Gokey
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jeannie Seely; Holly Williams; Kyle Petty
10:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Michael Watrip; Hank Williams, Jr.
11:00: Vince Gill (host); Riders In The Sky; Chris Young
Saturday January 9
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; The Whites
7:30: John Conlee (host); Jean Shepard; Jesse McReynolds; Chris Young
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jan Howard; The Grascals; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jeannie Seely; Rodney Crowell
As you can tell by the number of NASCAR drivers that were featured on the Friday shows, it was the annual fan fest for NASCAR that was taking place in Nashville that weekend. You can also tell by looking at the 2 Friday night line-ups that the 2nd show was the better of the two that night.
And from 10 years ago, the weekend of January 7 & 8, 2005:
Friday January 7
7:30: John Conlee (host); Connie Smith; Pinmonkey
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Osborne Brothers
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Brad Cotter
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Riders In The Sky; Buddy Jewell
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); George Hamilton IV; Jack Greene; Craig Morgan
Saturday January 8
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Chely Wright
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jim Ed Brown; BR549
7:30: Hal Ketchum (host); Billy Walker; Jimmy C Newman; Connie Smith
8:00: John Conlee (host); Jan Howard; Rhonda Vincent; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Riders In The Sky; Martina McBride
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Martina McBride
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jimmy C Newman; Charlie Louvin; Chely Wright
10:30: Hal Ketchum (host); Billy Walker; Connie Smith; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: John Conlee (host); George Hamilton IV; Jack Greene; Rhonda Vincent
11:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Ray Pillow; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; BR549
Finally, from 20 years ago, Saturday January 7, 1995. This was the night of Hank Snow's 45th anniversary as an Opry member. You may remember that Hank joined the Opry on January 7, 1950.
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Bill Monroe (host): Life's Highway
Wilma Lee Cooper: Loving You
Bill Monroe: Wheel Hoss/Cryin' Holy Unto the Lord
6:45: Hall of Fame
Grandpa Jones (host): Ol' Rattler
Charlie Louvin: Let Her Go; God Bless Her
Grandpa Jones: Gone Home
7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Bill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Jan Howard: Under Your Spell Again
Jimmy Dickens: Me and My Big Loud Mouth/Another Bridge to Burn
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home
7:30: Standard Candy
Ricky Skaggs (host): Highway 40 Blues
John Conlee: Let the Good Times Roll
Crossmen Quarter: I'm Gonna Take A Trip
The Isaacs: It's Just Like Him/Look Over the Beautiful Fields
Ricky Skaggs: You're Running Wild
8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): Southern Fried
Jack Greene: Every Since My Baby Went Away
Jolly Green Giants: Happy Birthday Jack
Jack Greene: Statue of A Fool
The Whites: There's A Higher Power
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Snow Flake Reel
Bill Anderson: Still
8:30: Kraft
Hank Snow (host): Conscience, I'm Guilty
Jim Ed Brown: Will the Circle Be Unbroken/I Saw the Light/I'll Fly Away/Gone at Last
Jeannie Seely: Happy Anniversary to Hank/Don't Touch Me
Mike Snider: Black Jack/The Fur Coat
Hank Snow: Brand On My Heart
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Freight Train Boogie
Jim & Jesse: Headin' West
Oswald: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight
Stu Phillips: Crystal Chandeliers
Ricky Skaggs: Uncle Pen
Porter Wagoner & Colene Walters: The Last Thing On My Mind
Coleen Walters: Alone With You
Porter Wagoner: Big Wind
10:00: Goody's
Bill Monroe (host): Blue Moon of Kentucky
Roy Drusky: Family Bible
Bill Monroe: Foggy Mountain Breakdown/Sweet Blue Eyed Darling/The Gold Rush
10:15: Tennessee Pride/Sunbeam
Grandpa Jones (host): Banjo Sam
The Isaacs: Peace Like A River
George McCormick: Satisfied
10:30: Gruhn Guitar
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleepin' At the Foot of the Bed
Mike Snider: Soldier's Joy/Angeline the Baker/Old Molly Hare/Battle Cry of Freedom/Get Your Hand Off My Knee and Lord the Cannon
Jimmy Dickens: Out Behind the Barn
10:45: Fairfield Communities
Bill Anderson (host): I Get the Fever
Jack Greene: Forever, My Darling
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Golden Slippers
Bill Anderson: A World of Make Believe
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): The Prisoner's Song
Charlie Walker: Does Ft. Worth Every Cross Your Mind
Stonewall Jackson: Muddy Water
Jeannie Seely: Go Down Swinging/When He Leaves You
Hank Snow: I Almost Lost My Mind
11:30: Cates Pickles
Billy Walker (host): Come A Little Bit Closer
John Conlee: Lady Lay Down/I'm Only In It For the Love
Johnny Russell: Ain't You Even Gonna Cry
Billy Walker: Adam's Side
And finally, for this week's featured line-up, I have two to share. The first one is from Saturday January 11, 1969 as this was the night that George Jones rejoined the Opry. I have said before that George Jones and his history at the Opry has been most interesting. George originally joined the Opry on August 11, 1956. He stayed around for a few years and left. Then he rejoined in 1969, stayed a few years and left again. He rejoined for a third time in 1973, and this time it stuck and he stayed until he passed away last year. Not that all of this mattered very much as George was rarely at the Opry. In an interesting side note, Mel Tillis was introduced as a member of the Opry the same night. Yet, as we know from the Opry's history, when Mel was inducted as a member of the Opry in 2007, it was never acknowledged that Mel had ever actually joined the show. Mel was around long enough to make an edition of the Opry's Picture History Book. The thinking is that he was announced as a new member, and decided pretty much after the fact that he really didn't want to commit to the Opry. By 2007, and with the help of his daughter Pam, Mel was ready to get back on board.
Here is the Opry running order from Saturday January 11, 1969, when George Jones rejoined the Opry for the 2nd time and Mel Tillis was introduced as an Opry member the first time:
7:30: Standard Candy
Tex Ritter (host): Take Him Fishing
Billy Grammer: Mabel
George Morgan: Little Green Apples
Osborne Brothers: Kentucky
Margie Bowes: I Still Miss Someone
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
4 Guys: Turn Around; Look at Me
Tex Ritter: A Funny Thing Happened to me on the Way to Miami
8:00: Martha White
Flatt & Scruggs (host): w/Paul Warren: Black Eyed Susie
George Jones & Brenda Carter: Milwaukee, Here I Come
Wilburn Brothers: We Need Lot More Happiness
Loretta Lynn: Fist City
Crook Brothers: Mississippi Sawyer
Cousin Jody: On Top of Old Smokey
George Jones: I'll Be Over You (When the Grass Grows Over Me)
Flatt & Scruggs: I Be Your Baby Tonight
8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Bill Monroe: Virginia Darling
Dottie West: Reno
Bob Luman: Guitar Man
Archie Campbell & Lorene Mann: Warm and Tender Love
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Poor Ellen Smith
Roy Acuff: You Win Again
9:00: Luzianne
Porter Wagoner (host): Carroll County Accident
Mel Tillis: I Wish I Felt This Way At Home
Jim & Jesse: When the Snow Is On the Roses
Dolly Parton: In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)
Justin Tubb: I'm Going Back to Louisiana
Stringbean: Gonna Make Myself A Name
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton: Jeannie's Afraid of the Dark
9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): Golden Rocket
Glaser Brothers: One of These Days
Bobby Lord: Yesterday's Letters
Willis Brothers: Big Daddy
Marion Worth: Sleeping At the Foot of the Bed
Lonzo & Oscar: There's A Hole In The Bottom of the Sea
Stu Phillips: Little Old Wine Drinker Me
Hank Snow: Let Me Go Lover
10:00: Fender
Tex Ritter (host): A Funny Thing Happened To Me on the Way to Miami
Wilburn Brothers: Hurt Her Once For Me
George Morgan: Wichita Lineman
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Margie Bowes: All the World Is Lonely Now
Ernie Ashworth: Sad Face
10:15: Pure
Flatt & Scruggs (host): Folsom Prison Blues
George Jones & Brenda Carter: Milwaukee, Here I Come
Loretta Lynn: Woman of the World
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On
Cousin Jody: Mockingbird
10:30: Buckley's
Porter Wagoner (host): Howdy, Neighbor Howdy
Mel Tillis: Who's Julie
10:45: Kent
Roy Acuff (host): Low and Lonely
Bill Monroe: The Gold Rush
Dolly Parton: Just Because I'm A Woman
Joe Greene: Katy Hill
Bob Luman: Memphis
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby
Archie Campbell & Lorene Mann: The Dark End of the Street
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: The Birds are Back
Crook Brothers: Arkansas Traveler
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Marion Worth: Faded Love
Stringbean: Banjo Convention
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Fire on the Mountain
Hank Snow: Old Doc Brown
Sam McGee: Wheels
Chubby Wise: Lee Highway Blues
11:30: Lava
Glaser Brothers (host): Release Me/Then I Turned and Walked Slowly Away/Many Tears Ago/You Win Again/There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight
Jim & Jesse: Yonder Comes the Freight Train
Lonzo & Oscar: Love Took My Heart and Smashed That Sucker Flat
Glaser Brothers: The Last Thing on My Mind
As with many shows of that era, I don't think there were many complaints.
The final featured line-up is from Saturday January 9, 1999 as this was the night of Boxcar Willie's final Grand Ole Opry appearances. Boxcar had joined the Opry in 1981 and for the most part, was a pretty loyal member. He balanced his Opry appearances while at the same time performing at his theater in Branson, where he was one of the first country music stars to establish roots there. In 1996 he became ill with leukemia, and as a result of the illness and treatments, his personal appearances, along with those at the Opry, dropped off. In fact, the shows that Boxcar did on this particular weekend were the only shows he did in 1999, and he passed away in April in Branson.
Here is the running order for the final Boxcar Willie shows at the Opry, Saturday January 9, 1999:
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Jimmy C Newman (host): Lafayette
Skeeter Davis: I Go to the Rock
Jimmy C Newman: Bajou Blues/Cajun Stripper
6:45: Opry Book
Ricky Skaggs (host): A Pig in A Pen
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Ricky Skaggs: Boston Boy
7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Roy Drusky: Too Old to Die Young
Jan Howard: The Unclouded Day
John Conlee: Rose Colored Glasses
Jim Ed Brown: Distant Drums
Porter Wagoner: One Way Ticket to the Blues/Ol' Slewfoot
7:30: Standard Candy
Lorrie Morgan (host): I'm Looking For Something In Red
Oswald: Euneta
Boxcar Willie: Wabash Cannonball/The Great Speckled Bird
Billy Ray Cyrus: A Busy Man/Shot Full of Love
Lorrie Morgan & Jim Ed Brown: Near You
8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): Son of the South
Holly Dunn: Daddy's Hands
Riders In The Sky: Cowboy Camp Meeting
Daryle Singletary: You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Cherokee Shuffle
Bill Anderson: Still
8:30: Physicians Mutual
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take An Old Cold Tater
Jim & Jesse: You Are the One
Stonewall Jackson: Waterloo
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Mike Snider: Short Little Lulu/Clinch Mountain Backstep/Mississippi Sawyer
Jimmy Dickens: I Leaned Over Backwards for You
2nd show
9:30: Opry Book
Porter Wagoner (host): Tennessee Border
Charlie Louvin: See the Big Man Cry
Boxcar Willie: Wabash Cannonball
Billy Ray Cyrus: A Busy Man/Shot Full of Love/Achy Breaky Heart
10:00: Lincoln Mercury
Jack Greene (host): Highway to the Sky
Holly Dunn: We've Got the Love
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/He Is My Everything
10:15: Opry Book
Jimmy Dickens (host): Family Reunion
Daryle Singletary: Forever and Always/Yesterday's Wine
Jimmy Dickens: I'd Rather Sleep In Peace Then Know You're Gone
10:30: Epiphone
Ricky Skaggs (host): How Mountain Girls Can Love
The Whites: Hangin' Around
Ricky Skaggs: I'm Bound to Ride
10:45: Jogging In A Jug
Mike Snider (host): Bell Cove Breakdown
John Conlee: The Backside of Thirty
Orpy Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Durang's Hornpipe
Mike Snider: Snuff Dipper
11:00: Coca-Cola
Bill Anderson (host): Get A Little Dirt On Your Hands
Jan Howard: Too Many Teardrops Too Late
Billy Walker: I Spend A Lot of Lonely Nights These Days
Vince Gill: Don't Come Cryin' To Me/Which Bridge to Cross; Which Bridge to Burn
Bill Anderson: Before
11:30: Opry Tickets
Johnny Russell (host): Good Hearted Woman
Del Reeves: A Lover's Question
George Hamilton IV: Abilene
Riders In The Sky: Jingle; Jangle; Jingle
Jim & Jesse: Gosh, I Miss You All the Time
Charlie Walker: Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Johnny Russell: Red Necks; White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer
Some very nice Opry shows on this list and what memories when you look back.
Enjoy the Opry this weekend!!!
I would prefer to think more about those two older lineups you posted--yet not a LOT older. And in 1999, wasn't Pete Fisher already the manager?
ReplyDeleteI always liked Pure Prairie League and got to work a lot of fair dates with them in the late 70's. The company I worked for supplied the staging, sound and lights for about 30 fairs every summer in the midwest and later provided the staging for Fan Fair every summer. Our crew would go in for the week and take care of all the details for the entertainment, whether is was shuttling artists and musicians from the airport, buying the food on the catering rider, selling merchandise, picking up gear, unloading trucks....whatever that day's show called for. PPL had a guitar player that I would see around the hotel and backstage. Kind of a chubby guy with a bad mustache. Nice enough but really quiet. He'd always nod when we passed but I never gave him a whole lot of notice. I tell people that if I'd known he was going to grow up to be Vince Gill I would have been a lot nicer to him!
ReplyDeletePete Fisher took over in June 1999. But I will say that for the first year or two that he took over, the line-ups were still pretty strong. I guess you don't realize how gradually he made the changes until you actually look at the 1999-2000 shows and then look at what we have in 2015.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the George Jones 1969 appearance, I am a little surprised that Tammy Wynette did not make an appearance on that show. I know George and Brenda Carter recorded Milwaukee, Here I Come. But I also know George and Tammy were already a couple at that time as they officially married in February 1969. There is a Wilburn Brothers Show clip as well as a Hee Haw clip on youtube of George and Tammy singing Milwaukee, Here I Come from around this time frame. I'm not sure when they started appearing together as an act.
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit surprising that the Bluegrass Boys played Foggy Mountain Breakdown in the 1995 lineup. I wonder what was going on...
ReplyDeleteI saw that the Opry has added Striking Matches into that first slot on Saturday night, while Jean Shepard is out for Friday night.
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing the empty spot, and hearing Brad Paisley's speech about Jimmy Dickens yesterday, saying that the new members need to be on the Opry more so it isn't as empty, I was hoping he'd make a surprise appearance on Saturday, as he is in Nashville and doesn't have concerts scheduled this week. Well, I guess he didn't listen to what he said and isn't coming back anytime soon, according to his schedule.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know why Loretta Lynn doesn't appear regularly on the Opry anymore? She seemed to be on all the time back when she was a popular recording artist, but now, at 82, she continues to tour regularly, but only makes 1 appearance at the Opry per year. I would think that as she got older, she would appear on the Opry more.
ReplyDeleteThe Blue Grass Boys performed "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" on the 1995 show in honor of Earl Scruggs' 71st birthday.
ReplyDeleteI will also add that Boxcar Willie's final appearance in 1999 was also the week Brother Oswald was recognized for 60 years on the Opry. Oswald appeared on the TNN televised portion (also his final appearance on the televised portion as a performer), and after his song Boxcar Willie asked Os and Charlie Collins to stay onstage and perform with him as well.
Robert,
ReplyDeleteYou beat me to it! I had noted that Os stayed and did the two Acuff songs with Box. Charlie Collins even got to do the guitar break. I had also noted how feeble Box looked. Bill Anderson presented Os with a plaque honoring his 60 years during the interview on the Backstage portion on TNN.
As a side note, Stonewall Jackson did the Midnite Jamboree this night.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
I was willing to give Chris Janson a change, but now I am thinking that over. He has got to get new material instead of singing the same song each appearance.
ReplyDeleteNice job by Vince Gill on Friday night doing "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose" to close out the show last night, with some guest stars on stage with him. No, there were not any surprises, just those who were on the segment with him with Jimmy Fortune added on.
I wouldn't mind seeing Deana Carter as an Opry member. She did another nice job tonight and growing up in Nashville, I think she understands the Opry and with her career behind her, I think she would make the appearances needed.
Marty Stuart is doing a show in our town on February 13, a Friday night. At least we know he will not be at the Opry that night. But in the press release that was given to the local media, it stated that he was "an inductee in the Country Music Hall of Fame." Unless he is going in this year and he already has been told, he is not a member. I really can't see him going in this year but stranger things have happened. Who knows for sure? The announcement is still at least a month away, from what I know.
Sorry, a correction, I meant to say that I was willing to give Chris Janson a chance!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, saw a picture today on the web of the pallbearers carrying the body of Jimmy Dickens out of the Opry House after the funeral. Jim Ed Brown was there, up in front. Couldn't really tell much, but he did have a ball cap on. Appearance wise, and not being able to tell much from the photo, he looked about the same weight. Nice to see that he was able to be there.
I too am glad to see Jim Ed out of the house. He doesn't seem to have changed much, except in 1 picture at the service, where his back is to the camera, you could see he has lost his hair.
DeleteFred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteAbout Janson, I think Byron got it right the first time!
Byron, we had a columnist in Las Vegas who insisted that Dean Martin was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Maybe Marty is in the same hall?
ReplyDeleteThat is strange, Byron. He is living in a household that has a hall of fame member though. Maybe they confused his future induction with Connie's current membership?
ReplyDeleteA.B.
Now here's something that might be stranger. I looked on the CMHOF website at the inductees. I clicked one then erased that name in the URL and added Marty's. It doesn't give me a 404 message, it gives me a placeholder for him!
ReplyDeleteI tried a couple other artists and three that also came up as placeholders were Lorrie Morgan, Ricky Skaggs, & Ralph Stanley.
Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Don Rich, The Buckaroos, Weldon Myrick, & Ralph Mooney give me a 404. Maybe Marty, Lorrie, & Ricky are on the short list this year for modern era & Ralph is on short list for veteran era?
A.B.
An addendum: The Browns, Jim Ed Brown, Archie Campbell, Stringbean, Tanya Tucker, Steve Wariner, Dottie West, & Stonewall Jackson have placeholders too.
ReplyDeleteI hope I didn't start a firestorm. I just found it interesting that the placeholders exist if you know how to find it.
A.B.
Nice work and research A.B. I think we all know that the Country Music Hall of Fame is always one of the hot topics each year.
ReplyDeleteThis year the rotating category is for musician. In the past the electors have voted for studio and Nashville based artists in this category. That could explain Weldon Myrick, who would receive a lot of support. If they break the mold this year and reach outside of Nashville, I don't think anyone could complain about Don Rich. I have got to believe that he has been on the short list before and with the Bakersfield exhibit just closing at the Hall of Fame, the timing couldn't be better.
I hear a lot of talk about the Oak Ridge Boys in the modern category. Many thought they stood a good chance last year but the voters went with Ronnie Milsap. The Oaks have a lot of people in their corner. I guess the question could be are the voters in that same corner. Alan Jackson's name always comes up if the voters go with a more recent artists. Tanya Tucker is often overlooked but her career achievements are solid. Ricky Skaggs will get in eventually, probably sooner than later. Lorrie Morgan, I am sure is a name that will receive a lot of mention, but I think there are other females who should get in ahead of her. As an stand alone artist, I am not so sure about Marty and being ready to get elected. But when you take the whole package, and the historical contributions he has made to preserving country music's history, I think those factors merit consideration.
In the veterans category, the election of Mac Wiseman last year was a surprise. It is just another example why we shouldn't always believe those finalists lists we see floating around each year. He wasn't on any of them and when you think about it, Bobby Bare and Jack Clement the year before were not really mentioned either. There is again a push for Dottie West. Without question, she should have been elected long ago. Jim Ed Brown has cancer and who really knows how long he has. And in my opinion, Jim Ed and The Browns go together. Archie Campbell has come up before. Ralph Stanley and Ralph Mooney would be out of the box choices. Then you have names such as Hank Williams, Jr. and Jerry Reed that come up. I really can't see Stonewall Jackson in this discussion. Not saying he doesn't deserve it. If you do want to throw a name out there, I would mention George Hamilton IV. Just look at his biography and all that he has done for country music around the world.
In all 3 categories, the names are starting to back up again and besides those mentioned, I know more will be floated about. If the recent pattern holds, we will have several months to debate the choices and when the announcement comes, the voters will surprise us.
Just checked for some more names. Dwight Yoakam, George Hamilton IV, Trisha Yearwood, Pam Tillis, and Brother Oswald have placeholders also.
ReplyDeleteA.B.
I hear whispers of consideration for Charlie Daniels and Crystal Gayle as well. I'm certain Reba and Garth were 'let's get this over with' inductions. With Rogers and Milsap going in the last few years I believe that same pattern of the late 1970s and early 1980s will continue for a few years before Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn are considered.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the Verterans category , with last years induction of Mac Wiseman, who knows what direction the electors will go. I'm certain The Browns, Dottie West and Jerry Lee Lewis are on the rador.
Also found placeholders for Tillman Franks, Red Sovine, Hank Locklin, Danny Davis, & Boots Randolph ...
ReplyDeleteAnother loyal follower.
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteI guess we have enough names to tantalize us. Of all those mentioned, my choice would be good ol' Jerry Lee, before he croaks. Incredible showman, 60-years in the biz, an authentic country boy, lotsa good country music to go with the groundbreaking rock 'n' roll.
My favorite Lewis country song: a tearjerker, "No Honky Tonks in Heaven." 2nd choice: "He Can't Fill My Shoes." But there are so many, many others.
I didn't see Jerry Lee Lewis with a placeholder, but there is one for his cousin -- Mickey Gilley. I also found placeholders for Roy Drusky, Skeeter Davis, and Johnnie Wright.
ReplyDeleteAnother loyal follower
Freddie Hart, Donna Fargo, and Redd Stewart are also there
ReplyDeleteAnother loyal follower
All of those people are not ever going in the hall of fame.
ReplyDeletejumping the gun on this weekend's shows, but look at Saturday night.
ReplyDeleteRonnie Milsap, Vince Gill, Craig Morgan, John Conlee, Jan Howard, Jesse McReynolds, Dailey & Vincent, Mandy Barnett and more.
Six members and two acts who SHOULD be members. Wish I could make it.