Grand Ole Opry 8/16 & 8/17

Before getting into the Grand Ole Opry shows for this weekend, WSM made news this week when the station ended their experiment with an afternoon sports talk show as George Plaster left the station.

According to the Nashville Tennessean, the decision was made to "part ways," as George Plaster was quoted as saying. He wouldn't go into any other details on his quick departure. According to Ryman Hospitality, the owners of WSM, "we are evaluating our options for this time slot, and in the meantime we are looking forward to providing alternative programming for our listeners."

The show, which began on July 15, lasted less than a month. On Tuesday, after the news and weather update at 3 p.m., the station returned to playing country music in the time slot that George Plaster's show would normally have aired.

As someone who is somewhat familiar with the workings of radio, when there is a sudden departure such as this one, the immediate speculation is that management made a decision to terminate the program and to let the host go. By saying it was a mutual decision to "part ways," WSM management was taking the high road. Add to the fact that George Plaster was immediately taken off the air with no prior announcement makes it appear that George was notified right before airtime.

My guess is that the show suffered from too much negative feedback, probably a lost of advertisers, and trying to shoehorn itself into a competitive sports radio market in Nashville. WSM was probably looking for a quick turnaround in the station's ratings, and when that didn't happen, decided to make the move sooner than later to terminate the program.

While the sports program has ended, I still would not be surprised if management continued to fiddle with the format. WSM does not draw high ratings in the Nashville market and over the past several months, Ryman Hospitality has brought in some new people to operate the station. For now, it is back to country music in the drive-time slot.
________________________________________________________________________

As to to Grand Ole Opry this weekend, the Friday Night Opry will feature two more shows with Carrie Underwood. For Carrie, these will mark her 10th and 11th Opry shows for 2019. I am not sure how many more she has considering that she will be heading out on the road for a major tour, but I know we all appreciate her continued commitment to the Opry.

Grand Ole Opry members who will be appearing with Carrie on both shows Friday night include Bill Anderson, Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Mark Wills and Old Crow Medicine Show. Mike Snider is set for the first show while Bobby Osborne is scheduled for the second. That is a great collection of Opry members.

Old Crow Medicine Show and Mike Snider are back for Saturday night, and will be joined by members Jeannie Seely, Connie Smith and Jesse McReynolds.

Guesting on Friday night will be Sarah Darling, Sister Sadie, legendary guitarist Tommy Emmanuel and Sam Outlaw. Saturday night has Duke's of Hazzard star John Schneider scheduled, along with Stephanie Quayle, Lillie Mae, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, and one of my personal favorites, Carson Peters & Iron Mountain.

Friday August 16
1st show
7:00: Bill Anderson (host); Sarah Darling; Sister Sadie
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Tommy Emmanuel
8:00: Old Crow Medicine Show (host); Mike Snider; Sam Outlaw
8:30: Mark Wills (host); Carrie Underwood

2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson (host); Sarah Darling; Sister Sadie
10:00: Mark Wills (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Carrie Underwood
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Tommy Emmanuel
11:00: Old Crow Medicine Show (host); Sam Outlaw

Saturday August 17
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Stephanie Quayle; John Schneider
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Carson Peters & Iron Mountain; Lillie Mae
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Old Crow Medicine Show (host); Jesse McReynolds
______________________________________________________________________

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the weekend of August 14 & 15, 2009:

Friday August 14
7:00: John Conlee (host); Jeannie Seely; Mike Snider; Justin McBride
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Rodney Atkins
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jim Ed Brown; Riders In The Sky; The Whites
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Vince Gill

Saturday August 15
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; The Infamous Stringdusters
7:30: Vince Gill (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jack Greene; Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
8:00: Mel Tillis (host); Stonewall Jackson; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Mike Snider (host); Connie Smith; Jim Ed Brown; Josh Turner

Now from 25 years ago, Saturday August 13, 1994:

1st show
6:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Wilma Lee Cooper
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Bill Carlisle; Brother Oswald; Ramona Jones
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Ray Pillow; Johnny Russell; Skeeter Davis
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Dave & Sugar; Hank Locklin; Oak Ridge Boys
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jeannie Seely; Charlie Walker; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The Four Guys; Charlie Louvin; Connie Smith

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Ray Pillow; Skeeter Davis; Martina McBride
10:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Charlie Louvin
10:15: Grandpa Jones (host); Hank Locklin
10:30: Mike Snider (host); Russ & Becky Jeffers
10:45: Jeannie Seely (host); Jim Ed Brown; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Charlie Walker; Roy Drusky; Barry and Holly Tashian
11:30: The Four Guys (host); Dave & Sugar; Connie Smith; Johnny Russell

And from 50 years ago, Saturday August 16, 1969:

1st show
6:30: Billy Grammer; Minnie Pearl
6:45: George Hamilton IV; Stringbean
7:00: Hank Locklin; Del Wood; Mel Tillis; Wilma Burgess
7:30: Roy Acuff; Wilburn Brothers; The Four Guys; Crook Brothers; Merle Kilgore; Brother Oswald
8:00: Tex Ritter; Loretta Lynn; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Bill Carlisle
8:30: Ernest Tubb; Bobby Lord; Billy Parker; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Billy Grammer; The Four Guys; Harden Trio; Merle Kilgore
10:00: Mel Tillis; Stringbean; Roger Miller
10:15: Bobby Lord; Del Wood; Melba Montgomery
10:30: Roy Acuff; Hank Locklin; Bill Carlisle
10:45: Ernest Tubb; Peggy Sue; Crook Brothers
11:00: Wilburn Brothers; Loretta Lynn; Jerry Smith; Sam McGee
11:30: Tex Ritter; Dottie West; Don Winters; Melba Montgomery; Harold Weakley
_________________________________________________________________________

Finally, going back to 1974 and continuing the look back to the first year in the new Grand Ole Opry House, here is the running order from that night 45 years ago, Saturday August 17, 1974:

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Willis Brothers (host): Truck Stop
Arlene Harden: Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)
Willis Brothers: Hillbilly Heaven

6:45: Rudy's
Lonzo and Oscar (host): Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
David Wilkins: Georgia Keeps Pulling on My Ring/Too Much Hold Back (and Not Enough Letting It Go)
Lonzo and Oscar: Mountain Dew

7:00: Rudy's
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host): Black Mountain Rag
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Del Wood: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: The Birds are Back
Bill Carlisle: Have a Drink on Me
Del Wood: Alabama Jubilee
Carol Lee and Wilma Lee Cooper: Give Me the Roses While I Live

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Back in the Country
Dolly Parton: Jolene
Louie Roberts: Peace in the Valley
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Black Mountain Rag
Roy Acuff: Wabash Cannonball
Dolly Parton: Love is Like a Butterfly
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away

8:00: Martha White
Billy Grammer (host): Bonaparte's Retreat
Jan Howard: Love is Like a Spinning Wheel
Nat Stuckey: Don't Pay the Ransom (I've Escaped)
Billy Grammer: Under the Double Eagle
Jan Howard: God Bless America Again
Nat Stuckey: It Hurts to Know the Feeling's Gone
Billy Grammer: Let Me Call You Sweetheart

7:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Marion Worth: You're the Reason I'm Living
Brian Shaw: The Devil Is A Woman
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Hank Snow: Paper Roses
Marion Worth: Kentucky Rose
Hank Snow: Hello Love

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Billy Grammer (host): Gotta Travel On
Willis Brothers: Bob
Jan Howard: Poison Red Berries
Billy Grammer: Birth of the Blues
Willis Brothers: There Goes the Farm
Jan Howard: Seeing is Believing
Billy Grammer: Just A Closer Walk with Thee

10:00: Fender
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host): I'm Going Home on the Morning Train
Arlene Harden: Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)
Del Wood: Beer Barrell Polka
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die

10:15; Union 76
Bill Carlisle (host): No Help Wanted
Nat Stuckey: Sweet Thang/It Hurts to Know the Feeling's Gone
Bill Carlisle: I'm Moving

10:30: Trailblazer
Roy Acuff (host): Old Time Sunshine Song
Dolly Parton: Love Is Like a Butterfly/I Will Always Love You
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

10:45: Beech-Nut
Lonzo and Oscar (host): Charming Betsy
David Wilkins: Too Much Hold Back
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Ida Red
Lonzo and Oscar: From Your Shoulders to Mine

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Louie Roberts: Anytime/Bouquet of Roses/Cattle Call
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Walking in My Sleep
Hank Snow: I Keep Dreaming of You All the Time
Louie Roberts: Aloha
Sam McGee: Freight Train/I Don't Love Nobody/Rubber Dolly
Hank Snow: That's You & Me

11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): Devil Woman
Marion Worth: You're the Reason I'm Living
Brian Shaw: Ohio, Why Did I Go
Ronnie Robbins: If You Love Me, Let Me Know
Marty Robbins: Love Me/Big Boss Man/I'm Wanting To/My Woman; My Woman; My Wife/El Paso

It was nice to see Nat Stuckey guesting on the Opry that night.

Reared in Atlanta in Cass County, Texas, Nat Stuckey attended Arlington State College, now the University of Texas at Arlington, from which he earned a radio and television degree.[1] Nat established himself as a radio announcer, first at KALT in Atlanta, Texas, and then at KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he worked alongside legendary announcer Frank Page and Louise Alley, a pioneer woman broadcaster and owner of an advertising agency. Along with Jim Reeves, Stuckey became a member of the former KWKH Country music show known as the Louisiana Hayride.

In 1965, Stuckey co-wrote Buck Owens' number-one single "Waitin' in Your Welfare Line". He then wrote and recorded "Sweet Thang" on Paula Records.

Another of Stuckey's compositions, "Pop a Top", was recorded by Jim Ed Brown on RCA Records in 1967. A year later, Stuckey signed with RCA himself. Among his hits for RCA were "Plastic Saddle" and "Sweet Thing and Cisco".

Stuckey teamed with Connie Smith on the duet of "Young Love", followed by another single and two albums. The duo was in the final nominations for a Grammy for their version of "Whispering Hope".

After seven years with RCA, Stuckey signed with MCA Records. With Conway Twitty and David Barnes producing, his single "Sun Comin' Up" made the top 20, but none of his other MCA releases did. He last charted in 1978 with the number 26 single "The Days of Sand and Shovels".

Stuckey also went on to direct in producing sessions, along with announcing and singing jingles on hundreds of regional and national commercials. He wrote two jingles for Coca-Cola in the 1970s, recorded twenty-two spots of McDonald's, and was the singing voice on the last Spuds MacKenzie commercial for Budweiser. He continued recording jingles into the 1980s.

Another project was the ownership of Music Row Talent, Inc., a booking agency in Nashville, Tennessee, which was in business for twelve years. Through his Texas Promise Land Development Company, Nat began acquiring land in both Tennessee and Texas.

Shortly before Stuckey's death, Randy Travis released "Diggin' Up Bones", which Stuckey co-wrote.
On August 24, 1988, Stuckey died of lung cancer in a Nashville, Tennessee hospital.

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