Grand Ole Opry 7/26 & 7/27

Officially, the post-Sally Williams era begins at the Grand Ole Opry this weekend with two pretty nice shows. After two weekends of the mid-week format, the Opry is back to the usual Friday and Saturday format for the two shows, with hosts for each segment.

Grand Ole Opry members scheduled for both nights include The Whites, Jeannie Seely, Connie Smith and Crystal Gayle. That group will be joined on the Friday Night Opry by members Dailey & Vincent, Jesse McReynolds and Ricky Skaggs. On Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, Bobby Osborne and Pam Tillis will be joining the quartet.

Holly Williams will be guesting both nights this weekend. Sam Outlaw, along with Mac Powell And The Family Reunion are scheduled for Friday night, where they will be joined by Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots. Saturday night, in addition to Holly, those listed include William Michael Morgan, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Williams & Ree, Mason Ramsey and Billy Ray Cyrus.

Friday July 26
7:00: Dailey & Vincent (host); The Whites; Holly Williams
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jesse McReynolds; Bobby Bones & The Raging Idiots
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Sam Outlaw; Crystal Gayle
8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); Mac Powell And The Family Reunion

Saturday July 27
7:00: Connie Smith (host); William Michael Morgan; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Holly Williams; Darin & Brooke Aldridge
Intermission
8:15: The Whites (host); Mason Ramsey; Billy Ray Cyrus; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Pam Tillis (host); Williams & Ree; Crystal Gayle

Nice to see Jeannie Seely back on the Opry after missing the past couple of weekends, while Mike Snider is still missing, as some have noted.

Finally, in addition to performing on the Grand Ole Opry, Darin & Brooke Aldridge will also be hosting the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree this weekend.
________________________________________________________________________

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the final full weekend in July 2009:

Friday July 24
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jim Ed Brown; Mark Wills
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Point Of Grace
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; T. Graham Brown
8:30: Vince Gill (host); Connie Smith; Mike Snider

Saturday July 25
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Mandy Barnett
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); The Whites; Cherryholmes
8:00: Mike Snider (host); Jim Ed Brown; Clay Walker; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jimmy C Newman; Carrie Underwood

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Mandy Barnett
10:00: Mike Snider (host); The Whites; Clay Walker
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Stu Phillips; Cherryholmes; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jimmy C Newman; Carrie Underwood

Now from 25 years ago, Saturday July 30, 1994:

1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Jack Greene (host); Until My Dreams Come True
Wilma Lee Cooper: All on Account of You
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/He Is My Everything/Satisfied

6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Grandpa Jones (host): Apple Jack
Jan Howard: Beneath Still Waters
Grandpa, Ramona and Alisa Jones: Whiskey Before Breakfast/Liberty

7:00: Shoney's
Mike Snider (host): Bending the Strings
Jean Shepard: If Teardrops Were Pennies
Brother Oswald: Kansas City Kitty
Jimmy C Newman: Pistol Packin' Mama/Alligator Man
Mike Snider: Foggy Mountain Breakdown

7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Monroe (host): Sittin' On Top of the World
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Whitewater Bluegrass Band: I'm on My Way Back to the Old Home/Free Born Man
Bill Monroe: Close By/Roanoke/Blue Moon of Kentucky

8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): Family Reunion
The Four Guys: It's All Right (to Have a Good Time)
Charlie Louvin: I Don't Love You Anymore
Mac Wiseman: Love Letters in the Sand
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Snow Flake Reel
Bill Anderson: The Touch of the Master's Hand

8:30: Kraft
Hank Snow (host): I'm Movin' On
Ray Pillow: I Wonder Where You Are Tonight
Jeannie Seely: Too Far Gone
Charlie Walker: Who'll Buy the Wine
The Whites: Alabama Jubilee
Hank Snow: The Restless Ones/Are You Lonesome Tonight

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Bill Anderson (host): Before I Met You
Wilma Lee Cooper: Come Walk with Me
Charlie Louvin: I've Been Playing Bridge Tonight
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Jeanne Pruett: Temporarily Yours
Bill Anderson: Still

10:00: Drs. Cream
Jack Greene (host): I Don't Believe I'll Fall in Love Today
Ray Pillow: Someone Had to Teach You
Jack Greene: Wanting You, But Never Having You/Ever Since My Baby Went Away

10:15: Tennessee Pride/Sunbeam
Grandpa Jones (host): Little Pink
Jan Howard: Somebody's Always Saying Goodbye
Grandpa, Ramona and Alisa Jones: Solder's Joy/Fisher's Hornpipe

10:30: Gruhn Guitar
Bill Monroe (host): Why Did You Wander
Roy Drusky: It's My Way of Loving You
Bill Monroe: I'm Working on a Building/Mule Skinner Blues

10:45: Bob Evans
Jean Shepard (host): Are You Teasing Me
Moore & Moore: My Baby Think's He's A Train
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Bill Cheatham
Jean Shepard: Why Don't You Haul Off and Love Me

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): I Don't Hurt Anymore
The Whites: Swing Down Chariot
Whitewater Bluegrass Band: Think of What You've Done
Johnny Russell: Ain't 'Cha Even Gonna Cry
Hank Snow: Black Diamond

11:30: Cates Pickles
Mike Snider (host): Lonesome Road Blues
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me
Charlie Walker: Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
The Four Guys: Look Out for Me, Muddy Water
Mac Wiseman: Jimmy Brown, The Newsboy
Mike Snider: Salty Dog Blues/Dueling Banjos

Finally, from 50 years ago, Saturday July 26, 1969:

1st show
6:30: Charlie Louvin (host); Jean Shepard; The Four Guys
6:45: Jim Ed Brown (host); Norma Jean; Del Wood
7:00: Roy Acuff (host); Jack Greene; Jeannie Seely
7:30: Billy Walker (host); Loretta Lynn; Ray Pillow; Crook Brothers
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Dottie West; Bill Carlisle; Louie Roberts
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; Johnny Darrell; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Jack Greene (host); The Four Guys; Norma Jean; Del Wood
10:00: Charlie Louvin (host); Jean Shepard; Ray Pillow
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Bill Carlisle; Johnny Darrell
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Loretta Lynn
10:45: Lester Flatt (host); Jeannie Seely; Crook Brothers; Dottie West
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Billy Walker; Jan Howard; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Marion Worth; Louie Roberts
___________________________________________________________________________

With this year being the 45th anniversary of the opening of the new Grand Ole Opry House, I thought it would be good to go back and look at the line-up from that first year. So here is the running order from Saturday July 27, 1974:

1st show
6:30 Mrs Grissoms
Willis Brothers (host): Ghost Riders in the Sky
Jan Howard: Think I'll Go Somewhere & Cry Myself to Sleep
Willis Brothers: Bob

6:45 Rudy's
Wilburn Brothers (host): There Must Be More to Love Than This
Jean Shepard: At the Time
Ray Pillow: Living in Tall Cotton
Wilburn Brothers: Arkansas

7:00 Rudy's
The Four Guys (host): She's All I Got
Connie Eaton: Welcome to My World
Lonzo and Oscar: Charming Betsy
The Four Guys: Fall Away
Connie Eaton: Why Don't You Love Me
Lonzo and Oscar: Mountain Dew
The Four Guys: Turn Your Radio On

7:30 Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Back in the Country
Connie Smith: I Never Knew What that Song Meant Before
Charlie Walker: Odds & Ends; Bits & Pieces
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Cotton Eyed Joe
Roy Acuff: Wabash Cannonball
Connie Smith: Farther Along
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Roy Acuff: Cabin in Gloryland

8:00 Martha White
Billy Grammer (host): Gotta Travel On
Marion Worth: You're the Reason I'm Living
Louie Roberts: Where Did My True Love Go
Billy Grammer: Westphalia Waltz
Marion Worth: Kentucky Rose
Louie Roberts: Make the World Go Away
Billy Grammer: My Window Faces the South

8:30 Stephens
Roy Drusky (host): Early Morning Rain
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Harold Weakley: Where No One Stands Alone
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Instrumental
Roy Drusky: Jody & The Kid
Jeanne Pruett: Hold to My Unchanging Love/Love Me/You Don't Need to Move A Mountain
Roy Drusky: Last Date/A Satisfied Mind

2nd show
9:30 Kellogg's
Charlie Walker (host): Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
Jan Howard: You Don't Know Me
Charlie Walker: Odds & Ends; Bits & Pieces
Willis Brothers: Cool Water
Jan Howard: Love Is Like a Spinning Wheel
Charlie Walker: I Saw the Light

10:00 Fender
Wilburn Brothers (host): Knoxville Girl
Jean Shepard: Slippin' Away/I'll Do Anything
Wilburn Brothers: There Must Be More to Love Than This

10:15 Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Old Time Sunshine Song
Connie Eaton: Let Me Be There/Take My Hand Precious Lord
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird/Somebody Touched Me

10:30 Trailblazer
Ray Pillow (host): Excuse Me
Lonzo and Oscar: From Your Shoulders to Mine
Louie Roberts: Kaw-Lija
Ray Pillow: Tall Cotton

10:45 Beech-Nut
Billy Grammer (host): Don't Drop It
Connie Smith: Back in Baby's Arms
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Chicken Reel
Billy Grammer: Peace in the Valley

11:00 Coca-Cola
Roy Drusky (host): Anymore
The Four Guys: Down By the Lazy River
Marion Worth: Kentucky Rose
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
The Four Guys: Hello Walls/Big Bad John/Wings of A Dove
Sam McGee: Worry, Worry Blues
Roy Drusky: One Day at A Time

11:30 Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): I Walk Alone
Jeanne Pruett: Count Me Out/Satin Sheets
Charlie Louvin: It Almost Felt Like Love Again Today
Charlie Louvin and Diane McCall: Something to Brag About
Marty Robbins: Don't Worry/Love Me/Devil Woman/Long Gone Lonesome Blues/I'm Wanting To/Letters Have No Arms/They'll Never Take Her Love From Me/El Paso

An interesting, and forgotten name from that night is Connie Eaton. Connie was from Nashville, Tennessee, and began recording as a teenager in the 1960s for Chart Records. Chart Records was the label that established Lynn Anderson as a country star and at the time, Connie was considered the "next" Lynn Anderson. Her first record, released in 1968, "Too Many Dollars, Not Enough Sense" was actually a Liz Anderson song, Lynn's mother.

In 1970 Connie received a nomination for "Most Promising Female Vocalist" by Billboard magazine based on her first Top 40 record, "Angel of the Morning." While she she would release a few more singles in he career, she would have only one more Top 40 hit, "Lonely Men, Lonely Women" which peaked at #23 in 1975. While she would record a few more songs for ABC Records, none of those were successful and by the late 1970s, Connie was out of the music business.

Connie Eaton, who was born in 1950, passed away from cancer at the age of 49 in 1999.

There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend.