Grand Ole Opry 12/14 & 12/15

Before getting into the line-ups for the Grand Ole Opry shows this weekend, I wanted to comment on the four shows I saw last weekend while I was in Nashville.

Let's start with the Friday Night Opry, which I thought was the better of the two nights. The first show was sold out while the second show was about 90% filled. Toby Keith was the artist most came to see and he did not disappoint. Except for singing the song that is featured in the new Clint Eastwood movie, The Mule, Toby stuck to his older country songs. That was expected as he was appearing in support of the 25th anniversary of "Should've Been a Cowboy." He also sang "Who's That Man" and "I Love This Bar," among others. He had a full 30 minute segment on each show and filled out the segment. He talked about how much he loved being at the Ryman Auditorium and on the Opry. He also had Mac McAnally on stage with him and did a duet with Eddy Raven, stating how much Eddy had helped him out early in his career. While not a huge Toby Keith fan, I was pleased.

The real highlight for me was Emmylou Harris. Emmylou sounded and looked great on all four shows, and what I really liked was that she did three different songs on each of the shows, thus 12 different songs from Emmylou, including two with The Whites on Saturday. Emmylou is an icon and it would be nice if we could see her at the Opry more often. She really seemed to be enjoying herself both nights.

Besides Emmylou, Friday night also featured Opry members Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider, John Conlee and Connie Smith. All were excellent. It was nice to hear Jeannie do several Christmas songs including "I'll Be Home for Christmas," which she said was her favorite Christmas song. Mike Snider was very funny, with a couple of the jokes being on the edge. John and Connie also did a Christmas number on each show. As to the guest artists, I was impressed with Mac McAnally and his guitar work, of which he has won numerous awards, and Paul Thorn. This was my first time to see Paul, and I thought he was very good. And not to forget Eddy Raven, who I have seen several times. He did a nice job also.

Moving on to Saturday night, again the first show looked to be sold-out with the second show at about 70%. Quite a few empty seats in on the lower level in the back and upstairs in the side sections. Emmylou, John, Jeannie, Mike and Connie were back on Saturday night and with the exception of Emmylou, did much of the same material as on Friday. The Whites were great, as were Riders In The Sky on the first show and Bobby Osborne on the second. A highlight for me was the Riders doing "Corn, Water and Wood." If you haven't heard it, it is a nice holiday song with a message. And what can I say about Bobby Osborne, who turned 87 last week? He sounded and looked better from what I had seen of him in October. He is aging well, as is Buck White who will be turning 88.

As to the guest artists, I am a fan of The Secret Sisters. They get airplay on the Outlaw channel on satellite radio. These sisters have great harmony and they were fine on Saturday. As to the other guests artists, Kelsea Ballerini was the best of the bunch. She actually sounded a little better than in past experiences of seeing her and I was actually fine with her. I will be kind and give Tegan Marie a break as she is only 15. But, she really needs to tone it down a bit with the giggling and somewhat shouting into the microphone. I get the impression she is trying to be the next Taylor Swift, and who knows, she might end up being that. I saved the best for last and that is Jessie James Decker. I made the comment on Facebook, and to a few others, that I would be very happy if I never saw her on the Opry again!! She did "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," which I thought she butchered, and another Christmas song that she said she wrote. Let's just say she is no Brenda Lee. Besides the bad singing, she was wearing a very tight pant outfit that I would describe as being rainbow in color, and she did some prancing around on stage. While the younger people enjoyed it, you could tell that a lot of the older crowd did not. And with the mention of the younger Opry fans, they did enjoy Kelsea and Tegan, which in many ways is the audience that the Opry is targeting.

Overall, it was a great weekend as in addition to the Opry, I attended the songwriters session at the Country Music Hall of Fame which featured Lionel Cartwright and Hall of Fame member Charlie McCoy. Best free show in town. They were on stage for about 45 minutes, with Lionel doing the entire "Leap of Faith" and "I Watched It All on the Radio." Charlie did a number of songs that he participated in, such as "Old Dogs and Children," "Orange Blossom Special," and "The Boxer" among others. Lionel and Charlie also accompanied each other. After their show, which drew a good crowd, they did a meet and greet and I spent about 5-10 minutes talking to Lionel, mostly about the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree, which he performed on often. After a string of hits, Lionel basically disappeared and now he works in the ministry at a church in the Nashville area.

All in all, it was one of the better weekends in Nashville and at the Opry. Anytime you can see Emmylou Harris four times in one weekend, it is good. And anytime you can see the Opry at the Ryman Auditorium is special. Yes, downtown can be crowded and a little hard to get around. Parking is expensive and the Ryman is not the easiest building to get into, especially when there are two shows a night. But, it is all worth it in the end.
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Now for this weekend, the Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the three shows this weekend. While Saturday's Grand Ole Opry remains a two show night for one more weekend,  the Friday Night Opry is back down to one night.

Grand Ole Opry member John Conlee is the only artist scheduled for all three shows this weekend. He will be joined by Opry members Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider, Bobby Osborne, Chris Janson, Riders In The Sky and Chris Young on Friday night. There are only three non-members scheduled, which includes Kalie Shorr, Sawyer Brown and Steven Curtis Chapman.

Joining John Conlee on Saturday night will be Bill Anderson, Ricky Skaggs, The Whites and Steve Wariner on both shows, while Mike Snider will be appearing on the first show, while Jeannie Seely is set for the late show. Highlighting the guest list on Saturday is Country Music Hall of Fame members Alabama. They had been scheduled several weeks earlier but cancelled due to illness. They will be joined by Abby Anderson, Radney Foster, and Travis Denning, who had made his Opry debut several weeks earlier.

Friday December 14
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Kalie Shorr; Mike Snider
7:30: John Conlee (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Steven Curtis Chapman
Intermission
8:15: Chris Janson (host); Sawyer Brown
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Chris Young

(while I have Chris Janson listed as hosting the segment, I am not 100% sure of that fact).

Saturday December 15
1st show
7:00: John Conlee (host); Abby Anderson; Mike Snider
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); The Whites; Radney Foster
8:00: Steve Wariner (host); Travis Denning; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Alabama

2nd show
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Abby Anderson; John Conlee
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); The Whites; Radney Foster
10:30: Steve Wariner (host); Travis Denning; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Alabama
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the weekend of December 12 & 13, 2008:

Friday December 12
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jeannie Seely; Jimmy C Newman; Rebecca Lynn Howard
8:30: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; John Conlee; Jimmy Wayne
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jim Ed Brown; Elizabeth Cook; Ralph Stanley
9:30: Diamond Rio (host); Stonewall Jackson; Jack Greene; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press

Saturday December 13
1st show
7:00: John Conlee (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jeannie Seely; Hal Ketchum
7:30: Marty Stuart (host); Jack Greene; Connie Smith; Ralph Stanley
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jean Shepard; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; Mike Snider; Jimmy Wayne

2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Hal Ketchum
10:00: Marty Stuart (host); Mike Snider; Connie Smith; Ralph Stanley
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Charlie Louvin; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jean Shepard; Jimmy Wayne

From 25 years ago, Saturday December 11, 1993:

1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
John Conlee (host): Hit the Ground Running
Skeeter Davis: The Christmas Boogie
John Conlee: I Don't Remember Loving You

6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Charlie Walker (host): Right or Wrong
Jean Shepard: Slippin' Away
Charlie Walker: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

7:00: Shoney's
Bill Monroe (host): Life's Highway
Jim and Jesse I'll Be an Angel Too
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
The Whites: Christmas Time's 'A Comin'
Rhonda Vincent: What Else Could I Do
Bill Monroe: Blue Moon of Kentucky

7:30: Standard Candy
Jim Ed Brown (host): Winter Wonderland
Holly Dunn: If Nobody Knew My Name
The Four Guys: Let There Be Peace
Ray Price: City Lights/San Antonio Rose
Holly Dunn: Feliz Navidad
Jim Ed Brown: Will the Circle Be Unbroken/I Saw the Light/I'll Fly Away/Gone at Last/We Wish You A Merry Christmas

8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Company's Comin'
Jeannie Seely: One Step Away
G. Johnson: He Called Me Baby/Release Me/Walkin' After Midnight
Brother Oswald: The End of the World
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Bill Cheatham
Porter Wagoner: Misery Loves Company

8:30: Kraft
Hank Snow (host): Geisha Girl
Bill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Jan Howard: White Christmas
Roy Drusky: Homesick
Connie Smith: Satisfied
Hank Snow: The Prisoner's Song
Tommy Varden: Lee Highway Blues

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Jim and Jesse: Thanks for the Trip to Paradise
Connie Smith: Away in A Manger
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
John Conlee: Rose Colored Glasses
Porter Wagoner: I've Enjoyed As Much of This As I Can Stand

10:00: Little Debbie
Jimmy C Newman (host): Louisiana Cajun Band
Jean Shepard: Slippin' Away
Jimmy C Newman: In the Cajun Mood

10:15: Sunbeam/Tennessee Pride
Charlie Walker (host): Deep Water
Wilma Lee Cooper: This World Can't Stand Long
Charlie Walker: Silver Dew on the Bluegrass Tonight/Pick Me Up on Your Way Down

10:30: Piccadilly
Billy Walker (host): Charlie's Shoes/Heartaches by the Numbers/Slowly
Skeeter Davis: The Christmas Boogie
Billy Walker: He Only Needs It for the Weekend

10:45: Opry Book
Jim Ed Brown (host): Southern Loving
Roy Drusky: Will Santy be Coming to Shanty Town
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Golden Slippers
Jim Ed Brown: Morning

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): That Heart Belongs to Me
The Whites: Pins and Needles
Ray Price: For the Good Times/Heartaches by the Numbers
The Four Guys: I Know; I Know
Rhonda Vincent: I'm Not Over You
Hank Snow: I've Done at Least One Thing That Was Good in My Life

11:30: General Jackson
Bill Monroe (host): Hills of Kentucky
Jan Howard: Oh, Lonesome Me
Jeannie Seely: I'll Be Home for Christmas
Johnny Russell: Got No Reason Now for Going Home
Bill Monroe: Christmas Time's 'A Comin'
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There were a couple of events that took place this weekend back in 1973. Lorrie Morgan, age 14, made her Grand Ole Opry debut with her father George Morgan on the Friday Night Opry December 14, 1973. That was also George's 25th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. The next day, Saturday December 15, was the start of Skeeter Davis' suspension from the Opry. The suspension would last almost 18 months. And on that same date, Grand Ole Opry member Del Wood celebrated her 20th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Here is the running order from 45 years ago, Saturday December 15, 1973:

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Charlie Walker (host): Good Deal, Lucille
Bill Carlisle: Business Man
Joe Edwards: Maiden's Prayer
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down

6:45: Rudy's
Stoney Cooper (host): Forgive; Forget Us #1
The Four Guys: Catfish John
Stoney and Carol Lee Cooper: I Shall not Be Moved

7:00: Rudy's
Stu Phillips (host): Pride
Barbara Fairchild: Behind Closed Doors
Jimmy Martin: You Don't Know My Mind
Stu Phillips: There Must Be Another Way to Say Goodbye
Barbara Fairchild: Kids Stuff
Jimmy Martin: Sunny Side of the Mountain
Barbara Fairchild: Teddy Bear Song
Stu Phillips: Release Me

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Dottie West: Country Sunshine
Del Wood: There's A Big Wheel
Crook Brothers: Mississippi Sawyer
Roy Acuff: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Dottie West: Rings of Gold
Del Wood: Power in the Blood
Roy Acuff and Del Wood: Meeting in the Air

8:00: Martha White
Tex Ritter (host): Christmas Carols by the Old Corral
Jeanne Pruett: Count Me Out
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
Justin Tubb: Texas Dance Hall Girl
Tex Ritter: Fall Away
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Willis Brothers: Bob
Justin Tubb: Bad, Bad Leroy Brown

8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): Snowbird
Hank Locklin: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Marion Worth: Shake Me; I Rattle
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Hank Locklin: Jambalaya
Marion Worth: Delta Dawn
Hank Snow: I'm Not at All Sorry for You

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Charlie Walker (host): My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
Dottie West: Country Sunshine
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Charlie Walker: Release Me
Dottie West: Sweet Memories
Bill Carlisle: Have a Drink of Me
Charlie Walker: White Christmas

10:00: Fender
Stoney Cooper (host): Doin' My Time
Jimmy Martin: Free Born Man
Carol Lee Cooper: Paper Roses

10:15: Union 76
Stu Phillips (host): Crystal Chandelier
Barbara Fairchild: Baby Doll
Stu Phillips: C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S

10:30: Trailblazer
Roy Acuff (host): Sunshine Special
Del Wood: There's A Big Wheel
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

10:45: Beech-Nut
Tex Ritter (host): Christmas Carols by the Old Corral
Justin Tubb: Rambling Man
Crook Brothers: (?)
Tex Ritter: Willie, the Wondering Gypsy and Me

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Jeanne Pruett: Love Me
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
Hank Snow: It's Over, Over Nothing
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Kirk McGee: Victor Rag
Hank Snow: My Little Old Home Down in New Orleans

11:30: Elm Hill
Hank Locklin (host): Please Help Me I'm Falling
Marion Worth: Faded Love
The Four Guys: Let Me Be There
Hank Locklin: I Can't Stop Loving You
Marion Worth: Okie from Muskogee
The Four Guys: Hello Walls/Big Bad John/Wings of a Dove
Hank Locklin: Danny Boy

Del Wood was honored during the first show with a cake an a bouquet of flowers.

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