Grand Ole Opry 10/4 & 10/5

Welcome to the month of October and with it being the first weekend in October, the Grand Ole Opry will be celebrating it's 94th birthday. It should be a fun time and I will be in Nashville beginning tomorrow, through the rest of the week. I am sure that I will be seeing many old friends, readers of the blog, and some new folks. I'll be hanging around the Grand Ole Opry House and Plaza area, so if you see me, please say hi.

The Grand Ole Opry will be celebrating it's birthday with two shows Friday and Saturday night, along with the Saturday afternoon birthday concert featuring Terri Clark.

Not taking anything away from the Friday Night Opry, but Saturday will be the big day, as in addition to Terri Clark's concert, the Opry Birthday Bash Plaza Party will also be taking place. There will be live music on the outdoor stage, food trucks, games and much more, including Opry bingo and other games sponsored by a variety of organizations.

As to the entertainment on the outdoor stage, the scheduled performers include Carson Peters & Iron Mountain, Jessica Rose, Waterloo Revival, Hannah Dasher, Anna Vaus, Filmore and Davisson Brothers. The music begins with Carson at 10:30 a.m. and continues until the start of the 2nd Opry show.

While the line-ups have not been posted yet for the weekend shows, I can tell you who is listed as "scheduled to appear." For the Friday Night Opry, the names listed include Kathy Mattea, Gene Watson, Dailey & Vincent, Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry, and Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers.

The Gatlin Brothers and Kathy Mattea are also on the schedule for Saturday night, and they will be joined by Terri Clark, Lee Greenwood and Trace Adkins. If you are one of those who thinks that Trace has been doing a few of these birthday shows lately, you are right. In looking back at the most recent birthday weekends, Trace has appeared in 2018, 2015, 2014 and 2010. So he has a few of these weekends under his belt.

Obviously with only a few names listed for each of the weekend shows, there is still room for a few more. Hopefully, the line-ups will be filled out and we won't get short-changed on the number of artists appearing for the birthday weekend.

I'll update as I can.
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 10 years ago, the first weekend in October 2009:

Friday October 2
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jo Dee Messina
7:30: Lorrie Morgan (host); Jean Shepard; Jim Ed Brown; Caitlin Lynn; Mike Snider
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Terri Clark
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Mindy Smith; Carrie Underwood

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jo Dee Messina
10:00: Lorrie Morgan (host); Jean Shepard; The Whites; Caitlin Lynn; Mike Snider
10:30: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Terri Clark
11:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Mindy Smith; Carrie Underwood

Saturday October 3
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Cherryholmes
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jack Greene; Grand Master Fiddle Champion; Gene Watson
8:00: Jean Shepard (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Restless Heart; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Hal Ketchum (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; The Whites

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Cherryholmes
10:00: Mike Snider (host); Jack Greene; Grand Master Fiddle Champion; Gene Watson
10:30: Jean Shepard (host); Stonewall Jackson; Restless Heart; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Hal Ketchum (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; The Whites

Now from 25 years ago, Saturday October 1, 1994:

1st show
6:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Bill Carlisle
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Jean Shepard
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jack Greene; Jan Howard; Brother Oswald; Jeanne Pruett
7:30: Bill Monroe (host); Ricky Skaggs; Vince Gill; Alison Krauss
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); The Four Guys; Charlie Louvin; The Whites; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Boy Howdy; Roy Drusky; Mike Snider

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Ray Pillow; Jeanne Pruett; Boy Howdy
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Jean Shepard
10:15: Jimmy Dickens (host); George Hamilton IV; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
10:30: Bill Monroe (host); Ricky Skaggs; Vince Gill; Alison Krauss
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jeannie Seely; The Whites; Del Reeves; Mike Snider
11:30: Johnny Russell (host)

Finally, from 50 years ago, Saturday October 4, 1969:

1st show
6:30: Willis Brothers (host); Linda Martel; Bobby Lewis
6:45: Billy Grammer (host): Liz Anderson; Jay Lee Webb
7:00: Bobby Lord (host); Jeannie Seely; Del Wood; Billy Troy Trio
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Johnny Carver; Bowes; Crook
8:00: Tex Ritter (host); Charlie Louvin; Marion Worth; Billy Ed Wheeler
8:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Osborne Brothers; Dolly Parton; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Buck Trent

2nd show
9:30: Bobby Lord (host); Willis Brothers; Jeannie Seely; Jay Lee Webb
10:00: Roy Acuff (host); Bobby Lewis; Jimmy Riddle
10:15: Billy Grammer (host); Liz Anderson Billy Troy Trio
10:30: Tex Ritter (host); Del Wood; Linda Martel; Margie Bowes; Crook Brothers
11:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Johnny Carver; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Charlie Louvin (host); Marion Worth; Billy Ed Wheeler; Diane McCall

A name from that night that many may not recognize is Billy Troy.

Billy Troy, who is the son of Uncle Josh Graves, the legendary dobro player fro Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs,  has achieved an extensive and exciting career in the entertainment industry. Billy spent every Friday and Saturday night of his youth standing backstage at The Grand Ole Opry watching his dad perform for record crowds. Feeling the excitement during each and every one of those performances molded Billy into the entertainer he is today.

As a young man, Billy stood in the coveted spot himself performing for Opry audiences and also had the honor of being introduced by Mr. Roy Acuff. The standing ovations and encores he received after those shows, stay with him as some of the most memorable times in his life as an entertainer. Billy penned a musical play documenting the times he spent backstage with his dad which was fittingly titled “Backstage Memories” and toured nationwide to sold out venues.

Billy’s success as a Nashville songwriter and music producer have garnered him several Grammy nominations plus a Grammy finalist nod for his performance and production work in the bluegrass and country music fields. Billy’s highly successful series of “Pickin’ On” productions for CMH Records include the CDs: Pickin’ On the Beatles, Pickin’ On the Eagles, Pickin’ On Disney, which is featured in the Lion King Show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as well as, “Pickin’ On Christmas."

Billy Troy is still actively performing.
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Many of the Grand Ole Opry birthday weekends have taken place during the month of October, and one of those weekends took place 28 years ago when the Opry celebrated its 66th birthday. Here is the line-up and running order from that weekend, October 4 & 5, 1991:

Friday October 4
1st show
6:30: Bill Monroe (host); Skeeter Davis; Jim Ed Brown; Charlie Louvin; George Hamilton IV
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jimmy C Newman; Wilma Lee Cooper; Bill Carlisle; Del Reeves
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Grandpa Jones; Connie Smith; Jim and Jesse
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); The Four Guys; Jeannie Seely
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The Whites; Mike Snider

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Hank Locklin; Ray Pillow; Jimmy C Newman; Diamond Rio
10:00: Roy Acuff (host); Grandpa Jones; Jim Ed Brown; Skeeter Davis
10:30: Bill Monroe (host); The Four Guys; George Hamilton IV; Charlie Louvin; Connie Smith
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Justin Tubb; Del Reeves; Mike Snider; David Houston
11:30: Bill Anderson (host); The Whites; Jim and Jesse; Johnny Russell

Saturday October 5
1st show
6:30: Bonanza
Bill Monroe (host): I'm Going Back to Old Kentucky
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Bill Monroe: Dark as the Night; Blue as the Day

6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Charlie Walker (host): Right or Wrong
George Hamilton IV: Till I Can Gain Control Again
Hank Locklin: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Charlie Walker: Drinking Champagne

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Funky Grass Band
Wilma Lee Cooper: Ghost Train
Bill Carlisle: Leave that Liar Alone
Roy Drusky: The Last Farewell
Osborne Brothers: Kentucky

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Connie Smith: You've Got Me Right Where You Want Me
Jim Ed Brown: Just for Old Time's Sake
Vince Gill: Little Liza Jane/When I Call Your Name
Grand Ole Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light

8:00: Martha White
Grandpa Jones (host): Apple Jack
Jim and Jesse: When I Dream About the Southland
The Whites: Doing it By the Book
Bill Anderson: Still/Southern Fried
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sugar in the Goard
Grandpa Jones: Gooseberry Pie

8:30: Opryland
Hank Snow (host): Address Unknown
The Four Guys: Way Down Deep
Del Reeves: A Dozen Pair of Boots
Mike Snider: Old Joe Clark/Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Jeannie Seely: When He Leaves You
Hank Snow: I'm Glad I Got to See You Once Again

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): You Gotta Have a License
Osborne Brothers: Tennessee Hound Dog
Ray Pillow: The Days When You Were Still in Love With Me
Vince Gill: Look at Us/Crying Holy Unto the Lord/When I Call Your Name
Porter Wagoner: Big Wind

10:00: Little Debbie
Grandpa Jones (host): Kitty Clyde
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Roy Drusky: Mississippi
Grandpa Jones: Tritzem Yodel

10:15: Tennessee Pride/Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Low & Lonely
Connie Smith: The Key's in the Mailbox/Satisfied
Grand Ole Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light

10:30: Pet Milk
Del Reeves (host): Two Dollars in the Jukebox/A Dime at a Time/Looking at the World Through A Windshield
David Houston: I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen
Del Reeves: Lay A Little Lovin' on Me

10:45: B.C. Powder
Bill Monroe (host): Mary Jane, Won't You Be Mine
Charlie Walker: Drinking Champagne
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Bill Cheatham
Bill Monroe: Wicked Path of Sin

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): White Silver Sands
Bill Carlisle: Knothole
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells
The Four Guys: We're Only Here for a Little White
Jim and Jesse: The Flower In the Desert
Hank Snow: That Lucky Old Sun

11:30: Creamette
Bill Anderson (host): Don't She Look Good
The Whites: Love Is a Rose
Jeannie Seely: I'll Be Around (When It's Over)
Mike Snider: Foggy Mountain Breakdown/Putting on the Dog
Bill Anderson: Deck of Cards

There you have it for another Grand Ole Opry birthday weekend. For those who will be attending this weekend, I hope to see you and for those who cannot, I hope you listen.

As always, thanks for reading and commenting.