Heading to Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry this weekend for both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. The shows don't look too bad and it should be a good weekend, although a cold one.
The Friday Night Opry will feature Opry member Ronnie Milsap, who will be honored for 40 years of Opry membership. Joining Ronnie will be Opry members Jeannie Seely, Bobby Osborne, Mike Snider, The Whites, Bill Anderson and Connie Smith.
As far as Saturday night, the star attraction will be Vince Gill, who is releasing his new album this weekend. I should mention that in addition to the Opry on Saturday night, Vince will also be performing a free show at the Broadway location of the Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Friday evening. The record shop is heavily promoting the new album, much the same as they did the George Strait CD in the fall.
As far as Opry members joining Vince on Saturday night, Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider, Connie Smith and Bill Anderson will stay around for both shows this weekend, and will be joined by Terri Clark, who once again will be hosting a segment, and Jesse McReynolds.
Guest artists on Friday night include William Michael Morgan, A Thousand Horses, Jonathan Jackson, from "Nashville" and Jerry Douglas with The Earls of Leicester. Jerry and The Earls will also be on Saturday night, joined by Maggie Rose, TG Sheppard, Clare Bowen, of "Nashville" and The Railers. I thought that this might be The Railers Opry debut, but in checking they have been on the Opry before, appearing with Hunter Hayes.
Friday February 12
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); William Michael Morgan; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
7:30: Mike Snider (host); A Thousand Horses; The Whites
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jonathan Jackson; Jerry Douglas presents The Earls of Leicester
8:45: Connie Smith (host); Ronnie Milsap
Saturday February 13
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Maggie Rose; Mike Snider
7:30: Terri Clark (host); TG Sheppard; Connie Smith
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds; The Railers; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Clare Bowen; Jerry Douglas presents The Earls of Leicester
That comes to 11 acts of Friday night, 12 on Saturday, with 7 Opry members each night.
And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 5 years ago this weekend, February 11 & 12, 2011:
Friday February 11
7:00: Marty Stuart (host); Connie Smith; The Grascals
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Riders In The Sky; Mel Tillis
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Mike Snider; Terri Clark
8:45: Diamond Rio (host); Stonewall Jackson; Jean Shepard; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
Saturday February 12
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Terri Clark
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jack Greene; Danny Gokey
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jimmy C Newman; The Secret Sisters; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Mike Snider (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Aaron Tippin
From 10 years ago, the weekend of February 10 & 11, 2006:
Friday February 10
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Connie Smith; Jimmy C Newman; Del McCoury Band
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Lorrie Morgan
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Brice Long; Jean Shepard; Mike Snider
9:30: Diamond Rio (host); Jan Howard; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jim Ed Brown
Saturday February 11
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jimmy Wayne
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; The Whites
7:30: Lorrie Morgan (host); Billy Walker; George Hamilton IV; Del McCoury Band
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Mel McDaniel; Jack Greene; Suzy Bogguss; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jeannie Seely; Restless Heart
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mike Snider; Jimmy Wayne
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Billy Walker; Jean Shepard; Del McCoury Band
10:30: Lorrie Morgan (host); George Hamilton IV; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Stu Phillips; Jack Greene; Suzy Bogguss
11:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Mel McDaniel; Restless Heart
Finally, from 15 years ago, February 9 & 10, 2001:
Friday February 9
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); The Whites; Bill Carlisle; Chely Wright
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Osborne Brothers; Gail Davies
8:30: John Conlee (host); Jeanne Pruett; Stonewall Jackson; Chad Brock
9:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Sara Evans; Ricky Skaggs
9:30: Steve Wariner (host); Jim & Jesse; Del Reeves; Hank Williams III
Saturday February 10
1st show
6:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jim Ed Brown; Bill Carlisle; Elizabeth Cook
7:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Steve Wariner; The Whites; Patty Loveless; Mary Chapin Carpenter; Travis Tritt
8:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Osborne Brothers; Jeanne Pruett; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: John Conlee (host); Gail Davies; Mike Snider
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Osborne Brothers; Elizabeth Cook; Jim Ed Brown
10:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Steve Wariner; The Whites; Mary Chapin Carpenter; Patty Loveless; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: John Conlee (host); Stu Phillips; Del Reeves; Mike Snider
11:30: Charlie Walker (host); Ray Pillow; Gail Davies
Now going back, here is the Grand Ole Opry line-up from 62 years ago this weekend, Saturday February 13, 1954:
7:30: Warren Paint
Roy Acuff (host): Sweep Around Your Own Back Door
Lew Childre: Southern Hospitality
Dot and Smoky: Waltz of the Wind
Howdy Forrester: Black Mountain Rag
7:45: American Ace
Roy Acuff (host): No One Will Every Know
Johnny and Jack: Love Trap
Kitty Wells: Cheating is a Sin
Jimmy Riddle: Steamboat Bill
Roy Acuff: Radio Station S-A-V-E-D
Oswald: Roll Along Jordan
8:00: Martha White
Ernest Tubb (host): Jealous Loving Heart
Bill Monroe: Memories of Mother and Dad
Hank Snow: You Broke The Chains That Held Our Heart
June Carter: Little Too Fer
Ernest Tubb: I'm With A Crowd But So Alone
Possum Hunters: Bill Cheatham
Carlisles: I Need A Little Help
Cowboy Copas: The Man Upstairs
Bill Monroe: Goodbye Old Pal
Fiddle Tune: Bully of the Town
Ernest Tubb: Daisy May
8:30: Prince Albert
Jimmy Dickens (host): You'd Better Not Do That
Minnie Pearl: Comedy
Onie Wheeler: When We All Get Together
Square Dancers: Sally Goodin
Jimmy Dickens: Take Up Thy Cross
Moon Mullican: The Cherokee Boogie
Rod Brasfield: Comedy
Onie Wheeler: Run Em Off
String Bean: Lonesome Road Blues
Jimmy Dickens: I Just Gotta See You Once More
Fiddle Tune: Katy Hill
9:00: Royal Crown Cola
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train To Memphis
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cotton-eyed Joe
George Morgan: Love, Love, Love
Jug Band: Jesse Polka
Webb Pierce: Slowly
Lonzo and Oscar: Lets Live A Little No 2
Ray Price: Turn Your Radio On
Roy Acuff: To Be Selected
Oswald: The Nashville Blues
Howdy Forrester: Grey Eagle
9:30: Martha White
Carl Smith (host): What Am I Going To Do
Jimmy Dickens: Side Meat and Cabbage
Anita Carter: There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight
Crook Brothers: Mississippi Sawyer
Marty Robbins: Isle of Golden Dreams
Martha Carson: Bye and Bye
Carl Smith: Who'll Buy My Heartaches
Jimmy Dickens: Thick and Thin
Chet Atkins: Country Gentleman
Marty Robbins: Its A Long Long Ride
Fiddle Tune: Soldier's Joy
10:00: Wallrite
George Morgan (host): Look What Followed My Home
The Carlisles: Tain't Nice
Bill Monroe: Don't Put Off Until Tomorrow
Blue Grass Boys: Monroe's Hornpipe
George Morgan: The First Time I Told You A Lie
10:15: Dr Le Gear
Hank Snow (host): No Golden Tomorrow Ahead
Ray Price: You Always Get By
Tommy Vaden: Leather Britches
Cowboy Copas: A Heartbreak Ago
Hank Snow: Within This Broken Heart of Mine
10:30: Jefferson Island Salt
Ernest Tubb (host): I'm Not Looking For An Angel
Jimmy Dickens: You All Come
Marty Robbins: Don't Make Me Ashamed
Mother Maybelle: You Are My Flower
Moon Mullican: You Don't Have To Be a Baby To Cry
Ernest Tubb: Remember Me, I'm The One Who Loves You
Jordanaires: Tattler's Wagon
Chet Atkins: Little Old Lady
Jimmy Dickens: What About You
Fiddle Tune: Ricketts Hornpipe
11:00: O-Cell-O
Roy Acuff (host): Freight Train Blues
Martha Carson: I'm Gonna Walk and Talk With My Lord
Bobby Hebbs: Mr. Spoons
Gang: Where The Soul of Man Never Dies
Howdy Forrester: Bill Cheatham
11:15: Hester Battery
Carl Smith (host): Doggone It Baby I'm In Love
Johnny and Jack: Cheated Out of Love
String Bean: Free A Little Bird
Gully Jumpers: Tennessee Wagoner
Carl Smith: This Orchid Means Goodbye
11:30: W.E. Stephens
Hank Snow (host): Wasted Love
Lew Childre: Snow White Horse
Lonzo and Oscar: I't Can't Be Done
Crook Brothers: Alabama Gal
Hank Snow: Act I; Act II; Act III
11:45: Mathewson Chemical
Webb Pierce (host): You Just Can't Be True
Sam and Kirk McGee: Waiting For A Letter
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Fire In The Mountain
Ken Marvin: When I Stop Loving You
Webb Pierce: It's Been So Long
I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!!
Fun--and funny--to see the great Onie Wheeler as a guest on the Prince Albert segment in 1954, when he would have been in his early thirties, and of course he spent so many years around there as a Smoky Mountain Boy.
ReplyDeleteHave a safe trip and a great time Byron.
ReplyDeleteJim
Knightsville, IN
Tonight (Friday) Vince Gill was nice enough to fill in for Rick Wright, Connie Smith's long-time guitar picker who was tragically killed in a car accident.
ReplyDeleteVince is class.
I will post a few more items regarding the shows Monday, but I thought both nights were excellent. Much like Vince filled in on Friday night, Marty Stuart did the same on Saturday. Lots of emotion from both Connie and Vince. Connie really looked like she was having a difficult time, especially on Saturday night. Vince doing "Go Rest High" on Saturday night was about the best I have heard the song done. He featured each musician in the Opry Staff Band, many of whom had tears in their eyes while playing their parts.
ReplyDeleteFor those who have never seen or heard William Michael Morgan, he is the real deal. Great country voice and really presents himself well. I think of Josh Turner or Mo Pitney when hearing and watching him. Let's hope he gets a break at some point.
Thanks Byron;
ReplyDeleteThere are PLENTY of young artists who understand what traditional country music is all about. I thought William Michael Morgan nailed "A-11" Friday Night.
Unfortunately, the clowns associated with Top40 Country radio have determined that if the song doesn't involve whiskey, tequila, dirt roads, or pick-up trucks (presented in some sort of rap-like matter) it isn't country music.
Don't forget the girls and the activities in the pickup bed. Kind of like Hee Haw on steroids! Isn't that what top 40 is today?
ReplyDeleteI agree Morgan did a nice job on A11.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Big difference Jim.
ReplyDeleteHeeHaw was absolutely tongue in cheek. They had fun making fun of themselves while showcasing classic country music. Top 40 today really believes it has talent and is cool to boot. In my mind, it has neither.
But then again, I'm 68 years old and not part of the demographic Top 40 is looking for.
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteI just wish they'd find a new name for the dreck and not call it "country," injuring the brand and making us old-timers think twice before we confess to being country-music fans.
Nat,
ReplyDeleteI agree on the difference. However, to the non country fan I have a feeling they are thought of as the same! Sad! I never have been the demographic they are looking for regardless of my age if that makes sense. I'm 50.
Jim
Knightsville, IN