It has been an exciting week at the Grand Ole Opry with the news that Crystal Gayle has accepted the Opry's invitation to become the newest member of the cast. The actual induction will take place on Saturday January 21, with Crystal's sister, Opry member Loretta Lynn handling the formal induction. As I wrote briefly, I think this is a good move for the Opry, adding a veteran act who has shown a history of supporting the Opry through her guest appearances. Congratulations to Crystal and I am sure all of us look forward to seeing more of Crystal on the Opry stage.
As to the 3 Opry shows this weekend, there are a few Grand Ole Opry members who will be appearing both nights, as The Whites, Connie Smith, Ricky Skaggs, Bill Anderson and Mike Snider will be featured. On Friday night, they will be joined by member Bobby Osborne, while on Saturday Jesse McReynolds will be performing.
As to guest appearances this weekend, the Friday Night Opry will feature Chase Bryant, Post Monroe, Ty Herndon, Anita Cochran, EmiSunshine and Chris Janson. For Chris, this will be another in his string of Opry appearances. As to Saturday night, Brett Kissel is back for another night of shows, along with Gary Mule Deer, who will be making what seems like his once a year annual appearance, Opry newcomer Brooke Eden, Restless Heart and future Hall of Fame member Ray Stevens.
As mentioned, this will be the Opry debut for Brooke Eden. Brooke is another of the up and coming female artists who is featured on CMT's Next Women of Country. She records for RED BOW Records and has spent the last several years opening for such artists as Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Sugarland and Florida Georgia Line. Originally from Florida, she is appearing in support of her debut EP release, and single, "Diamonds."
Friday November 18
7:00: The Whites (host); Chase Bryant; Mike Snider
7:30: Connie Smith (host); Post Monroe; Ty Herndon; Anita Cochran
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Kiefer Sutherland
8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); EmiSunshine; Chris Janson
Saturday November 19
1st show
7:00: Bill Anderson (host); Brett Kissel; Mike Snider
7:30: The Whites (host); Jesse McReynolds; Gary Mule Deer
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Brooke Eden; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Connie Smith (host); Restless Heart; Ray Stevens
2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson (host); Brett Kissel; Mike Snider
10:00; The Whites (host); Jesse McReynolds; Gary Mule Deer
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Brooke Eden; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Connie Smith (host); Restless Heart; Ray Stevens
That comes out to 13 acts on Friday night, 6 of whom are members of the Grand Ole Opry, and 11 acts for each show on Saturday night, with 6 Opry members.
And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago, the weekend of November 18 & 19, 2011:
Friday November 18
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Connie Smith; Del McCoury Band
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Diamond Rio
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Steve Wariner; Wanda Jackson
8:45: John Conlee (host); The Whites; Brandi Carlile
Saturday November 19
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely; Del McCoury Band
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Connie Smith; Joe Diffie
8:00: Diamond Rio (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jean Shepard; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Riders In The Sky; The Marshall Tucker Band
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Del McCoury Band
10:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jean Shepard; Joe Diffie
10:30: Diamond Rio (host); Jim Ed Brown; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Riders In The Sky; The Marshall Tucker Band
Now from ten years ago, the weekend of November 17 & 18, 2006:
Friday November 17
8:00: Mike Snider (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jean Shepard; Riders In The Sky
8:30: Emmylou Harris (host); Jon Randall; Kennedy-Rose
9:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jan Howard; Jack Greene; Del McCoury Band
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); w/Helen Cornelius; Charlie Louvin; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Restless Heart
Saturday November 18
1st show
6:30: Mike Snider (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jean Shepard; Hal Ketchum
7:00: Pam Tillis (host); Carolina Rain; Nanci Griffith; Ray Scott; Del McCoury Band
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); George Hamilton IV; Radney Foster; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Emmylou Harris (host); Jon Randall; Kennedy-Rose
2nd show
9:30: Mike Snider (host); Jack Greene; Carolina Rain; Nanci Griffith
10:00: Pam Tillis (host); George Hamilton IV; Jim Ed Brown; Ray Scott
10:30: Hal Ketchum (host); Jean Shepard; Del McCoury Band; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Emmylou Harris (host); Jon Randall; Kennedy-Rose
11:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Radney Foster
Finally, from 25 years ago, Saturday November 16, 1991. It is nice to see a show with only Opry members scheduled and performing.
1st show
6:30: Johnny Russell (host); Jean Shepard
6:45: Bill Anderson (host); Mike Snider
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Charlie Louvin; The Whites; Charlie Walker; Skeeter Davis
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Justin Tubb; Jeanne Pruett; Riders In The Sky; David Houston
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Jack Greene; Roy Drusky; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30; Hank Snow (host); Jimmy Dickens; Connie Smith; 4 Guys; Jeannie Seely
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jean Shepard; Charlie Louvin; Wilma Lee Cooper; Mike Snider
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Skeeter Davis
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Jim Ed Brown
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites
10:45: 4 Guys (host); Riders In The Sky; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jack Greene; Connie Smith; Bill Carlisle; David Houston
11:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely; Roy Drusky; Johnny Russell
To finish it up for this week, here is the Opry running order from 50 years ago, Saturday November 19, 1966:
7:30: Luzianne
Bill Anderson (host): Bright Lights & Country Music
Jim & Jesse: Don't Let Nobody Tie You Down
Del Wood: Cajun Stripper
Minnie Pearl: I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes
Bill Anderson: I Get the Fever
Ray Pillow: Don't Know Why I Keep Loving You
Bill Anderson: Used To
8:00: Martha White
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die
Billy Grammer: The Real Thing
Ernie Ashworth: Sad Face
Cousin Jody: Jody's Chimes
Wilma Lee Cooper: Hero's Death
Crook Brothers: Bill Cheatham
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: When My Times Comes to Go
8:30: Stephens
Billy Walker (host): Cross the Brazos at Waco
Skeeter Davis: Going Down the Road Feeling Bad
Glaser Brothers: Gone on the Other Hand'
Archie Campbell: Rindercella
Billy Walker: Bare With Me A Little Longer
Stringbean: Goodbye Sweet Thing
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Jim Glaser: Thanks A Lot for Trying Anyway
Billy Walker: Cattle Call
9:00: Pet Milk
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Tex Ritter: High Noon
Wilburn Brothers: Hurt Her Once for Me
Loretta Lynn: Don't Come Home A Drinkin'
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
Fruit Jar Drinkers: (?)
9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Osborne Brothers: Up This Hill & Down
George Morgan; Speak Well of Me
Dottie West: What's Come Over My Baby
Hank Snow: I've Cried A Mile
Curly Fox: The Old Gray Mule
Osborne Brothers: The Kind of Woman I've Got
Hank Snow: My Memories of You
10:00: Schick
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): Three Windows
Bill Anderson: I Love You Drops
Del Wood: Down at Papa Joe's
Ray Pillow: Volkswagen
10:15: Pure
Tex Ritter (host): There's a New Moon Over My Shoulder
Archie Campbell: Life Gets Tee-Jus, Don't It
Stringbean: Cumberland Gap
Tex Ritter: Take Him Fishin
10:30: Harvey's
Billy Walker (host): A Million & One
Jim & Jesse: Memphis
Ernie Ashworth: Sad Face
Billy Walker: Lonely Street
10:45: Newport
Wilburn Brothers (host): I'm Gonna Tie One on Tonight
Loretta Lynn: You Ain't Woman Enough
Crook Brothers: Liberty
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Golden Rocket
Glaser Brothers: The Last Thing on My Mind
Skeeter Davis: These Boots are Made for Walking
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Sally Johnson
Hank Snow: Beggar to A King
George Morgan: Please Don't Let Me Love You
Sam McGee: Wheels
Hank Snow: Traveling Blues
11:30: Lava
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Dottie West: What's Come Over My Baby
Billy Grammer: Jessup Polka
Curly Fox: 50 Years Ago
Osborne Brothers: What Kind of Woman I've Got
Cousin Jody: Run, Pete, Run
Not often that you see Roy Acuff closing out the Opry and hosting the last segment.
Enjoy the weekend and the Opry!!
I recall in an Opry book back in the 1980s the comment that some performers have certain segments--the Crook Brothers at 7:30 and 10:45, Hank Snow at 8:30 and 11, and then it said Roy Acuff didn't care when he was on as long as he didn't open or close the show. I guess in 1966 he didn't mind!
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I attended the Friday Night 'Opry.
ReplyDeleteIt was a very good show overall, but the clear fan favorite was (as usual) Chris Jansen. They saved Chris for last, and that was a very good idea. Ricky Skaggs had very nice things to say about Chris.
Chris noted that this was his 157th appearance on the 'Opry.
I think I'm done going to the 'Opry until Pete Fisher has the decency to ask Chris Jansen to become a member. I was totally bummed out, because I figured that by now he surely would be asked to be a member.
This is a pathetic situation, and the 'Opry should be ashamed of itself.
I enjoy Chris Janson, he was born and raised not 50 miles from me in Missouri, but I can't see an Opry invitation until his commercial success gets bigger. He's had one top 10 hit, "Buy Me a Boat", going to #2 in billboard. I don't believe the Opry wants any Ray Pillow's or Stu Phillips 50 years from now with folks scratching their heads wondering "who is this guy". And I mean no offense, those who have read my posts on here know I love traditional country, and would go see Ray or Stu anyday. Jimmy Wayne, Mark Wills, Aaron Tippen, Tracy Lawerence, even bluegrassers Daily & Vincent, The Grascals, Rhonda Vincent, etc, all have had many Opry performances and their success is bigger in most cases than Jansen. None are Opry members and would properly love to be. Look how many years it's taken for Cyrstal Gayle, Charlie Daniels, Mel Tillis and The Oaks. My point is I don't believe anyone will be made a Opry member until they reach that "superstar" status. Even through Old Crow blew my mind when they received the invitation. And I've been wrong before on this blog. Maybe this will be one of those times.
ReplyDeleteI know that Rhonda Vincent is up around 180 appearances and has had many awards in the bluegrass field. Nothing against Chris being a member but he is not the only one that has appeared so much that has not been invited. I think the Grascals have reached the 100 time mark as well and they are successful as well.
ReplyDeleteWho knows what Fisher and the marketing people are thinking.
Nothing against the Grascals and/or Rhonda.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy both of them, and try to go to their concerts when they're in the area.
And, lots of folks deserve inviations.
But the 'Opry crowd reacts in a far more enthusiastic manner when Chris Jansen entertains than anybody in recent memory. Almost Elvis like.
I just don't think it's fair to ask these folks to come again, again, and again without offering them an invitation.
My wife had a good question for me.
Why does the 'Opry offer membership to folks on their way down who haven't had a hit in twenty or thirty years and not a guy on his way up?
The only explanation to that question that I could see is that they think they might show up more. However, we know that is not a problem with Chris and some others including Carrie Underwood. It would be nice if it were a balance of old, new, well known and not so well known. Actually, it should be about the quality of the music they perform and the reputation of the performer but we know the "business" makes that a difficult outcome when it is time to fill the show or name a member.
ReplyDeleteNat, I knew you were not putting anyone else down. I agree the crowd is always into Chris!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Fred, Bismarck:
ReplyDeleteHere's welcome news for Roy Acuff fans. The long-awaited Bear Family BIG box of his Columbia material was released Nov. 18: "The Complete Foundational Recordings, 1936-1951," BCD-17300.
I've seen prices from $170 to $354 ... so shop smart!
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