Grand Ole Opry 8/25 & 8/26

It took longer than usual, but the folks at the Grand Ole Opry finally have posted the schedule for the shows this weekend. After the multiple shows last weekend, it is back to just one show on Friday and one show on Saturday. Considering that it is the end of August and the fair season is in full swing, the Opry has managed to put together a pretty decent line-up for both nights.

Looking at the line-ups, Grand Ole Opry members scheduled for both nights include Mike Snider, The Whites and Jeannie Seely. On Friday night, that group will be joined by John Conlee, Bobby Osborne and Riders In The Sky. Saturday night, it will be Jesse McReynolds and Ray Pillow joining those three. That all adds up to 6 Opry members on Friday night and 5 on Saturday. Pretty skinny.

As to guest artists, Friday night will feature Glen's daughter Ashley Campbell, making her first guest appearance since the death of her father. Joining her will be Mark Lowry, Shenandoah, Turnpike Troubadours, Sunny Sweeney and Thompson Square. Saturday night it will be frequent Opry guest Darryl Worley, Angalenna Presley and Ashley McBryde guesting, along with Nashville star Jonathan Jackson, Country Music Hall of Fame member Charlie McCoy, and the great Kathy Mattea, who I will continue to maintain, would make a very nice Opry member.

Friday August 25
7:00: John Conlee (host); Ashley Campbell; Mike Snider
7:30: The Whites (host); Mark Lowry; Shenandoah
Intermission
8:15: Jeannie Seely (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Turnpike Troubadours
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Sunny Sweeney; Thompson Square

Saturday August 26
7:00: The Whites (host); Darryl Worley; Jesse McReynolds
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Angalenna Presley; Charlie McCoy
Intermission
8:15: Jeannie Seely (host); Ray Pillow; Ashley McBryde; Opry Square Dancers; Jonathan Jackson; Kathy Mattea

What I find very interesting is that Ray Pillow is on the Opry this weekend and is not hosting a segment. Considering that they are going with only one segment after the intermission, I think this might be the Opry's way of saying that Ray is no longer in the rotation of hosting segments. If you think back when Pete Fisher was the Opry's general manager, Ray would usually appear about 10 times per year and would usually host a segment when he was on. In many ways, he was the member that Pete went to when they needed a host to fill out the line-up. Since Pete left the Opry in January, Ray has only appeared once. I know Ray is basically retired and it is probably his choice on whether or not he appears on the Opry, but in my opinion is voice is still in good shape, and he is a solid veteran to have on the Opry. Hopefully we see more of him as the year goes on.

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 10 years ago, the weekend of August 24 & 25, 2007:

Friday August 24
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); The Whites; Jimmy C Newman; Sunny Sweeney
8:30: Jimmy  Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Whiskey Falls
9:00: Steve Wariner (host); Charlie Walker; Jack Greene; Mel McDaniel
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Mandy Barnett; Mel Tillis

Saturday August 25
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Mandy Barnett
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); George Hamilton IV; Jack Greene; Rockie Lynne
7:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Sunny Sweeney
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jimmy C Newman; Mel McDaniel; Buddy Jewell; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Mike Snider (host); Chuck Wicks; Jamey Johnson; Connie Smith

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mike Snider; Chuck Wicks; Jamey Johnson
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Connie Smith; Mandy Barnett
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jan Howard; Rockie Lynne; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Ray Pillow (host); Sunny Sweeney; Buddy Jewell

Now from 25 years ago, the weekend of August 28 & 29, 1992:

Friday August 28
1st show
6:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jan Howard; Roy Drusky
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); The 4 Guys; Jean Shepard; The Whites; Jerry Clower
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Stonewall Jackson; Jeanne Pruett
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Skeeter Davis; Jack Greene; Mike Snider
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Billy Walker; Ray Pillow; Wilma Lee Cooper

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Charlie Walker; The Whites; Jerry Clower
10:00: Roy Acuff (host); The 4 Guys; Jean Shepard; Grandpa Jones
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Justin Tubb; Jeanne Pruett; Del Reeves; Charlisles
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jim Ed Brown; Billy Walker; Mike Snider
11:30: Jack Greene (host); Ray Pillow; Skeeter Davis; Johnny Russell
12:05: Reverend Jimmie Snow

Saturday August 29
1st show
6:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Del Reeves
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Jim Ed Brown
7:00: Jack Greene (host); Skeeter Davis; Charlie Walker; Wilma Lee Cooper
7:30: Jerry Clower (host); Nashville Bluegrass Band; Connie Smith
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); The 4 Guys; Jeanne Pruett; Opry Square Dance Band; The Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Charlie Louvin; Jan Howard; Roy Drusky; Mike Snider

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Charlie Louvin; Carlisles; Skeeter Davis; Michael White
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Jean Shepard; Ray Pillow
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Jack Greene
10:30: Del Reeves (host); Jeannie Seely
10:45: Jerry Clower (host); Connie Smith; Opry Square Dance Band; The Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jeanne Pruett; Justin Tubb; Nashville Bluegrass Band
11:30: The 4 Guys (host); Jan Howard; Roy Drusky; Mike Snider

Finally, it was 17 years ago, Saturday August 26, 2000 that Pam Tillis became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Pam Tillis has enjoyed many career-defining moments on stage at the Grand Ole Opry. The daughter of singer and songwriting legend Mel Tillis, she made her Opry debut on the Ryman Auditorium stage at age eight, singing "Tom Dooley" with her dad. "It was a larger-than-life moment for me," Pam recalled. "It was sort of like he was passing me the baton. The microphone came down to me and it was in slow motion. My little knees were knocking together. I got my knees under control and it traveled up. My lip was twitching and I was like little kiddie Elvis!"

In 2000, Pam was on the legendary stage once again, now looking down rather than up, as Little Jimmy Dickens invited her to become an Opry member. Without a moment's hesitations she said yes. Throughout here career, Pam has earned nearly 20 Top 10 singles, three Country Music Association awards, including the coveted Female Vocalist of the Year in 1994, and two Grammys. She has experimented with pop, Broadway, and jazz, seamlessly incorporating those influences into music that remains unmistakably country as its core.

Through the '80s, Pam worked as a back-up vocalist, jingle singer, club performer, songwriter, and demo singer before her first hit single, "Don't Tell Me What to Do" reached the Top 5 in 1990. She followed with hits including "Maybe It Was Memphis," "Shake the Sugar Tree," "Mi Vida Loca," and "All The Good Ones Are Gone." Two albums were million-sellers.

"In all my years in the music business," Pam said, "I've been very proud that I wasn't calculated, that I really did what I felt, and what I thought was honest for me to sing. Daddy always said, 'Never change who you are; let it come around to you.' So when things did happen for me, it was because what I wanted to do was what people now wanted to hear."

These days, Pam is still on the road, often touring with Lorrie Morgan. And she still appears on the Opry every once in a while.

Here is the running order from Saturday August 26, 2000, the night Pam Tillis became a member of the Grand Ole Opry:

1st show
6:30: WSM On-Line/Texmex
Jeannie Seely (host): Leaving & Saying Goodbye
The Whites: Pins & Needles
Bill Carlisle: I've Waited too Long
Mandy Barnett: Hurt/Trademark
Jeannie Seely: Making Plans

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Howdy, Neighbor, Howdy
Billy Walker: She Goes Walking Thru My Mind
Matt King: A Woman's Tears
Connie Smith: I Never Once Stopped Loving You
Jack Greene: Ever Since My Baby Went Away
Porter Wagoner: I've Enjoyed As Much of This As I Can Stand/On A Highway Headed South

7:30: Standard Candy
Marty Stuart (host): Hillbilly Highway
Darryl Worley: When You Need By Love
Charlie Louvin: Will You Visit Me on Sunday's
Pam Tillis: The Good Ones are Gone/Maybe it Was Memphis

8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): Southern Fried
Pam Tillis: Mi Vida Loca
T. Bubba Bechtol: Comedy
Holly Dunn: You Really Had Me Going
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Cherokee Shuffle
Bill Anderson: Still

8:30: Physicians Mutual
Jimmy Dickens (host): Mountain Dew
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Jimmy C Newman: Colinda
Jeanne Pruett: Temporarily Yours
Mike Snider: John Henry
Jimmy Dickens: Life Turned Her That Way

2nd show
9:30: Big Lots
Porter Wagoner (host): My Long Journey Home
Connie Smith: How Long, Oh, How Long/He Was There All the Time
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
George Hamilton IV: Forever Young
Porter Wagoner: Daddy's Old Sayings & Mama's Beliefs/Sorrow on the Rocks

10:00: Lincoln Mercury/Opryland Hotel
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed
Skeeter Davis: I Can Call Jesus Anytime
Stu Phillips: Colorado
Mandy Barnett: Up the Lazy River/The Whispering Wind
Jimmy Dickens (host): I'd Rather Sleep in Peace Than Know You're Gone

10:30: Folex Spot/Joggin' In A Jug
Marty Stuart (host): Rock Island Line
Matt King: Burying Bones
Pam Tillis: No Used Crying over Spilled Perfume/More Than You Prayed For
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sally Goodin
Marty Stuart: Dark as a Dungeon

11:00: Coca-Cola
Bill Anderson (host): Po' Folks
Mike Snider: My Nose was Runnin' Money
Holly Dunn: Devil, Stand Back
Billy Grammer: I Dreamed of an Old Love Affair
Bill Anderson: A Picture From Life's Other Side

11:30: Wildhorse Saloon
Charlie Walker (host): Cherokee Maiden
T. Bubba Bechtol: Comedy
Darryl Worley: When You Need My Love/A Good Day to Run

There you have it for this week. Once again, congratulations to Pam Tillis an her anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.