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.
As far as Opry members this weekend, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers are back for both nights. Larry continues his strong run of Opry appearances in 2015 and one again, Steve and Rudy are with him. It is certainly nice to have all three there and in a bit of unusual scheduling, they are leading off on Friday night. Joining them both nights are Opry members John Conlee and Mike Snider. On Friday night, Riders In The Sky, Del McCoury Band, Jesse McReynolds, Ricky Skaggs and The Whites on on board, while on Saturday night Jeannie Seely, Connie Smith and Bobby Osborne are listed.
As far as guest artists, making her Opry debut will be Jessie James Decker. She has been around Nashville since 2009 and along with her husband, stars in an E! network reality series. Her husband, Eric Decker, is an NFL wide receiver. Joining her on Friday will be Mark Wills, Drake White and Point Of Grace. Besides appearing on the Opry on Friday night, Mark Wills will also be signing copies of his new CD in the Opry gift shop.
On Saturday night, the big attraction is another guest appearance by Hunter Hayes. He is John Conlee's only guest in the final segment. Obviously, Hunter will have the appeal of the younger audience members. Also guesting on Saturday night will be Mickey Guyton, Kristian Bush and a repeat performance by Mark Wills. And yes, Saturday is looking a little thin with only 10 artists scheduled and I would expect that is the way it will end up.
Friday May 8
7:00: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); Mark Wills; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Drake White; Del McCoury Band
Intermission
8:15: John Conlee (host); Jesse McReynolds; Jessie James Decker
8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Point Of Grace
Saturday May 9
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Mickey Guyton; Mike Snider
7:30: Connie Smith (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Mark Wills
Intermission
8:15: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); Kristian Bush; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: John Conlee (host); Hunter Hayes
And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago this weekend, May 7 & 8, 2010. Both of these shows were held at the Ryman Auditorium as it was the week after the flood in Nashville that seriously damaged the Grand Ole Opry House. The Opry would not return to the Opry House until the end of September. And with it being the first weekend shows after the flood, a couple of the bigger names, Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson came by that weekend to do the Opry.
Friday May 7
7:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jean Shepard; George Hamilton IV; The Whites
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jesse McReynolds; Janie Fricke
Intermission
8:15: Jim Ed Brown (host); Connie Smith; Dailey & Vincent
8:45: Diamond Rio (host); Jan Howard; Mike Snider; Brad Paisley
Saturday May 8
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Emily West
7:30: Jean Shepard (host); Jack Greene; Connie Smith
Intermission
8:15: Jim Ed Brown (host); Stonewall Jackson; Lee Greenwood; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Mike Snider (host); Alan Jackson
And from 10 years ago this weekend, May 6 & 7, 2005:
Friday May 6
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); John Conlee; Billy Walker; Jean Shepard
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jeannie Seely; Jack Greene; Buddy Jewell
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Big Al Downing; Connie Smith
9:00: Alison Krauss (host) & Union Station; Jerry Douglas; Sierra & Cody Hull; Tony Rice; Larry Sparks
9:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jan Howard; Ryan Holliday; The Whites
Saturday May 7
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); John Conlee; Connie Smith; John Anderson
7:00: Alison Krauss (host); & Union Station; Jerry Douglas; The Whites; Sierra & Cody Hull; Larry Sparks; Ralph Stanley; Tony Rice; Patty Loveless
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); George Hamilton IV; Jean Shepard; Osborne Brothers; Jim Ed Brown; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Radney Foster; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Vince Gill
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); John Conlee; Connie Smith; John Anderson
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); The Whites; Sierra & Cody Hull; Alison Krauss & Union Station; Jerry Douglas
10:30: Vince Gill (host); Jean Shepard; Tony Rice; Larry Sparks; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); George Hamilton IV; Osborne Brothers; Patty Loveless
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); w/Helen Cornelius; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Radney Foster
Even in 2005, the Opry was still putting on some good shows with full line-ups.
For this week's featured line-up, it was on Saturday May 11, 1996 that Steve Wariner became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. It has been nice having Steve as a member of the Opry. He had been playing on the Opry for a number of years and first came to the Opry as a member of Dottie West's band. Since joining, Steve has generally appeared between 10-12 times each year. I can also tell you after meeting Steve, that he is one of the nicest guys around. Here is the running order for that show 19 years ago this weekend:
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Grandpa Jones (host): Ball Headed End of the Broom
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Grandpa Jones: Kitty Klyde
6:45: Joggin' In A Jug
Mike Snider (host): Short Little Lulu/Clinch Mountain Backstip/Mississippi Sawyer
Bill Carlisle: Is Zat You Myrtle
Mike Snider: Battle Cry of Freedom/Get Your Hand Off My Knee & Load the Cannon
7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Jean Shepard: Bouquet of Roses
Billy Walker: Jesus Walks In
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Ray Pillow: Darling, Take Pity on Me
Porter Wagoner: A Satisfied Mind/Big Wind
7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Anderson (host): But You Know I Love You
Chet Atkins: (?)/Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
Steve Wariner: Why Goodbye/Heart Trouble/Midnight Fire/What I Didn't Do/Lonely Women Make Good Lovers
Bill Anderson & Steve Wariner: The Tips of My Fingers
8:00: Martha White
Jimmy Dickens (host): May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose
Sweethearts Of The Rodeo: One More Night/Since I Found You
Riders In The Sky: Lonely River
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Durang's Hornpipe
Jimmy Dickens: A Death in the Family
8:30: Kraft
Jim Ed Brown (host): Fools
Jeannie Seely: Here Comes My Baby
Del Reeves: Wild Blood
The Whites: Pins & Needles/Swing Down Chariot
Jim Ed Brown: The Old Lamplighter/Looking Back to See
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Y'All Come
Jeanne Pruett: Temporarily Yours
Oswald: What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Steve Wariner: (?)/A Woman Loves
Steve Wariner & Rick Wayne: (?)
10:00: Massy Ferguson
Grandpa Jones (host): The New Vitamine
Jan Howard: Take Me As I Am Or Let Me Go
Grandpa Jones: My Little Old Home Down in New Orleans
10:15: Red Foot Bath
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take An Old Cold Tater
Sweethearts Of The Rodeo: Mule Skinner Blues
Jimmy Dickens: We Could
10:30: Purnell's Sausage
Mike Snider (host): (?)
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Mike Snider: The Fur Coat
10:45: Fairfield
Bill Anderson (host): Wild Weekend
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Acorn Hill
Bill Anderson: The Corner of My Life
11:00: Coca-Cola
Jeannie Seely (host): Speaking of the Devil
Jim Ed Brown: The Family Bible
Billy Walker: When A Man Loves A Woman/Smokey Places
Riders In The Sky: Miss Molly/Always Drink Upstream From the Herd
Jeannie Seely: Here Comes My Baby
11:30: Loreal
Johnny Russell (host): Good Hearted Woman
Stu Phillips: Heart Over Mind
Jean Shepard: Farewell Party
The Whites: San Antonio Rose/Keep on the Sunny Side
Johnny Russell: Act Naturally
Enjoy the Opry this weekend!!!
The Ernest Tubb Record Shop has updated the information regarding the Midnight Jamboree that is starting back on June 6. Now it is saying that the taping will begin at 10:00 with the show airing at the regular midnight time on WSM. Looks like they are going to try again with taping the show earlier in order to get the Opry crowd. Still no host named as of yet.
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice if it were live, but I would put survival ahead of niceties.
ReplyDeleteOn his Facebook page, Bill Anderson reported having some facial surgery related to basal cell carcinoma. He said he's fine, the doctors found it "was not as deeply rooted as first feared," and he's been told to do as little as possible for a couple of weeks. We tend to forget that Bill is 77 and that he's second only to Jean Shepard on the seniority list (Stonewall Jackson having been booted in 1964 and not returning until 1969).
First Jean Shepard, now whispering Bill. Too many of the regulars have been suffering from illnesses this year. And where's Jim Ed? He cancelled a couple appearances this week, and isn't scheduled for the weekend.
ReplyDeleteI think now is the perfect time to call up Stonewall Jackson to stop in the Opry for a song or two. It's interesting that 5 years ago this weekend Stonewall appeared in the Saturday portion, but this week it's open and most likely will stay that way. It's beyond me why the Opry is so stubborn about having him on the show.
I think Hunter Hayes will eventually become an Opry member. He is very popular and his show will probably be sold out. He seems to have made quite a few opry appearances last year. Besides that, he has a history with traditional country music (although his current music is a bit different).
This link has the upcoming Midnite jamboree hosts. Glenn Douglas Tubb is hosting June 6th.
ReplyDeletehttp://etrecordshop.com/mj.htm
It has been reported in the news today that "Nashville" has been renewed for another season on ABC. Despite everything, the show has brought a lot of popularity to Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry. And it will continue to give the Opry a steady stream of artists (ops, I mean actors), to perform on the show.
ReplyDeleteAnd, just to follow up on Michael's comment on Bill Anderson and Jean Shepard, here are the Top 10 Opry members in seniority, based on induction date:
1) Jean Shepard: November 1955
2) Stonewall Jackson: November 1956
2) Bill Anderson: July 1961
3) Loretta Lynn: September 1962
4) Jim Ed Brown: August 1963
5) Jesse McReynolds: March 1964
6) Bobby Osborne: August 1964
7) Connie Smith: September 1965
8) Ray Pillow: April 1966
9) Stu Phillips: June 1967
9) Jeannie Seely: September 1967
And as noted, Stonewall Jackson was fired from the Opry in December 1964 and rejoined the Opry several years later, and Connie Smith left the Opry for a couple of years.
Ok, on the last comment, I listed 11 and couldn't get the numbers right. But I think everyone gets the basic idea.
ReplyDeleteCurrently listening to the Friday Nite Opry from Spain like I always do..... Just wanted to say I really liked Jessee McReynolds composition of "Witches Brew" tonite, as that was some mighty fine picking and mandolin work.
ReplyDeleteAlso, am really impressed with Jessi James Decker...... I liked her song "Clint Eastwood", and the tribute to Patsy Montana.