Grand Ole Opry 8/5 & 8/6

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the shows this weekend and while there are some good names listed, the show line-up is just not to par with many of the recent ones, and not what you would expect to see if you were paying a top ticket price to see either of these shows. Nothing against those scheduled, but just not enough star power to justify at $75 ticket price. 

As to the Opry members scheduled this weekend, Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider and Connie Smith are listed for both nights. On Friday night they will be joined by The Whites, Jesse McReynolds and Bill Anderson, while on Saturday night Ray Pillow will join the three. That comes out to 6 Opry members on Friday night and only 4, yes only 4, on Saturday night, all of whom are hosting segments. 4 out of 62!! I have posted previously about my frustration with some of the Opry's members who make few Opry appearances, and with Opry management for scheduling so few members. I guess at the end of the day, it is what it is and it's not going to change anytime in the near future. 

As to the guest artists scheduled on Friday night, all have been on the Opry previously. The list includes Jaida Dreyer, Wade Hayes, Restless Heart, Maggie Rose, Chuck Wicks and The Quebe Sisters. All are good solid performers. Wade Hayes and Restless Heart had a string of hits in their career, songs that fans attending should be able to recognize. As for Saturday night, The Quebe Sisters will be back on, along with Sunny Sweeney, frequent Opry guest Jimmy Wayne, Sara Watkins, Shenandoah, who after getting back together earlier this year have made several Opry appearances, Mo Pitney and Mark O'Connor with the O'Connor Band. Both Mo Pitney and Sara Watkins are fine young talents, with Sara out in support of her new album. 

Friday August 5
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jaida Dreyer; Mike Snider
7:30: The Whites (host); Wade Hayes; Restless Heart
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds; Maggie Rose
8:45: Connie Smith (host); Chuck Wicks; The Quebe Sisters

Saturday August 6
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Sunny Sweeney; Jimmy Wayne
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Sara Watkins; Shenandoah
Intermission
8:15: Ray Pillow (host); O'Connor Band featuring Mark O'Connor; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Connie Smith (host); Mo Pitney; The Quebe Sisters

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago, the weekend of August 5 & 6, 2011. It was during the Saturday night show that the Oak Ridge Boys became the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry. 

Friday August 5
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jesse McReynolds; Shelley Skidmore
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Bucky Covington
Intermission
8:15: George Hamilton IV (host); Jack Greene; Jamie O'Neal
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Connie Smith; Gary Morris

Saturday August 6
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Jacob Lyda
7:30: Jean Shepard (host); Jimmy C Newman; Sam Bush
Intermission
8:15: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jan Howard; Troy Cassar-Daley; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Jeannie Seely (host); Oak Ridge Boys

Now from ten years ago, the weekend of August 4 & 5, 2006:

Friday August 4
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jim Ed Brown; Daryle Singletary
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); George Hamilton IV; David Lee Murphy
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Mel McDaniel; Rebecca Lynn Howard
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Karen Peck & New River; T. Graham Brown

Saturday August 5
1st show
6:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Mel McDaniel; The Derailers
7:00: George Hamilton IV (host); Lane Brody; Daryle Singletary
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; The Lost Trailers
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Stu Phillips; Rebecca Lynn Howard; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Elizabeth Cook; T.G. Sheppard

2nd show
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Mel McDaniel; Elizabeth Cook
10:00: George Hamilton IV (host); Lane Brody; Daryle Singletary
10:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jan Howard; The Lost Trailers; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); T.G. Sheppard; Rebecca Lynn Howard
11:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; The Derailers

And from 25 years ago, Saturday August 3, 1991:

1st show
6:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Ray Pillow
6:45: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jeannie Seely
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Charlie Louvin; David Houston; Skeeter Davis; Teddy Wilburn
7:30: Del Reeves (host); Jean Shepard; Bill Carlisle; Johnny Lee
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Bill Anderson; Connie Smith; Opry Square Dance Band; Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Roy Drusky; 4 Guys; Mike Snider

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Charlie Walker; Jim Ed Brown; Jeannie Seely
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Johnny Lee
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Jan Howard; 
10:30: Del Reeves (host); Jean Shepard
10:45: Jimmy C Newman (host); Bill Carlisle; Opry Square Dance Band; Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Teddy Wilburn; Justin Tubb; Charlie Louvin; Skeeter Davis
11:30: 4 Guys (host); Connie Smith Roy Drusky; Mike Snider

Now a little bit more detail on this particular show: 

1st show
6:30: Mrs Grissoms/Bonanza
Jimmy C Newman (host): Thibodeaux & His Cajun Band
Ray Pillow: If I Didn't Have You In My World
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya

6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Jim Ed Brown (host): Lyin' In Love With You
Jeannie Seely: Go Down Swinging
Jim Ed Brown: Morning

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Country Music Has Gone to Town
Charlie Louvin: Buried Alive
David Houston: My Elusive Dreams
Skeeter Davis: Under the Boardwalk
Teddy Wilburn: Making Plans
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home

7:30: Standard Candy
Del Reeves (host): Be Glad
Jean Shepard: Above & Beyond
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Johnny Lee: Cherokee Fiddle/Looking for Love
Del Reeves: Two Dollars in the Jukebox/A Dime At A Time/Looking at the World Through A Windshield/Good Time Charlie's

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Roy Acuff & Bill Anderson: I Wonder If God Likes Country Music
Bill Anderson: Still
Connie Smith: Cincinnati, Ohio/Sing, Sing, Sing
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Rachel

8:30: Pops Rite
Hank Snow (host): White Silver Sands
Roy Drusky: Jody & The Kid
4 Guys: Look Out for Me, O Muddy Water
Mike Snider: Theme Time
Hank Snow: With This Ring I Thee Wed

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General Stores
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Wilma Lee Cooper: Philadelphia Lawyer
Charlie Walker: Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Jim Ed Brown: Fools
Jeannie Seely: Too Far Gone
Porter Wagoner: A Satisfied Mind/Big Wind

10:00: Little Debbie
Bill Anderson (host): Family Reunion
Johnny Lee: Looking for Love
Bill Anderson: I Love You Drops

10:15: Tennessee Pride/Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Once More
Jan Howard: Wind Beneath My Winds/Where No One Stands Alone

10:30: Pet Milk
Del Reeves (host): Six Days on the Road/Truck Driving Man
Jean Shepard: I'll Hold You In My Heart
Del Reeves: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me

10:45: B.C. Powder
Jimmy C Newman (host): La Cajun Band
Bill Carlisle: Same Old Tale That the Crow Told Me
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Ragtime Annie
Jimmy C Newman: Mottland

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Paper Roses
Teddy Wilburn: I Can't Help It
Justin Tubb: Keep Me From Blowing Away
Charlie Louvin: If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again
Skeeter Davis: I Ain't Never
Hank Snow: Return to Me

11:30: Creamette
4 Guys (host): Tied Up
Connie Smith: Walk Me to the Door
Roy Drusky: What About You
Mike Snider: Putting on the Dog
4 Guys: Elvira/Elizabeth/Old Flames/Dumas Walker

Interesting that the only non-Opry member on the show that night was Johnny Lee, who was featured on the televised portion of the Opry. 

Jesse McReynolds is scheduled to host the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree after the Opry on Saturday night. Hopefully there is a nice crowd there for Jesse. 

That about covers it for this week. The next two weeks will be big ones at the Opry as Carrie Underwood is scheduled of a couple of nights, Keith Urban will be returning to the Opry stage and Vince Gill will be celebrating 25 years as an Opry member. 

As always, I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend.