Grand Ole Opry 10/20 & 10/21---Updated

Update:
The Opry filled out the line-up and moved a few folks around. For Friday night, Tegan Marie and Jimmy Fortune have been added. For Saturday night, John Berry has been added for both shows. Also, I did want to mention that Jimmy Fortune will be the host of this week's Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree. Line-ups listed below are the updated ones.


Over the past several weeks, lots has been going on at the Grand Ole Opry, including the Opry's 92nd birthday bash, Chris Young's induction as the Opry's newest cast member, and the announcement by Ryman Hospitality of the renovation of the Grand Ole Opry House. After all that, it would seem that we would be due for a quiet weekend at the Opry, and that seems to be what we are looking at this weekend.

That said, when looking initially at the Opry line-ups for this weekend, they look pretty thin. Grand Ole Opry members scheduled for both nights include Connie Smith, Mike Snider, The Whites, Riders In The Sky, and Dailey & Vincent (who are proving quickly to be good Opry members). Those are the only Opry members for Friday night, while on Saturday Bill Anderson is set for both shows while Bobby Osborne is scheduled for just the late one.

As to guest artists this weekend, Friday night will feature The Isaacs, with special guest Terry Bradshaw. Yes, this former NFL quarterback is a singer; in fact way back he had a hit on the charts! He has appeared on the Opry previously and it is nice to see him back for this special appearance. Also on Friday will be Craig Campbell and Carly Pearce, who will be signing copies of her new CD in the Opry show, as well as promoting the new music on the Opry itself.

Saturday night will feature Jamey Johnson, who always does a very nice job when doing the Opry, along with Ray Scott and Maggie Rose.

Friday October 20
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Craig Campbell; Mike Snider
7:30: The Whites (host); T Graham Brown; Carly Pearce
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); Tegan Marie; Jimmy Fortune
8:45: Dailey & Vincent (host); The Isaacs w/Terry Bradshaw

Saturday October 21
1st show
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Ray Scott; Mike Snider
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); The Whites; Maggie Rose
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); John Berry; Opry  Square Dancers
8:30: Dailey & Vincent (host); Jamey Johnson

2nd show
9:30: Connie Smith (host); Ray Scott; Mike Snider
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Maggie Rose
10:30: Riders In The Sky (host); John Berry; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Dailey & Vincent (host); Jamey Johnson

As I mentioned, pretty thin on the numbers. Hopefully we see an add or two as there are spots available.

And now, there is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 10 years ago, the weekend of October 19 & 20, 2007, which was also the weekend of the Opry's 82nd birthday weekend:

Friday October 19
1st show
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Jeannie Seely; Jimmy C Newman; Carolina Rain
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Dale Ann Bradley; Neal McCoy
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Charlie Louvin; Jack Greene; Rebecca Lynn Howard
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Riders In The Sky; Steve Wariner

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jim Ed Brown; Dale Ann Bradley
10:00: Mike Snider (host); George Hamilton IV; Rebecca Lynn Howard
10:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Carolina Rain
11:00: Steve Wariner (host); Jack Greene; Riders In The Sky

Saturday October 20
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jim Ed Brown; Mike Snider
7:00: Carrie Underwood; Emerson Drive; Travis Tritt; Ronnie Milsap
8:00: Hal Ketchum (host); Jeannie Seely; Del McCoury Band; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jimmy C Newman; The Whites; Vince Gill

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Riders In The Sky; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Ronnie Milsap
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; The Whites; Travis Tritt
10:30: Hal Ketchum (host); George Hamilton IV; Carrie Underwood; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Vince Gill (host); Jack Greene; Del McCoury Band; Emerson Drive

Now here is the Grand Ole Opry line-up from 25 years ago, the weekend of October 23 & 24, 1992. The Friday Night Opry was Roy Acuff's final Opry show.

Friday October 23
1st show
6:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Jim Ed Brown; Skeeter Davis; Jim & Jesse; Del Reeves
7:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jean Shepard; Johnny Russell; Ronna Reeves
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Connie Smith; The 4 Guys; Charlie Walker
8:00: Bill Monroe (host); Jimmy C Newman; Billy Walker; Jimmy Dickens
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jack Greene; The Whites; Osborne Brothers

2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jean Shepard; Ray Pillow; Ronna Reeves
10:00: Roy Acuff (host); Grandpa Jones; Jim & Jesse; Jan Howard
10:30: Bill Monroe (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Stonewall Jackson; Charlie Louvin; Jeannie Seely
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Connie Smith; Hank Locklin; Justin Tubb; Bill Carlisle
11:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Jack Greene; The 4 Guys; Osborne Brothers

Saturday October 24
1st show
6:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jack Greene
6:45: Del Reeves (host); The Whites
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Skeeter Davis; Hank Locklin; Billy Walker; Connie Smith
7:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Osborne Brothers; Charlie Walker; Wilma Lee Cooper; The 4 Guys
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jimmy C Newman; Brother Oswald & The Smoky Mountain Boys; Jan Howard; Opry Square Dance Band; The Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Mike Snider; Randy Travis

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Del Reeves; Charlie Walker; Skeeter Davis; Stonewall Jackson
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Roy Drusky; Bill Carlisle
10:15: George Hamilton IV (host); Brother Oswald & The Smoky Mountain Boys
10:30: Bill Anderson (host); The Whites
10:45: Jack Greene (host); Mike Snider; Opry Square Dance Band; The Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); The 4 Guys; Osborne Brothers; Justin Tubb; Ray Pillow
11:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Jan Howard; Hank Locklin; Johnny Russell

50 years ago, Saturday October 21, 1967, the Grand Ole Opry celebrated its 42nd birthday. It was also the final night that The Browns performed as Opry members. Maxine and Bonnie announced their decision to retire and raise their families, while Jim Ed Brown would continue on as a solo member of the Opry. Here is the running order from that night at the Ryman Auditorium:

Early Show
6:00: Vietti
Bill Anderson (host): Bright Lights & Country Music
Osborne Brothers: Roll Muddy River
Ernie Ashworth: Tender & True
Del Wood: Piano Roll Blues
Stu Phillips: Little Old Wine Drinker Me
Bill Anderson: I Get the Fever
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Jimmy Gatley: Orange Blossom Special/She Want's to Be Like You

6:30: Mrs Grissoms
Bill Monroe (host): Uncle Pen
Willis Brothers: Bob
Cousin Jody: Mockingbird
Bill Monroe: Molly & Tenbrooks

6:45: Rudy's
Billy Walker (host): I Taught Her Everything She Knows
Stringbean: Gonna Make Myself A Name
Jim & Jesse: Ballad of Thunder Road
Billy Walker: Cattle Call

7:00: Luzianne
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Hank Locklin: Country Hall of Fame
Bob Luman: Memphis
Minnie Pearl: Maple on the Hill
The 4 Guys: Walking in the Sunshine
Del Reeves: One Dime at a Time
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me
Porter Wagoner: Cold Hard Facts of Life

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Ball Knob, Arkansas
Charlie Louvin: How Great Thou Art
Wilburn Brothers: Just to Be Where You Are
Loretta Lynn: What Kind of a Girl
Grandpa Jones: Old Dan Tucker
Bobby Lord: Shadows on the Wall
Bill Carlisle: Dr. R.D.
Ray Pillow: (?)
Roy Acuff: Cabin in Gloryland

8:00: Martha White
George Hamilton IV (host): Break My Mind
Jean Shepard: Happy Tracks
George Morgan: You're the Only Good Thing
The Browns: Looking Back to See/(?)/(?)/I Heard the Bluebird Sing/The Old Lamplighter/Scarlet Ribbons/The 3 Bells/Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Crook Brothers: Cotton-Eyed Joe
Dottie West: Like A Fool
Jim Ed Brown: Pop A Top
George Hamilton IV: Truck Driving Man

8:30: Stephens
Ernest Tubb (host): Thanks A Lot
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Big Midnight Special
Tex Ritter: Just Beyond the Moon
Archie Campbell: The Cockfight
Glaser Brothers: Gone on the Other Hand
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Billy Grammer: Mabel
Margie Bowes: Bo Weevil

Late Show
9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Bill Monroe: You'll Find Her Name Written There
Bill Anderson: I Love You Drops
Marion Worth: A Woman Needs Love
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Grandpa Jones: Kitty Klyde
Del Wood: Waiting for the Robert E Lee
Norma Jean: Jackson Ain't a Very Big Place
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cacklin Hen
Hank Snow: There's A Fool Such as I

10:00: Schick
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Wilburn Brothers: Troubles Back in Town
Loretta Lynn: What Kind of A Girl
Stringbean: Gonna Make Myself a Name
Jim & Jess: Diesel on My Tail
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

10:15: Pure
Ernest Tubb (host) w/Loretta Lynn: Sweet Thang
Bobby Lord: Look What You're Doing to You
Charlie Louvin & Bobby Osborne: When I Stop Dreaming
Stu Phillips: Juanita Jones

10:30: Buckley's
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Skeeter Davis: What Does it Take
George Hamilton IV: Urge for Going
Jim Ed Brown: Bottle, Bottle
Hank Snow: (?)

10:45: Newport
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): The Birds are Back
George Morgan: Misty Blue
Crook Brothers: Old Joe Clark
Margie Bowes: Overnight
Osborne Brothers: Roll Muddy River
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: There's A Big Wheel

11:00: Coca-Cola
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Tex Ritter: A Working Man's Prayer
Jean Shepard: I Don't See How I Can Make It
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Devil's Dream
Hank Locklin: Country Hall of Fame
Sam McGee: (?)
The 4 Guys: Ruby
Del Reeves: Chug-A-Lug/(?)/(?)
Porter Wagoner: Julie

11:30: Lava
Roy Drusky (host): White Lightening Express
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Glaser Brothers: Through the Eyes of Love
Marion Worth: Tennessee Waltz
Ernie Ashworth: My Love for You
Ray Pillow: Take Your Hands off My Heart
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Roy Drusky: Anymore/Strangers/Second Hand Rose

Well, what can I say. Certainly a bit different than the birthday shows the past decade. Very few Opry members were missing that night, and for those keeping track at home, the show did not end until a little after 1:00 a.m.

Finally, moving ahead five years to Saturday October 21, 1972, when the Grand Ole Opry celebrated it's 47th anniversary:

1st show
6:00: Vietta
Bill Anderson (host): Wild Weekend
Jan Howard: I Don't Know No New York City Song
Roy Drusky: The Last Time I Called Somebody Darling
Justin Tubb: Traveling Singing Man
Del Wood: Snowbird
Bill Anderson & Jan Howard: Dis-Satisfied
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
Bill Anderson: Don't She Look Good When She Smiles

6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Bill Monroe (host): My Old Kentucky & You
Jim Ed Brown: Unbelievable Love
Charlie Louvin: Will You Visit Me on Sundays
Ernie Ashworth: Love; I Finally Found It

6:45: Rudy's
Porter Wagoner (host): What Ain't to Be Just Might Happen
Dolly Parton: Coat of Many Colors
Osborne Brothers: Fireball Mail
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton: Together Always

7:00: Rudy's
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Loretta Lynn: One's on the Way/Here I Am Again
George Morgan: Making Heartaches
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Stu Phillips: I Hear Your Name
Roy Acuff: Cabin in Gloryland

7:30: Standard Candy
Ernest Tubb (host): Driftwood on the River
Tex Ritter: Coming After Jenny
Wilburn Brothers: Arkansas
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby
Wayne Hammond: To Get to You
Crook Brothers: Cotton-Eyed Joe
Tex Ritter: Fall Away

8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host) w/Bill Monroe: Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Tom T Hall: More About John Henry
Hank Locklin: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
David Houston: Jambalaya
Roland White & Marty Stuart: Ashes of Love
Tom T Hall: The Year that Clayton Delaney Died
Hank Locklin: Country Hall of Fame
David Houston & Barbara Mandrell: The Perfect Match

8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Marion Worth: I Fall to Piecres
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Barbara Mandrell: Treat Him Right
The 4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Hank Snow: There's a Fool Such as I

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Porter Wagoner (host): What Ain't To Be Just Might Happen
Willis Brothers: I Still Do
Dolly Parton: Coat of Many Colors
Jim Ed Brown: Morning
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton: Burning the Midnight Oil/The Right Combination/Together Always
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
Del Wood: Gloryland March

10:00: Fender
Bill Anderson (host): Don't She Look Good When She Smiles
Jan Howard: New York City Song
Charlie Louvin & Diane McCall: Baby, What's Wrong with Us
Osborne Brothers: You Win Again/Today I Started Loving You Again

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Bill Monroe & Lester Flatt: Will You Be Loving Another Man
Loretta Lynn: Coal Miner's Daughter
Ernie Ashworth: Mind Your Own Business
Freddie Hart: Easy Loving

10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Backing to Birmingham
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby
Willis Brothers: Arkansas
George Morgan: Making Heartaches

10:45: Beech-Nut
Ernest Tubb (host): Say Something Nice to Sara
Wayne Hammond: Red, Red Wine
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Ernest Tubb: Waltz Across Texas

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Tom T Hall: Me & Jesus
Barbara Mandrell: Tonight My Baby's Coming Home
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Stu Phillips: I Hear Your Name
Sam McGee: Under the Double Eagle
Hank Snow: I Don't Hurt Anymore

11:30: Elm Hill
Tex Ritter (host): High Noon
Marion Worth: Go On Home
The 4 Guys: Sweet Yesterday
Tex Ritter: Coming After Jenny

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