Grand Ole Opry 12/4 & 12/5

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the three shows this weekend, the Friday Night Opry and the two Saturday night Grand Ole Opry shows. Pretty solid line-ups for this weekend, with Friday looking like the better of the two nights. 

As far as Opry members this weekend, John Conlee, Ricky Skaggs, Bill Anderson and Mike Snider are set for all three shows. They will be joined on Friday night by Jeannie Seely, Riders In The Sky, Bobby Osborne, Connie Smith and Vince Gill. The Riders In The Sky will be back for the first show on Saturday, joined by Jesse McReynolds, while Connie Smith will be back for the second show on Saturday, joined by The Whites and Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers. That all adds up to 9 Opry members on Friday, with 6 for the 1st show on Saturday, and 7 on the 2nd show. 

As far as guest artists this weekend, let's first look at Friday night. Chris Tomlin will be appearing in support of "Adore", his Christmas Songs of Worship. Chris has had an amazing career as a Christian music artist and songwriter. It has been reported that he has sold over 30 million records over the course of his career. Also scheduled is Flatt Lonesome. They have appeared several times on the Opry this past year and they were the 2014 IBMA Emerging Artist of the Year. They have acquired quite a following in bluegrass circles. The final guest artist is Lindsay Ell, who continues her string of Opry guest appearances. 

Saturday night will be highlighted by a guest appearance by Jason Isbell. Jason plays everything from classic country, rock, Southern rock and alternative music. Jason released his first solo album in 2007, after leaving the group Drive By Truckers. He also has won awards from the Americana Music Awards and in October he performed before four sellout crowds at the Ryman Auditorium. It will be a package deal on Saturday as another of the guest artists appearing is Amanda Shires, who happens to be the wife of Jason Isbell. Amanda is a very good violinist who has performed with a number of groups in addition to working on her solo career. Rounding out the line-up is "Nashville" star Clare Bowen, along with Christian artists Keith and Kristen Getty, who also are doing their annual Christmas tour.

Friday December 4
7:00: John Conlee (host); Lindsay Ell; Mike Snider
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jeannie Seely; Riders In The Sky
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Chris Tomlin
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Flatt Lonesome; Connie Smith

Saturday December 5
1st show
7:00: John Conlee (host); Clare Bowen; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds; Amanda Shires
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Keith & Kristen Getty; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jason Isbell

2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Clare Bowen; Mike Snider
10:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Connie Smith
10:30: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); Amanda Shires; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jason Isbell

I have noticed a pattern emerging at the Opry over the past several weeks while they have been at the Ryman Auditorium. The final segments on Saturday night have generally been featuring only the host and one guest, allowing that guest to sing up to three or four songs. Additionally, the third segment has in many ways featured only the host, the square dancers and just one additional guest. 

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago, the weekend of December 3 & 4, 2010:

Friday December 3
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; The Steeldrivers
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Love and Theft
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jack Greene; Mandy Barnett
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Stonewall Jackson; Jeannie Seely; Joe Diffie

Saturday December 4
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Curtis Potter
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; Jimmy C Newman; Rodney Crowell
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jan Howard; Bo Bice; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Cherryholmes

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Curtis Potter
10:00: Mike Snider (host); Jeannie Seely; Rodney Crowell
10:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Bo Bice; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson(host); Connie Smith; Cherryholmes

Now from ten years ago, the weekend of December 2 & 3, 2005: 

Friday December 2
1st show
6:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jimmy C Newman; Susan Haynes
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Larry Sparks; Bellamy Brothers
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; Mel McDaniel; Mandy Barnett
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Connie Smith; Jimmy Fortune
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Osborne Brothers; Marty Stuart

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mike Snider; Jan Howard; Bellamy Brothers
10:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Mel McDaniel; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Susan Haynes
10:30: Jean Shepard (host); Larry Sparks; Jimmy Fortune
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Marty Stuart
11:30: Ray Pillow (host); Osborne Brothers; Mandy Barnett

Saturday December 3
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mike Snider; Daley Ann Bradley & Coon Creek; Susan Haynes
7:00: Trace Adkins; Shannon Brown; Joe Nichols; Aaron
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jean Shepard; Jim Ed Brown; Marty Stuart; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mike Snider; Shannon Brown
10:00: Alison Krauss (host) w/Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas; Billy Walker; Dale Ann Bradley & Coon Creek
10:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jack Greene; Trace Adkins; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jean Shepard (host); Susan Haynes; Joe Nichols
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Connie Smith; Marty Stuart

For the featured line-up this weekend, let's go back 23 years to Saturday January 5, 1992:

1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Jim Ed Brown: Winter Wonderland
Porter Wagoner: Your Old Love Letters/Big Wind

6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Grandpa Jones (host): Don't 'Cha Cry Melinda
Skeeter Davis: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
Ray Pillow: Dreams of A Dreamer
Grandpa Jones: My Little Old Home Down in New Orleans

7:00: Shoney's
Jack Greene (host): Try A Little Kindness
4 Guys: Head On Over to the Twist and Shout
Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away
Connie Smith: Once A Day
Boxcar Willie: Wabash Cannonball
Jack Greene: I'll Be Home for Christmas

7:30: Standard Candy
Ricky Skaggs (host): Heartbroke
The Whites: A Used to Be/Light at the Stable
Emmylou Harris: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain/O Little Town of Bethlehem
Ricky Skaggs: Lead Me to the Rock That is Higher Then I/Children Go Where I Send Thee

8:00: Martha White
Bill Monroe (host): Foggy Mountain Top
Jean Shepard: I Don't See How I Can Make It With You Gone
Oswald: Sailing Alone
Mike Snider: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Rachel
Bill Monroe: Christmas Times A Comin'/Mule Skinner Blues

8:30: Kraft
Hank Snow (host): Where Has All the Love Gone
Jimmy C Newman: Big Mamou
Charlie Louvin: Nobody's Darling But Mine
Jimmy Dickens: May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose
Roy Drusky: Will Santa Come to Shanty Town
Hank Snow: Nevertheless/Tammy

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Y'All Come
Connie Smith: Did We Have to Come This Far to Say Goodbye
Stonewall Jackson: Blue Christmas
Bill Carlisle: Leave that Liar Alone
Emmylou Harris: To Daddy/Scotland
Porter Wagoner: An Old Log Cabin For Sale/Sugarfoot Rag

10:00: Little Debbie
Grandpa Jones (host): Little Pink
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/He Is My Everything
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Grandpa Jones: The Baby-O

10:15: Sunbeam/Tennessee Pride
Bill Monroe (host): Ebeneezer Scrooge
Jan Howard: Heartaches by the Number
Wilma Lee Cooper: Give Me the Roses While I Live
Bill Monroe: Just A Little Talk with Jesus

10:30: Randy Travis Enterprises
Ricky Skaggs (host): I Wouldn't Change You If I Could
The Whites: Keep on  the Sunny Side
Ricky Skaggs: Loving Only Me

10:45: B.C. Powder
Boxcar Willie (host): Fireball Mail/Train of Love/Hand Me Down My Walking Cane/Wreck of the Old 97/I' Moving On/Wabash Cannonball/Night Train to Memphis
Jeannie Seely: Too Far Gone
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sugar in the Gourd
Boxcar Willie: Cold, Cold Heart/Take These Chains from My Heart/Half As Much/I Can't Help It/Your Cheatin' Heart/You Win Again/Wedding Bells/Lovesick Blues/Move it on Over

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Big Wheels A' Turnin' Going Somewhere
4 Guys: Swing Down Chariot
Roy Drusky: All For the Love Of A Girl
Jean Shepard: Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me
Mike Snider: Silent Night
Hank Snow: On That Old Hawaiian Shore With You

11:30: Creamette
Jimmy Dickens (host): Me & My Big Loud Mouth
Charlie Louvin: Let Her Go; Let Her Go' God Bless Her
Jimmy C Newman: Thibodeaux and His Cajun Band
Johnny Russell: Act Naturally
Jimmy Dickens: Shopping for Dresses

I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!