Before getting to the Opry shows for this weekend, just a couple of comments regarding the Country Music Association Awards show last night.
I admit, I haven't paid close attention to this show for a few years. To me, it has lost a little of its appeal as the focus of country music has shifted. However, I made it a point to watch last night as I wanted to see how they were going to use all of the advertised "classic" country music performers. I was not disappointed. The segment featuring Ricky Skaggs was tremendous. He performed bluegrass with Kentucky Thunder, then country with what was basically an all-star band, featuring Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Marty Stuart, Carson Peters, and Sierra Hull among others. (Vince Gill was supposed to be a part of the tribute however he was hospitalized yesterday with kidney stones). During the performance there were numerous cuts to Sharon White Skaggs. Nicely done. Additionally, there was a nice gospel song that featured Marty Stuart and Garth Brooks debuted his new single, which sounded like a nice ballad/love sang to his wife, Trisha Yearwood.
As to the award winners, I thought all were deserving and I had no issues at all with any of the award winners. The show was entertaining. My only complaint, and I understand the reasoning, is why do we have to have a number of "non-country" individuals giving out the awards. Lionel Richie, for example, gave out the Entertainer of the Year Award. As I mentioned, I understand why they do it, but just don't care for it.
Finally, while it was fun to speculate, there was no Charles Esten last night and no Opry invitation.
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As for the Opry this weekend, The Grand Ole Opry continues its winter run at the Ryman Auditorium with two shows Friday and Saturday night. Both nights feature pretty solid line-ups.
Grand Ole Opry members John Conlee and Riders In The Sky are appearing on all four shows this weekend. They will be joined on Friday night by members Mike Snider, Steve Wariner, Jeannie Seely and the Charlie Daniels Band. Really nice to see Charlie doing a weekend show as most of his Opry appearances have come on weeknight shows. Saturday night, joining John and the Riders, will be Bill Anderson, Bobby Osborne and The Whites for both shows, along with Jeannie Seely on the first and Connie Smith on the second. The comes out to six Opry members on each show.
Guesting, and making his Opry debut on Friday night will be Travis Denning. Also appearing will be Striking Matches, Lauren Alaina, and Hall of Fame member Charlie McCoy. Saturday night has Kelsea Ballerini scheduled on both shows, along with Jimmy Wayne, another new act, Mac Powell and the Family Reunion. Gene Watson is scheduled for just the early show. Also scheduled for both shows is "Nashville" star Charles Esten.
Friday November 16
1st show
7:00: John Conlee (host); Striking Matches; Mike Snider
7:30: Steve Wariner (host); Travis Denning; Charlie McCoy
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Lauren Alaina
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Charlie Daniels Band
2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Striking Matches; Mike Snider
10:00: Steve Wariner (host); Charlie Daniels Band
10:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Travis Denning; Charlie McCoy
11:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Lauren Alaina
Saturday November 17
1st show
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Gene Watson; Jimmy Wayne
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Charles Esten
8:00: John Conlee (host); The Whites; Mac Powell and the Family Reunion; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Kelsea Ballerini
2nd show
9:30: Connie Smith (host); Jimmy Wayne; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); The Whites; Charles Esten
10:30: John Conlee (host); Mac Powell and the Family Reunion; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Kelsea Ballerini
As mentioned, Travis Denning will be making his Opry debut this weekend on the Friday Night Opry.
Travis, who has been in Nashville for a few years, was born on December 1, 1992 in Warner Robins, Georgia. He began pursuing his musical interests after listening to music with his father as a teenager, and he released his first single, "Ready for Tonight" in 2012. It did not make the charts. In 2014, after moving to Nashville, he signed a publishing contract with RED Creative Group, which led him to write songs for Jason Aldean, Justin Moore and Chase Rice, among others. He then began appearing as an opening act for a number of artists including Justin Moore and Chase Rice. In 2018, he signed to Mercury Nashville and released the single "David Ashley Parker from Powder Springs" which reached reached the low 30s on the country charts.
Appearing on the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night will be Mac Powell and the Family Reunion. Mac was one of the founding members of the Christian rock band Third Day, which recorded for Gray Dot Records. Originally from Alabama, Mac won the 2001 Gospel Music Association award for Male Vocalist of the Year. Mac formed his new group earlier this year.
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the weekend of November 14 & 15, 2008:
Friday November 14
8:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Mel McDaniel; Chris Young
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Emily West
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Radney Foster
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jan Howard; Elizabeth Cook; The Grascals
Saturday November 15
1st show
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); The Whites; Jamie O'Neal
7:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jimmy C Newman; The Time Jumpers
8:00: Diamond Rio (host); Charlie Louvin; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); TG Sheppard; Restless Heart
2nd show
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); The Whites; Jamie O'Neal
10:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Mel McDaniel; The Time Jumpers
10:30: Diamond Rio (host); Johnny Counterfit; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); TG Sheppard; Restless Heart
And from 25 years ago, Saturday November 13, 1993:
1st show
6:30: Bill Monroe (host); The Whites
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Riders In The Sky
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Four Guys; Jeannie Seely; Jack Greene; Stonewall Jackson
7:30: Marty Stuart (host); Bill Carlisle; Jan Howard; Charlie Walker; The Sullivan Family
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); John Conlee; Connie Smith; Brother Oswald; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jeanne Pruett; Jim Ed Brown
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jimmy Dickens; Deborah Allen; Marty Stuart
10:00: Bill Monroe (host); Marty Stuart; The Whites
10:15: Grandpa Jones (host); The Four Guys
10:30: Charlie Walker (host); Jimmy C Newman
10:45: Jack Greene (host); Riders In The Sky; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Connie Smith; John Conlee; Ray Pillow
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jan Howard; Jeannie Seely; Johnny Russell
Finally, from 50 years ago, Saturday November 16, 1968:
7:30: Standard Candy
Glaser Brothers (host): Gone on the Other Hand
Jeannie Seely: Little Things
Del Wood: Ballin' the Jack
The Four Guys: Turn Around, Look at Me
Glaser Brothers: I Wish I had Never Seen Sunshine
Jeannie Seely: He Called Me Baby
Del Wood: Tiger Rag
Jim Glaser: God Help You Woman
Glaser Brothers: The Last Thing on My Mind
8:00: Martha White
Bobby Lord (host): Live Your Life Out Loud
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Stringbean: Run Little Rabbit, Run
Crook Brothers: Turkey Know
Bobby Lord: True and Lasting Kind
Osborne Brothers: Son of a Sawmill Man
Sonny Osborne: Bugle Call Rag
Bobby Lord: Life Can Have Meaning
8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Hank Locklin: Country Hall of Fame
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: I'm Going Home on the Morning Train
Grandpa Jones: Are You From Dixie
Roy Acuff: You Win Again
Hank Locklin: Danny Boy
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: I Couldn't Care Less
Jimmy Riddle: Fox Chase
9:00: Luzianne
Ernest Tubb (host): Just Pack Up and Go
Charlie Louvin: What Are Those Things
Margie Bowes: Take Me As I Am
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Billy Parker: Four Walls
Charlie Louvin: Hey, Daddy/Will You Visit Me on Sundays
Ernest Tubb: Fraulein
9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Willis Brothers: I Dreamed of a Hillbilly Heaven
Marion Worth: Today I Started Loving You Again
Ernie Ashworth: Sad Face
Hank Snow: Indian Love Call
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Marion Worth: Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed
Hank Snow: Down the Trail of Aching Hearts
10:00: Fender
Bobby Lord (host): Blue Moon of Kentucky
Del Wood: 12th Street Rag
The Four Guys: Half a Man
Bobby Lord: Look What You're Doing to You
Spider Wilson: Sweet Bunch of Daisies
10:15: Pure
Roy Acuff (host): Ball Knob, Arkansas
Willis Brothers: Cimarron
Jeannie Seely: I'll Be All Smiles Tonight
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
10:30: Buckley's
Hank Locklin (host): Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Osborne Brothers: If Only I Could Count on You
Stringbean: Hot Corn; Cold Corn
Hank Locklin: I'm Knocking on Your Door
10:45: Newport
Ernest Tubb (host): I'm in the Jailhouse Now
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Each Season Changes You
Crook Brothers: Old Joe Clark
Ernest Tubb: It Sure Helps a Lot
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Grandpa Jones: Mountain Dew
Margie Bowes: You Oughta Hear Me Cry
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Rippling Waters
Hank Snow: Born to Lose
Grandpa Jones: A High Silk Hat
Sam McGee: Railroad Blues
Margie Bowes: Boll Weevil
Hank Snow: Under the Double Eagle
11:30: Lava
Charlie Louvin (host): That's What I'm Gonna Do, But How
Marion Worth: Almost Persuaded
Ernie Ashworth: A New Heart
Charlie Louvin and Bobby Osborne: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Marion Worth: How Great Thou Art
Ernie Ashworth: Oh, Lonesome Me
Charlie Louvin: What Are Those Things
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The line-up as also been posted for the Tuesday Night Opry on November 20:
7:00: Dailey & Vincent; Holly Williams
7:30: Henry Cho; Marshall Tucker Band
8:00: CeCe Winans; Chris Janson
8:30: Alabama
A really good Tuesday night.
There you have it for the final weekend before Thanksgiving. I hope everyone has a great holiday and doesn't eat too much turkey and pumpkin pie. As always, I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!
Sad news out of Nashville this morning as Grand Ole Opry member and Hall of Fame member Roy Clark has passed away. A true legend. Great musician, comedian, actor and singer. He could do it all. Well loved and he will be missed.
ReplyDeleteTruly sad about Roy Clark. Safe to say I'm not the only person whose first introduction to country music came via Hee Haw, so to me, he and Buck are the first country stars i remember.
ReplyDeleteOn an unrelated note, the winter run at the Ryman has been going on for about 20 years now. In the early years, it was a great way to showcase the Ryman as the most famous former home, but these days with everything else that goes on in downtown Nashville, it's almost more of a burden than a treat. The smaller size ensures a full house and the excitement that brings with it though.
Sad news about Roy Clark. He was at the Opry a couple of the times we were there and that was the only time we got to see him. Unfortunately, we never fought the crowd and went to see him at the Phil Harris festival held in Linton, about 40 minutes away, each year. Jan Howard was a regular in the last years as well and I kept telling her we were going to make it down but never did.
ReplyDeleteIt is also sad that in the mainstream, Roy and Buck are most remembered for Hee Haw, which I think non Country fans turn their nose up at. There was so much more to them than that show but it probably kept their name, especially Buck's, in the mainstream longer. On my way home this evening the network news mentioned Roy and played one line from Yesterday When I Was Young then said "probably best remembered as a star of Hee Haw.
Byron may have mentioned it in his nice remembrance but I don't hink so. Recall Roy appeared a few times on The Beverly Hillbillies as a relative of grannies. He was quite a diverse entertainer!
Jim
Knightsville, IN