Grand Ole Opry 10/13 & 10/14

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the shows this weekend, the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. With the Opry currently running their fall schedule, there are two shows on Saturday night. Both nights feature full and solid Opry line-ups.

Grand Ole Opry members appearing on all three shows this weekend include John Conlee, Mike Snider and Riders In The Sky. On Friday night, they will be joined by Lorrie Morgan, Jeannie Seely and Bill Anderson, while on Saturday night Ricky Skaggs, Connie Smith, Bobby Osborne and The Whites will appear.

As to guest artists this weekend, Friday will feature Mark Chesnutt and Lonestar, both of whom had very solid careers in country music. Also appearing will be Shelly Fairchild, Eric Paslay, The Grascals and very frequent Opry guest, Mark Wills. Saturday night's list has Jackie Lee, Elizabeth Cook, Drew Baldridge, Charles Esten and Emily Ann Roberts scheduled.

Friday October 13
7:00: John Conlee (host); Shelly Fairchild; Mike Snider
7:30: Lorrie Morgan (host); Jeannie Seely; Lonestar
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); The Grascals; Mark Wills
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Eric Paslay; Mark Chesnutt

Saturday October 14
1st show
7:00: John Conlee (host); Jackie Lee; Mike Snider
7:30: Connie Smith (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Elizabeth Cook
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); The Whites; Drew Baldridge; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Emily Ann Roberts; Charles Esten

2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Jackie Lee; Mike Snider
10:00: Connie Smith (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Elizabeth Cook
10:30: Riders In The Sky (host); The Whites; Drew Baldridge; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Emily Ann Roberts; Charles Esten

Emily Ann Roberts is the newbie this week on the Grand Ole Opry. Emily was a contestant on season nine of The Voice, and was a member of Blake Shelton's team. Since 2015, Emily has recorded and charted songs on the country and Christian music charts,, with her highest charting single being "Burning House" which went to #4 on the country charts. 

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 10 years ago, the weekend of October 12 & 13, 2007:

Friday October 12
8:00: George Hamilton IV (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Julie Roberts
8:30: Jean Shepard (host); Sarah Johns; Lee Brice
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jamey Johnson; Restless Heart
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jypsi; Mark Wills

Saturday October 13
1st show
6:30: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; Mark Wills
7:00: Darryl Worley; Steve Holy; Andy Griggs; Patty Loveless
8:00: George Hamilton IV (host); Jan Howard; Rebecca Lynn Howard; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Restless Heart

2nd show
9:30: Mike Snider (host); Rebecca Lynn Howard; Steve Holy
10:00: Jean Shepard (host); Mark Wills; Darryl; Worley
10:30: George Hamilton IV (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Restless Heart; Patty Loveless

And now from 25 years ago, the weekend of October 16 & 17, 1992. This was also the Grand Ole Opry's 67th birthday celebration and the final Saturday night that Roy Acuff appeared on the Opry.

Friday October 16
1st show
6:30: Bill Anderson (host); The 4 Guys; Jim Ed Brown; Jan Howard; Ray Pillow
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jean Shepard; Osborne Brothers; John Conlee; The Whites
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Connie Smith; Wilma Lee Cooper; Grandpa Jones
8:00: Bill Monroe (host); Del Reeves; Jack Greene; Lynn Morris
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jeannie Seely; Bill Carlisle; Jeanne Pruett

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Skeeter Davis; Stonewall Jackson; Jeanne Pruett; John Conlee
10:00: Roy Acuff (host); Bill Anderson; Grandpa Jones; Charlie Walker
10:30: Bill Monroe (host); The 4 Guys; Jean Shepard; Osborne Brothers; Hank Locklin
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Connie Smith; Del Reeves; Jeannie Seely
11:30: Jack Greene (host); Lynn Morris; Jim Ed Brown; Johnny Russell

Saturday October 17
1st show
6:30: Bill Monroe (host); Jim Ed Brown
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Skeeter Davis; Roy Drusky
7:00: George Hamilton IV (host); Jeanne Pruett; Mike Snider; Hank Locklin; Jean Shepard
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Shelly West; John Conlee
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Connie Smith; Bill Anderson; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The 4 Guys; Jan Howard; Bill Carlisle; The Whites

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Stonewall Jackson; Jeannie Seely; Mike Snider
10:00: Bill Monroe (host); Roy Drusky
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Hank Locklin
10:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Jean Shepard; Charlie Walker
10:45: George Hamilton IV (host); Shelly West; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); The 4 Guys; Connie Smith; John Conlee
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jan Howard; Bill Carlisle; The Whites; Johnny Russell

October is the month that the Grand Ole Opry celebrates its anniversary and birthday. And it was 33 years ago, Saturday October 13, 1984 that the Opry celebrated #59. Here is the running order from the two shows that night:

1st show
6:30: Bonanza
Jim Ed Brown (host): Pop A Top
Connie Smith: Hangin' Around
Jim Ed Brown: Morning

6:45: Rudy's
Ray Pillow (host): Too Many Memories
Jeannie Seely: I Wish I Had One Bad Memory of You
Ray Pillow: Please Don't Leave Me Anymore

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Tennessee Saturday Night
Bill Grammer: Aunt Dinah's Quilting Party
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Del Wood: Keep on the Firing Line
Jim & Jesse: Mansion on the Hill
Porter Wagoner: Everything I've Always Wanted/Your Old Love Letters
The Right Combination: Turn Me Loose

7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Anderson (host): Son of the South
Justin Tubb: Waltz Across Texas
Lorrie Morgan: A Little Good News
Vic Willis Trio: Colorado
Crook Brothers/ The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sally Goodin
Bill Anderson: Golden Guitar

8:00: Martha White
Grandpa Jones (host): Apple Jack
Riders In The Sky: I Still Do
Roy Drusky: What About You
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Stu Phillips: Great El Tigrae
Grandpa Jones: Tritzem Yodel

8:30: Music Valley Drive
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Teddy Wilburn: I Can't Help It
Del & Carrie Reeves: We've Got Some Feeling to Do
The 4 Guys: How Married Are You Mary Ann
Bill Carlisle: Same Ol' Tale that the Crow Told Me
Hank Snow: Born For You

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Bill Anderson (host): Country D.J.
The 4 Guys: Ruby Red
Skeeter Davis: Turning Away
Billy Grammer: Sitting on Top of the World
Jeannie Seely: Yours
Bill Anderson: Still

10:00: Little Debbie
Porter Wagoner (host): Mule Skinner Blues
Del Wood: Down Yonder
Porter Wagoner & Grand Opry Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry
Porter Wagoner: Tennessee Saturday Night

10:15: Sunbeam
Grandpa Jones (host): Little Pink
Jim & Jesse: Paradise
Grandpa Jones: Are There Tears Behind Your Smile

10:30: Martha White
Jim Ed Brown (host): Fools
Jan Howard: As Long As I'm Rocking With You
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells

10:45: Beech-Nut
Roy Drusky (host): Tennessee Border
Justin Tubb: What's Wrong with the Way That We're Doing it Now
Crook Brothers/ The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Lafayette
Roy Drusky: Cryin' Time

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Paper Roses
Vic Willis Trio: Faded Love
Connie Smith: I'm Only In It for the Love
Riders In The Sky: Back on Those Texas Plains
Stu Phillips: Mountain Music
Hank Snow: Nevertheless

11:30: Quincy's
Del Reeves (host): Lay A Little Lovin' On Me
Jeanne Pruett: Back to Back/Temporarily Yours
Teddy Wilburn: Making Plans
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Del Reeves: Good Hearted Woman/I'm Walkin'/ Blueberry Hill/You Win Again/Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On

You will notice that Roy Acuff was not on the schedule for that night. On July 1st of that year, Roy did not feel well and drove himself to his doctor. His doctor checked him out and diagnosed angina and admitted him to Edgefield Hospital. On July 8, after further tests revealed some heart damage, he was sent home with orders to stay quiet for several weeks. However on July 17, Roy woke up with severe chest pains, and while not technically a heart attack, was told it was angina caused by a weak heart. He was sent home on July 28, again with orders to keep quiet. While he wasn't allowed to perform, he did go to the Opry House to visit friends backstage. Among those who came to Nashville to visit Roy was President Ronald Reagan, who came to see Roy the weekend of September 13. The President came to Roy's house, next to the Grand Ole Opry House, and visited for a few minutes. Then they got into the President's limousine and drove from Roy's garage into the Grand Ole Opry House. They spent a few minutes in Roy's dressing room then they were introduced on stage. Both the President and Roy said a few words and then cut some birthday cake in honor of Roy's birthday, which was a few days later.

While not performing on the Opry the birthday weekend, Roy did come out on stage with the birthday cake. It was not until December 7 and 8 that Roy returned on stage to sing.

Another birthday weekend took place on October 14, 1989. Not only was it the Opry's 64th birthday celebration, but it was also the night that Holly Dunn became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Holly Suzette Dunn was born in San Antonio, Texas on August 22, 1957. Not only was she a fine singer, but she was also known for her songwriting skills. While attending high school, Holly performed in a band called the Freedom Folk Singers. She attended Abilene Christian University and performed in a school sponsored group The Hilltoppers. She also began writing songs with her brother Chris Waters. After graduation from college, she moved to Nashville and worked as a demo singer, the signing with CBS Records as a songwriter. She later moved to MTM Records and in 1985 signed a recording contract. She recorded for MTM from 1988 to 1993, and then later with Warner Bros. Records and River North Records. She released 10 albums and had 19 singles on the Billboard charts. Two of her singles, "Are You Ever Gonna Love Me" and "You Really Had Me Going" reached No. 1 on the charts. Surprisingly, her breakthrough record, and the song most associated with Holly, "Daddy's Hands," only reached No. 7 when released in 1986.

Holly continued to record, with her final country album being released in 1997. Later in the 1990s, she joined country music radio station WWWW in Detroit, Michigan as the morning show co-host. Later, when she returned to Nashville in 1999, she co-hosted "Opry Backstage" on The Nashville Network until 2002. In 2003, Holly announced her retirement from her musical career and released one last final album, "Full Circle" which was her only gospel album. She moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico to pursue a full-time career as an artist. Sadly, several years after Holly moved to New Mexico, the Grand Ole Opry fired Holly, dropping her as an Opry member. While I am sure there were reasons behind the move, it was an injustice, considering that the Opry has allowed numerous other retired members to keep their Opry membership. Holly passed away from ovarian cancer on November 14, 2016.

Here is the running order from Saturday October 14, 1989, the night Holly Dunn became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and the Opry's 64th birthday celebration

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Jimmy Dickens (host): May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Jimmy Dickens: When You House is Not A Home

6:45: Rudy's
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry

7:00: Shoney's
Bill Monroe (host): Gonna Have A Feast Here Tonight
Charlie Louvin: The Precious Jewel
Jan Howard: The One You Slip Around With
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Jean Shepard: I'm Just an Old Bridge That Keeps Burning
Bill Monroe: On the Old Kentucky Shore
Blake Williams: Bluegrass Breakdown

7:30: Standard Candy
Jack Greene (host): Statue of a Fool
The Whites: Pins & Needles/He Hasn't Lost His Touch
Holly Dunn: Daddy's Hands/There Goes My Heart Again
Grand Ole Opry Cast (w/Minnie Pearl): Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry
Jack Greene/Holly Dunn & Opry Cast: Satisfied/I Saw the Light

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Connie Smith: The Key's in the Mailbox
Minnie Pearl: Comedy
Pee Wee King: The Tennessee Waltz
Porter Wagoner: Ol' Slewfoot
Opry Square Dance Band/The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Arkansas Traveler
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light

8:30: Music Valley Drive
Hank Snow (host): The Call of the Wild
Grandpa Jones: Old Blue
Roy Drusky: More & More
Hank Locklin: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me
Hank Snow: These Hands

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Country Music Has Gone to Town
Ray Pillow: Til the Best Comes Along
Charlie Louvin: The Precious Jewel
Jean Shepard: I'll Sail My Ship Alone
The Whites: Alabama Jubilee
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home/I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name

10:00: Little Debbie
Jimmy Dickens (host): Me & My Big Loud Mouth
Holly Dunn: There Goes My Heart Again
Jimmy Dickens: Shopping for Dressess

10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Bill Carlisle: Knothole
Roy Acuff & Grand Ole Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry

10:30: Pet Milk
Bill Monroe (host): Stay Away From Me; You're Causing Me Trouble
Skeeter Davis: My Last Date with You/Silver Threads & Golden Needles/ The End of the World
Bill Monroe: Down this Long, Lonesome Highway

10:45: B.C. Powder
Grandpa Jones (host): Darby's Ram
Charlie Walker: Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Opry Square Dance Band/The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sugar in the Goard
Grandpa Jones: Gone Home

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): That Heart Belongs to Me
Jan Howard: Rock Me Back to Little Rock/Evil on Your Mind
Pee Wee King: Slow Poke
Justin Tubb: Walking; Talking; Cryin'; Barely Beating Broken Heart
Hank Snow: I Almost Lost My Mind

11:30: Creamette
Jack Greene (host): Walkin' on New Grass
Roy Drusky: Take Good Care of Her
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me I'm Falling
Connie Smith: You've Got Me Right Where You Want Me/Sing, Sing, Sing
Jack Greene: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me

There you have it for this week. I would be remiss is I did not mention that the host of this week's Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree will be Doug Stone. Should be a great show. And don't forget that the Tuesday Night Opry on October 17 will feature the formal induction of Chris Young as a member of the Grand Ole Opry cast.

Enjoy the Opry this weekend!!!