Who else finds it hard to believe that Saturday is December 1st? Next thing you know, we will be celebrating 2019. I don't know about anyone else, but this year seemed to go very fast.
Before getting into the four shows for this weekend, a note regarding Joe Diffie. As most of you know, Joe was scheduled to work both shows on Tuesday in celebration of his 25th anniversary as an Opry member. However, due to the death of his father on Saturday, Joe cancelled those appearances. Our thoughts go to Joe and his family and like everyone else, I look forward to seeing Joe back on the Opry soon.
Some have asked about Jesse McReynolds. Jessie's wife Joy has posted that Jesse is back in the hospital for a few days to be treated with some antibiotics to help him regain his strength. He is doing fine, they just want to help him get back to where he was.
As to the shows this weekend, it is nice to see full line-ups for both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, with two shows each night. Grand Ole Opry members scheduled for all four shows include Hall of Fame member Connie Smith, John Conlee, Mike Snider, and Jeannie Seely. Bill Anderson is scheduled for the early show on Friday and both shows on Saturday, while The Whites are set for both shows Friday and Bobby Osborne for both shows Saturday.
There is a very nice group of guest artists scheduled for this weekend, with the highlight being Kathy Mattea scheduled for all four shows. I have said it before, and I will go on record again as I really believe that Kathy would make a great member of the Grand Ole Opry. She signs great country music and always enjoys herself when appearing on the Opry. And with the shortage of female members, three is no reason why she should not be asked to join.
Appearing with Kathy on Friday night will be Michael Tyler, veteran and frequent Opry guest Darryl Worley, Dom Flemons, Mickey Guyton and Crowder. Saturday's guest list, besides Kathy Mattea, includes The Quebe Sisters, John Berry, Tracy Lawrence and Keb' Mo'. It is really nice to see Tracy back on the Opry. After making many appearances last year, he has only appeared on the Opry several times in 2018.
Friday November 30
1st show
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Michael Tyler; Mike Snider
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Darryl Worley; Dom Flemons
8:00: John Conlee (host); The Whites; Kathy Mattea
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Mickey Guyton; Crowder
2nd show
9:30: Mike Snider (host); Michael Tyler; The Whites
10:00: Connie Smith (host); Darryl Worley; Dom Flemons
10:30: John Conlee (host); Kathy Mattea
11:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Mickey Guyton; Crowder
Saturday December 1
1st show
7:00: John Conlee (host); Mike Snider; The Quebe Sisters
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Kathy Mattea; John Berry
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Tracy Lawrence; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Connie Smith (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Keb' Mo'
2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Mike Snider; The Quebe Sisters
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Kathy Mattea; John Berry
10:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Tracy Lawrence; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Connie Smith (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Keb' Mo'
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from the final weekend in November ten years ago, the weekend of November 28 & 29, 2008:
Friday November 28
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; John Conlee; Buddy Jewell
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Dailey & Vincent
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Stonewall Jackson; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Charlie Daniels Band
8:30: Charley Pride (host); Jean Shepard; Jim Ed Brown; Darius Rucker
Saturday November 29
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jim Ed Brown; Melonie Cannon
7:30: Charley Pride (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jeannie Seely; The Whites
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jean Shepard; Bar D Wranglers; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); John Conlee; Restless Heart
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Melonie Cannon
10:00: Charley Pride (host); Jan Howard; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jack Greene
10:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jean Shepard; Bar D Wranglers; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); John Conlee; Restless Heart
Now from 25 years ago, Saturday November 27, 1993, which was also the night that Joe Diffie became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
6:30: Bill Monroe (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Brother Oswald
6:45: Jack Greene (host); Bill Carlisle; Jeanne Pruett
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Skeeter Davis; Collin Peterson; Jimmy C Newman; Mike Snider
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Joe Diffie; Jean Shepard; Alison Krauss
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Billy Walker; Jeannie Seely; Charlie Louvin; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jan Howard; Jim Ed Brown; The Whites; The Four Guys
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Stonewall Jackson; The Whites; The Four Guys; Billy Walker
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jean Shepard
10:15: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman
10:30: Bill Monroe (host); Alison Krauss; Michael Cleveland
10:45: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jeannie Seely; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Joe Diffie; Jeanne Pruett; Mike Snider
11:30: Charlie Walker (host); Charlie Louvin; Jack Greene; Johnny Russell
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Finally, while never becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry, country music superstar Tim McGraw made his Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday November 30, 2002. Let's go back and look at that line-up from 16 years ago:
1st show
6:30: Tennessee Pride
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take an Old Cold Tater
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/Statue of a Fool
Jimmy Dickens: Mountain Dew
7:00: Gutter Guard/Standard Candy
Brad Paisley (host): Wrapped Around
Pinmonkey: Barbed Wire and Roses/I Drove all Night
Brad Paisley: Jingle Bells/Silent Night/I Wish You'd Stay
Tim McGraw: Sing Me Home/Don't Take the Girl/Unwound
T. Graham Brown: I Tell it Like it Used to Be/Turn the Wine into Water/Darlene
Brad Paisley: I'm Gonna Miss Her
8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me
Jeannie Seely: Winter Wonderland
Doyle Dykes: Wabash Cannonball/O Holy Night
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Cherokee Shuffle
Porter Wagoner: The Carroll County Accident
8:30: Physicians Mutual
Bill Anderson (host): Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Billy Walker: You Gave Me a Mountain
Mountain Heart: A Road I've Been Down/Real Time
Bill Anderson: Christmas In Your Arms
2nd show
9:30: Tootsie's
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed
Jack Greene: Try a Little Kindness/Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
T. Graham Brown: I Tell it Like it Used to Be/Turn the Wine into Water
Jimmy Dickens: We Could
10:00: Lincoln Mercury/Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Osborne Brothers: Lonesome Feeling/Rocky Top
Tim McGraw: Sing Me Home/Don't Take the Girl/Unwound/Everywhere
10:30: WSM online.com/Wildhorse Saloon
Jimmy C Newman (host): Allons A Lafayette
Jan Howard: I'll Be Home for Christmas
Doyle Dykes: Wabash Cannonball/O Holy Night
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Snowflake Reel
11:00: Coca-Cola
Bill Anderson (host): Liars 1; Believers 0
Charlie Louvin: Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep
Vince Gill: Look at Us
Pinmonkey: Barbed Wire and Roses/I Drove all Night
Bill Anderson; A Lot of Things Different
11:30: Tootsie's
Jeannie Seely (host): Anytime
Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away
Mountain Heart: The Grand Tour/Lee Highway Blues
Jeannie Seely: Today I Started Loving You Again
There you have it for this week. Welcome to December and I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend.
Looks like 4 nice shows this weekend. Bob
ReplyDeleteI would certainly vote for Kathy Mattea being invited to be a member of the Opry.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt was announced today that Dolly Parton, who became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in January 1969, will celebrate her 50th anniversary as a member of the Opry on Saturday October 12. Tickets go on sale Friday November 30. It is being marketed as "Opry's Dolly Week."
ReplyDeleteI know October is a long way from January, but perhaps that is the earliest or most convenient date that Dolly and the Opry could agree upon. And it would appear that Dolly will not be on the Opry in 2019 until that October date.
I see several artists this weekend who would make wonderful members. Kathy Mattea at the top of the list, but also Tracy Lawrence, Darryl Worley, John Berry and some of my absolute favorites, The Quebe Sisters.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Dolly- It’s hard to believe every Saturday night is booked for 10 months. In my eyes this just shows what the Opry really means to her. I don’t understand these artists today.
On another note, I came upon a wonderful audio interview on YouTube of Eddy Arnold with Ralph Emery. Eddy goes into much detail on his early career and his experience with the Opry. I would recommend those who love that era of the Opry’s history to look for it. The YouTube cannel is emorysmemories.
Boy the new wave of entertainers out of Texas is doing the Lone Star proud tonight.
ReplyDeleteThe Quebe Sisters will be just a footnote tomorrow night. But I'll still listen.
Yes, the sarcasm is intended.
Well, you probably knew who it was by the tone but I forgot to sign the Texas remark.
ReplyDeleteJim
Knightsville, IN
In case anyone missed it, the Dolly 50th Anniversary ticket sale was a disaster this morning. The Opry was completely overwhelmed. The online system went down, the phones went down and the Opry was apologizing all over the place on Facebook -- people were waiting two hours on hold then getting disconnected, etc. And I got two personal e-mails from a ticket representative apologizing. Apparently the only people who were happy were the ticket scalpers who managed to snatch up a bunch of tickets and then jack up the prices. I'm lucky, I managed to get a seat in the nosebleeds, but not until it took two hours.
ReplyDeleteLooks like both shows on Oct. 12th are SOLD OUT. Bob
DeleteYes, it was a disaster and I am sure the Opry will take steps to make sure it doesn't happen again. I was reading some of the comments on Twitter and Facebook and I am amazed (and I shouldn't be) at the number of people who think they are going to a Dolly Parton concert or Dolly Parton show, and not an Opry show.
DeleteMy thought is that it might end up like Vince Gill's 25th anniversary show where Vince was on stage the entire time and he selected the artists to appear with him and sang duets with everyone. The Dolly night might be patterned the same way with Dolly selecting the artists to appear that night. On the other hand, it could end up with Dolly doing one hour of the show, singing three songs, listening to others singing her hits, getting her railroad watch, and then heading down the road.
Saw some of the ticket prices on the secondary sites and some are well over $1,000!!!
DeleteWhen Mr. Acuff hit his fiftieth--and except for the Crook Brothers and Kirk McGee, he was the first member to get there--remember that he opened the show but then Minnie Pearl came out and technically hosted the rest of it, with appearances by Chet Atkins, among others. That's also the night Dolly reunited with Porter as part of her effort to save her variety show, and they were on the 8:00 show, and came out to visit with Mr. Acuff, who was suitably pleased to see Dolly for reasons I need not leave to the imagination.
DeleteAs far as I know, Gary Carter is still playing steel with Connie. Man, he's got Weldon Myrick's style down on her songs and really showed just now on Cry, Cry, Cry.
ReplyDeleteHope Nat was listening, I know he like the steel.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
I wasn't, but I will!
DeleteGary is amazing.
All politics aside, the Opry and Country Music has lost probably the highest public office figure fan it ever had. Maybe that is a bit strong but George H. W. Bush and Barbara truly seemed to love Country Music and they were not ashamed to show it.
ReplyDeleteRemember him being on the Opry with Mr. Acuff and Mr. Acuff helping him change from his formal jacket to the blue Opry baseball jacket. This was while he was Vice President. How about Randy Travis doing the song promoting his Thousand Points of Light. How many formal statements did they make about the passing or the honors given to our Country friends.
When Mr. Acuff passed, there was this statement: "Barbara and I mourn the death of our longtime friend and King of Country Music. He helped the Grand Ole Opry become America's heirloom of the heart. Often Barbara and I visited him and heard Roy sing "The Great Speckled Bird" or "Wabash cannonball". We marveled at his talent. Even more, we cherished his kindness, modesty, love of life and loyalty to friends"
Also, remember the Economic Summit in Houston in July 1990 when Mr. Acuff, Bill Monroe, Minnie Pearl, Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride, The Gatlin's and Grant Turner were invited to be the entertainment for the Bush's and six foreign leaders including Margaret Thatcher?
Just thought we should remember.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Well written Jim, and thanks. I share your thoughts.
DeleteThe Oak Ridge Boys have a strong personal long-lived relationship with President George HW Bush and Mrs Barbara Bush. They will be a part of the services as they were for Mrs. Bush.
ReplyDeleteIt was just shown on the news that they will sing Amazing Grace and they read a statement from Duane Allen.
DeleteJim
I'm starting to worry about myself. I started the email about President Bush intending to ask a question.....but I got consumed in the memories.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the Opry will find it appropriate to remember him tonight. If not, I would kind of expect Bill Anderson to do one of his patriotic pieces and say something. Old Army Hat kind of seems fitting but then again, his re-write of Deck of Cards was centered and inspired by the Gulf War!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Larry Gatlin is on Fox News right now via Skipe.
ReplyDeleteJim
The program began last night with Mike Terry announcing that it was dedicated to George Bush's memory, talking a bit about his life and how much he loved country music, and then asking for a moment of silence. I couldn't listen to the rest of the show, but at the very least, they did a very nice dedication.
ReplyDeleteBest I could tell, nothing was said by any artist and they did not do a dedication before the second show. Just providing info.
ReplyDeleteJim
Knightsville, IN