Grand Ole Opry 9/29 & 9/30

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the three shows this weekend, which includes a special Sunday Night Opry with Brad Paisley.

Grand Ole Opry members scheduled for Friday and Saturday night include Mike Snider, The Whites and Dailey & Vincent. Joining that group on Friday night will be Jeannie Seely and Riders In The Sky, while it will be the legendary Ray Pillow appearing on Saturday night. As we saw with Ray's last Opry appearance, he will not be hosting a segment and because of that, there will be only three on Saturday with Dailey & Vincent hosting the final hour.

Guest artists on Friday night include Chuck Wicks, Crowder, Mickey Guyton and Exile. The last two are Country Music Hall of Fame member Charlie McCoy and Tracy Lawrence, who seems to be making a boatload of Opry appearances lately. And he has many more scheduled. Saturday night it will be Lee Greenwood as the featured attraction, along with Chris Hillman, Keith Anderson, The Swon Brothers, Post Monroe and "Nashville" star Charles Esten.

Friday September 29
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Chuck Wicks; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Crowder; Charlie McCoy
Intermission
8:15: The Whites (host); Mickey Guyton; Exile
8:45: Dailey & Vincent (host); Tracy Lawrence

Saturday September 30
7:00: The Whites (host); Keith Anderson; The Swon Brothers
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Post Monroe; Chris Hillman
Intermission
8:15: Dailey & Vincent (host); Charles Esten; Opry Square Dancers; Ray Pillow; Lee Greenwood

It is really nice to see Chris Hillman on the Opry Saturday night, where he will be promoting his new solo album. Chris, a former member of The Byrds and the Desert Rose Band, has been on the Opry previously and has always done a fine job. I have also had the pleasure of seeing Chris in concert, as a solo artist, touring with Herb Pedersen, and with the Desert Rose Band.

Now to the Sunday Night Opry, another one of the shows that the Opry seems to be scheduling based on availability of some of the bigger named artists. As mentioned, the show this Sunday features Brad Paisley

7:00: Jeannie Seely; Chase Bryant
7:30: The Sisterhood; Mickey Guyton; Tyler Farr
Intermission
8:15: Bobby Bare; Lauren Alaina
8:45: Brad Paisley

Any show with Bobby Bare is not a bad show.

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 10 years ago, the weekend of September 28 & 29, 2007:

Friday September 28
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jeannie Seely; John Anderson
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Cross Canadian Ragweed; Connie Smith
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Del McCoury Band; Lori McKenna
9:30: John Conlee (host); Jan Howard; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Mark Chesnutt

Saturday September 29
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys
7:00: Josh Turner; Lori McKenna; Joe Diffie; Roy Clark
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jack Greene; Connie Smith; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Ashton Shepherd; Del McCoury Band

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Joe Diffie
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); The Whites; Jack Greene; Lori McKenna
10:30: Roy Clark (host); Jimmy C Newman; Josh Turner; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Ashton Shepherd; Del McCoury Band

The Saturday night show was significant for two reasons. First, it was the final night that Porter Wagoner appeared on a Saturday Grand Ole Opry show. Porter, who had recently celebrated 50 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, was in a period of declining heath. He would make an appearance on the following week's Friday Night Opry, and then make a final Opry appearance on the Tuesday Night Opry, October 9. He would pass away one month later.

The other event that took place on Saturday night was Roy Clark asking Josh Turner during the televised segment, if he would like to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Josh, who had made his Opry debut on December 21, 2001, singing "Long Black Train" to a standing ovation, immediately accepted. His actual Opry induction would take place one month later.

And now, here is the line-up from 25 years ago, the weekend of October 2 & 3, 1992:

Friday October 2
1st show
6:30: Bill Monroe (host); Jim Ed Brown; Skeeter Davis; Del Reeves; The Whites
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); George Hamilton IV; Jimmy C Newman; Jim & Jess; Jean Shepard; Bill Carlisle
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); The 4 Guys; Grandpa Jones
8:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Garth Brooks; Jack Greene
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Michelle Wright; Mike Snider

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Jeanne Pruett; Garth Brooks
10:00: Roy Acuff (host); Jan Howard; Stonewall Jackson; Charlie Walker
10:30: Bill Monroe (host); Grandpa Jones; Jean Shepard; David Houston; The Whites
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Michelle Wright; The 4 Guys; Jeannie Seely; Jimmy Dickens
11:30: Jack Greene (host); Bill Carlisle; Jim Ed Brown; Johnny Russell

Saturday October 3
6:30: Bill Monroe (host); Skeeter Davis
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Jim Ed Brown
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jean Shepard; Jack Greene; Jimmy C Newman; Del Reeves
7:30: Garth Brooks (host); Joe Diffie; Mike Snider
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Charlie Louvin; Jan Howard; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The Whites; Wilma Lee Cooper; The 4 Guys; Jimmy Dickens

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); David Houston; Jeanne Pruett; Jimmy C Newman; Garth Brooks
10:00: Bill Monroe (host); Jeannie Seely
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Jean Shepard
10:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Stonewall Jackson; Bill Carlisle
10:45: Bill Anderson (host); Skeeter Davis; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jimmy Dickens; The Whites; Charlie Walker; Del Reeves
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jan Howard; Charlie Louvin; The 4 Guys; Mike Snider

Finally, it was 61 years ago, Saturday September 29, 1956 that Rose Maddox became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Roselea Arbana Maddox was born on August 15, 1925 in Boaz, Alabama. At the age of seven, her family moved to California, due to part to the Great Depression. At the age of 11, Rose began performing with her brothers in amateur shows and while in her teens began performing on local radio. In 1947, after her brothers served in World War II, Rose first recorded with for Four Star Records. By the late 1940s, the group began to see some success and moved to Hollywood. They began touring and were appearing regularly on the Louisiana Hayride. They also made an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, where Rose, who was known for her colorful performances, shocked the Opry audience by appearing with a bare midriff. After the Maddox Brothers group broke up in 1957, Rose initially performed with her brother Cal, and then started a solo career. She had 14 hits on the Billboard country singles charts between 1959 and 1964, including several duets with Buck Owens. In 1962, her biggest hit, "Sing a Little Song of Heartache," reached No. 3 on the country charts. She then switched and recorded bluegrass, recording "Rose Maddox Sings Bluegrass" for Capital Records. In 1965, her recording contract ended and she began to concentrate on tours, performing with her brothers Cal, Henry, and her son Donnie, along with bluegrass musician Vern Williams. Her final album, "The Moon Is Rising" was released in 1996.

Beginning in the late 1960s, Rose suffered several heart attacks, but she continued to perform and record. She also appeared in several movies and documentaries. In her later years, she lived in Ashland, Oregon. Rose passed away on April 15, 1998 from kidney failure at the age of 72.

Rose's time at the Opry was very, very short. Some have written that Roy Acuff did not approve of Rose, based on how she presented herself on the Opry and the style of music she played. While Roy might not have approved of Rose, it is also said that Roy bought Rose's Cadillac from her while she was in Nashville (not sure if that story is 100% true or not).

Regardless, here is the running order from Saturday September 29, 1956, the night Rose Maddox became a member of the Grand Ole Opry:

7:30: Federal Fertilizer
Jim Reeves (host): According To My Heart
Del Wood: Intermission At The Opry
Justin Tubb: Lucky Lucky Someone
Jim Reeves: Oklahoma Hills
Fiddle Tune: Arkansas Traveler

7:45: American Ace
Marty Robbins (host): Singing The Blues
Jean Shepard: You Are Calling Me Sweetheart
Benny Martin: Lover Of The Town
Marty Robbins: Who At My Door Is Standing
Fiddle Tune: Turkey In The Straw

8:00: Martha White
Ray Price (host): Crazy Arms
Flatt and Scruggs: Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Carter Sisters: Sweet Talking Man
Possum Hunters: Fire in the Mountain
Ray Price: You Done Me Wrong
Martha Carson: Let The Light Shine
George Morgan: Stay Away From Me Baby
Flatt and Scruggs: Give Mother My Crown
Ray Price: Release Me

8:30: Prince Albert
Hank Snow (host): I Don't Hurt Anymore
Jordanaires: When I Move
Hawkshaw Hawkins: Sunny Side of the Mountain
Fiddle Tune: Mississippi Sawyer
Hank Snow: Farther Along
Moon Mullican: Blue Tears
Minnie Pearl: Comedy
Hawkshaw Hawkins: If It Ain't On the News
Chet Atkins: Avalon
Hank Snow: Conscience, I'm Guilty
Fiddle Tune: Sally Goodin

9:00: Jefferson Island Salt
Jimmy Dickens (host): Big Sandy
Ferlin Huskey: Imitations
Goldie Hill: I'm Beginning To Feel Mistreated
Bill Monroe: Blue Moon of Kentucky
Jimmy Dickens: Cornbread and Buttermilk
Rose Maddox: False Hearted
Ferlin Huskey: That Big Old Moon
Fruit Jars: Cacklin Hen
Jimmy Dickens: I Never Thought It Would Happen To Me

9:30: Stephens
Carl Smith (host): You Are The One
Jim Reeves: If You Were Mine
Lew Childre: Southern Hospitality
Anita Carter: One Heart Ache at a Time
Carl Smith: If You Do Dear
Jean Shepard: It's Hard To Tell
Justin Tubb: Lucky Lucky Someone
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Jim Reeves: Highway to Nowhere
Carl Smith: Don't Tease Me

10:00: Wall-Rite
George Morgan (host): Rainbow in My Heart
Martha Carson: Satisfied
Moon Mullican: You Don't Have To Be a Baby To Cry
George Morgan: Talk A Look At Yourself
Fiddle Tune: Devil's Dream

10:15: Delited
Marty Robbins (host): Call Me Up and I'll Come Calling On You
Benny Martin: Whippoor Will
Marty Robbins: Singing The Blues
Fiddle Tune: Bill Cheatam

10:30: Hester Battery
Jimmy Dickens (host): Blackeyed Joe
Bill Monroe: I Believed In You Darling
Goldie Hill: Sample My Kisses
Jimmy Dickens: It Scares Me Half To Death
Fiddle Tune: 8th of January

10:45: D-Con
Hank Snow (host): Would You Mind
Rose Maddox: (?)
Crook Brothers: Tom and Jerry
Hank Snow: Why Do You Punish Me
Fiddling Fish and Stick: Back Up and Push

11:00: Coca Cola
Carl Smith (host): Doggone It Baby, I'm In Love
Jim Reeves: My Lips Are Sealed
Jean Shepard: It's Hard To Tell The Married
Flatt and Scruggs: What's Good For You Should Be Alright For Me
Carl Smith: Before I Met You
Jordanaires: Shaking Bridges
Hawkshaw Hawkins: Rattle Snake Daddy
Gully Jumpers: Durang Horn Pipe
Jim Reeves: Waiting On Top of the World
Carl Smith: Go Boy Go

11:30: Jamison
Ray Price (host): Crazy Arms
Ferlin Huskey: Waiting
Justin Tubb: Yo Nearly Lose Your Mind
Sam and Kirk: Milk'em In the Morning
Ray Price: Release Me
Lew Childre: Hang Out The Front Door Key
Ferlin Huskey: Imitations
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Old Joe Clark
Ray Price: I'll Be There
Fiddle Tune: Leather Britches

There you have it for this week. I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend, and get ready as next week is the Opry's 92nd birthday bash.