Grand Ole Opry 12/8 & 12/9

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the shows this weekend at the Ryman Auditorium. After running two shows on Friday night for the past month, the Opry is back down to one show. As far as Saturday night, it is still a two show night.

Grand Ole Opry members scheduled for both nights include John Conlee, Mike Snider, Jeannie Seely and Riders In The Sky. They well be joined on Friday night by Connie Smith, Bobby Osborne and The Whites, while on Saturday it will be Bill Anderson, Steve Wariner and Alison Krauss appearing. It is really nice to see Alison back on the Opry. Her appearances have been infrequent, however when she is on she always receives a great audience reception.

As to Opry guests this weekend, Natalie Stovall, Rory Feek, Amanda Shires and Restless Heart are on the list for Friday, with Jamey Johnson, The Steel Woods, and Kristian Bush currently set for Saturday night. Of those listed, it is nice to see Rory making an Opry appearance.

Friday December 8
7:00: John Conlee (host); Natalie Stovall; Mike Snider
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); The Whites; Rory Feek
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Amanda Shires; Restless Heart

Saturday December 9
1st show
7:00: John Conlee (host); Alison Krauss
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Mike Snider
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); The Steel Woods; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Steve Wariner (host); Riders In The Sky; Kristian Bush

2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Alison Krauss
10:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Mike Snider
10:30: Bill Anderson (host); The Steel Woods; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Steve Wariner (host); Riders In The Sky; Kristian Bush

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 10 years ago, the weekend of December 7 & 8, 2007:

Friday December 7
1st show
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jimmy C Newman; Mark Wills
7:30: John Conlee (host); Jan Howard; Jack Greene; Steep Canyon Rangers
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Keith Anderson
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Suzy Bogguss

2nd show
9:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jimmy C Newman
10:00: John Conlee (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Mark Wills
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Suzy Bogguss; The Whites
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Mel McDaniel; Steep Canyon Rangers

Saturday December 8
1st show
6:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Mel McDaniel; Jimmy C Newman
7:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Mindy Smith; Chuck Wicks; Steve Wariner; The Whites
8:00: John Conlee (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jimmy Wayne; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jack Greene; Mark Wills

2nd show
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Mel McDaniel; Steve Wariner
10:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Chuck Wicks
10:30: John Conlee (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Mindy Smith; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jimmy Wayne; Mark Wills

Now from 25 years ago, Saturday December 12, 1992:

1st show
6:30: Del Reeves (host); Ray Pillow
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jeannie Seely
7:00: Bill Monroe (host); The 4 Guys; Charlie Louvin; Emmylou Harris
7:30: Jack Greene (host); Jeanne Pruett; Bill Carlisle; Roy Drusky; Connie Smith
8:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jean Shepard; Osborne Brothers; John Conlee; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The Whites; Jimmy C Newman; Billy Walker; Jan Howard

2nd show
9:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Charlie Walker; Skeeter Davis; Smoky Mountain Boys; Charlie Louvin
10:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Emmylou Harris
10:15: Bill Monroe (host); Del Reeves
10:30: John Conlee (host); The 4 Guys
10:45: Osborne Brothers (host); Jean Shepard; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jimmy C Newman; Connie Smith; Justin Tubb; Jack Greene
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jan Howard; The Whites; Johnny Russell

Finally from 50 years ago, Saturday December 9, 1967:

7:30: Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host); Willis Brothers; Charlie Louvin; Minnie Pearl; Billy Grammer; Margie Bowes
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Bill Carlisle; Skeeter Davis; Grandpa Jones; Crook Brothers; Osborne Brothers; Stringbean
8:30: Roy Acuff (host); Bill Monroe; Jean Shepard; Archie Campbell; Lorene Mann; Del Wood; Hank Locklin
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Dottie West; George Hamilton IV; The 4 Guys; Del Reeves; Ernie Ashworth; Fruit Jar Drinkers
9:30: Hank Snow (host); Willis Brothers; Bobby Lord; Norma Jean; Glaser Brothers; Jim Ed Brown
10:00: Roy Acuff (host); Bill Monroe; Del Wood; Billy Grammer
10:15: Charlie Louvin (host); Bill Carlisle; Margie Bowes; Stringbean
10:30: Hank Locklin (host); Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper; Skeeter Davis
10:45: Porter Wagoner (host); Grandpa Jones; Jean Shepard; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Bill Anderson; Del Reeves; Fruit Jar Drinkers; The 4 Guys; Sam McGee; Dottie West
11:30: Bobby Lord (host); Glaser Brothers; Jim Ed Brown; Norma Jean; George Hamilton IV; Ernie Ashworth

Quite a line-up. Only non-Opry members that night were Dolly Parton and Lorene Mann. And for those wondering, the show actually ended one minute early!! They really moved them through that night.

Looking back in Grand Ole Opry history, it was Saturday December 8, 1973 that Skeeter Davis made her very controversial comments on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, which resulted in her suspension from the Opry's cast. Skeeter has written about the incident extensively in her book, "Bus Fare to Kentucky."

As to what happened that night, when Skeeter was on her way downtown to the Ryman Auditorium for the Opry that night, she witnessed the arrest of what were known as "Jesus freaks" which in those days were young people protesting on the streets of Nashville. The act enraged Skeeter and she expressed that rage on the Opry that night, talking about it, singing about it and weeping about it. She made headlines and caused a great deal of concern that night when she came off the stage. Reportedly, Nashville police officers, who acted as security guards at the Opry, went to management demanding that Skeeter be fired. The result was that Skeeter was gone from the Opry, returning 18 months later when several Opry members went to management and told them it was time for her to come back. During the time she was gone, Skeeter traveled the world, singing and expressing herself.

Here is the running order from Saturday December 8, 1973, the night of Skeeter's controversial comments:

1st show
6:30: Mrs Grissoms
Osborne Brothers (host): Midnight Flyer
Ernie Ashworth: My Love for You
Bill Carlisle: Leave that Liar Alone
Osborne Brothers: Fastest Grass Alive

6:45: Rudy's
Del Reeves (host): Six Days on the Road/Truck Driving Man
The 4 Guys: Top of the World
Del Reeves: Lay A Little Lovin' on Me

7:00: Rudy's
Bill Monroe (host): Uncle Pen
Skeeter Davis: I Can't Believe that It's All Over
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells
Jimmy C Newman: Potato Song
Bill Monroe: Christmas Time's A Coming
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Skeeter Davis: I'll Fly Away
Jim Ed Brown: Sometimes Sunshine
Bill Monroe: Bluegrass Breakdown

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jean Shepard: Slipping Away
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: White Dove
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
Brother Oswald: John Hardy
Crook Brothers: Ida Red
Jean Shepard: Second Fiddle
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: I Shall Not be Moved

8:00: Martha White
Tex Ritter (host): Wayward Wind
Grandpa Jones: Are You From Dixie
Jeanne Pruett: Hold to My Unchanging Love
Charlie Louvin: You're My Wife; She's My Woman
Tex Ritter & Johnny Bond: Get Off of My Horse
Ramona & Mark Jones: Old Joe Clark
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Charlie Louvin & Diane McCall: Did You Ever

8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Jim & Jesse: Blue Ridge Mountain Blues
Marion Worth: Delta Dawn
Charlie McCoy: Release Me/Orange Blossom Special
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Sally Goodin
Jim & Jesse: Please Be My Love
Hank Snow: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Del Reeves (host): Wild Blood
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya
Bill Carlisle: Worried Man Blues
Del Reeves: Lay A Little Lovin' on Me
Jimmy C Newman: Potato Song
Del Reeves: I'm Walking/Blueberry Hill/Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On

10:00: Fender
Osborne Brothers (host): Rocky Top
The 4 Guys: Let Me BE There
Osborne Brothers: Fastest Grass Alive

10:15: Union 76
Bill Monroe (host): Goodbye Old Pal
Skeeter Davis: Amazing Grace
Jim Ed Brown: Sometimes Sunshine
Bill Monroe: I'm Sitting on Top of the World

10:30 Trailblazer
Roy Acuff (host): Just A Friend
Grandpa Jones: Oh, Suzannah
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: A Mansion in the Sky

10:45: Beech-Nut
Tex Ritter (host): Just Beyond the Moon
Charlie Louvin: Little Reasons/Will You Visit Me on Sundays/What are Those Things
Jim & Jesse: Diesel on My Tail
Crook Brothers: Eighth of January
Stuart Hamlin: It Is No Secret/This Old House

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): In the Misty Moonlight
Jeanne Pruett: Hold to My Unchanging Love
Charlie McCoy: Orange Blossom Special
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Sam McGee: Kentucky Turkey Buzzard
Hank Snow: There's A Fool Such as I

11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): Devil Woman
Marion Worth: Shake Me, I Rattle
Ronnie Robbins: Too Much Love Between Us/Mama Tried
Marty Robbins: Don't Worry/Love Me/Letters Have No Arms/They'll Never Take Her Love From Me/Big Boss Man/El Paso/Singing the Blues

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