Here are the line-ups for this week's Tuesday Night Opry and Wednesday Night Opry. There will be two shows on Wednesday night as Grand Ole Opry member Carrie Underwood will be appearing.
Tuesday August 9
7:00: Jeannie Seely; Jim Lauderdale
7:30: Ashley Campbell; Joe Diffie
Intermission
8:15: The Swon Brothers; Del McCoury Band
8:45: JT Hodges; Charles Esten
Wednesday August 10
1st show
7:00: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers; Kelsea Ballerini
7:30: Old Crow Medicine Show; Henry Cho
8:00: Michael Ray; Thompson Square
8:30: Bill Anderson; Carrie Underwood
2nd show
9:30: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers; Kelsea Ballerini
10:00: Old Crow Medicine Show; Carrie Underwood
10:30: Henry Cho; Bill Anderson
11:00: Michael Ray; Thompson Square
3 Opry members on Tuesday and 4 on Wednesday.
I'm still so very impressed with Old Crow. I love what they bring to the Opry.
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking today, about how long it's been since anyone was made a new Opry member. Any thoughts Byron? I'm starting to think that a"Membership"Will eventually be phased out.
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteDavid may be onto something. After all, what's the point of members, if they're either (1) people Pete would rather not see and seldom schedules or (2) token members, like Old Crow and so many others, who seldom show?
Last new members were Little Big Town and that was on October 17, 2014. Old Crow Medicine Show joined in September 2013. So 2 new members in 3 years. Certainly it is safe to say that the pace has slowed.
ReplyDeleteWhat is interesting is that if you look at the guest appearances by those who might be considered legitimate possibilities to become members, among the "older" artists, Ray Stevens has certainly had a number of slots over the past several years and he would fit the cast much in the same way as when Mel Tillis joined. Among the "younger" artists, certainly Chris Janson has appeared a number of times. But there appears to be no hurry to have anyone join.
If you look at 10 appearances as the major number, here are the non-members who have already appeared more than 10 times in 2016:
ReplyDeleteCarly Pearce; Charles Esten; William Michael Morgan; Jimmy Wayne; Jackie Lee; Mark Wills; and Chris Janson. There are a number who have made 7-9 appearances.
Among the Opry's 62 current members, 13 have appeared more than 10 times. That list: Bill Anderson; John Conlee; Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers; Vince Gill; Jesse McReynolds; Del McCoury Band; Bobby Osborne; Riders In The Sky; Jeannie Seely; Ricky Skaggs; Connie Smith; Mike Snider; and The Whites. A few others are very close to that number and in fact by the end of next weekend, Carrie Underwood will have reached that number, with Diamond Rio, Lorrie Morgan and Pam Tillis between 8 and 9.
To me, artists who are legendary already like Ray Stevens, Gene Watson, Crystal Gayle should be shoe-in as members. I don't know why the management wouldn't want to add artists such as these to the roster, because to me they would draw a crowd. Charlie Daniels, The Oaks, Johnny Paycheck and Mel Tillis , among others, all joined late in their careers and were well received. But the Opry is a job. And maybe there are some drawbacks of inducting members who are into their 70s? Health insurance comes to mind. And I guess just health in general.
ReplyDeleteBut then I see artists that I grew up under in the 90s, such as Tracy Lawrence, Aaron Tippin, Suzie Boggus and Kathy Mattea who had fairly decent solid careers, who all make quite a few appearances, that would also make good members.
I believe a Opry membership is eventually fading out. Or they're just going to wait on the "big-ticket" artists who agree to join, that may never appear.
Based on some of the more recently added members such as Little Big Town, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, etc., it would appear that the Opry is looking for that "big-ticket" artist who will bring a lot of publicity. When you look at the non-members who have been making guest appearances, seldom do those "big-ticket" artists even guest any more on the Opry. I would say that the lack of television is probably one reason for that.
DeleteChris Jansen has been on the 'Opry well over a hundred times.
ReplyDeleteHow many 'Opry members who have joined in the last ten years will have close to that number of appearances in their entire life?
It is clear to this cynic that the 'Opry will soon just forget the notion of members altogether, and we will be forced to endure a weekly country music show with 'whoevers.'
Kudos to Carrie Underwood.
ReplyDeleteShe's really the only recent inductee who understands what the 'Opry means, and backs her feelings up by actually appearing.
Hall of Fame Nominees 1968-1979
ReplyDelete1968 Gene Autry Chet Atkins Minnie Pearl Jimmie Davis and Bob Wills
1969 Gene Autry Chet Atkins The Carter Family Jimmie Davis and Bill Monroe
1971 Chet Atkins Owen Bradley Jimmie Davis Art Satherley and Kitty Wells
1972 Paul Ackerman Chet Atkins Jimmie Davis Pee Wee King Minnie Pearl and Kitty Wells
1973 Chet Atkins Minnie Pearl Pee Wee King Vito Pellettieri Kitty Wells Patsy Cline Rod Brasfield Paul Cohen Leon Payne and Vernon Dalhart
1974 Owen Bradley Vernon Dalhart Pee Wee King Minnie Pearl Merle Travis and Kitty Wells
1975 Minnie Pearl Hank Snow Merle Travis Kitty Wells and Vernon Dalhart
1976 Johnny Cash Grandpa Jones Vito Pellettieri Hank Snow Merle Travis Kitty Wells Rod Brasfield Paul Cohen Cowboy Copas Vernon Dalhart And The Delmore Brothers
1977 Johnny Cash Vernon Dalhart Grandpa Jones Hank Snow and Merle Travis
1978 Johnny Cash Vernon Dalhart Grandpa Jones Hank Snow and Sons of The Pioneers
1979 Johnny Cash Whitey Ford Connie B. Gay Hank Snow Floyd Tillman Lulu Belle and Scotty Vernon Dalhart Lefty Frizzell Hubert Long Sons Of The Pioneers and Ernest Pop Stoneman
Hall of Fame Nominees 1980
ReplyDelete1980 Johnny Cash Little Jimmy Dickens Whitey Ford Floyd Tillman Lulu Belle and Scotty Rod Brasfield Elton Britt Vernon Dalhart Lefty Frizzell Sons of The Pioneers Connie B. Gay Roy Horton Don Law Ken Nelson and Jack Stapp
Some great names on your list, most of whom have been elected to the Hall of Fame. Sorry to say, but many of those who have not gotten in, such as Bradley Kincaid, really don't have much hope any longer. Time and death have pretty much ended their chances.
DeleteThere still are a few big ticket names that appear fairly frequently. Scotty McCreery, dailey and vincent, and Hunter Hayes have appeared a good number of times in the past few years, McCreery was even on the opry baseball team during CMA fest. I have a feeling sometime soon, he will be a member (possibly the last one).
ReplyDeleteT. Graham Browne seems to be on the opry every other week as the "on call" Opry spot filler, yet still doesnt have a guest artist bio. I still wonder why they dont just make him official. Mark Wills is still a pretty big name thats also on the opry constantly and is well received. As one of the "younger" regulars on the show, he could be a lot of aid to the future of the show.
Much like everyone else, I too believe Chris Janson will become a member. I think theyre just waiting for him to get a few more hits first.
Some good names on that list Kyle that anyone would be hard to argue about. Who knows what the Opry really wants as far as members?
DeleteHall of Fame Nominees 1968-1993
ReplyDelete1968 Gene Autry Chet Atkins Minnie Pearl Jimmie Davis and Bob Wills
1969 Gene Autry Chet Atkins The Carter Family Jimmie Davis and Bill Monroe
1971 Chet Atkins Owen Bradley Jimmie Davis Art Satherley and Kitty Wells
1972 Paul Ackerman Chet Atkins Jimmie Davis Pee Wee King Minnie Pearl and Kitty Wells
1973 Chet Atkins Minnie Pearl Pee Wee King Vito Pellettieri Kitty Wells Patsy Cline Rod Brasfield Paul Cohen Leon Payne and Vernon Dalhart
1974 Owen Bradley Vernon Dalhart Pee Wee King Minnie Pearl Merle Travis and Kitty Wells
1975 Minnie Pearl Hank Snow Merle Travis Kitty Wells and Vernon Dalhart
1976 Johnny Cash Grandpa Jones Vito Pellettieri Hank Snow Merle Travis Kitty Wells Rod Brasfield Paul Cohen Cowboy Copas Vernon Dalhart and The Delmore Brothers
1977 Johnny Cash Vernon Dalhart Grandpa Jones Hank Snow and Merle Travis
1978 Johnny Cash Vernon Dalhart Grandpa Jones Hank Snow and Sons of the Pioneers
1979 Johnny Cash Whitey Ford Connie B. Gay Hank Snow Floyd Tillman Lulu Belle and Scotty Vernon Dalhart Lefty Frizzell Hubert Long Sons of the Pioneers and Ernest Pop Stoneman
1980 Johnny Cash Little Jimmy Dickens Whitey Ford Bradley Kincaid Floyd Tillman Lulu Belle and Scotty Rod Brasfield Elton Britt Vernon Dalhart Lefty Frizzell Sons of the Pioneers Connie B. Gay Roy Horton Don Law Ken Nelson and Jack Stapp
1981 Vernon Dalhart Lefty Frizzell Little Jimmy Dickens Floyd Tillman and Grant Turner
1982 Rod Brasfield Flatt & Scruggs Lefty Frizzell George Morgan Ernest Pop Stoneman Little Jimmy Dickens Whitey Ford Bradley Kincaid Marty Robbins Floyd Tillman Roy Horton John Lair Don Law Wesley Rose and Cindy Walker
1983 Rod Brasfield Little Jimmy Dickens Flatt & Scruggs Whitey Ford and Floyd Tillman
1984 Rod Brasfield Elton Britt Flatt & Scruggs Tennessee Ernie Ford John Lair Floyd Tillman Oscar Davis Ralph Peer Vito Pellettieri Jack Stapp and Harry Stone
1985 Homer and Jethro Rod Brasfield Whitey Ford Elton Britt and Flatt & Scruggs
1986 Willie Nelson George Jones The Louvin Brothers Homer and Jethro Whitey Ford Rod Brasfield Elton Britt Frances Preston Wesley Rose Ken Nelson Hap Peeples and Cliffie Stone
1987 Johnny Bond Rod Brasfield Homer and Jethro Carl Smith Hank Thompson Lulu Belle and Scotty
1988 Loretta Lynn Homer and Jethro Bradley Kincaid Ray Price Hank Thompson Roy Rogers Bill Carlisle The Louvin Brothers The Jordanaires and Cindy Walker
1989 Tennessee Ernie Ford The Jordanaires The Louvin Brothers George Morgan Hank Thompson Don Law Ken Nelson Jack Stapp Cliffie Stone and Irving Waugh
1990 Tennessee Ernie Ford Don Gibson George Jones The Louvin Brothers and Webb Pierce
1991 Boudleaux and Felice Bryant Don Gibson Merle Haggard George Jones and Ray Price
1992 Don Gibson Merle Haggard George Jones Willie Nelson Ray Price Pappy Daily Don Law Ken Nelson Frances Preston and Irving Waugh
1993 Don Gibson Merle Haggard Harlan Howard Willie Nelson and Ray Price
I could see membership disappearing....... I could also see the Opry becoming something like The Wheeling Jamboree too. If Hal Durham began the decline, then Pete Fisher hasa definitely sped it up.
ReplyDeleteIt's fascinating to see who the nominees were and to think about who got in. Interesting: Marty Robbins got it on his first shot. And aren't we all glad he did?
ReplyDeleteThere are several non-performers listed in those 25 years that never did get inducted. But to my surprise it looks like only four acts didn't eventually make it in: Cowboy Copas, Bradley Kincaid, Elton Britt and Lulu Bell and Scotty. And a strong case could be made for those four. Notice no Wilburn Brothers, Stringbean, Porter Wagoner, Ferlin Husky, Patsy Montana or Faron Young. All acts I would have thought would have been at least considered at some point between 1968-1993.
ReplyDeleteDavid, TNN used to do a show called Country Standard Time where rotating co-hosts would show clips from old TV shows, including the National Life Opry. I'll never forget one week it was Faron Young and Jeannie Seely. The Hall of Fame came up and she said Faron would be in it someday. He said if they didn't put him in while he was alive, he would want his family to reject it after he died. I know Faron could be ... Faron. But I had the feeling he was conscious that he had made some people mad (and, having been close to Webb Pierce at one time, he may have known of those who said they wouldn't put Webb in while he was alive), and that the criterion should be impact, not friendship. Then I thought of Minnie Pearl pushing for Rod Brasfield, saying she didn't want him "forgotten." Well, he shouldn't be. But when I think of those who went in while others haven't, and others who went in ahead of more important figures in the industry's history ....
DeleteWhy isn't the Grand Ole Opry televised anymore? Bob Bien
ReplyDeleteBasically, it is economics. The Opry wants one price while the networks were offering another. On the other hand, the Opry has moved more into television, just in a different manner with "Nashville" which promotes the Opry heavily.
DeleteWho do you guys see going into the Hall of Fame next year?
ReplyDelete