Grand Ole Opry 2/1 & 2/2

Welcome to February, and in the case of the Grand Ole Opry, welcome back to the Grand Ole Opry House after the winter run at the Ryman Auditorium. While the Ryman is nice and historic (and I still enjoy going down there for a show), the comforts of the Opry House are missed. And I am sure all of the artists are glad to be back.

As I post this on Wednesday evening, I see that Grand Ole Opry member Jesse McReynolds is on the schedule for Saturday night. Jesse has not been on the Opry for months as he has worked to regain his strength after his recent illness, and some wondered if he would ever be back. After all, this Grand Ole Opry legend who will be celebrating his 55th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on March 2, will be celebrating his 90th birthday in July. I know many of us are looking forward to hearing Jesse on Saturday night, and hopefully he makes it back.

As far as his fellow Grand Ole Opry members, scheduled for both nights are John Conlee, Mike Snider, Connie Smith and Riders In The Sky. In fact, those four artists will be hosting segments both nights, and in that order. Joining that quartet on Friday night will be Bobby Osborne, while on Saturday night, in addition to Jesse, the Whites are scheduled.

Guesting on Friday night will be former "Nashville" star Charles Esten, along with the Steep Canyon Rangers (minus Steve Martin), comedian Henry Cho, Tyler Rich, Kalie Shorr, Dukes of Hazzard star John Schneider and Charlie Worsham, who is also on the schedule for Saturday night. Joining Charlie on the Saturday guest list is Rachel Wammack, Gone West featuring Colbie Caillat, Jerrod Niemann, and the legendary Lee Greenwood.

Friday February 1
7:00: John Conlee (host); Kalie Shorr; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Tyler Rich; John Schneider
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Charlie Worsham; Henry Cho
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Steep Canyon Rangers; Charles Esten

Saturday February 2
7:00: John Conlee (host); Rachel Wammack; Jesse McReynolds
7:30: Mike Snider (host); The Whites; Charlie Worsham
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Gone West featuring Colbie Caillat; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Riders In The Sky (host); Jerrod Niemann; Lee Greenwood

That come out to 12 artists on Friday night, 11 on Saturday, with 5 Opry members on Friday and 6 on Saturday.

Hosting the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree at the Texas Troubadour Theater this week will be Sylvia.
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And now, from the first weekend in March 10 years ago, the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from the weekend of February 6 & 7, 2009:

Friday February 6
8:00: Lorrie Morgan (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jeannie Seely; The Whites
8:30: Pam Tillis (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jack Greene; Riders In The Sky
9:00: Mike Snider (host); Connie Smith; Oak Ridge Boys
9:30: John Conlee (host); Jean Shepard; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Montgomery Gentry

Saturday February 7
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Connie Smith; The Lost Trailers
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Aaron Tippin
8:00: Pam Tillis (host); Jean Shepard; Mark Wills; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; The Whites; Heidi Newfield

Now from 25 years ago, Saturday February 5, 1994:

1st show
6:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Jean Shepard; Stonewall Jackson
6:45: Bill Anderson (host); Skeeter Davis
7:00: Jack Greene (host); Jeanne Pruett; Brother Oswald; Charlie Walker; The Whites
7:30: Lorrie Morgan (host); Oak Ridge Boys; Baillie & The Boys; Jim Ed Brown
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Billy Grammer; Jan Howard; Mel McDaniel; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jimmy C Newman; Ricky Skaggs; John Conlee; Mike Snider

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Lorrie Morgan; Bill Carlisle; Jan Howard
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Riders In The Sky; Banjomania
10:15: Bill Anderson (host); Jack Greene
10:30: John Conlee (host); The Four Guys; Osborne Brothers
10:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); Mike Snider; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Oak Ridge Boys; Jeanne Pruett; Mel McDaniel
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Connie Smith; Baillie & The Boys; Johnny Russell

And from 50 years ago, Saturday February 1, 1969:

7:30: Hank Locklin (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jim and Jesse; Ray Pillow
8:00: Flatt and Scruggs (host); Dottie West; Justin Tubb; Stringbean; Crook Brothers; Archie Campbell
8:30: Roy Acuff (host); Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Grandpa Jones; Bill Carlisle
9:00: Bill Monroe (host); Billy Grammer; Stu Phillips; Cousin Jody; Fruit Jar Drinkers
9:30: Hank Snow (host); Willis Brothers; Billy Walker; Margie Bowes
10:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jim and Jesse; Ray Pillow; Archie Campbell
10:15: Flatt and Scruggs (host); Hank Locklin; Justin Tubb
10:30: Roy Acuff (host); Bill Monroe; Bill Carlisle
10:45: Billy Grammer (host); Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Stringbean; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Grandpa Jones; Willis Brothers; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Billy Walker (host); Stu Phillips; Margie Bowes; Cousin Jody

To finish it up for this week, I thought I would go back to Saturday February 2, 1980. Nothing particularly special happened that night, but I thought it would be nice to go back 39 years ago and see what went on at the Opry on that particular Saturday night.

1st show
6:30: Mrs Grissoms
David Houston (host): Lord, Don't Give Up on Me
Justin Tubb: Take a Letter Miss Gray
David Houston: My Elusive Dreams

6:45: Rudy's
Charlie Walker (host): Don't Play Me No Sad Songs About Texas
Billy Grammer: Rose of Old Pawnee
Del Wood: 12th St. Rag
Charlie Walker: San Antonio Rose

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): 'Ol Slewfoot
Wilma Lee Cooper: As Long as I Live
Lonzo and Oscar: Up This Hill and Down
Vic Willis: American Trilogy
Ernie Ashworth: There's No Place I'd Rather Be Tonight
Porter Wagoner: Cold Hard Facts of Life/Carroll County Accident/Green, Green Grass of Home

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jean Shepard: I Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep/Slippin' Away
Jim and Jesse: Let Me Whisper
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Grey Eagle
Roy Acuff: Carry Me Back to the Mountains/I Saw the Light

8:00: Martha White
Billy Walker (host): When A Man Loves A Woman
Connie Smith: When I Need Jesus, He's There/Sing, Sing, Sing
Ray Pillow: Hungry Man's Dreams
Stu Phillips: Oh, Canada
Billy Walker: You Turn My Love Light On

8:30: Acme
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets/Back to Back
The Four Guys: Mama Rocked Us to Sleep with Country Music
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cacklin Hen
Hank Snow and Kelly Foxton: Hasn't It Been Good Together

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Porter Wagoner (host): Tennessee Saturday Night
Lonzo and Oscar: Family Bible
David Houston: Lord, Don't Give Up on Me
Del Wood: Ballin' the Jack
Porter Wagoner: Satisfied Mind/I Thought I Heard You Calling Me Name/Your Old Love Letters/'Ol Slewfoot/Everything I've Always Wanted

10:00: Little Debbie
Billy Grammer (host): My Little Snow Deer/Silver Bells/Rainbow
Wilma Lee and Carol Lee Cooper: A Daisy A Day
Ernie Ashworth: Each Moment Spent with You
Billy Grammer: Columbus Stockade Blues

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
Howdy Forrester and Jimmy Riddle: Jesse Polka
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away

10:30: Trailblazer
Billy Walker (host): Don't Stop in My World
Jean Shepard: Slippin' Away
Vic Willis: You Feel Good All Over
Billy Walker: You Turn My Love Light On

10:45: Beech-Nut
Ray Pillow (host): Super Lady
Jim and Jesse: Paradise
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Lafayette
Ray Pillow: Another Day; Another Dollar

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): My Nova Scotia Home
Connie Smith: When God Dips His Love in My Heart
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
Justin Tubb: Travelin' Singing Man
Kirk McGee: Blue Knight
Hank Snow and Kelly Foxton: After the Love is Gone

11:30: Tennessee Pride
The Four Guys (host): Let Your Love Flow
Jeanne Pruett: Break My Mind/Back to Back
Stu Phillips: Great El Tigre/Crystal Chandeliers
The Four Guys: Daytime Friends/Fire

There you have it for this weekend. I hope everyone is ready for the Super Bowl this weekend and hopefully your favorite team wins. Regardless, I hope it is a good game and as always, I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend. Stay warm!!!