Grand Ole Opry 12/15 & 12/16

The Grand Ole Opry continues its winter run at the Ryman Auditorium this weekend. The Friday Night Opry will have just the single show while Saturday's Grand Ole Opry will continue with the two show format. In looking at the line-ups, both nights offer very solid shows with a nice mix of Opry members and guests.

Grand Ole Opry members scheduled for all three shows this weekend include John Conlee, Riders In The Sky, Ricky Skaggs and The Whites. Joining that group on Friday night will be Opry members Mike Snider, Lorrie Morgan, Connie Smith, and Jeannie Seely. Mike and Jeannie are also scheduled for the first show on Saturday night, while Connie is scheduled for just the second Saturday show. Also scheduled for Saturday night will be Bill Anderson, who is set for both shows, and Diamond Rio who will be appearing on just the late show.

Guest artists on Friday night include Mark Wills, Radney Foster, Ashley McBryde and Matthew West. For Mark Wills, this will be his 27th appearance of the year, which is the most of anyone not an Opry member. Additionally, Radney Foster will be greeting fans and signing his new book and CD after the show.

Saturday night's guest list is headed by "Nashville" star Charles Esten, who will be making his 23rd Opry appearance of the year, and he will be signing his new CD in the Ryman lobby. Also appearing will be Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Sarah Darling and LOCASH.

Friday December 15
7:00: John Conlee (host); Mark Wills; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Connie Smith; Radney Foster
Intermission
8:15: Lorrie Morgan (host); Jeannie Seely; Ashley McBryde
8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Matthew West

Saturday December 16
1st show
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Sarah Darling; Mike Snider
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Riders In The Sky; Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn
8:00: John Conlee (host); LOCASH; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Charles Esten

2nd show
9:30: Connie Smith (host); Sarah Darling; Diamond Rio
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Riders In The Sky; Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn
10:30 John Conlee (host); LOCASH; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Charles Esten

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 10 years ago, the weekend of December 14 & 15, 2007:

Friday December 14
8:00: John Conlee (host); Mel McDaniel; Jean Shepard; Ashton Shepherd
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Connie Smith; Rebecca Lynn Howard
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; Jimmy C Newman; The Grascals
9:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Gene Watson; Joe Diffie

Saturday December 15
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Mel McDaniel; Hal Ketchum
7:00: Trace Adkins (host); Dierks Bentley; George Jones; Jason Byrd
8:00: John Conlee (host); Jeannie Seely; Jack Greene; Lance Miller; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Marty Stuart (host); Jean Shepard; Riders In The Sky

2nd show
9:30: Marty Stuart (host); Connie Smith; George Jones; Jason Byrd
10:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Hal Ketchum; Trace Adkins
10:30: John Conlee (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Dierks Bentley; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jean Shepard; Lance Miller

Now from 25 years ago, Saturday December 19, 1992:

1st show
6:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jimmy C Newman
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Skeeter Davis; Osborne Brothers; Del Reeves; Jean Shepard
7:30: Vince Gill (host); Dixiana; Clinton Gregory
8:00: Bill Monroe (host); Brother Oswald; Charlie Walker; The 4 Guys; Mike Snider
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The Whites; Connie Smith; Jim & Jesse; Charlie Louvin

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Roy Drusky; Wilma Lee Cooper; Jeanne Pruett; John Conlee
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Bill Carlisle; Jeannie Seely
10:15: Jimmy Dickens (host); Osborne Brothers
10:30: Bill Monroe (host); Jean Shepard; Stonewall Jackson
10:45: Billy Walker (host); Jim & Jesse; Opry Square Dance Band
11:00: Hank Snow (host); The Whites; Justin Tubb; The 4 Guys; Mike Snider
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Connie Smith; Ray Pillow; Charlie Louvin; Johnny Russell

Continuing on now to 50 years ago, Saturday December 16, 1967:

7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Wilburn Brothers; Brother Oswald; Loretta Lynn; Stringbean; Willis Brothers
8:00: Flatt & Scruggs (host); Bill Carlisle; George Hamilton IV; Crook Brothers; Margie Bowes; Ray Pillow; Harold Weakley
8:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Grandpa Jones; Bob Luman; Archie Campbell; Marion Worth; Del Reeves
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Dottie West; Billy Grammer; Lonzo & Oscar; Del Wood; Osborne Brothers
9:30: Hank Snow (host); Bill Monroe; Tex Ritter; Willis Brothers; Stu Phillips; Cousin Jody; Justin Tubb
10:00: Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host); Ray Pillow; Stringbean; Margie Bowes
10:15: Porter Wagoner (host); George Hamilton IV; Grandpa Jones; Bob Luman
10:30: Roy Acuff (host); Bill Carlisle; Marion Worth
10:45: Wilburn Brothers (host); Lonzo & Oscar; Loretta Lynn; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Bill Monroe; Tex Ritter; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Bill Anderson; Sam McGee; The 4 Guys
11:30: Roy Drusky (host); Osborne Brothers; Billy Grammer; Cousin Jody; Stu Phillips; Justin Tubb; Jerry Whitehurst

To finish it up, it was 17 years ago, Saturday December 16, 2000 that Brad Paisley was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Brad had been making dozens of guest appearances on the Opry and was well received. Coming to Nashville from West Virginia, Brad had a true country sound and understood the history of the Opry and country music. He had mentioned many times that he would love someday to become an Opry member. On this particular night, he was surprised during the televised portion when Jimmy Dickens and Jeannie Seely appeared on stage dressed as Mr. & Mrs. Claus and did the invitation.

Here is the running order from that night:

1st show
6:30: WSM Online.com
Jeannie Seely (host): Winter Wonderland
The Whites: The Light at the Stable
Bill Carlisle: Stay A Little Longer
Dale Watson: Santa In My Semi/When You Look In
Jeannie Seely: Shake Me; I Rattle

7:00: Shoney's
John Conlee (host): Pretty Paper
Jimmy C Newman: Big Mamou
Charlie Louvin: The Friendly Beasts
Billy Walker: Jesus Walks In/Charlie's Shoes
John Conlee: I'm Only in It for the Love/Rose Colored Glasses

7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Anderson (host): Po Folks Christmas
Jessica Andrews: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Ralph Stanley: Beautiful Star of Bethleham
Brad Paisley: We Danced/Baby In A Manger

8:00: Martha White
Riders In The Sky (host): Ride Along
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Holly Dunn: Daddy's Hands
Opry Square Dance Band: Sally Goodin
Riders In The Sky: Woody's Roundup/Happy Trails to You

8:30: Physicians Mutual
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed
Wilma Lee Cooper: Coming Down from God
Mike Snider: Twas the Night before Christmas
Mandy Barnett: Hurt
Joe Diffie: Leroy the Red-Necked Reindeer/Wrap Me in Your Love
Jimmy Dickens: There's No Place Like Home for Christmas

2nd show
9:30: WSM Online.com
Jeannie Seely (host): Winter Wonderland
The Whites: The Light at the Stable
Dale Watson: First Time and Last Time
Joe Diffie: Leroy the Red-Necked Reindeer/Behind Closed Doors

10:00: Lincoln-Mercury/Opry At the Ryman
Jimmy Dickens (host): Mountain Dew
Wilma Lee Cooper: Amazing Grace
Mike Snider: If My Nose was Runnin' Money
Jessica Andrews: Christmas Once Again/Who I Am
Jimmy Dickens: Life Turned Her that Way

10:30: Folex/Joggin' In A Jug
John Conlee (host): Friday Night Blues
Osborne Brothers: Head Over Heals in Love With You
Holly Dunn: Devil, Stand Back
Opry Square Dance Band: Sugar in the Goard
John Conlee: As Long As I'm Rockin' with You

11:00: Coca-Cola
Bill Anderson (host): Christmas In Your Arms
Ralph Stanley: Mary, Merry Christmas/Rawhide
Brad Paisley: You Didn't Have to Be/The Old Rugged Cross
Bill Anderson: Still

11:30: 75th Anniversary
Riders In The Sky (host): Christmas Times's A Comin'
Ray Pillow: I Wonder Who's Missing You Now
Charlie Walker: White Christmas
Mandy Barnett: Words
Riders In The Sky: I'll Be Home for Christmas/Happy Trails to You

Brad Paisley's official Opry induction would take place the following February.

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