Grand Ole Opry 7/21 & 7/22

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the two shows this weekend, the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. Both nights feature pretty solid line-ups.

Grand Ole Opry members appearing both nights include Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider, Connie Smith and Ricky Skaggs (all of whom will be hosting segments on both nights), along with The Whites. Friday night, they will be joined by Joe Diffie and Jesse McReynolds, while on Saturday night Bobby Osborne will be joining the group.

As to guest artists this weekend, it is a pretty solid line-up. Exile, Mark Wills and Charlie Worsham are scheduled for both nights, while Johnny Lee, The Secret Sisters join them on Friday night, and Sylvia and LOCASH are on the schedule for Saturday.

Sylvia, by the way, will be on the Opry to mark the occasion of the 35th anniversary of her smash hit "Nobody" being released and going to No. 1 on the country music charts.

Friday July 21
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Johnny Lee; Exile
7:30: Mike Snider (host); The Secret Sisters; Joe Diffie
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Jesse McReynolds; Mark Wills
8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Charlie Worsham

Saturday July 22
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Mark Wills; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Sylvia; Charlie Worsham
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); LOCASH; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Exile

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 10 years ago, the weekend of July 20 & 21, 2007:

Friday July 20
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Connie Smith; T. Graham Brown
8:30: Jean Shepard (host); The Whites; Ashley Monroe
9:00: Roy Clark (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
9:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Jack Greene; Cherryholmes

Saturday July 21
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; The Derailers
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Jack Greene; Jeff Bates
7:30: Roy Clark (host); Jean Shepard; Riders In The Sky
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Jimmy C Newman; Luke Bryan; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jim Ed Brown; Hal Ketchum

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mike Snider; Hal Ketchum
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jean Shepard; The Whites; Jeff Bates
10:30: Roy Clark (host); Jim Ed Brown; Luke Bryan; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Riders In The Sky; The Derailers

Now from 25 years ago, the weekend of July 23 & 24, 1992:

Friday July 23
1st show
6:30: Bill Anderson (host); Stonewall Jackson; Jeannie Seely; Roy Drusky; Del Reeves
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Osborne Brothers; Jack Greene; Dixiana; Jeanne Pruett
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Carlisles; Skeeter Davis; The 4 Guys
8:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Jimmy Dickens; Jimmy C Newman; Mike Snider
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Ray Pillow; Jean Shepard; The Whites

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Connie Smith; Justin Tubb; Billy Walker; Dixiana
10:00: Roy Acuff (host); Osborne Brothers; Jan Howard; Charlie Walker
10:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Mike Snider; Carlisles; Jeanne Pruett; Bill Anderson
11:00: Hank Snow (host); The Whites; Jimmy C Newman; The 4 Guys; Jack Greene
11:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jean Shepard; Charlie Walker; Johnny Russell
12:05: Reverend Jimmie Snow

Saturday July 24
1st show
6:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jim Ed Brown
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Jeannie Seely
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Carlisles; Charlie Walker; The Whites
7:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Skeeter Davis; Ray Pillow; The 4 Guys
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Jean Shepard; Jimmy Dickens; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Billy Walker; Del Reeves; Jeanne Pruett; Mike Snider

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Roy Drusky; Jeannie Seely; Justin Tubb; Vic Willis Trio
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Jan Howard; Charlie Walker
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Carlisles
10:30: Del Reeves (host); Mike Snider
10:45: Jimmy C Newman (host); Skeeter Davis; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Billy Walker; Jean Shepard; The 4 Guys; The Whites
11:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeanne Pruett; Jim Ed Brown; Johnny Russell

That was the posted line-up. The only cancellation was Justin Tubb.

Finally it was 44 years ago, Saturday July 21, 1973 that Jeanne Pruett became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

While Jeanne Pruett has enjoyed worldwide success with dozens of singles, the three-week chart-topper "Satin Sheets" earned her 1973 Song, Single, and Album of the Year nominations from the Country Music Association and continues to define her career. One of 10 children born to a full-time Alabama farmer and part-time cotton mill worker, Jeanne moved to Nashville in 1956. Jeanne also worked as a songwriter for Marty Robbins Enterprises. Marty recorded several of Jeanne's songs including the hits "Count Me Out" and "Love Me." Tammy Wynette, Conway Twitty and others also covered Jeanne's songs. "It is easier to be accepted in the music business by your peers as a performer after you have proven yourself as a writer," she says. "The acceptance of fans is another thing. You sell them after you have gone into the studio and come up with the best you have." She first won their acceptance in 1971 with the single "Hold to My Unchanging Love." Her own version of "Love Me" reached the Top 40 but those records just set the stage for what was to come.

"Satin Sheets" hit country radio in March 1973, aided by 1,600 pieces of pink satin fabric that Jeanne cut by hand and sent to radio programmers and music executives across the nation. The international hit topped the country charts that May. A few weeks later, Jeanne became an official Opry member, the last vocalist to join the show before it moved from the Ryman to the Grand Ole Opry House. Jeanne's subsequent hits included "I'm Your Woman," "You Don't Need To Move a Mountain," and "Welcome to the Sunshine (Sweet Baby Jane)." In 1983 alone, she had three Top 10 hits: "Back to Back," "Temporarily Yours," and "It's Too Late."

"I can remember the first time that Ott Devine called me and invited me to come on the Opry," Jeanne said. "I think probably Chet Atkins twisted his arm. Anyway, Ott called me and it just surprised me so much. I knew that if I didn't say yes that first time, there might not be a second time. So immediately I said yes and then started scurrying around looking for a suitable attire. That goes back to '64 or '65, around in there."

Jeanne became what she described as "the only semi-regular" who was not a cast member. Jeanne said, "Actually, as it turned out, I had been a member of the Opry for almost a year before I could get inducted. Dolly Parton wanted so badly to introduce me as the new member of the Opry, but he schedule and mine conflicted and we just couldn't seem to find a time to arrange the introduction. Anyway, I finally 'joined' on July 21, 1973. And Dolly did introduce me."

Jeanne Pruett is now retired and her last schedule Opry appearance came on June 9, 2001. In 2013, on the occasion of her 40th anniversary as an Opry member, Jeanne did come out on stage at the invitation of Jeannie Seely.

Here is the running order from Saturday July 21, 1973, the night that Jeanne Pruett joined the Grand Ole Opry:

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms/Rudy's
Tex Ritter (host): Boll Weevil
4 Guys: Turn Around; Look at Me
Tex Ritter: Fall Away/There's A New Moon Over My Shoulder
Ernie Ashworth: My Love for You
Tex Ritter: High Noon

7:00: Rudy's
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Hank Williams, Jr: Hank/Your Cheating Heart
Sandi Burnette: Stand By Your Man
Hank Williams, Jr: Cajun Baby
Sandi Burnette: Delta Dawn

7:30: Standard Candy
Osborne Brothers (host): Rocky Top
Jean Shepard: Virginia
Stringbean: Mountain Dew
Crook Brothers: Eighth of January
Osborne Brothers: You Win Again/Today I Started Loving You Again
Jean Shepard: Slipping Away
Stringbean: Battle of New Orleans
Osborne Brothers: Ruby

8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Wake Up, Jacob
Dolly Parton: Traveling Man
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton: If Teardrops Were Pennies
Porter Wagoner: Katy Did
Jeanne Pruett: Love Me
Dolly Parton: Joshua

8:30: Stephens
Billy Grammer (host): Gotta Travel On
Arlene Harden: Special Day
Jerry Clower: Comedy
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Sally Goodin
Billy Grammer, Jr: Orange Blossom Special
Arlene Harden: Walk With Me, Jimmy
Billy Grammer: Peace in the Valley

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Tex Ritter (host): Wayward Wind
Bob Luman: When You Say Love
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
Sandi Burnette: Stand By Your Man
Bob Luman: Honky-Tonk Man
Tex Ritter: I Dreamed of a Hillbilly Heaven

10:00: Fender
Osborne Brothers (host): Midnight Flyer
Jean Shepard: Slipping Away
Osborne Brothers: Nine Pound Hammer

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Stringbean: Hillbilly Fever
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

10:30: Trailblazer
Porter Wagoner (host): Wake Up, Jacob
Dolly Parton: Traveling Man
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton: If Teardrops Were Pennies/Daddy Was An Old Time Preacher Man

10:45: Beechnut
Billy Grammer (host): Detroit City
Jerry Clower: Comedy
Crook Brothers: Ida Red
Billy Grammer, Jr: Orange Blossom Special

11:00: Coca-Cola
4 Guys (host): Cottonfields/Maria
Arlene Harden: Special Day
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
4 Guys: Hello Walls/Big Bad John/Wings of a Dove
Arlene Harden: Will You Walk With Me, Jimmy
Sam McGee: When the Wagon Was New
4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On

11:30: Elm Hill'
Marty Robbins (host): Singing the Blues
Louie Roberts: How Great Thou Art/Just A Little Lovin'/Anytime/Bouquet of Roses/Cattle Call
Don Winters: Jambalaya
Marty Robbins: I Walk Alone/They'll Never Take Her Love from Me/Big Boss Man/Love Me/Don't Worry/I'll Step Aside/Letters Have No Arms/Long Gone Lonesome Blue

There you have it for this week. I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!