Holiday weekends can be interesting at the Grand Ole Opry as a number of acts are on the road most holiday weekends. While Labor Day is the big one, with state and county fairs, Memorial Day can also present challenges as many communities have parades and other events that a number of artists get scheduled for.
Looking at the Opry schedule for this weekend, there are pretty decent line-ups on both days, with some star power on both nights. Grand Ole Opry members scheduled for both nights are Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider, Riders In The Sky, Connie Smith and Dailey & Vincent. Joining that group on Friday night will be Lorrie Morgan and Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press. Saturday will feature the Opry's newest member as Bobby Bare will be performing, along with The Whites and Trace Adkins.
After a successful Opry debut earlier in the year, Sister Hazel returns on Friday night for a repeat performance, joined by guest artists William Michael Morgan, Jackie Lee, Holly Williams and Clare Dunn. There was a time when Danny Gokey was making semi-regular guest appearances on the Opry, but that was a few years ago. He is back on the schedule for Saturday night, along with Tegan Marie and David Ball.
Friday May 25
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); William Michael Morgan; Mike Snider
7:30: Lorrie Morgan (host); Connie Smith; Jackie Lee
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Holly Williams
8:45: Dailey & Vincent (host); Clare Dunn; Sister Hazel
Saturday May 26
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Mike Snider; David Ball
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Tegan Marie; Bobby Bare
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); The Whites; Danny Gokey; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Dailey & Vincent (host); Trace Adkins
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Looking back, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up 10 years ago, the weekend of May 23 & 24, 2008:
Friday May 23
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); The Whites; Gary Mule Deer
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mountain Heart; Jimmy C Newman
9:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Johnny Western; Keith Anderson
9:30: John Conlee (host); Connie Smith; Emerson Drive
Saturday May 24
1st show
6:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Connie Smith; Keni Thomas
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Gary Mule Deer; The Time Jumpers
7:30: The Whites (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Jimmy Wayne
8:00: Ray Pillow (host); Jan Howard; Mountain Heart; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Shooter Jennings
2nd show
9:30: The Whites (host); Connie Smith; Keni Thomas
10:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Mountain Heart; Jimmy Wayne
10:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Charlie Louvin; Shooter Jennings; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Gary Mule Deer; The Time Jumpers
Now from 25 years ago, Saturday May 29, 1993:
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jim Ed Brown
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Del Reeves; Ramona Jones
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Skeeter Davis; Jack Greene; The 4 Guys; The Whites
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Vic Willis Trio; Jeanne Seely; Ray Pillow; Matthews, Wright & King
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Osborne Brothers; Jean Shepard; Brother Oswald; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Billy Walker; Wilma Lee Cooper; Jan Howard; Mike Snider
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Roy Drusky; The Whites; Stonewall Jackson; Matthews, Wright & King
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Bill Carlisle; Ramona Jones
10:15: Charlie Walker (host); Jeanne Pruett
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); George Hamilton IV
10:45: Bill Anderson (host); Jean Shepard; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Osborne Brothers; Jack Greene; David Houston; Jim Ed Brown
11:30: The 4 Guys (host); Jan Howard; Vic Willis Trio; Mike Snider
And from 50 years ago, Saturday May 25, 1968:
7:30: Standard Candy
Tex Ritter (host): (?)
Charlie Walker: (?)
The 4 Guys (host): Woman; Woman
Bill Carlisle: (?)
Tex Ritter: I Dreamed of a Hillbilly Heaven
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Billy Grammer: Money, Love & War
Wilma Lee Cooper: Pirate King
Crook Brothers: Fire on the Mountain
Roy Acuff: I Couldn't Believe it was True
Brother Oswald: Weary, Weary, Blues
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On
Roy Acuff: Where Could I Go But to the Lord
8:30: Stephens
Bill Anderson (host): Get While the Getting's Good
Bobby Lord: Live Your Life Out Loud
Martha Carson: Satisfied
Elton Britt: Chime Bells
Bill Anderson: Still
Henson Cargill: Skip a Rope
Snuffy Miller: Touch My Heart
9:00: Luzianne
Bill Monroe (host): Mule Skinner Blues
Jim Ed Brown: The Enemy
Archie Campbell: The Cockfight
Lorene Mann: Don't Put Your Hands on Me
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Devil's Dream
Jim Ed Brown: Cajun Stripper
Archie Campbell & Lorene Mann: The Dark End of the Street
Bill Monroe: Roanoke
9:30: Kellogg's
Porter Wagoner (host): Make Yourself at Home
Willis Brothers: Diamonds on Your Hands
Stu Phillips: Juanita Jones
Cousin Jody: Mockingbird
Willis Brothers: Cool Water
Stu Phillips: That's A Chance I'll Have to Take
Speck Rhodes: In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree
Porter Wagoner: Dooley
10:00: Fender
Bobby Lord (host): Blue Moon of Kentucky
Bill Carlisle: Mr. Jones
Wilma Lee Cooper: Shackles & Chains
Bobby Lord: Live Your Life Out Loud
10:15: Pure
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train to Memphis
Bill Monroe: Jimmy Brown the Newsboy
Wilma Burgess: Baby
Larry McNeely: Red Headed Boy
10:30: Buckley's
Bill Anderson (host): Wild Weekend
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Martha Carson: (?)
Bill Anderson: No One's Gonna Hurt You Anymore
10:45: Kent
Porter Wagoner (host) w/Dolly Parton: The Last Thing on My Mind
Billy Grammer: Money, Love & War
Crook Brothers: Lafayette
Porter Wagoner: Be Proud of Your Man
Mack McGaha: Katy Hill
11:00: Coca-Cola
Jim Ed Brown (host): Pop A Top
Archie Campbell: Trouble in Amen Corner
The 4 Guys: Why Can't Be Act Like Little Chidren
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Walking in My Sleep
Jim Ed Brown: The Enemy
Sam McGee: Wheels
The 4 Guys: Love of the Common People
Jim Ed Brown: Gentle on My Mind
11:30: Lava
Marty Robbins (host): Singing the Blues
Willis Brothers: Monongahela Valley
Stu Phillips: The Note in Box #9
Cousin Jody: Cripple Creek
Don Winters: Baby, I'm Waitin' for You
Willis Brothers: Four Walls
Marty Robbins: Ribbon of Darkness/Begging to You/Don't Worry/Bouquet of Roses/I Could Never Be Ashamed of You/Take These Chains from My Heart/Lovesick Blues
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Finally, it was 19 years ago, Saturday May 29, 1999 that future Grand Ole Opry member Brad Paisley made his debut on the Opry. Coming up from West Virginia, Brad was well received that night, leading to more guest appearances, and finally, Opry membership.
1st show
6:30: Opry Book
Jimmy C Newman (host): La Cajun Band
Skeeter Davis: I Can Call Jesus Anytime
Jimmy C Newman: Cochran De Lait
B. Duhon: Texa-Cajun
6:45: The Circle Club
Jack Greene (host): Over Time
The Whites: San Antonio Rose
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/He Is My Everything
7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Stay A Little Longer
Jan Howard: My Heart Skips A Beat
Bill Carlisle: Leave that Liar Alone
Joni Harms: 2-Steppin' Texas Blues/Catalog Dreams
Porter Wagoner: When the Saints Go Marching In/I'll Fly Away/Amazing Grace/I Saw the Light
Porter Wagoner: Y'All Come
7:30: Standard Candy
Billy Walker (host): Let's Think About Living
Brad Paisley: Who Needs Pictures/Me Neither
Sherrie Austin: I've Never Been Kissed/Lucky in Love
Billy Walker: Back on the Mountain Again
8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): I've Got Too Much Time on My Hands
Jim & Jesse: Blue Ridge Mountain Sunset
Young Guns: Take this Heart
Holly Dunn: Daddy's Hands
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Cherokee Shuffle
Bill Anderson: Still
8:30: Physicians Mutual
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind the Barn
Jean Shepard: Tennessee Waltz
Johnny Russell: Got No Reason Now for Going Home
George Hamilton IV & V: Forever Young
Del Reeves: I Would Like to See You Again
2nd show
9:30:
Porter Wagoner (host): Night Train to Memphis
Jeannie Seely: I'm Almost Ready
Jimmy C Newman: Cajun Honey
Sherrie Austin: Put Your Heart into It/I've Never Been Kissed
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home/Cabin in Gloryland
10:00: Lincoln Mercury
Jim Ed Brown (host): Looking Back to See
Wilma Lee Cooper: A Hero's Death
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells/Pop A Top
10:15: The Circle Club
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed
Brad Paisley: Who Needs Pictures/Sleeping on the Fold Out
Jimmy Dickens: A Death in the Family
10:30: Epaphone
Holly Dunn (host): That's What Your Love Does to Me
Jack Greene: This One Belongs to Me
Holly Dunn: There Goes My Heart Again
10:45: Joggin' In A Jug
Jean Shepard (host): Gone, Gone, Gone
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Fire on the Mountain
Jean Shepard: Secret Love
11:00: Coca-Cola
Bill Anderson (host): Po' Folks
George Hamilton IV & V: Abilene
Ray Pillow: Cinderella
Joni Harms: Two-Steppin' Texas Blues/Catalog Dreams
Bill Anderson: Deck of Cards
11:30: Opryland Inn
Johnny Russell: Folsom Prison Blues
Stu Phillips: Colorado/Only God
Del Reeves: You Comb Her Hair
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down/There's A Star Spangled Banner Somewhere
There you have it for this week. I hope everyone has a very safe Memorial Day weekend. Please remember why we celebrate this special day.
Any idea where Jesse McReynolds has been?
ReplyDeleteNormally I am pretty kind with "kid" acts, but Tegan Marie has no business being on the Opry. Her version of the great Johnny Cash song "Ring of Fire" will hopefully never again see the light of day. Granted she is only 14 or so, but......
ReplyDeleteJesse posted on his Facebook page that he has been missing the Opry for the past several weeks as he has been having some health issues and is in rehab working to get his strength back.
ReplyDeleteMy turn!
ReplyDeleteI was listening on terrestrial radio and could barely here Tegan Marie until she did Ring of Fire and even then it wasn't coming in good. I take it the crowd applauded enough she did a little more and that was what I heard and it sounded pretty bad.
I got to hear Danny Gokey better and regardless of his message, the last thing he did almost sounded to me like it was only one chord. Just not pleasing melodically and it didn't sound like the crowd thought so either.
Some nights you just have to shake your head and ponder what brings the management to some of these talent.......decisions.
Hope Jesse gets along good. Even is his weak state he was tearing them up again when he appeared.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Made an impromptu trip down to Nashville for the weekend and were able to get tickets to the Saturday night Opry. The Opry House was full, with dozens of people standing between the mezzanine and balcony levels. Many of you heard the show on the radio, so I won’t get into a detailed list of highlights (Trace Adkins) and lowlights (Tegan Marie) but would make a couple of observations:
ReplyDelete• While Buck White didn’t make his customary appearance with the square dancers, Connie Smith did take a turn with the group;
• Really becoming clear that the sound setup at the Opry House is geared primarily toward the live audiences. Listening back, many songs where the mix sounds perfect in the Opry House do not translate at all when tuning in on the radio;
• Am noting, along with many of you, that many of the ‘big stars’ now appear almost exclusively in Tuesday night shows. Disappointing that the Saturday Grand Ole Opry doesn’t appear to be particularly special any longer.
• The Acuff House “tour” is well worth the $10 admission fee. We were able to walk up to the box office, buy $10 tickets and walk into the House. The tour is self guided and limited to the first floor of the house. The house is decorated with photos from Les Leveret and there are two movies playing in the house, one about Les and his career and the other a tribute to Mr. Acuff. We spent about 45 minutes in the house;
• The Opry’s Ole Red venue does stand out from the crowd on Lower Broadway. Much higher level location with dinner seating on the first floor and a bar on the next floor. Definitely has a higher class feel that many locations on Broadway.
As a non-Opry aside, we were able to get last minute tickets to the CMHoF opening concert for the Outlaws and Armadillos exhibit on Friday night. A fabulous show featuring Bobby Bare, Tanya Tucker, Jason Isbell, Jamey Johnson and many of the heroes of the outlaw movement. Willie’s Roadhouse will be replaying the show at some point in the future. I highly recommend it.
Woody, as always, thanks for your observations. I tend to agree with your comment regarding the Tuesday night show. With so many of the big name acts out on the road for the weekend dates, it is easy to see why the Tuesday show has become more popular, in many ways, then the Saturday night show. While I understand it, I wish the Opry would put more emphasis on the traditional Saturday date.
DeleteI've been reading this blog for a while, and decided to comment!
ReplyDeleteI love the Opry, but agree that it seems it is becoming less important to country music and to country music fans.