Grand Ole Opry 4/22 & 4/23

First, I wanted to apologize for being off the blog for a few days. No, I didn't go away for good, just a few items on the plate. I also wanted to start off by offering my prayers and thoughts to former Grand Ole Opry member Holly Dunn. It was reported this week that Holly recently had surgery for stage 2 ovarian cancer and is now recovering. They believe that all of the cancer was removed but she will be undergoing chemo treatments for the next several months. I always enjoyed Holly's music and her Opry appearances. For those who do not know, Holly began to have voice problems and made the decision to leave Nashville and move to New Mexico where she opened an art studio and has been doing well. If you check out her website you will see many of her items. 

As far as the Grand Ole Opry this weekend, Saturday is back to just one show and it took the Opry a little later then normal to get the line-ups posted. As fa as Opry members this weekend, appearing both nights will be Jeannie Seely, The Whites, Mike Snider, Connie Smith and Bill Anderson. Joining that group on Friday night will be Bobby Osborne, Ricky Skaggs and Josh Turner, while on Saturday night, it will just be Jesse McReynolds added. With Ricky and Josh set for Friday night, that certainly looks like the stronger of the two nights this weekend. 

As far as guest artists, Friday night will have Keith Anderson, Shelly Skidmore, Exile, and Chuck Wicks. Exile will be back for Saturday night's show, joined by JT Hodges, Ashley Campbell, Jackie Lee, Balsam Range and Crystal Gayle. 

Friday April 22
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Keith Anderson; Mike Snider
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Shelly Skidmore; Exile
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Chuck Wicks
8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Josh Turner

Friday April 23
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); JT Hodges; The Whites
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Ashley Campbell; Exile
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Jesse McReynolds; Jackie Lee; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Bill Anderson (host); Balsam Range; Crystal Gayle

That come out to 12 acts each night, with 8 Opry members on Friday and 6 on Saturday.

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago, the weekend of April 22 & 23, 2011:

Friday April 22
7:00: John Conlee (host); Jimmy C Newman; Riders In The Sky; Thompson Square
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely; Randy Montana
Intermission
8:15: Marty Stuart (host); Jesse McReynolds; Connie Smith; Paul Williams
8:45: Mike Snider (host); Jan Howard; Jack Greene; Josh Turner

Saturday April 23
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); John Conlee; Danny Gokey
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); George Hamilton IV; Jim Ed Brown; The Whites
Intermission
8:15: Mike Snider (host); Jake Owen; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Marty Stuart (host); Connie Smith; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Martina McBride

Now from ten years ago, the weekend of April 21 & 22, 2006:

Friday April 21
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Connie Smith; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; The Florida Boys
8:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Riders In The Sky; Brian Free & Assurance
8:30: Roy Clark (host); The Whites; The Kingsmen
9:00: Marty Stuart (host); Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver; Terri Clark

Saturday April 22
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Jimmy C Newman
7:00: Roy Clark (host); Mark Wills; Blaine Larsen; Rodney Atkins; Rhonda Vincent
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Billy Walker; Jack Greene; Jeannie Seely; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Pam Tillis (host); Megan Mullins; Connie Smith

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Jimmy C Newman; Rodney Atkins
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Connie Smith; Jack Greene; Rhonda Vincent
10:30: Roy Clark (host); Jan Howard; Blaine Larsen; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Pam Tillis (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Mark Wills
11:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Ray Pillow; Billy Walker; Megan Mullins

Finally, from fifteen years ago, the weekend of April 20 & 21, 2001:

Friday April 20
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); The Whites; Jack Greene; Joe Diffie
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Del Reeves; Trent Summar & The New Row Mob; Alison Brown 
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Osborne Brothers; Riders In The Sky; Brad Paisley
9:00: John Conlee (host); Jimmy C Newman; Mike Snider; Tracy Byrd
9:30: George Hamilton IV (host); Ricky Skaggs; Asleep At The Wheel

Saturday April 21
1st show
6:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jack Greene; Bill Carlisle; Del Reeves; Mandy Barnett
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Hank Locklin; Billy Walker; Alison Brown
7:30: Lorrie Morgan (host); John Anderson; John Michael Montgomery
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); John Conlee; The Osborne Brothers; Trent Summar & The New Row Mob; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; The Whites; Mike Snider

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); The Whites; Billy Walker; John Anderson
10:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mandy Barnett; Mike Snider; Lorrie Morgan
10:30: John Conlee (host); Alison Brown; Stu Phillips; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Charlie Louvin; The Osborne Brothers; John Michael Montgomery
11:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Charlie Walker; Elizabeth Cook; Trent Summar & The New Row Mob

For this week's look back, here is the running order from Saturday April 22, 1972. There were some interesting names on the line-up that night. 

1st show
6:30: Mrs Grissoms/Rudy's
Stonewall Jackson (host): Don't Be Angry
Ernie Ashworth: Battle of the Blues
Stonewall Jackson: Me & You & A Dog Named Boo/Waterloo/Muddy Water
Wilma Lee Cooper: A Hero's Death
Bobby Austin: Apartment #9
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walking

7:00: Luzianne
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Lonzo & Oscar: Truck Driving Man
Wilma Burgess: Snowbird
Joe & Rose Lee Maphis: Run That By Me One More Time
Roy Acuff: Lonely Mound of Clay
Wilma Burgess: Help Me Make It Through the Night
Joe & Rose Lee Maphis: Alabama Jubilee
Howdy Forrester: Instrumental

7:30: Standard Candy
Billy Walker (host): When A Man Loves A Woman
Skeeter Davis: Sad Situation
Willis Brothers: Bonaparte's Retreat
Crook Brothers: Eighth of January
Billy Walker: Gone Our Endless Love
Skeeter Davis: One Tin Soldier
Willis Brothers: For the Good Times
Billy Walker: Cattle Call

8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host) & Mac Wiseman: Will You Be Lovin' Another Man
Dottie West: Paper Mansions
The Stonemans: The Wreck of the Old 97
David Rogers: Need You
Lester Flatt & Mac Wiseman: The Bluebirds Sing for Me
Cal Smith: I Found Someone of My Own
Dottie West: Willy's Winter Love
Lester Flatt: Shuckin' the Corn

8:30: Stephens
Ernest Tubb (host): Say Something Nice to Sara
Jean Shepard: Gotta Travel On 
Charlie Walker: Who'll Buy the Wine
4 Guys: Cottonfields/Mariah
Ernest Tubb: Waltz Across Texas
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Take Me Back to Tulsa
Jean Shepard: Virginia

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Stonewall Jackson (host): Don't Be Angry
Willis Brothers: Buying Popcorn
Bobby Austin: Night Train to Memphis
Stonewall Jackson: Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Willis Brothers: Women's Liberation
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walking/Muddy Water

10:00: Fender
Lonzo & Oscar (host): Lonesome Road Blues
Wilma Lee Cooper: Singing Waterfall
Lonzo & Oscar: Take Me Home Country Roads
Wilma Burgess: Tennessee Waltz

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train to Memphis
Joe & Rose Lee Maphis: Honey, Be My Honey Bee
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird/I Saw the Light

10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): & Mac Wiseman: Salty Dog Blues
Skeeter Davis: Sad Situation
Mack Wiseman: Love Letters In the Sand
Paul Warren: Orange Blossom Special

10:45: Beech-Nut
Ernest Tubb (host): Mississippi Gal
Cal Smith: I Found Someone of My Own
Crook Brothers: Soldiers Joy
Ernest Tubb: Yesterdays Winner Is A Loser Today

11:00: Coca-Cola
Billy Walker (host): Cross the Brazos at Waco
Jean Shepard: Virginia
David Rogers: Need You
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Billy Walker: Gone Our Endless Love
Jean Shepard: Silver Threads and Golden Needles
Sam McGee: Farewell Blues/Alabama Jubilee/Just Because

11:30: Elm Hill
Charlie Walker (host): Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On
The Stonemans: White Lightening
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
4 Guys: My Special Angel
The Stonemans: Sourwood Mountain
Charlie Walker: Little Old Wine Drinker Me

A couple of notes from that night: 

First, you will notice that Stonewall Jackson hosted the first two segments of the first show, 6:30 and 6:45, and that Lonzo and Oscar, who rarely hosted a segment, hosted the 2nd segment on the 2nd show. Both segments were to have been hosted by Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, but Stoney cancelled out due to illness and the Opry was not using female hosts. Thus, Wilma Lee could not host those segments without Stoney, so that accounts for the change.

Also on the schedule that night were The Stoneman Family. At one time, they were a possibility to become Opry members, something the Stonemans really wanted. However, years earlier the family made their first Opry appearance and they went way over on their time allowed and because of that, several Opry members complained. Allegedly, Hank Snow was one of them. The story is that Hank went to Opry management and protested about the Stonemans becoming members and that ended that. They would make a few more guest appearances, but you will notice that on this particular night when they were on the Opry, Hank was not. 

Enjoy the Opry this weekend!!!