Grand Ole Opry 1/19 & 1/20---Updated

(The Grand Ole Opry updated the line-up this afternoon for the weekend. For those who read the earlier post, which I have corrected, I was right in my suspicion that Bobby Osborne would be hosting a segment. They have placed The Whites in that spot. Also added on Saturday were Emily West and The Steel Woods, while Sylvia has been added to the Friday line-up)


It is winter time in Nashville and the ice and cold wrecked last week's Friday Night Opry as there were numerous cancellations. Saturday was better with no weather related cancellations. As to this weekend, hoping the weather is better both for the artists and those planning to attend.

Looking at the schedule for the Grand Ole Opry this weekend, only two Opry members are scheduled for both nights: John Conlee and Mike Snider. Friday night they will be joined by Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Bill Anderson, and Dierks Bentley, who gets the entire last segment to himself. On Saturday night, Jeannie Seely, Bobby Osborne and Connie Smith will be joining John and Mike.

Guesting both nights this weekend will be one of the bright young talents in country music, Charlie Worsham. I have seen Charlie perform on the Opry numerous times and he always does a great job. He is a talented singer and songwriter. Joining Charlie on Friday night will be Tegan Marie and comedian Henry Cho. Saturday night, in addition to Charlie, will be "Nashville" star Charles Esten, veteran artists Darryl Worley and Lee Greenwood.

Friday January 19
7:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Mike Snider
7:30: John Conlee (host); Tegan Marie; Charlie Worsham
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Sylvia; Henry Cho
8:45: Dierks Bentley

Saturday January 20
7:00: John Conlee (host); Emily West; Mike Snider
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Charlie Worsham; Charles Esten
Intermission
8:15: The Whites (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Darryl Worley; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Connie Smith (host); The Steel Woods; Lee Greenwood

A note regarding Charles Esten. Even with "Nashville" finishing up its run and going into syndication, it is still nice to see that Charles hasn't forgotten where the Opry is. Most of the other actors from the show have stopped coming to the Opry and have gone back to acting. However, Charles seems to want to make a go at his music career, and while I know there are a number of people who do not care for him, I find him entertaining. Sometimes you have to see someone in person versus hearing them on the radio, and Charles is one of those artists. He definitely comes across better in person.

Now, from 10 years ago, Grand Ole Opry line-up from the 3rd weekend in January, the 18th & 19th, 2008.

Friday January 18
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); The Whites; Carolina Rain
8:30: Marty Stuart (host); Connie Smith; The Steeldrivers
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Buddy Jewell
9:30: Charley Pride (host); Jack Greene; Mandy Barnett

Saturday January 19
1st show
6:30: Jeannie Seely (host); The Whites; Jimmy C Newman; Del McCoury Band
7:00: Marty Stuart (host); Montgomery Gentry; Connie Smith; Charlie Daniels Band
8:00: Charley Pride (host); Jan Howard; Trace Adkins; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Mel Tillis

2nd show
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Mel Tillis
10:00: The Whites (host); Del McCoury Band; Montgomery Gentry
10:30: Charley Pride (host); Jack Greene; Trace Adkins; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Marty Stuart (host); Connie Smith; Charlie Daniels Band

It was during the televised portion on the Saturday night show that Charlie Daniels became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Marty Stuart handled the honors and among those joining Marty and Charlie on the televised segment were Montgomery Gentry, who the following year would be invited by Charlie to become Opry members themselves.

From the third weekend of January 25 years ago, Saturday January 16, 1993:

1st show
6:30: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Jan Howard; Billy Walker
7:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Roy Drusky; Patty Loveless
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Ricky Van Shelton; Alan Jackson; Barbara Mandrell; Waylon Jennings
8:00: Bill Monroe (host); Marty Stuart; Mike Snider; Brother Oswald; Opry Square Dance Band; Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Del Reeves; The 4 Guys; Joe Diffie

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jeannie Seely; Jim & Jesse; Barbara Mandrell
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Alan Jackson
10:15: Grandpa Jones (host); Marty Stuart; Ricky Van Shelton
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites
10:45: Stonewall Jackson (host); Connie Smith; Opry Square Dance Band; Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Patty Loveless; Justin Tubb; Bill Carlisle; Charlie Walker
11:30: Bill Monroe (host); Joe Diffie; Mike Snider; Cody Kilby

Some nights are better than others at the Opry and you can safely say that the 1993 show was one of those better nights. So good in fact, here is the actual running order of the show from that night:

1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Bill Anderson (host): Southern Fried
Connie Smith: Once A Day
Bill Anderson: This Is A Love Song

6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Grandpa Jones (host): Nashville on My Mind
Jan Howard: The One You Slip Around With
Billy Walker: Come A Little Bit Closer
Grandpa Jones: Four Stoned Walls & A Ceiling

7:00: Shoney's
Ricky Skaggs (host): Heartbroke
The Whites: Makin' Believe
Roy Drusky: Always
Patty Loveless: Timber, I'm Falling in Love/If My Heart had Windows
Ricky Skaggs: Loving Only Me

7:30: Standard Candy
Porter Wagoner (host): Y' All Come
Ricky Van Shelton: Statue of A Fool
Alan Jackson: Don't Rock the Jukebox/She's Got the Rhythm' I've Got the Blues
Barbara Mandrell: A Country Road/Wish You Were Here/If Loving You is Wrong/The Angel in Your Arms/Only A Lonely Heart Knows
Porter Wagoner & Waylon Jennings: Good Hearted Woman

8:00: Martha White
Bill Monroe (host): I'm On My Way Back to the Old Home
Marty Stuart: Steer Me on the Righteous Pathway/I'm Working on a Building
Mike Snider: Puttin' on the Dog
Brother Oswald: Mountain Dew
Opry Square Dance Band/ Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Rachel
Bill Monroe: The Walls of Time

8:30: Kraft
Hank Snow (host): Fraulein
Del Reeves: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
The 4 Guys: Way Down Deep
Joe Diffie: Startin' Over Blues/Is It Cold in Here
Hank Snow: The Prisoner's Song

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Jeannie Seely: One Step Away (From Coming Home)
Jim & Jesse: Headin' West
Barbara Mandrell: I Wish that I Could Fall in Love Today/Years/Crackers/Sleeping Single In A Double Bed/Only A Heart Knows
Porter Wagoner: I'm Gonna Act Right

10:00: Little Debbie
Bill Anderson (host): Wild Weekend
Alan Jackson: Way Down Yonder on the Chattahoochee/Tonight I Climbed the Wall
Bill Anderson (host): Still

10:15: Tennessee Pride/Sunbeam
Grandpa Jones (host): Don't 'Cha Cry, Melinda
Marty Stuart: The Blind Man Stood on the Road
Ricky Van Shelton: Somebody Lied
Grandpa Jones: Any Old Time

10:30: Opry Tours
Ricky Skaggs (host): I Wouldn't Change You If I Could
The Whites: Hangin' Around
Ricky Skaggs: Honey, Won't 'Cha Open that Door

10:45: B.C. Powder
Stonewall Jackson (host): Why I'm Walkin'
Connie Smith: The Deepening Snow
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sail Away Ladies
Stonewall Jackson: A Rounder Called Cotton-Eyed Joe

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Geisha Girl
Patty Loveless: Timber, I'm Falling In Love/If My Heart had Windows
Justin Tubb: Texas Dance Hall Girl
Bill Carlisle: Worried Man Blues
Charlie Walker: There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere
Hank Snow: I've Done at Least One Thing that Was Good in My Life

11:30: Nashville Network
Bill Monroe (host): Molly & Tenbrooks
Joe Diffie: If the Devil Danced in Empty Pockets/Honky Tonk Attitude
Mike Snider: Look What They've Done to the Dominica Chicken
Cody Kilby: Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Bill Monroe: Lord, Let the Gates Swing Wide for Me

Other notable events at the Opry the third week of January included the Opry's return to the Ryman Auditorium for the first time since March 1974, which took place the weekend of January 15 and 16, 1999. It was during the Saturday show that weekend when Ricky Skaggs surprised Trisha Yearwood with the invitation to become an Opry member.

Saturday January 20, 1973 was the date that Jerry Lee Lewis made his only Grand Ole Opry appearance. After promising to keep it short, Jerry played well beyond the time allowed. He even brought Del Wood out for a number with him, commenting that Del was the only Opry member backstage who treated him nice.

Finally, Mike Snider made his Opry debut on January 21, 1984, Stoney Cooper made his final Opry appearance on January 22, 1977, Brother Oswald became the Opry's newest member of January 21, 1995, and Hal Ketchum joined the Opry on January 22, 1994.

To finish it up for this week, let's go back to Saturday January 21, 1984, 34 years ago, when Mike Snider made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry:

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Jim Ed Brown (host): Pop A Top
Jan Howard: Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Jim Ed Brown: The Three Bells

6:45: Rudy's
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Jeannie Seely: When Your Heart's Been Stepped On
Stonewall Jackson: Muddy Water

7:00: Shoney's
Jack Greene (host): Try A Little Kindness
Jean Shepard: City Lights
Roy Drusky: Wings of a Dove
Bill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Wilma Lee Cooper: On the Evening Train
Jack Greene: I'd Do As Much for You/Midnight Tennessee Woman

7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Monroe (host): Footprints in the Snow
Jeanne Pruett: It's Too Late
Charlie Louvin: Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep/Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
Billy Walker: You Sang the Songs About El Paso
Crook Brothers/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sail Away Ladies
Bill Monroe: I'm  Working on a Building

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jim & Jesse: Blue Ridge Mountain Blues
Mike Snider: Shuckin' the Corn/Bells of St. Mary
Connie Smith: You've Got Me Right Where You Want Me
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away

8:30: Acme
Hank Snow (host): Forever & 1; Forever & 2
The 4 Guys: Sweet Ruby Red
Boxcar Willie: Fireball Mail/Train of Love/Hand Me Down My Walking Cane/Wreck of the Old 97/I'm Moving On/Wabash Cannonball/Night Train to Memphis
Jimmy C Newman: Cajun's Dream
Lonzo & Oscar: Midnight Flyer
Hank Snow: Paper Roses

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Jack Greene (host): Happy Tracks
The 4 Guys: Shenandoah
Jim Ed Brown: Morning
Jean Shepard: Second Fiddle
Ray Pillow: Please Don't Leave Me Anymore
Jack Greene: I'm Going Through Hell for an Angel

10:00: Little Debbie
Roy Drusky (host): Peel Me A Nanner
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Roy Drusky: Somewhere My Love

10:15: Sunbeam
Bill Monroe (host): Molly & Tenbrooks
Stonewall Jackson: Ol' Chunk of Coal
Bill Monroe: Cryin' Holy Unto the Lord

10:30: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train to Memphis
Teddy Wilburn: Way Down Deep in My Heart
Roy Acuff: Farther Along

10:45: Beech-Nut
Billy Walker (host): When A Man Loves A Woman
Jeanne Pruett: I Oughta Feel Guilty
Crook Brothers/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Chicken Reel
Billy Walker: Cattle Call

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Right or Wrong
Wilma Lee & Carol Lee Cooper: Where Is America Going
Jim & Jesse: Are You Tired of Hurting Me, My Darling
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
Charlie Louvin: Love at Home
Hank Snow: Little Buddy

11:30: Hardee's
Jimmy C Newman (host): Jambalaya
Boxcar Willie: Fireball Mail/Train of Love/Hand Me Down My Walking Cane/Wreck of the Old 97/I'm Moving On/Wabash Cannonball/Night Train to Memphis
Boxcar Willie: Cold, Cold Heart/Half as Much/I Can't Help It/Your Cheatin' Heart/They'll Never Take Her Love From Me/Lovesick Blues
Lonzo & Oscar: No One to Hear If He Cries/Lady Down on Love
Jimmy C Newman & Cajun Country: Texas-Cajun

Mike is known for his comedy and his down home mountain music with his string band. He began playing the banjo at age 16. Within a few years, he became the Tennessee State Bluegrass Banjo Champion and was the winner of the Mid-South Banjo Playing Contest. When he was 23, Mike was the National Bluegrass Banjo Champion. He began appearing on Nashville Now with Ralph Emery and in 1987 he joined the cast of Hee Haw. On June 2, 1990, Mike became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, with fellow comedian and Hee Haw star Minnie Pearl doing the honors.

That takes care of it for this week. As you can see, the middle of January has been a pretty busy week in the history of the Opry. As always, I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend.