Grand Ole Opry 3/25 & 3/26

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the three shows this weekend. Yes, there are three as the Opry will be going with two Saturday night shows between now and the end of April.

The highlight this weekend will be Loretta Lynn, as this 50+ year Opry member, and Country Music Hall of Famer, is scheduled for both shows on Saturday night. Joining for both shows will be Opry members Mike Snider, John Conlee, Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers, Riders In The Sky and The Whites. Appearing on just the first show will be Jeannie Seely, while Connie Smith and Bobby Osborne are set for the 2nd show. As far as the Friday Night Opry, members scheduled include Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider, Riders In The Sky, Connie Smith, John Conlee, Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers and Jesse McReynolds. 

As far as guest artists for Friday night, the list includes JT Hodges, Flatt Lonesome, Lindsay Ell and Mo Pitney. Lindsay and Mo will be appearing in support of the new EP, Opry 9.0: Discoveries from the Circle, Volume II. They will also be signing copies in the Opry Shop after the show. Oh, there is one more guest scheduled for Friday night and that is Bobby Bones and The Raging Idiots. For those who do not know, Bobby Bones is the host of a nationally syndicated morning show. He is in my market and I have heard him a time or two, and while he is ok, he is just not my style. Now as far as The Raging Idiots, they are actually a country group that tours and has opened for some pretty big acts, not doubt in support of the radio show. From what I can tell, The Raging Idiots is actually his show producer Eddie Garcia and a band. They specialize in comedy songs. 

Guest artists on Saturday, all scheduled for both shows, are Love and Theft, Ashley Campbell, Parker Milsap and Cole Swindell. Love and Theft are frequent Opry guests and always do a great job. Ashley Campbell, daughter of Glen Campbell, will be making a return Opry appearance. Parker Milsap is an emerging Americana Music Association artist and has opened for groups such as Old Crow Medicine Show. He is touring in support of his new album, "The Very Last Day" and will be making several Nashville appearances this weekend.

Friday March 25
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); JT Hodges; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Connie Smith; Flatt Lonesome
Intermission
8:15: John Conlee (host); Lindsay Ell; Bobby Bones And The Raging Idiots
8:45: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); Jesse McReynolds; Mo Pitney

Saturday March 26
1st show
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Love and Theft; Mike Snider
7:30: John Conlee (host); Ashley Campbell; Parker Milsap
8:00: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); Cole Swindell; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); The Whites; Loretta Lynn

2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Mike Snider; Loretta Lynn
10:00: Connie Smith (host); Love and Theft; Ashley Campbell
10:30: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Parker Milsap; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Riders In The Sky (host); The Whites; Cole Swindell

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago, the weekend of March 25 & 26, 2011:

Friday March 25
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Craig Campbell
7:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Ray Pillow; Mandy Barnett
Intermission
8:15: Pam Tillis (host); The Whites; Dale Ann Bradley
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Sarah Darling; Diamond Rio

Saturday March 26
1st show
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jeannie Seely; Mike Snider
7:30: Pam Tillis (host); Lorrie Morgan
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jan Howard; Tommy Shaw; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Carrie Underwood

2nd show
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jim Ed Brown; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
10:00: Lorrie Morgan (host); Pam Tillis
10:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds; Tommy Shaw; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Carrie Underwood

Now from ten years ago, the weekend of March 24 & 25, 2006:

Friday March 24
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Riders In The Sky; Jean Shepard; Rodney Atkins
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Connie Smith; The Greencards
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; The Whites; Mountain Heart
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Gene Watson; Marty Stuart

Saturday March 25
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Erika Jo
7:00: Jean Shepard (host); Jimmy C Newman; Matt Jenkins; Larry Sparks
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jack Greene; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Scotty Emerick
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Connie Smith; Billy Walker; Catherine Britt; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Mel McDaniel; Josh Gracin

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Jimmy C Newman; Erika Jo
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jack Greene; Matt Jenkins; Larry Sparks
10:30: Jean Shepard (host); Charlie Louvin; Scotty Emerick; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Josh Gracin
11:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Mel McDaniel; Catherine Britt

Finally, from fifteen years ago, the weekend of March 23 & 24, 2001:

Friday March 23
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jim Ed Brown; Stonewall Jackson; Bill Carlisle; Wylie & The Wild West
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Del Reeves; The Whites; Mel McDaniel
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeanne Pruett; T. Bubba Bechtol; Ricky Skaggs
9:00: Roy Clark (host); Con Hunley; Mike Snider; Pam Tillis
9:30: John Conlee (host); Jim & Jesse; Matt King; Ralph Stanley

Saturday March 24
1st show
6:30: John Conlee (host); Jim Ed Brown; Bill Carlisle; The Whites
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jimmy C Newman; Osborne Brothers; Mel McDaniel
7:30: Roy Clark (host); Martina McBride; Pam Tillis
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Matt King; Mike Snider; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Wylie & The Wild West; T. Bubba Bechtol; Vince Gill

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Roy Clark; Pam Tillis; Vince Gill
10:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Osborne Brothers; Wylie & The Wild West; John Conlee
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Charlie Louvin; Jimmy C Newman; Mel McDaniel; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Del Reeves; Martina McBride
11:30: Mike Snider (host); Charlie Walker; Stu Phillips; Matt King

And now back to a classic Grand Ole Opry show from 45 years ago, Saturday March 27, 1971. It was on this night that Jan Howard officially became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Jan had already spent years on the Opry as she was part of Bill Anderson's road show and was his duet partner. So every time Bill did the Opry, Jan was on also. After the duet act ended and Jan left Bill's show, she continued to guest on the Opry, so often in fact, that management thought that she was already a member. When one night Jan informed them that she was not, they corrected the error and immediately Jan was given Opry membership. Jan has not been on the Opry since late last year as she suffered a back injury and was recuperating. Hopefully she can be back at the Opry soon. 

Here is the running order from Saturday March 27, 1971, the night Jan Howard officially became an Opry member: 

1st show
6:30: Mrs Grissoms
Billy Walker (host): I Taught Her Everything She Knows
Ray Pillow: Grazin' In Greener Pastures
Del Wood: Are You From Dixie
Billy Walker: How Great Thou Art

6:45: Rudy's
Jack Greene (host): There's A Whole Lot About A Woman A Man Don't Know
Jeannie Seely: Please Be My New Love
Jack Greene & Jeannie Seely: Wish I Didn't Have to Miss You
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything

7:00: Luzianne
Bill Monroe (host): My Little Georgia Rose
Earl Scruggs Revue: Loraderojosp III Breakdown
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Each Season Changes You
Ernie Ashworth: Jesus Is a Soul Man
James William Monroe: Come With Me Up Happiness Hill
Bill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Earl Scruggs Revue: Foggy Mountain Top
Wilma Lee Cooper: The Legend of the Dogwood Tree

7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Anderson (host): Wild Weekend
Grandpa Jones: Mountain Dew
Jan Howard: Evil On Your Mind
George Morgan: For the Good Times
Bill Anderson: Always Remember
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Grandpa Jones: Fair & Tender Ladies
Bill Anderson & Jan Howard: Someday We'll Be Together

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Loretta Lynn: I Wanna Be Free
Tex Ritter: The Men In My Little Girl's Life
Willis Brothers: Woman's Liberation
Lonzo & Oscar: Crawdad Song

8:30: Stephens
Porter Wagoner (host): The Carroll County Accident
Dolly Parton: Coming For to Carry Me Home
Stringbean: Hot Corn; Cold Corn
Tom T Hall: Ballad of Forty Dollars
Porter Wagoner: The Last One to Touch Me
Hank Locklin: She's As Close As I Can Get
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Walking In My Sleep
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton: Better Move It on Home

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Bill Anderson (host): You Can Change My World By Changing Your Mind
Willis Brothers: For the Good Times
Jan Howard: Were You There
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Nobody's Darling But Mine
Ray Pillow: Working Man Blues
Bill Anderson: I Love You Drops

10:00: Fender
Bill Monroe (host): Little Joe
Earl Scruggs Revue: Bugle Call Rag
Bill Carlisle: I'm Moving
Del Wood: Are You From Dixie

10:15: Union 76
Billy Walker (host): When A Man Loves A Woman
Grandpa Jones: Dooley
Ernie Ashworth: Jesus Is A Soul Man
Billy Walker: Make the World Go Away

10:30: Trailblazer
Roy Acuff (host): I Wonder Where You Are Tonight
Jack Greene: There's A Whole Lot About A Woman A Man Don't Know
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

10:45: Beech-Nut
Porter Wagoner (host): Big Wind
Dolly Parton: Joshua
Stringbean: Lonesome Road Blues
Crook Brothers: Arkansas Traveler
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton: Better Move It On Home

11:00: Coca-Cola
Tex Ritter (host): Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
Loretta Lynn: Coal Miner's Daughter
Hank Locklin: Country Hall of Fame
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Instrumental
Tex Ritter: High Noon
Loretta Lynn: I Wanna Be Free
Sam McGee: San Antonio Rose

11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): Devil Woman
Lonzo & Oscar: There's A Whole in the Bottom of the Sea
Ronnie Robbins: Put Your Hand in the Hand/Today I Started Loving You Again
Marty Robbins: I Walk Alone/Don't Worry/A Heart Full of Love/Long Gone Lonesome Blues
Marty Robbins & Ronnie Robbins: It Finally Happened

Congratulations to Jan Howard for 45 years of Opry membership and it's too bad that she is not scheduled for the Opry this weekend. It would have been nice to have her on stage and the Opry anniversary mentioned. 

I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!!!