The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the two shows this weekend, the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. I had tickets for both shows this weekend but with the winter weather in Nashville this week, I have cancelled my trip until March. Hopefully it will be a little warmer.
As far as this weekend, several Opry members are scheduled for both nights. The list includes Lorrie Morgan, Jim Ed Brown, Jeannie Seely, The Whites, Ricky Skaggs and one of the Opry's newest members, Old Crow Medicine Show. Joining them on Friday night will be Mike Snider and Jesse McReynolds, while on Saturday it will be Bobby Osborne adding the bluegrass music. Nice to see Jesse back on the Opry after missing for several weeks. He is feeling better and glad to be back.
Guest artists this weekend include Holly Williams, who is scheduled both nights. On Friday night she is joined by Love and Theft, who in the course of this year have become very frequent Opry guests and Crystal Gayle. Making their Opry debut on Saturday night will be A Thousand Horses.
Friday February 20
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jim Ed Brown; Holly Williams
Intermission
8:15: Lorrie Morgan (host); Jesse McReynolds; Love and Theft
8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Old Crow Medicine Show
Saturday February 21
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Holly Williams; Jim Ed Brown
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); A Thousand Horses; Crystal Gayle
Intermission
8:15: Lorrie Morgan (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Old Crow Medicine Show
And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 5 years ago this weekend, February 19 & 20, 2010:
Friday February 19
7:00: Diamond Rio (host); Riders In The Sky; Del McCoury Band
7:30: John Conlee (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Craig Morgan
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Charlie Louvin; Montgomery Gentry
8:45: Mike Snider (host); Jim Ed Brown; Dierks Bentley
Saturday February 20
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); The Whites; Tracy Lawrence
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jan Howard; Jim Ed Brown; Kellie Pickler
8:00: Marty Stuart (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Connie Smith; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Stonewall Jackson; Jeannie Seely; Craig Morgan
And from 10 years ago this weekend, February 18 & 19, 2005:
Friday February 18
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Osborne Brothers; Jack Greene; Catherine Britt
8:00: The Whites (host); Charlie Walker; Old Crow Medicine Show; Emerson Drive
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); T. Graham Brown; Vince Gill
9:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Paul Brandt; Restless Heart
9:30: Lorrie Morgan (host); Del McCoury Band; Joe Nichols
Saturday February 19
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Osborne Brothers; Jimmy C Newman; Jedd Hughes
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Billy Walker; Julie Roberts
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Joni Harms; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Lorrie Morgan
8:00: Hal Ketchum (host); Jack Greene; Jeff Bates; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Emmylou Harris (host); The Whites; Nashville Bluegrass Band; Vince Gill
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Osborne Brothers; Jimmy C Newman; Jedd Hughes
10:00: Emmylou Harris (host); The Whites; Nashville Bluegrass Band; Vince Gill
10:30: Lorrie Morgan (host); Billy Walker; Julie Roberts; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Hal Ketchum (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jeff Bates
11:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Ray Pillow; Jack Greene; Joni Harms
For this week's featured line-ups, there are several to choose from. The first is from Saturday February 20, 1988 as this was the night that Roy Acuff was honored for being an Opry member for 50 years. TNN televised the tribute which covered two segments. This was also a special night at the Opry as it was the first time that Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton had performed at the Opry since their much publicized break-up. But the focus of the night was with Roy. The hour segment had Minnie Pearl as the MC. She was not actually called the host as that honor was still reserved for male artists. Joining here were Chet Atkins, Pee Wee King, who actually came to the Opry before Roy, and Loretta Lynn.
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Grandpa Jones (host): Little Pink
4 Guys: Tennessee
Lorrie Morgan: Silver Wings and Golden Rings
Ramona Jones: Orange Blossom Special
6:45: Rudy's
Charlie Walker (host): Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Jean Shepard & Ferlin Husky: A Dear John Letter
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
7:00: Shoney's/Standard Candy
Minnie Pearl (MC)
Roy Acuff: Wabash Cannonball
Chet Atkins: The House of the Rising Sun
Pee Wee King: Tennessee Waltz
Crook Brothers/Smokey Mountain Cloggers: Black Mountain Rag
Oswald: Columbus Stockade Blues
Loretta Lynn: Coal Miner's Daughter
Loretta Lynn & Minnie Pearl: Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
Roy Acuff & Everyone: I Saw the Light
8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
The Whites: If It Ain't Love
Jim Ed Brown: The Three Bells
Porter Wagoner: A Satisfied Mind
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton: The Last Thing on My Mind/Fight & Scratch/Holding on to Nothing/Just Someone I Used to Know/Daddy Was An Old Time Preacher Man/Rocky Top
8:30: Music Valley
Hank Snow (host): Address Unknown
Connie Smith: Walk Me to the Door
Osborne Brothers: Kentucky
Dottie West: Don't Go to Strangers
Hank Snow: I'm Glad I Got to See You Once Again
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Y'All Come
Skeeter Davis: My Last Date With You/Silver Threads and Golden Needles/The End of the World
Roy Drusky: Too Old to Die Young
Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton: The Last Thing on My Mind/Fight & Scratch/Holding on to Nothing/Just Someone I Used to Know/Daddy Was An Old Time Preacher Man
10:00: Little Debbie
Grandpa Jones (host): Going Down the Country
Stonewall Jackson: Closer to the Vine
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Alisa Jones: Liberty
10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Loretta Lynn: They Don't Make 'Em Like My Daddy Anymore/Coal Miner's Daughter
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away
10:30: Pet Milk
Bill Anderson (host): Southern Fried
Jean Shepard & Ferlin Husky: A Dear John Letter
Hank Locklin: Danny Boy
Bill Anderson & Roy Acuff: I Wonder If God Likes Country Music
10:45: Heil-Quaker
Jim Ed Brown (host): Southern Loving
Charlie Louvin: In the Cross
Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Rachel
Jim Ed Brown: Four Walls
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Bummin' Around
Wilma Lee Cooper: Philadelphia Lawyer
Justin Tubb: Waltz Across Texas
Riders In The Sky: How the Yodel Was Born
Bill Carlisle: Worried Man Blues
George Hamilton IV: Forever Young
Hank Snow: The Prisoner's Song
11:30: B.C. Powder
Jack Greene (host): To Make A Long Story Longer, She's Gone
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby
The Whites: Alabama Jubilee
Johnny Russell: A Legend In My Time
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/Statue of A Fool
Certainly a great night at the Opry!!
And it was Saturday February 22, 1969 that Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs performed together on the Grand Ole Opry. Lester and Earl, along with their group, the Foggy Mountain Boys, joined the Opry in 1955, depite efforts by Bill Monroe to deny them membership. However, executives at Martha White, who sponsored Lester and Earl's television and radio shows, along with the Grand Ole Opry, said they would cancel their Opry sponsorship if they were not made members. Flatt & Scruggs were one of the most successful bluegrass acts in history and their music was so popular, it crossed over in the country charts. Their only #1 hit was the "Ballad of Jed Clampett" in 1962. On that final night at the Opry, 46 years ago, the duo was scheduled to host 2 segments, but they only did the first one, cancelling the second.
7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Anderson (host): Wild Weekend
Osborne Brothers: A World of Forgotten People
Jimmy Gately: Heavenly Sunshine
Lonzo & Oscar: Columbus Stockade Blues
Bill Anderson: It's My Life, Throw It Away If I Want To
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Jimmy Gately: Dirt Under Her Feet
Lonzo & Oscar: A King Size Cola & A Moon Pie
Bill Anderson: I Love You Drops
8:00: Martha White
Flatt & Scruggs (host): Shady Grove
Skeeter Davis: The Closest Thing to Love
Glaser Brothers: Gentle On My Mind
Cousin Jody: On Top Of Old Smokey
Cousin Jake: Almost Persuaded #44
Skeeter Davis: Am I That Easy to Forget
Crook Brothers: Cotton-Eyed Joe
8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Billy Grammer: The Hour of Separation
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Del Wood: Down at Papa Joe's
Roy Acuff: Waltz of the Wind
Billy Grammer: Mabel
Smoky Mountain Boys: Lee Highway Blues
9:00: Luzianne
Ernest Tubb (host): You Don't Have To Be A Baby to Cry
George Morgan: Like A Bird
Margie Bowes: All the World Is Lonely Now
Ernie Ashworth: Where Do You Go
Ernest Tubb: Saturday Satan; Sunday Saint
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
George Morgan: Wichita Lineman
Billy Parker: That's A Big World Out There
9:30: Kellogg's
Jim Ed Brown (host): Pop A Top
Willis Brothers: Rambling Boy
Marion Worth: A Legend In My Time
Charlie Walker: Honky-Tonk Season
Jim Ed Brown: Man & Wife Time
Willis Brothers: I'm Easy to Please
Marion Worth: You Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Jim Ed Brown: Honky Tonk Man
10:00: Fender
Glaser Brothers (host): Please Take Me Back
Lonzo & Oscar: Out of Hand
Del Wood: Beer Barrel Polka
Glaser Brothers: Gone, on the Other Hand
10:15: Pure
Willis Brothers (host): Give Me 40 Acres
Ernie Ashworth: Oh, Lonesome Me
Cousin Jody: Mockingbird
Willis Brothers: I Still Do
10:30: Buckley's
Archie Campbell (host): The Cockfight
Skeeter Davis: Goin' Down the Road Feelin' Bad
Osborne Brothers: My Favorite Memory
Archie Campbell: Look Up; Look Down That Lonesome Road
10:45: Kent
Ernest Tubb (host): Letters Have No Arms
Billy Grammer: I'm Letting You Go
Crook Brothers: Texas Quick Stop
Ernest Tubb: Waltz Across Texas
11:00: Coca-Cola
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train to Memphis
Willis Brothers: Bob/Give Me 40 Acres
Margie Bowes: Understand Your Gal/Big City
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cacklin' Hen
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
Margie Bowes: Take Me As I Am Or Let Me Go
Sam McGee: Under the Double Eagle
11:30: Lava
George Morgan (host): Like A Bird
Jim Ed Brown: Man & Wife Time
Jim Ed Brown & George Morgan: Now Is the Hour
Marion Worth: Almost Persuaded
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
George Morgan: Molly Darling
Jim Ed Brown: The Longest Beer of the Night
Marion Worth: Faded Love
Charlie Walker: Honky Tonk Season
While they broke up as a duo, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs would remain individual Opry members. Lester and his Nashville Grass, which in time would include Marty Stuart, played more traditional bluegrass. When he appeared on the Opry, Lester would almost always host the Martha White portion of the show. He would remain an active Opry member until his death in May 1979, Earl would form the Earl Scruggs Revue, which was basically a family act, featuring his sons and playing a more progressive style of bluegrass. Earl and the boys did not stay around the Opry very long, making their last appearance on March 30, 1974. As the years went by, Earl would continue to make guest appearances on the Opry and a few years prior to his death, there are reports that he expressed an interest in becoming an Opry member again, but was turned down. Earl passed away in March 2012.
In 1985, they were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Finally, here is the line-up for the Tuesday Night Opry, February 24:
7:00: Bill Anderson; The Willis Clan
7:30: Connie Smith; Josh Turner
Intermission
8:15: Mel Tillis; Henry Cho
8:45: Darius Rucker; Charlie Daniels Band
Nice to see Darius making an Opry appearance. I know he made comments regarding how few Opry appearnces he made last year and said he would do better in 2015. This is a nice start.
Enjoy the Opry this weekend!!!
Yes, staying out of Nashville this weekend was a good call. I've survived a lot of Nashville winters and I can't think of a city that is less suited to snow and ice! My brother lives in Berry Hill and he hasn't been able to work all week (he's in the construction business). In fact, he said he hadn't seen a single car go down his street in several days. Even half the acts scheduled for last Tuesday's Opry show didn't make it out. But snow, ice and Nashville drivers aren't generally a good mix. In the years I lived there it always seemed like there were a lot of NASCAR wannabes on the roads and rain, snow, ice and the like didn't seem to strike them as a reason to slow down! Several years back, after a major snow storm in Nashville, I had to drive from my home in Donelson to Hendersonville and on Briley Parkway between I-40 and I-65 alone I counted 34 cars in the ditch...some of them having gone in face first.
ReplyDeleteThere is one more country great who should be in the hall of fame.Johnny Horton.Sure his career was only 10 short years But he had a quite a few songs in those 10 years.Jimmie Rodgers,Hank Williams Sr.,Patsy Cline all had a short career,but who cares.They all made the hall of fame,so why not Johnny? Don't give me any crap about Johnny beign at the Louisiana Hayride all those years.Johnny derserves to be in the hall of fame.
ReplyDeleteAgree 100% on Johnny Horton.
ReplyDeleteHeard Garth Brooks sing a few notes of "Whispering Pines" while being interviewed by Bill Cody, declaring what a great singer Horton was.
I didn't realize Johnny Horton wasn't in the hall of fame yet. I think he deserves to be honored more than anyone we've been suggesting. What a tremendous oversight by the CMHF. How could they have overlooked him for 50 years?!
ReplyDeleteKyle
On Friday, Jim Ed Brown and Jimmy Wayne have been added to the opening portion, while Chris Janson has been added to the Riders In The Sky Portion.
ReplyDeleteOn Saturday, Striking Matches has been added to Lorrie Morgan's portion.
It's amazing that Loretta Lynn is a member yet only does 1 appearance per year at the Opry, while her sister, Crystal Gayle, is simply a guest, and appears on a fairly regular basis.
I wonder why we haven't seen Jean Shepard on the Opry for the past 2 months. I hope she's okay.
I heard Trisha Yearwood is scheduled to make an appearance on March 13. I hope that her husband Garth Brooks decides to stop by with her.
Kyle
DeleteA few changes to the Opry line-up for this weekend and I would expect a few more much later today if Nashville gets the ice storm that is predicted. So here is the update:
ReplyDeleteFriday Night Opry
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy Wayne; Mike Snider; Jim Ed Brown
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Holly Williams; Chris Janson
Intermission
8:15: Lorrie Morgan (host); Jesse McReynolds; Love and Theft
8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Old Crow Medicine Show
Saturday's Grand Ole Opry
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Holly Williams; Jim Ed Brown
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); A Thousand Horses; Crystal Gayle
Intermission
8:15: Lorrie Morgan (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Striking Matches; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Old Crow Medicine Show
Saturday's weather is looking ok, Friday is the big concern. If it turns and anyone was looking for folks who might cancel out, I would list Mike Snider, who usually flies into Nashville for the Opry and Jesse McReynolds. Ricky Skaggs and most of The Whites live out in Hendersonville, which is about a 20 minute drive, but in the past Ricky has always made it in, usually bringing the rest of the family with him. Who knows what could happen. The Tuesday Night Opry had almost half cancel out.
Also if you are looking ahead at Opry dates, Trisha Yearwood is scheduled for Friday March 13. That would be the date of her Opry induction 16 years ago. Not expecting anything special, but it is nice to see her on the Opry schedule again.
I didn't know Mike Snider flies to the Opry. You would think that after 25 years of doing 70 Opry shows per year, he would decide to save money and move closer to the Opry house.
ReplyDeleteVery rarely does the Opry have 3 performers in the same segment, and I doubt that there will be 3 tonight. Possibly the Opry is bracing for the storm by having Jim Ed as a back up in case Mike can't make it.
Kyle
Kyle,
ReplyDeleteNot sure if you know but Mike is a pilot and flies to a lot of his dates.
I suppose we'll get to hear the same two songs from Jimmy on the first show instead of hearing more of Mike or Jim Ed!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
With the Opry paying someone like Mike about $400 per night, I don't think even doing 70 appearances a year would be enough to get Mike to move to Nashville. I have heard that he is very happy living in Gleason, Tennessee and his wife has a very nice job there.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know he was a pilot. That makes more sense then.
ReplyDeleteThat seems like hardly anything. I would think he would get more than that. When he gets that check, he has to divide that with everyone in his band, and what's left of his goes towards fueling his plane. Fella can't even break even that way!
Sounds to me like the Opry needs to give some raises. No wonder they're struggling to get stars to appear!
Kyle
Kyle, just some information for you that I have shared on the blog before:
ReplyDeleteAnyone who performs at the Opry is covered by the union contract between Ryman Hospitality, owners of the Opry, and The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, who represent all of the performers. I do not have a copy of the current contract but I have a copy of the previous one. When performing on the Opry, the musicians that perform with Mike are paid according to whatever the union contract with the musicians calls for. No, he does not have to pay his musicians at the Opry unless he has a specific contract with them. They are paid by the Opry. That has been a point of contention in recent years as numerous Opry members have been told to cut the number of band members that they bring with them to the Opry. That is one reason why you see so many of the artists using the Opry Staff Band.
Overall, a number of groups have been left untouched such as Bill Anderson, John Conlee, Bobby Osborne, Jesse McReynolds and even Mike Snider. Obviously the bigger names are not going to be told to leave people at home. Others, such as Jack Greene, Del Reeves and Charlie Louvin, when they were alive, were told they had to use the staff band, or were allowed to bring just one or two band members with them. A few years ago, Jim Ed Brown was told to cut, but he had a discussion with management and was able to keep most of his. I think the position the Opry has taken is that if the performer is active on the road and his band is an essential part of the act, they can come with them to the Opry. If they are not active on the road, it is the staff band they must use.
In the old days, everyone on the Opry stage, no matter who they were, got paid union scale. That included the biggest stars down to the back-up musicians. Most of the artists, or bigger names who appear on the Opry are paid well above the union scale. That also is one of the reasons there are less performers on a show today, 10-12 versus the 25-30 a few years back.
Thanks for letting me know.
ReplyDeleteJust checked the schedule, and it appears that Jesse McReynolds had to cancel. They'll probably rearrange the sequence and have Jim Ed Brown or Mike Snider step in for him.
Kyle
Thanks Kyle. I may be wrong, but I get the feeling you are somewhat new to following the Opry and it's history. Anything you need to know, or want to know, please feel free to ask. It is a pleasure to read your comments and have you along for the ride.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the invitation. I've known about the Opry for probably a decade, but finally experienced the opry in 2013, and have been getting interested in the Opry & its history ever since.
ReplyDeleteI actually did have a question. Do you know if the February 20, 1988 opry show you mentioned is the first one where a female performer "hosted" a segment?
Kyle
Things didn't turn out too bad for the Friday Night Opry. Jesse McReynolds and Holly Williams were the no-shows. Jim Ed slid down into the Holly Williams slot and nobody replaced Jesse McReynolds. Lorrie Morgan was outstanding as always, but her segment was actually cut short and came in under 30 minutes. Jim Ed sounded good, although a little shaky on "The Old Lamplighter." The final segment with Ricky was the best of the night, as you would expect with Old Crow Medicine Show. Weather in Nashville today is just heavy rain so I would expect a full line-up tonight. And from what I could tell listening to the radio and comments made, the crowd wasn't too bad last night.
ReplyDeleteI have a short recording from the March 20, 1976 Grand Ole Opry of Minnie Pearl hosting the 10:00 Fender Guitar portion, so Minnie had hosted a segment earlier than 1988. On the recording, Minnie actually makes the comment, "whenever I have an opportunity to M.C. a show..." which suggests March 20, 1976 was not the first time she had hosted, either, but it would take more research on my part to see if I could find a specific earlier date. Minnie's guests on this particular show were Connie Smith and Justin Tubb, which is especially interesting because Justin Tubb was male and was an occasional (although very infrequent) Opry portion host (Justin had hosted a portion the week before). Also, on this night, guesting on other segments of the 2nd show were potential hosts Charlie Walker and Stonewall Jackson (who both hosted segments that night on the 1st show), Stu Phillips, Hank Locklin, and Little Jimmy Dickens(!), so Minnie Pearl was not even the absolute last resort. So without researching any further right now, I'd say this wasn't a totally isolated event or an emergency response, but a female host probably is about as rare as anything you will find in regards to Opry scheduling from the 70s and 80s.
ReplyDeleteRobert, that is terrific. And very interesting--remember that in 1976, the Potato was about a year into his second tenure, and even after he was elected to the Hall of Fame, he would appear on other people's segments, unlike Messrs. Acuff, Monroe, Snow, and Tubb, and even Porter Wagoner, who, I think, always hosted in those days.
ReplyDeleteIt was either Jean Shepard or Jeannie Seely who once asked about hosting a segment and was told, "Become a man."
That's interesting. I think it's a bit silly that the men could be "hosts" back then while women were the "M.C.'s."
ReplyDeleteI remember reading in a book about Opry history that there was a time Jeannie Seely mad a remark in the 60s or 70s where she said, "Why is it that when the men host, hey introduce us by saying, 'here's a nice young lady with a cute little dress on,' yet when we host, we have to do a big introduction for them and name all their accomplishments. So unless you want us to say, 'well here's a nice young man with a cute little suit on,' then start giving us a better introduction." That makes me think that women hosting goes back a bit further.
Kyle
Thanks Robert. Interesting also that Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper hosted segments many times while they were on the Opry, but it was always Stoney that handled any introductions. I also seem to remember that Barbara Mandrell hosted a segment prior to the Opry officially allowing females to host.
ReplyDeleteKyle, I know it sounds silly today but the Opry and country music was way different back in those days. Even on package tours, which were popular at the time, the female artist was never the headliner, even if she was the biggest star on the tour. County music, and the Opry, was a very conservative, male dominated occupation.
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteIn the case of the Coopers, Stoney was the act's "front man," period -- on the road and on the radio and TV shows in which they participated for the armed services, as well as on the Opry. Nothing especially "sexist" about it, either. Before Stoney's health declined and his voice weakened, he was at least an equal singing partner with Wilma Lee, as their major-label recordings attest.
I'm very happy to see Mel Tillis on the Tuesday schedule. He had cancelled the January 6th show, so this following Tuesday is the first since October 4th in Nashville.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why he had no shows at the opry for more than four months.
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteHooray for the Opry's closing half-hour last night, with Ricky, Old Crow (4 numbers!) and finally Ricky and Sharon. When you have the right people on there, it can still be as good as in the old days. Having no clunkers (like Striking Matches, on the preceding half-hour) to blow up the mood and the flow makes a big difference.
The Whites hosted the 3rd segment as Lorrie Morgan was sick and couldn't make it. She wrote that she called Pete Fisher and offered to come in and host the segment without singing, but Pete told her to stay home and get well. Nice of Lorrie to offer to come in and make an appearance and I am sure Pete appreciated the offer. With the illnesses going around, I do think Pete made the right decision in telling her to stay home.
ReplyDeleteLike Fred, I thought the last half hour was great. 3 songs and then an encore for Old Crow, joined by Ricky.
Lorrie's offer to Pete brings up a question I've had on my mind for a while. Has anyone ever hosted a segment of the Opry, but didn't sing?
ReplyDeleteThat could be a way to utilize Barbara Mandrell since she's still a member, but doesn't sing much anymore.
A.B.
Just a couple I'm thinking of that hosted on a regular basis but didn't sing: Jerry Clower use to host all the time but of course never sang. Archie Campbell also hosted a lot; sometimes he sang and sometimes he didn't. There are probably several more.
ReplyDeleteAs Ricky said both nights, the Crows put on as fine a show as you will see in all country music right now. If you get a chance to see them in concert, by all means do it !!!! And their leader Keith ( Ketch ) Secor has a fine appreciation of the old country artists and country tradition. I garauntee, you won't be sitting down by the end of their show !!!!!! I saw them and were thrilled by them when they first came to the Opry in the late 90s, on the Opry , and their music still has all the spirit and more from where they started. My best description of them is that they are an old-time string band on triple steroids !!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteDashmann - Flushing, Michigan
Sorry " guarantee " and " "was " not "were", thrilled by them - in the previous post ------ I can be such a lunkhead sometimes --lol --
ReplyDeleteDashmann , Flushing, Michigan
Why the hell Mel Tillis had cancelled again the following tuesday night opry?
ReplyDeleteI have not heard the reason on why Mel cancelled on the Tuesday Night Opry. I could speculate that it might be weather related as there have been numerous weather issues around the country, but that would just be speculation.
ReplyDeleteMel only meant to cancel for that one show several months ago, but he keeps repeating himself, which is causing some confusion.
ReplyDeleteHave a little patience with the older folks --- I'm 71 and understand the effort it must take to do the Opry at a financial challenge, especially when you live in Florida like M-Mel does. Just be glad he makes it sometimes and enjoy it for what it is. Dashmann - Flushing, Michigan
ReplyDeleteAccording to reports, Mel did not make it to the Tuesday Night Opry because his bus broke down on the way. Personally, I have no issue with Mel and the Opry. He has made the "asked" for number of appearances pretty much each year since joining, including 15 last year. And let's not forget that while he is still active, he is over 80 now.
ReplyDeleteMel's a good guy, and appears very frequently on the show, despite not living in Nashville. Everyone's entitled a personal day if they're unable to get there. But as we've seen, Mel is good with his appearances, and we know he will make it up soon.
ReplyDeleteBefore you talked about his bus breaking down, I was thinking he cancelled because he wanted to be careful with his health and avoid the bad Nashville weather. At 82, I don't think Mel is immune to catching pn-pn-pn-pneumonia out there!
Kyle