Grand Ole Opry 8/18 & 8/19-Updated

Saturday shows have been rearranged with The Steel Woods added for both shows.

It will be a busy weekend for the Grand Ole Opry as there will be one show on Friday night, two shows on Saturday night, and then two more shows on Sunday night as the Opry will be taking advantage of the Monday eclipse.

First, looking at the Friday and Saturday shows, Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill returns and will be hosting segments on all 3 shows. He will be joined on each show by Opry member John Conlee. As to other members, Friday night will feature Connie Smith, Mike Snider, Jesse McReynolds, Riders In The Sky, and a rare Opry appearance by Hal Ketchum. Saturday night Vince and John will be joined by one of the Opry's newest members, Crystal Gayle, along with Bobby Osborne, Jeannie Seely and The Whites for both shows, along with Connie Smith on the early show and Riders In The Sky on the late show.

As to guest artists this weekend, Friday night will feature Phil Vassar, Moe Bandy, Flatt Lonesome, Brooke Eden, and making her Opry debut, Tegan Marie. Saturday night's guest list includes Janie Fricke and Jeff & Sheri Easter.

Friday August 18
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Moe Bandy; Mike Snider
7:30: John Conlee (host); Tegan Marie; Flatt Lonesome
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds; Hal Ketchum
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Brooke Eden; Phil Vassar

Saturday August 19
1st show
7:00: Connie Smith (host); The Whites; Jeff & Sheri Easter
7:30: John Conlee (host); Janie Fricke; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); The Steel Woods; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Vince Gill (host); Crystal Gayle

2nd show
9:30: Riders In The Sky (host); The Whites; Jeff & Sheri Easter
10:00: John Conlee (host); Janie Fricke; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
10:30: Jeannie Seely (host); The Steel Woods; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Vince Gill (host); Crystal Gayle

As mentioned, this will be the Opry debut for Tegan Marie. Tegan was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 2003 (yes, that will make her 14 this year). She began playing guitar at age 6, was writing music at age 8, and was performing nationally at the age of 11. Tegan has become a young star via YouTube. She has posted videos of herself performing songs such as Sara Evans' "Stronger," Maddie& Tae's "Shut Up and Fish," and Florida Georgia Line's "H.O.L.Y," which has had over 17 million views on various social media platforms. Who knows where her career will take her next, but as far as this weekend is concerned, she will be on the Friday Night Opry.

You will also notice that Connie Smith is only doing the first show on Saturday night. That is because she is the host this week of the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree, which tapes at 10:00. Thus, only time for one Opry show for Connie.

On Sunday night, the Grand Ole Opry is having two shows, taking advantage of the eclipse and all of the tourists who will be in Nashville, where there will be 100% coverage. Opry members scheduled include Jeannie Seely, Darius Rucker, Riders In The Sky and Little Big Town. Here is the line-up for those two shows:

1st show
7:00: Jeannie Seely; Darius Rucker
7:30: The Sisterhood; Riders In The Sky
8:00: Wynonna; Charles Esten
8:30: Little Big Town

2nd show
9:30: Jeannie Seely; Darius Rucker
10:00: The Sisterhood; Riders In The Sky
10:30: Wynonna; Charles Esten
11:00: Little Big Town

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the weekend of August 17 & 18, 2007:

Friday August 17
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Mel McDaniel; Riders In The Sky; Jennifer Hanson
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host); The Whites; Bluegrass Elvises
9:00: John Conlee (host); Jean Shepard; The Grascals
9:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Jack Greene; Sawyer Brown

Saturday August 18
1st show
6:30: John Conlee (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jean Shepard
7:00: Trisha Yearwood; Clint Black; Cole Deggs & The Lonesome; Cherryholmes
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Lorrie Morgan (host); Jeannie Seely; Jim Ed Brown w/Helen Cornelius

2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Mel McDaniel; Trisha Yearwood
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jack Greene; Jean Shepard; Clint Black
10:30: Lorrie Morgan (host); Stu Phillips; Cole Deggs & The Lonesome; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); w/Helen Cornelius; The Whites; Cherryholmes

Now from 25 years ago, the weekend of August 21 & 22, 1992:

Friday August 21
1st show
6:30: Jack Greene (host); The Osborne Brothers; Jeanne Pruett; Roy Drusky
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jean Shepard; Jimmy C Newman; Stu Phillips; Skeeter Davis
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Connie Smith; The Whites
8:00: Bill Monroe (host); Del Reeves; Jan Howard; The 4 Guys
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jim and Jesse; Jeannie Seely; Mike Snider

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jean Shepard; Ray Pillow; Charlie Walker; Del Reeves
10:00: Roy Acuff (host); The Osborne Brothers; David Houston; Carlisles
10:30: Bill Monroe (host); Skeeter Davis; Mike Snider; The 4 Guys; Jack Greene
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jim and Jesse; Connie Smith; Justin Tubb; Jeannie Seely
11:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); The Whites; Stu Phillips; Johnny Russell
12:05: Reverend Jimmie Snow

Saturday August 22
1st show
6:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jim and Jesse
6:45: Jack Greene (host); The Whites
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Skeeter Davis; The Osborne Brothers; The 4 Guys; Ray Pillow
7:30: Roy Clark (host); Jan Howard; Carlisles; Billy Joe Royal
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); The 4 Guys; Bill Anderson; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Charlie Louvin; Roy Drusky; Grandpa Jones; Jeannie Seely

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jim and Jesse; Jeanne Pruett; David Houston; Billy Joe Royal
10:00: Roy Clark (host); Mike Snider
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Charlie Walker
10:30: Bill Anderson (host); The Osborne Brothers
10:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Jack Greene; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jim Ed Brown; The Whites; Justin Tubb; The 4 Guys
11:30: Roy Drusky (host); Charlie Louvin; Carlisles; Johnny Russell

Finally, going back 44 years, here is the running order of the Grand Ole Opry, Saturday August 18, 1973:

1st show
6:30: Mrs Grissoms/Rudy's
Bill Anderson (host): I Get the Fever
Jerry Hill & Linda Dahl: Whole Lotta Lovin'
Jimmy Gatley: Borrowed Angel
Bill Anderson: The Corner of My Life
The 4 Guys: Hello Walls/Big Bad John/Winds of A Dove
Sunday Sharpe: Stand By Your Man
Bill Anderson: Don't She Look Good

7:00: Rudy's
David Houston (host): She's All Woman
Ernie Ashworth: Mind Your Own Business
Penny DeHaven: Happiest Girl in the Whole USA
Shoji Tabuchi: Sally Goodin
David Houston: Good Things
Ernie Ashworth: Each Moment Spent with You
Penny DeHaven; Down in the Boondocks
David Houston: Hold that Tear
Shoji Tabuchi: Bile Them Cabbage Down

7:30: Standard Candy
Charlie Louvin (host): Bottom of the Fifth
Melba Montgomery: Got A Chance & I Took It
Doug Kershaw: Louisiana Man
Crook Brothers: Soldier's Joy
Charlie Louvin & Diane McCall: American Trilogy
Melba Montgomery: Pass Your Love Around
Doug Kershaw: Diggy Liggy Lo

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Skeeter Willis: Faded Love
Del Wood: Cajun Stripper/Gloryland March
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
Jimmy Dickens: I'm Little But I'm Loud/We Could

8:30: Stephens
Hank Locklin (host): Today I Started Loving You Again
Marion Worth: Delta Dawn
Stan Hitchcock: The Same Old Way
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Sally Goodin
Hank Locklin: Jonas P Jones
Marion Worth: He Thinks I Still Care
Hank Locklin: Country Hall of Fame

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Bill Anderson (host): Wild Weekend
Skeeter Willis: Listen to the Mockingbird
Melba Montgomery: Crawdad Song
Bill Anderson: Still
Willis Brothers: Cimarron
Melba Montgomery: Lonely Street
Bill Anderson: Po Folks

10:00: Fender
Charlie Louvin (host) w/Diane McCall: Something to Brag About
Jerry Hill & Linda Dahl: Whole Lotta Lovin'
Colonel Monero Loudermilk: Watermelon Swinging on the Vine

10:15: Union 76
David Houston (host): She's All Woman
Penny DeHaven: Landmark Tavern
Shoji Tabuchi: San Antonio Rose
David Houston: Almost Persuaded

10:30: Trailblazer
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Del Wood: 12th Street Rag
Jimmy Dickens: Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed
Roy Acuff: Just A Friend

10:45: Beech-Nut
Billy Grammer (host): Bonaparte's Retreat
Billy Grammer, Jr: Orange Blossom Special/Today I Started Loving You Again
Crook Brothers: The Gray Eagle
Billy Grammer: I Know a Man

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Locklin (host): Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Doug Kershaw: Diggy Liggy Lo/Battle of New Orleans
Sunday Sharpe: Everything I Touch Turns to Sugar
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Hank Locklin: Jonas P Jones
Doug Kershaw: Louisiana Man
Sam McGee: Farewell Blues/Alabama Jubilee/Just Because
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me I'm Falling

11:30: Elm Hill
The 4 Guys (host): Cottonfields/Maria
Marion Worth: Delta Dawn
Stan Hitchcock: The Same Old Way/Just Call Me Lonsome
The 4 Guys: Down by the Lazy River

For 1973, it was a pretty slim collection of Opry members that night: Bill Anderson; The 4 Guys; David Houston; Ernie Ashworth; Charlie Louvin; Roy Acuff; Willis Brothers; Del Wood; Hank Locklin, and for one show Billy Grammer and Sam McGee. (Of course, the Crook Brothers and Fruit Jar Drinkers. (and no, Jimmy Dickens was not an Opry member in 1973).

As to a couple of others from that night:

Jerry Hill and Linda Dahl were from Colorado Springs, Colorado. They were on the Opry because they one first price in a talent contest in Colorado Springs, as the winner of that contest received an invitation to appear on the Grand Ole Opry.

Sunday Sharpe had a very limited career in country music. She was active in the mid-1970s and recorded one album for United Artists Records, "I'm Having Your Baby." She had a total of seven singles that reached the charts, with one, "I'm Having Your Baby" making it to the Top 20. And yes, that song was a female version of the Paul Anka hit, "You're Having My Baby."

Finally, Colonel Loudermilk, who was on Charlie Louvin's segment on the 2nd show was Charlie's father.

I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!!