Grand Ole Opry 8/21 & 8/22-Updated

Found a computer, and I know this is probably old news to most of you, but here is the line-up posted for this weekend:

Friday August 21
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Casey James; Bart Crow
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Morgan Evans; Exile
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers; JT Hodges
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Lauren Alaina; The Willis Clan

Saturday August 22
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Keith Anderson; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Sara Haze; Jimmy Wayne
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Jesse McReynolds; Striking Matches; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: John Conlee (host); JT Hodges; Exile

On the surface, not a particularly strong line-up

I will be away on vacation the rest of this week and I am not sure I will have internet access, so I am going to go ahead and post what I know about the Grand Ole Opry shows for this weekend, based on who they have listed as "scheduled to appear."

As far as the Friday Night Opry, they have Lauren Alaina, Exile, JT Hodges, Joe Mullins and The Radio Ramblers, The Willis Clan and Bart Crow. Saturday night has Keith Anderson, Exile, Sara Haze and JT Hodges. Certainly not what anyone would call the makings of a superstar line-up. In fairness, it is the end of summer and fair season when a lot of the entertainers are out on the road.

For now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago this weekend, August 20 & 21, 2010. The show both nights took place at the Ryman Auditorium.

Friday August 20
7:00: John Conlee (host); Riders In The Sky; Emily West
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jesse McReynolds; Daryle Singletary
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Kathy Mattea
8:45: Mike Snider (host); The Whites; Blake Shelton

Saturday August 21
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jimmy C Newman; Rebecca Lynn Howard
7:30: The Whites (host); Jan Howard; Hal Ketchum
Intermission
8:15: Jean Shepard (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Kathy Mattea; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Lee Greenwood

Now from ten years ago this weekend, August 19 & 20, 2005:

Friday August 19
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jimmy C Newman; Charlie Walker; David Lee Murphy
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Rebecca Lynn Howard
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); 3 Fox Drive; T.G. Sheppard
9:00: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; Sherrie Austin
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Mel McDaniel; Daryle Singletary

Saturday August 20
1st show
6:30: Mike Snider (host); The Whites; David Lee Murphy
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Osborne Brothers; Catherine Britt
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jimmy C Newman; Lane Turner
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Billy Walker; T. Graham Brown; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Dan Seals; The Crabb Family

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Mike Snider
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Catherine Britt; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys
10:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Charlie Louvin; Lane Turner; Opry Square Dancers.
11:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Stu Phillips; Billy Walker; T. Graham Brown
11:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Dan Seals; The Crabb Family

For this week's look back into Grand Ole Opry history, it was 28 years ago Saturday, August 22, 1987 that Roy Clark became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Roy Clark was born in Meherrin, Virginia on April 15, 1933. (Yes, he is 82 years old. Unreal!!). While not joining the Opry until 1987, he actually made his first appearance in 1950 as a reward for winning a national banjo competition. He said of that night, "I stood backstage and looked at Uncle Dave Macon, Hank Williams, Sr., Cowboy Copas-all of the giants of country music-and I just tried to stay out of their way." I think it is safe to say that there are not many artists left alive that played the Opry the same night as Uncle Dave and Hank.

Roy later toured with Opry stars Grandpa Jones, Stringbean, Red Foley and Ernest Tubb. He had no trouble finding work as he was such a versatile musician and played all the string instruments, along with the trumpet, trombone and piano. His guitar work led to an invitation from Wanda Jackson to open for her, which led to a tour that lasted 365 straight nights and included a trip to Las Vegas to headline his own show. His first country solo hit, "Tips of My Fingers" followed.

In the 1960s, he became a cross-over star and became well known for his variety show appearances, which included "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson," "The Flip Wilson Show," and "The Mike Douglas Show." His hit records included "Yesterday, When I Was Young," "I Never Picked Cotton," and "Thank God and Greyhound You're Gone." 1969 was the big year for Roy as he was named the Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year and Instrumentalist of the Year. He also won numerous awards from the Academy of Country Music and in 2009 Roy was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Oh, I forgot a couple of things. First, he was the co-host, and then host, of Hee Haw for 23 years, a remarkable achievement in television. And secondly, in 1983 he opened the Roy Clark Celebrity Theater in Branson, Missouri, becoming one of the first country music stars to set up shop in Branson, helping to establish the area as a hotbed for country music.

Roy joined the Opry in 1987 after having been asked several different times to join. He had turned down previous invitations to join the cast because of his heavy touring schedule that left him very little time to perform on the Opry. Even though Hee Haw was filmed in Nashville, the filming was only done two times per year, which was all that Roy was in Nashville. However, after receiving assurances from Opry management, specifically Hal Durham that it was ok to only be on a limited number of times, Roy finally accepted the call to become part of the Opry family.

Over the past several years, Roy has slowed down his touring and personal appearances. His Opry appearances are generally limited to just a couple each year. But it is always a treat when Roy comes to Nashville and makes an appearance.

Here is the running order from Saturday August 22, 1987, the night Roy Clark became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
4 Guys (host): Mama Rocked Us to Sleep With Country Music
Lorrie Morgan: Lone Star State of Mind
4 Guys: God Bless the USA

6:45: Rudy's
Charlie Louvin (host): Let Her Go; Let Her Go; God Bless Her
Del Wood: 12th Street Rag
Charlie Louvin & Jennifer O'Brien: Everytime You Leave

7:00: Shoney's
Jimmy C Newman (host): La Cajun Band
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Ray Pillow: I'll Break Out Again Tonight
Jeannie Seely: It's My Fault
Ernie Ashworth: Memphis Memory/Talk Back Trembling Lips
Jimmy C Newman: Colinda
Wade B. Landry: Orange Blossom Special

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jan Howard: Wayfaring Stranger/Heartaches by the Number
Roy Clark: Thank God and Greyhound Your Gone/I Remember When Country was Country/Under the Double Eagle

8:00: Martha White
Jimmy Dickens (host): Me & My Big Loud Mouth
Tom T Hall: Ravishing Ruby
Tom T Hall & Lambchop: Old McDonald Had A Farm
Tom T Hall: I Love
Wilma Lee Cooper: Coming Down From God
Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Gray Eagle
Jimmy Dickens: Another Bridge to Burn

8:30: Music Valley
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Jean Shepard: I'll Sail My Ship Alone
Roy Drusky: Dear Heart
Stonewall Jackson: Smoke Along the Tracks
Bill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Hank Snow: The Prisoner's Song

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Jimmy C Newman (host): Cajun's Dream
Jeannie Seely: It's My Fault
4 Guys: Fox on the Run
Tom T Hall: Faster Horses/Old Dogs & Children & Watermelon Wine
Jimmy C Newman: Diggy Liggy Low

10:00: Little Debbie
Charlie Louvin (host): Kiss Me Again If You're Going Away
Skeeter Davis: My Last Date With You/Silver Threads and Golden Needles/The End of the World
Charlie Louvin: (?)

10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Roy Clark: Come Live With Me/(?)/If I Had to Do it All Over Again

10:30: Pet Milk
Ray Pillow (host): You're One Memory That I'd Like to Make Again
Lorrie Morgan: Silver Wings and Golden Rings
Ray Pillow: The Kind of Love I Can't Forget

10:45: Heil-Quaker
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind the Barn
Jan Howard: Take Me As I Am, Or Let Me Go
Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Soldier's Joy
Jimmy Dickens: Life Turned Her That Way

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Forever and 1; Forever and 2
Jean Shepard: The Old Rugged Cross
Ernie Ashworth: The DJ Cried
Wilma Lee Cooper: I Dreamed About Mama Last Night
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Hank Snow: The Rainbow's End

11:30: B.C. Powder
Stonewall Jackson (host): Don't Be Angry
Roy Drusky: As Long As I Live/It Is No Secret
Johnny Russell: No One Will Every Know
Stonewall Jackson: Ol' Chunk of Coal

Congratulations to Roy Clark and I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!