Hopefully everyone survived Britney, actually the entire Spears family, from this past weeks Tuesday Night Opry. Actually it was a nice surprise for Jamie Lynn to have her siblings there for her Opry performance. Now that we have covered that, let's look at this week's Grand Ole Opry line-up.
The Friday Night Opry will feature Opry members Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider, Riders In The Sky, Connie Smith, Bobby Osborne, John Conlee, and the featured attraction on Friday, Trace Adkins. Jeannie, Mike, and the Riders will be back on Saturday night, joined by The Whites, Jesse McReynolds, who cancelled out last weekend, and Bill Anderson.
As far as guest artists this weekend, Friday night will feature frequent Opry guest Darryl Worley, along with Waterloo Revival, The Gibson Brothers, William Michael Morgan, and Charles Kelley. Charles is one of the founding members of Lady Antebellum, who have played the Opry many times. Lady A is currently on a break from recording and touring, so Charles is working on his solo career. He recently released his debut single, "The Driver" which features Opry member Dierks Bentley. He also has been working on his song writing.
Saturday night guests include Michael Ray, no stronger to the Opry stage, along with Carly Pearce, T. Graham Brown, The Grascals, Charles Esten and Steve Moakler. For Steve, this will be his Opry debut. He has several albums out and he has written a number of songs and can currently be heard on various Satellite stations.
Friday March 18
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Darryl Worley; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Waterloo Revival; The Gibson Brothers
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Charles Kelley
8:45: John Conlee (host); William Michael Morgan; Trace Adkins
Saturday March 19
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Michael Ray; The Whites
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Carly Pearce; T. Graham Brown
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds; Steve Moakler; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Bill Anderson (host); The Grascals; Charles Esten
That comes out to 12 acts each night, with 7 Opry members on Friday night and 6 on Saturday. And let me add that it is nice to see one of my personal favorites, T. Graham Brown back at the Opry.
And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago, the weekend of March 18 & 19, 2011:
Friday March 18
7:00: John Conlee (host); The Whites; Joe Diffie
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jan Howard; Mark Wills
Intermission
8:15: Jean Shepard (host); Jesse McReynolds; Gene Watson
8:45: Marty Stuart (host); Connie Smith; Eric Church
Saturday March 19
1st show
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Connie Smith; James Wesley
7:30: Steve Wariner (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; The Whites
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Craig Morgan; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jean Shepard; Charlie Daniels Band
2nd show
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; James Wesley
10:00: Steve Wariner (host); The Whites; Connie Smith
10:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Stu Phillips; Craig Morgan; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jean Shepard; Charlie Daniels Band
Now from ten years ago, the weekend of March 17 & 18, 2006:
Friday March 17
8:00: Nashville Irish Stepdancers; Porter Wagoner (host); The Whites; Mel McDaniel; Alecia Nugent
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; George Hamilton IV; Emerson Drive
9:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Connie Smith; Rhett Akins
9:30: John Conlee (host); Jack Greene; Jim Ed Brown; Restless Heart
Saturday March 18
1st show
6:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Connie Smith
7:00: Lorrie Morgan (host); Carrie Underwood; Danielle Peck; Lee Ann Womack
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); John Conlee; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Rebecca Lynn Howard; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Riders In The Sky; The Whites
2nd show
9:30: Lorrie Morgan (host); Mel McDaniel; Connie Smith
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); John Conlee; Jim Ed Brown; Danielle Peck
10:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Lee Ann Womack; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Carrie Underwood
11:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Rebecca Lynn Howard
Finally, fifteen years ago, the weekend of March 16 & 17, 2001:
Friday March 16
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Connie Smith; Bill Carlisle; Nashville Bluegrass Band
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Osborne Brothers; Del Reeves; Sons of the Desert
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jean Shepard; Tim Rushlow
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; Mike Snider; Mel McDaniel
9:30: John Conlee (host); Chalee Tennison; Gene Watson
Saturday March 17
1st show
6:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Connie Smith; Bill Carlisle; The Whites
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jeanne Pruett; Jimmy C Newman; Osborne Brothers
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Sons of the Desert; Ray Pillow; Chalee Tennison
8:00: John Conlee (host); Del Reeves; Jean Shepard; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely; Joe Diffie
2nd show
9:30: Nashville Irish Stepdancers; Porter Wagoner (host); The Whites; Chalee Tennison
10:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Jimmy C Newman; Mike Snider
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Osborne Brothers; Jean Shepard; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: John Conlee (host); Jeannie Seely; Joe Diffie
11:30: Charlie Walker (host); Ray Pillow; Sons of the Desert
For this week's featured line-up, let's go back 39 years to Saturday March 19, 1977. This was the night of the Opry's annual Reunion shows, often referred to as "Old Timer's Night." The Opry held their first reunion show in February 1974 and it was such a success that it was held every year until the early 1990s. Many of the Opry's living ex-members from the early years of the Opry would come back for the annual show and over time, it became one of the highlights of the year.
Here is the running order from Saturday March 19, 1977 and many of the names will be recognized by Opry fans.
1st show
6:00: Vietti
Bill Anderson (host): Happiness
Zeke Clements: Just A Little Lovin'/Why Should I Cry Over You
Mary Lou Turner: Love It Way
Duke of Paducah: Comedy
Bill Anderson: Po' Folks
Bill Anderson & Mary Lou Turner: Sometimes
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Billy Walker (host): Word Games
Bill Carlisle: I'm Moving
Wilma Lee Cooper: Little Darling Pal of Mine
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain
6:45: Rudy's
Billy Grammer (host): Gotta Travel On
Justin Tubb: Sweetwater, Texas
Willis Brothers: Anytime/Just A Little Lovin'
Billy Grammer: East Tennessee Blues
7:00: Shoney's
Wilburn Brothers (host): Roll, Muddy River
Skeeter Davis: Desperado/He Will Be There
Paul Howard: Come On In Baby; The Boogie's Fine Tonight
Jimmy C Newman: Diggy Liggy Lo
Wilburn Brothers: Get All Excited
7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Honey Wilds: 12 St. Rag
Sarie: Comedy
Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Black Mountain Rag
Roy Acuff: The Heart That Was Broken For Me
8:00: Martha White
Bill Monroe (host): Blue Moon of Kentucky
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Pee Wee King: Bonaparte's Retreat/Tennessee Waltz
Curly Fox: The Old Gray Mule/Mockingbird
Alcyone Beasley: Silver Threads Among the Gold
Bill Monroe: Mule Skinner Blues
8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): Hello Love
4 Guys: Cottonfields/Maria/Turn Around Look at Me
Lonzo & Oscar: Wedding Bells/I Can't Help It/You Win Again/Your Cheatin' Heart/Cold, Cold Heart
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Instrumental
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Hank Snow: Paper Roses
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Bill Anderson (host): Gone at Last
Billy Walker: How Great Thou Art
Wilburn Brothers: Arkansas
Billy Grammer: I'm Letting You Go
Ernie Ashworth: There's No Place I'd Rather Be Tonight
Mary Lou Turner: It's Different With You
Bill Anderson: Liars 1; Believers 0
10:00: Fender
Jimmy C Newman (host): Jambalaya
Bill Carlisle: Too Old To Cut the Mustard
Wilma Lee Cooper: Gathering Flowers from the Hillside
Jimmy C Newman: Diggy Liggy Lo
10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Just A Friend
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Zeke Clements: Anytime
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
10:30: Trailblazer
Bill Monroe (host): My Blue-Eyed Darling
Skeeter Davis: I'll Fly Away
Justin Tubb: As Long As There's a Sunday
Bill Monroe: Monroe's Blues
10:45: Beech-Nut
Charlie Walker (host): The Lord Knows I'm Drinking
4 Guys: Top of the World
Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Eighth of January
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Merry Go Round of Love
Stu Phillips: Have A Nice Day
Pee Wee King: Deck of Cards
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Instrumental
Stu Phillips: It Is No Secret
Kirk McGee: Victory Rag/Freight Train
Hank Snow: I Keep Dreaming of You All the Time
11:30: Elm Hill
Osborne Brothers (host): Midnight Flyer
Marion Worth: Just A Little Lovin'/An Old Love Turned Memory
Lonzo & Oscar: Las Vegas
Osborne Brothers: Smokey Mountain Smoke
For Wilma Lee Cooper, this was her first Opry show after the death of her husband Stoney Cooper, who passed away on March 22.
Enjoy the Opry this weekend!!!
Good morning from Salt Lake City! Interesting that "Just A Little Lovin'" was heard three times during the course of the evening: Zeke Clements (who wrote the song), The Willis Brothers and Marion Worth. I imagine Zeke's royalty check for the week was a little fatter!
ReplyDeleteThey say if you can't say something good don't say anything. Oh well, I'll say it anyway.
ReplyDeleteI went to see Gene Watson perform for a hour and a half last night. As you would expect, he did a great job, his band is supper and all you heard was good country music and great singing with some light hearted joking mixed in.
On the drive home I got to hear about the last 45 minutes of the Opry on Sirius. I know we have talked about the Nashville show and the people but listening to Charles Esten last night reminded me of my frustration. Now I understand there is a vested interest by management in this show and I suppose it is bringing people to the Opry that would not come otherwise. But dose the Opry have to prostitute itself and its legacy to gain patrons. Here we can have an actor who likes to be a singer spend many minutes on stage talking about characters on a TV show in addition to singing. And although not as often as it once was, these people continue to perform on a regular basis. Yet I get the feeling that most of the gray hairs left are told to move it along and get out of the way, that is if they are even allowed to appear.
There is still some good things happening at the Opry but I find it so hard to listen to all of it to hear those good times.
Has anyone heard an up date on Mel Tillis?
Jim
Knightsville, IN
I hope that Pam Tillis will have some news about her daddy when she comes to the Opry tommorrow night. The last time we had Mel on the Opry was 12/11/2015, I listen to every broadcast when he is on the schedule:-) and I hope the next time will be very soon!
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