Grand Ole Opry 7/29 & 7/30

As the Grand Ole Opry rolls through summer, the line-ups have been announced for the shows this weekend. The highlight will be on the Friday Night Opry as Opry member Oak Ridge Boys make a return appearance to the Opry stage. They will be joined by Opry members Diamond Rio, Mike Snider and Bobby Osborne, along with segment hosts Jeannie Seely, Riders In The Sky, Bill Anderson and Connie Smith. Jeannie, Riders and Connie will also be hosting segments on Saturday night, where they will be joined by Larry Gatlin, without the brothers. Mike Snider also will be back on Saturday, joined by fellow Opry members Jesse McReynolds and The Whites.

Guest artists this weekend have all appeared on the Opry before. Friday night, it will be Keith Anderson, Josh Thompson, William Michael Morgan, and the great Moe Bandy, while on Saturday Smithfield, who have become virtual Opry regulars over the past several weeks, is scheduled, along with Amanda Shires, Craig Wayne Boyd, and two more who have seen the Opry stage many, many, times, Jackie Lee and The Grascals. 

That comes out to 12 acts each night, with 8 Opry members on Friday and 7 on Saturday. 

Friday July 29
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Diamond Rio; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Keith Anderson
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Josh Thompson; Moe Bandy
8:45: Connie Smith (host); William Michael Morgan; Oak Ridge Boys

Saturday July 30
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Smithfield; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Amanda Shires; Craig Wayne Boyd
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Jesse McReynolds; Jackie Lee; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Larry Gatlin (host); The Whites; The Grascals 

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago, the weekend of July 29 & 30, 2011:

Friday July 29
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); George Hamilton IV; Bo Bice
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jesse McReynolds; Steve Holy
Intermission
8:15: Jeannie Seely (host); Jack Greene; Juice Newton
8:45: Pam Tillis (host); Jean Shepard; The Whites; Ralph Stanley

Saturday July 30
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; James Otto
7:30: Jean Shepard (host); Jan Howard; The Whites; Dailey & Vincent
Intermission
8:15: Jim Ed Brown (host); Ralph Stanley; Mark Wills; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Loretta Lynn

Now from ten years ago, the weekend of July 28 & 29, 2006:

Friday July 28
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Mel McDaniel; Josh Gracin
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jack Greene; Chris Young
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Julie Roberts
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host) w/Helen Cornelius; Connie Smith; Johnny Lee

Saturday July 29
1st show
6:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Mel McDaniel; Ray Scott
7:00: George Hamilton IV (host); Jan Howard; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Lane Turner
7:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Moe Bandy; Heartland
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); w/Helen Cornelius; Charlie Walker; Mandy Barnett; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Jimmy Wayne

2nd show
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Mel McDaniel; Lane Turner
10:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Jack Greene; Heartland
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); w/Helen Cornelius; Charlie Louvin; Mandy Barnett; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Ray Pillow (host); Moe Bandy; Jimmy Wayne
11:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Ray Scott

Finally, from 25 years ago, Saturday July 27, 1991:

1st show
6:30: Del Reeves (host); Johnny Russell
6:45: Jimmy Dickens (host); Skeeter Davis
7:00: Jack Greene (host); 4 Guys; Jean Shepard; Mike Snider
7:30: Jerry Clower (host); George Hamilton IV; Jeannie Seely; T. Graham Brown
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Jim Ed Brown; Roy Drusky; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jimmy C Newman; Charlie Walker; Jan Howard; Ray Pillow

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jean Shepard; Jack Greene; Del Reeves; T. Graham Brown
10:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); David Houston
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Bill Carlisle
10:30: Charlie Walker (host); 4 Guys
10:45: Jerry Clower (host); Stonewall Jackson; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Skeeter Davis; Roy Drusky; George Hamilton IV; Jeannie Seely
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jan Howard; Ray Pillow; Johnny Russell

To finish up, let's go back 50 years ago this weekend, Saturday July 30, 1966:

6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Billy Grammer (host); Don't Drop It
Calhoun Twins: The Crawdad Song
Billy Grammer: Pennsylvania Polka; I'm Letting You Go

6:45: Rudy's
Bobby Lord (host): Cash on the Barrel Head
Ray Pillow: Take Your Hands Off My Heart
Bobby Lord: Lonely Street
Spider Wilson: Yakety Axe

7:00: NLAI Co. 
Billy Walker (host): Cross the Brazos at Waco
Boots Randolph: Yakety Axe
Grandpa Jones: Are You From Dixie
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby/No Sign of Living
Wilburn Brothers: Trouble's Back in Town
Billy Walker: Charlie's Shoes
Grandpa Jones: Oh, Susanna
Wilburn Brothers: It's Another World
Everyone: Gotta Travel On

7:30: Luzianne
Glaser Brothers (host): Teardrops Til Dawn
Skeeter Davis: Silver Threads & Golden Needles
Jim & Jesse: Don't Let Nobody Tie You Down
Stu Phillips: Faded Love
Glaser Brothers: Baby, They're Playing Our Song
Del Wood: Tiger Rag
Jim & Jesse: I Wish You Knew
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Glaser Brothers: The Last Thing on My Mind

8:00: Martha White
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): This Train
Jim Ed Brown: I Found A Taste of Heaven
Bobby Bare: The Streets of Baltimore
Marion Worth: Don't Count on Tomorrow
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Eash Season Changes You
Crook Brothers: Cotton-Eyed Joe
Cousin Jody: Jody's Chimes
Jim Ed Brown: I'd Just Be Fool Enough

8:30: Stephens
Ernest Tubb (host): Thanks A Lot
Tex Ritter: Remember Us
Loretta Lynn: You Ain't Woman Enough
Lonzo & Oscar: New River Train
Ernest Tubb: Waltz Across Texas
Jack Greene; Ever Since My Baby Went Away
Loretta Lynn: When Lonely Hits Your Heart
Tex Ritter: High Noon

9:00: Pet Milk
Leroy Van Dyke (host): Big Man In A Big House
Bill Monroe: There's An Old, Old House
Bob Luman: Almost Persuaded
Curly Fox: T-Model & Trains
Leroy Van Dyke: You Couldn't Get My Love Back
Hank Cochran: Going In Training
Bill Monroe: Uncle Pen
Bob Luman: Memphis
Leroy Van Dyke: Auctioneer

9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On
Jim & Jesse: If You've Seen One, You've Seen Them All
June Carter: Tall Loverman
Hank Snow: I've Cried A Mile
Ray Pillow: I'd Fight the World
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Hank Snow: The Count Down

10:00: Schick
Jim Ed Brown (host): You Comb Her Hair
Del Wood: Cattle Call
Calhoun Twins: Going to the Dogs With A Bunch of Swinging Cats
Jim Ed Brown: Regular on My Mind

10:15: Pure
Bobby Bare (host): Four Strong Winds
Skeeter Davis: Foggy Mountain Top
Cousin Jody: Steel Guitar Rag
Bobby Bare: The Streets of Baltimore

10:30: Harvey's
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): The Sunny Side of the Mountain
Bob Luman :You Can Take the Boy from the Country
Wilma Lee Cooper: Leroy, the Crippled Boy
Stoney Cooper & Vic Jordan: Golden Slippers

10:45: Newport
Ernest Tubb (host): The Women Make A Fool Out of Me
Loretta Lynn: You Ain't Woman Enough
Crook Brothers: Greenback Dollar
Ernest Tubb & Loretta Lynn: We're Not Kids Anymore

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Glaser Brothers: The Last Thing on My Mind
Marion Worth: No One Will Ever Know
Lonzo & Oscar: Things Sure Look Silly Until You Understand
Hank Snow: I Don't Hurt Anymore
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Take Me Back to Tulsa
Stu Phillips: Great El Tigre
Sam McGee: These Boots Are Made for Walking
Hank Snow: Mississippi River Blues

11:30: Lava
Marty Robbins (host): The Shoe Goes on the Other Foot Tonight
Tex Ritter: Remember Us
Curly Fox: The Old Gray Mule
Minnie Pearl: Columbus Stockade Blues
Don Winters: Annie Lou
Tex Ritter: Take Him Fishin'
Marty Robbins: Devil Woman; Bouquet of Roses; I Could Never Be Ashamed of You/You Know How Talk Gets Around/Take These Chains from My Heart/Lovesick Blues/Letters Have No Arms

The name that some might night be familiar with from that night were Jack and Jerry Calhoun, who performed as the Calhoun Twins, Yes, they were real twins originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, later moving to Kissimmee, Florida. There is not much information on them, but they began performing at a young age and made several guest appearances on the Grand Ole Opry. They later owned Show Coaches of America, a tour bus company that leased tour buses to entertainers. While they gave up active performing and touring, as last as 2009 they would still make an occasional appearance in Florida. 

I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!!