Grand Ole Opry 3/6 & 3/7

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. While not as strong of shows as we have seen in the past several weeks, there are still some very interesting names listed and good quality line-ups.

The Friday Night Opry will feature guest artists Kristian Bush and Old Dominion. Another name you will see is the ever popular and present Chris Janson. And finally, Point Of Grace is scheduled. These three young ladies do a very nice job with their brand of Christian music and have enjoyed some success. Nice to see them back on the Opry.

Saturday's Grand Ole Opry will feature one of my favorite singers, Suzy Bogguss. If you haven't listened "Lucky", her Merle Haggard tribute album, you are missing a good one. She does an outstanding job with Merle's hits. Also scheduled on Saturday is Dailey & Vincent, another of the acts who many think would make great Opry members. They continue to have great success in bluegrass. Jonathan Jackson from "Nashville" is scheduled, as is another visit from Greg Bates and Jason Crabb.

As far as Opry members this weekend, Mike Snider, Jim Ed Brown, Bill Anderson and John Conlee are set for both nights. Friday night, they are joined by Ricky Skaggs and Lorrie Morgan, along with The Whites, Jeannie Seely and Bobby Osborne. Saturday night we have Connie Smith, Riders In The Sky, Jan Howard and Jesse McReynolds.

Friday March 6
7:00: John Conlee (host); Mike Snider; Chris Janson
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Jim Ed Brown; Point Of Grace
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Old Dominion
8:45: Lorrie Morgan (host); Jeannie Seely; Kristian Bush

Saturday March 7
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Mike Snider; Greg Bates
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jesse McReynolds; Jason Crabb
Intermission
8:15: John Conlee (host); Jan Howard; Jonathan Jackson; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Bill Anderson (host); Suzy Bogguss; Dailey & Vincent

Again, as with last week, 13 artists are set for each show.



And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 5 years ago this weekend, March 5 & 6, 2010:

Friday March 5
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Chuck Wicks
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Marty Raybon
Intermission
8:15: John Conlee (host); Riders In The Sky; Connie Smith; Mandy Barnett
8:45: Mike Snider (host); Jan Howard; Jim Ed Brown; Montgomery Gentry

Saturday March 6
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); John Conlee; Emily West
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jack Greene; Del McCoury Band
Intermission
8:15: Mike Snider (host); The Whites; Little Texas; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jim Ed Brown; Sammy Kershaw

And from 10 years ago, the weekend of March 4 & 5, 2005:

Friday March 4
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jimmy C Newman; Rebecca Lynn Howard
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Cowboy Crush; Stonewall Jackson; The Whites
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Katrina Elam
9:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Osborne Brothers; Buddy Jewell
9:30: John Conlee (host); George Hamilton IV; Mandy Barnett

Saturday March 5
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Jimmy C Newman; Buddy Jewell
7:00: Diamond Rio (host); Pat Green; Del McCoury Band; The Crabb Family
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Billy Walker; Wade Hayes; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Connie Smith; Jamie O'Neal

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Diamond Rio; Connie Smith
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); The Whites; Del McCoury Band; Buddy Jewell
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Billy Walker; Pat Green; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: George Hamilton IV (host); Wade Hayes; Jamie O'Neal
11:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Stu Phillips; The Crabb Family

For this week's featured line-up, it was on March 7, 1964 that Jim & Jesse, along with Ernie Ashworth, were introduced on the Opry stage as the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry.

Ernie Ashworth came to Nashville from Huntsville, Alabama where he performed on radio station WBHP. By the age of 20, he had found success in Nashville as a songwriter and was signed by Acuff-Rose, where he wrote songs for Jimmy Dickens, Carl Smith, Johnny Horton, Wilma Lee Cooper and even, Paul Anka. Ernie received his first recording contract in 1955 but he was unable to come up with a hit and returned to Alabama. In 1960, Wesley Rose called him back to record once again and this time "Each Moment" was a success, reaching the Top 10. That was followed by "You Can't Pick a Rose in December." Three years later, Ernie had his career hit, "Talk Back Trembling Lips." The song went to #1 and was on the charts for 36 weeks. It was not only a country hit, but it also crossed over onto the pop charts. That song led to his invitation to join the Opry. While Ernie would enjoy a few more successful records, he never again saw the success that he had with his first #1. Later, Ernie would own radio stations in Ardmore and Gallatin, Tennessee and in 1992 he was elected to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Ernie passed away on March 2, 2009 at the age of 80.

Jim & Jesse McReynolds came to Nashville from Coeburn, Virginia. Coming from a family with a musical background, they signed with Capital Records in 1952. Their first Top 20 country hit came in 1967, three years after they joined the Opry, with "Diesel on My Tail." From then until the 1980s, they regularly made the country charts with a string of hits, most with a bluegrass flavor. In 1993 the duo were elected into the International Bluegrass Music Association's Hall of Honor. Jim McReynolds passed away on December 31, 2002 and since then Jesse has continued as an active recording artist and as an Opry member. In 2014, Jesse celebrated 50 years as an Opry member.

To remember both Ernie Ashworth and Jim & Jesse, here is the running order of the Grand Ole Opry from that night 51 years ago, March 7, 1964:

7:30: Luzianne
Jimmy Newman (host): Alligator Man
Wilburn Brothers: (?)
Marion Worth: You Took Him Off My Hands
Stringbean: Little Pink
Jimmy Newman: D.J. For A Day
Del Wood: Waiting for the Robert E Lee
Merle Kilgore: (?)
Wilburn Brothers: (?)
Jimmy Newman: Six Days on the Road

8:00: Martha White
Flatt & Scruggs (host): (?)
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Glaser Brothers: (?)
Ernest Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
Flatt & Scruggs: (?)
Ray Pillow: (?)
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Glaser Brothers: (?)
Flatt & Scruggs: (?)

8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Low and Lonely
June Stearn: (?)
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Each Season Changes You
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Roy Acuff: The End of the World
Hank Williams, Jr: Long Gone Lonesome Blues
Oswald: My Curly Headed Baby
Howdy Forrester: Soldier's Joy
Roy Acuff: Mother's Only Sleeping

9:00: Pet Milk
Ernest Tubb (host): (?)
Jean Shepard: (?)
Billy Walker: Forever
Jim & Jesse: (?)
Ernest Tubb: (?)
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Ida Red
Cousin Jody: I Suffered More Than You'll Ever Know
Jean Shepard: (?)
Ernest Tubb: (?)

9:30: Kellogg's
Leroy Van Dyke (host): (?)
Carter Family (?)
The Browns (?)
Willis Brothers: Big Daddy
Leroy Van Dyke (?)
Dottie West (?)
Carter Family (?)
The Browns (?)
Leroy Van Dyke: (?)

10:00: Schick
Wilburn Brothers (host) (?)
Jimmy Newman: The Mover
Stringbean: (?)
Wilburn Brothers: (?)

10:15: SSS Tonic
Flatt & Scruggs (host): (?)
Marion Worth: He Loves Me; He Loves Me Not
Del Wood: Queenie of the Town
Flatt & Scruggs: (?)

10:30: Harvey's
Roy Acuff (host): (?)
Skeeter Davis: He Says the Same Things to Me
Ernest Ashworth: A Week in the County Jail
Roy Acuff: (?)
Howdy Forrester & Jimmy Riddle: Black Mountain Rag

10:45: Ford
Ernest Tubb (host): (?)
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: I Wanna Be Loved
Crook Brothers: Lafayette
Ernest Tubb: (?)
Stoney Cooper: Canadian Reel

11:00: Coca-Cola
Leroy Van Dyke (host): (?)
Jean Shepard: (?)
Billy Walker: Charlie's Shoes
Glaser Brothers: (?)
Leroy Van Dyke: (?)
Hank Williams, Jr: Cold, Cold, Heart
Sam McGee: Dear Old Southern Home
Glaser Brothers: (?)
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Leroy Van Dyke: (?)

11:30: Gretsch Guitars
Marty Robbins (host): (?)
The Browns: (?)
Willis Brothers: Private Lee
Jim & Jesse: (?)
Marty Robbins: (?)
Cousin Jody: Cripple Creek
Don Winters: (?)
Willis Brothers: Everlovin' Dixieland
Marty Robbins: (?)

Interesting to see Ray Pillow and Dottie West appearing as guest artists, as they were not Opry members as of yet. Also an appearance by Hank Williams, Jr.

Enjoy the Opry this weekend!!