Grand Ole Opry 7/3 & 7/4

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. In the past, it has been hit or miss on holiday weekends, but I think for this year, the Opry has come up with two good shows.

Both nights will feature Opry member, and Country Music Hall of Famer, Vince Gill. Vince continues his trend of increased Opry appearances in 2015 with two more this weekend, and even more in the coming weeks. It is really nice to see Vince on the Opry as often as he has been and it would be even nicer if a few others from his generation would follow the example he is setting.

Joining Vince both nights, and hosting segments, will be Opry members Riders In The Sky and Bill Anderson. Connie Smith is also set for both nights, although she will only be hosting on Saturday, with Jeannie Seely picking up the Friday slot. And let's not forget Mike Snider. As far as other Opry members this weekend, Friday night will have Jesse McReynolds while Saturday night has scheduled Jan Howard and Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press.

Looking at those who will be guesting this week, Mandy Barnett is set for both nights, while Jackie Lee, Maggie Rose, the ever popular Chris Janson and The Time Jumpers are set for Friday. Saturday's guests will include Janelle Arthur, Sierra Hull, Morgan Evans and Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys.

Friday July 3
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jackie Lee; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Maggie Rose; Connie Smith
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds; Mandy Barnett
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Chris Janson; The Time Jumpers

Saturday July 4
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Janelle Arthur; MIke Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Sierra Hull; Morgan Evans
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Mandy Barnett

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago this weekend, July 2 & 3, 2010. Both nights took place at the Ryman Auditorium.

Friday July 2
7:00: John Conlee (host); Riders In The Sky; Emily West
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; Kathy Mattea
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jeannie Seely; ACM Lifting Lives Music Campers
8:45: Emmylou Harris (host); Jim Ed Brown; The Whites

Saturday July 3
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Jimmy C Newman; Mandy Barnett
7:30: John Conlee (host); Jeannie Seely; Tom Bresh
Intermission
8:15: Emmylou Harris (host); George Hamilton IV; Jesse McReynolds; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; Wynonna

And from ten years ago, the weekend of July 1 & 2, 2005:

Friday July 1
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); The Whites; Jack Greene; The Grascals
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Gail Davies; Mike Snider
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jean Shepard; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Erika Jo
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jedd Hughes; Janie Fricke
9:30: George Hamilton IV (host); Jimmy C Newman; Osborne Brothers; Marty Stuart

Saturday July 2
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mel McDaniel; David Ball
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jan Howard; King Wilkie; Doyle Dykes
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Charlie Walker; Jean Shepard; Marty Stuart
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jeannie Seely; The Whites; Mandy Barnett; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); The Grascals; Billy Ray Cyrus

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mel McDaniel; Billy Ray Cyrus
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jean Shepard; George Hamilton IV; David Ball
10:30: Mike Snider (host); The Whites; Doyle Dykes; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); The Grascals; Marty Stuart
11:30: Jeannie Seely (host); King Wilkie; Mandy Barnett

For this week's featured line-up, it was on Saturday July 3, 1993 that Alison Krauss became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Alison Krauss was born on July 23, 1971 in Champaigne, Illinois. Alison first appeared on the Grand Ole Opry in 1989 at the age of 17. By then she had already recorded her first album, "Too Late to Cry." The following year, she was nominated for her first Grammy. Since then, Alison has become the most awarded female artist in the history of the Grammys, in addition to winning numerous awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association, Country Music Association, Gospel Music Association, Academy of Country Music, Country Music Television and the Canadian Country Music Association. She is not only noted for her solo efforts and the work with her own group, Union Station, but also for the work she has done with other artists including Robert Plant.

When she joined the Opry, she was the first bluegrass artist in 29 years to be inducted and at the time, she was the Opry's youngest member. At the time she said, "I used to come here and sit in the audience and watch Ricky Skaggs, Porter Wagoner, and John Conlee. The amount of talent that wanders around backstage is shocking, and it sounds so beautiful out front. I love the way everybody watches everybody else play." Without a shadow of doubt, she will one day be elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Here is the running order of the Grand Ole Opry from 22 years ago this weekend, July 3, 1993, when Alison Krauss became a member of the Grand Ole Opry:

1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Del Reeves (host): Two Dollars in the Juke Box/A Dime at A Time/Looking at the World Through A Windshield
The Whites: Hangin' Around
Del Reeves: Bad News

6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Grandpa Jones (host): Going Down the Country
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain
Grandpa Jones: Little Old Home Down in New Orleans

7:00: Shoney's
Jack Greene (host): I'll Be There
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Jeanne Pruett: I Oughta Feel Guilty
Stonewall Jackson: Old Chunk of Coal
Charlie Walker: There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/Statue of A Fool

7:30: Standard Candy
4 Guys (host): If It's From the Country, It's Coming From the Heart
George Hamilton IV: Has Anyone Here Seen Hank
Mike Snider: Battle Cry of Freedom
Alison Krauss: Atlanta, I Hear You Calling/Big Mon
4 Guys: The Star Spangled Banner

8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Company's Comin'
Jean Shepard: Bouquet of Roses
Oswald: Mountain Dew
Charlie Louvin: See the Big Man Cry
Porter Wagoner: Happy Birthday Margaret Smathers
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sugar in the Goard
Porter Wagoner: Green Green Grass of Home

8:30: Kraft
Hank Snow (host): Address Unknown
Skeeter Davis: Lovesick Blues
Ray Pillow: Someone Had to Teach You
Jan Howard: You Don't Know Me
Roy Drusky: Son, Go Bring My Children Home
Hank Snow: I've Done at Least One Thing That Was Good In My Life

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Y' All Come
Del Reeves: There She Goes
Stonewall Jackson: Side Steppin' the Blues
Alison Krauss: (?)/Molly & Tenbrooks
Porter Wagoner: Wabash Cannonball/The Precious Jewel/Fireball Mail/Night Train to Memphis/The Great Speckled Bird
Porter Wagoner: On A Highway Headed South

10:00: Little Debbie
Grandpa Jones (host): Ball Headed End of the Broom
Wilma Lee Cooper: The Gloryland March
The Whites: Keep on the Sunny Side
Grandpa Jones: Gone Home

10:15: Sunbeam/Tennessee Pride
4 Guys (host): We're Only Here For A Little While
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
4 Guys: Swing Down Chariot

10:30: Piccadilly
Charlie Walker (host): Right or Wrong
Jean Shepard: Let's All Go Down to the River/I Saw the Light/Will the Circle Be Unbroken/I'll Fly Away/Somebody Touched Me
Charlie Walker: There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere

10:45: Opry Book
Jimmy C Newman (host): Colinda
Charlie Louvin: Will You Visit Me on Sundays
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sail Away Ladies
Jimmy C Newman: Cajun's Dream

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Ancient History
Roy Drusky: Mississippi
Justin Tubb: Waltz Across Texas
Jack Greene: Walking On New Grass/Statue of A Fool
Hank Snow: The Prisoner's Song/Are You Lonesome Tonight

11:30: General Jackson
George Hamilton IV (host): This Land Is Your Land
Ray Pillow: Please Don't Leave Me Anymore
Jan Howard: Wayfaring Stranger
Mike Snider: The Bells of St. Mary's
George Hamilton IV: Forever Young

On a side note, when Alison Krauss became an official Opry cast member during the first show, Garth Brooks was there and did the honors.

Enjoy the Opry this weekend and be safe over the July 4th holiday. Also this weekend, I will be posting my mid-year Opry update.