Grand Ole Opry This Week

Good Evening To All:

I just wanted to let those who read the blog know that I will be on vacation for a few days and not sure if I will be able to post this week's Grand Ole Opry line-up in a timely manner. I will do my best, but just to cover the high points if I am a day or two late:

Scheduled for the Friday Night Opry this week are Opry members Diamond Rio, along with guest artists The Farm, Rhett Akins and Russell Moore and III Tyme Out.

Saturday's Grand Ole Opry will have Elizabeth Cook, Warren Haynes featuring Railroad Earth, Exile, Gene Watson and a return appearance by Rhett Akins. Interesting that no Opry members are listed on the scheduled to appear list, even though a number of Opry members will be appearing.

And just to recap last weekend at the Opry, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood made a surprise appearance on Friday night and sang a number of classic duets, including several made famous by Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius. It was nice to hear Garth and Trisha back on the Opry. For Garth, it was his first appearance on the Opry since May 2008 when he inducted Carrie Underwood as the Opry's newest member, while it was his first singing Opry appearance since October 2005 when he appeared during the Opry's 80th birthday bash. Way too long for someone who says that being an Opry member is one of the most important honors of his career.

Just to recap, here is the Opry line-up from his last appearance, Saturday October 15, 2005:

1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Jimmy C Newman
7:00: Steve Wariner (host); Travis Tritt; Garth Brooks; Diamond Rio
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Charlie Louvin; Jeannie Seely; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Josh Turner; Ralph Stanley

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Steve Wariner
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Billy Grammer; Travis Tritt
10:30: Diamond Rio (host); Stu Phillips; Ralph Stanley; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); The Whites; Garth Brooks
11:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jack Greene; Josh Turner

As someone who was there that weekend, it was obviously a very good night at the Opry. While Garth was on the televised portion during the first show, he shared the stage with Porter Wagoner, Bill Anderson and Jimmy Dickens.

Hopefully we will see more of Garth before 2015 is out.