Grand Ole Opry 9/20 & 9/21

After watching the first four chapters of Ken Burns' "Country Music" most of what I have read has been very positive and personally, I am very pleased. There have been a few comments nick picking the series, especially comments regarding who was left out or received very little mention. But I don't think anyone can complain as to the amount of research that Ken has put into the shows and the amount of archival material that he has presented. I am anxious to see the final four shows which begin on Sunday.

Now to this week's Grand Ole Opry shows. In looking at the schedule, it is nice to see both Connie Smith, who is scheduled to appear on Friday night, and Jesse McReynolds, scheduled for Saturday night, both on the list for this week. Both cancelled out last Saturday night.

Joining Connie Smith on the Friday Night Opry will be members The Whites, Bobby Osborne, Oak Ridge Boys, Riders In The Sky and Old Crow Medicine Show, the last two groups also scheduled to appear on Saturday night. Joining Riders, Old Crow and Jesse on Saturday night will be Jeannie Seely, Dailey & Vincent and Bill Anderson.

Guesting both nights will be Jeanne Robertson. Joining Jeanne on Friday night will be Lauren Jenkins, Austin Jenckes and Wade Hayes. Saturday night, along with Jeanne, will be Charles Esten, Hall of Fame member Charlie McCoy, and making her Grand Ole Opry debut, Tenille Arts.

Friday September 20
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Lauren Jenkins; The Whites
7:30: Connie Smith (host); Austin Jenckes; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
Intermission
8:15: Old Crow Medicine Show (host); Wade Hayes
8:45: Oak Ridge Boys (host); Jeanne Robertson

Saturday September 21
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Tenille Arts; Jesse McReynolds
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jeanne Robertson; Dailey & Vincent
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); Charles Esten; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Old Crow Medicine Show (host); Charlie McCoy

I notice that both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry are top heavy with the majority of the artists scheduled appearing during the first half of the show.

As mentioned, Saturday will be the Grand Ole Opry debut for Tenille Arts.

Born and raised in the small Canadian prairie town of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, her dream of performing took root at the tender age of eight. A neighbor overheard her singing a Shania Twain song in her back yard and encouraged her mom to help her pursue music.

After years of honing her craft and touring across Canada, Tenille began making the long trip to Nashville to advance her songwriting skills. Her determination and talent led to steadily increasing successes, as she earned a publishing deal in Nashville. Her 2016 self-titled debut EP peak at #1 on the iTunes Canada Top Country Album Chart and crack the Top 100 on the U.S. iTunes Country Album Chart.

Arts released her full-length album Rebel Child in October 2017, having written 10 of the 11 songs. It debuted at #2 on the iTunes Canada Top Country Album Chart, #12 on the AllGenres Chart and reached #17 in the United States. Tenille caught the attention of entertainment site PopCulture.com, who named her one of their 2018 Artists to Watch.

Tenille’s hauntingly mysterious song “Cold Feet” help grow her fan base with a popular music video that reached #1 on the CMT 12 Pack Countdown. The song also received much critical acclaim including a feature by Tom Roland in Billboard Country – rare for an independent release.

She made her national television debut on January 29, 2018 performing her original song “Moment of Weakness” for millions of viewers on the hit ABC show The Bachelor. The song debuted in the Top 20 on the iTunes U.S. Top Country Songs Chart. Six weeks later, Tenille’s accomplishments were rewarded in a huge way, as she signed a recording deal with Reviver Records – home to David Lee Murphy and Michael Tyler.

Immediately after signing her deal, Reviver released her “I Hate This” single. The groundbreaking music video was partially shot in a set that could rotate 360 degrees. As the cameras rolled, so did the set...and Tenille. The clip premiered on CMT and continues to receive airplay nationwide.

In May of 2018, Tenille took home all five of the Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards for which she was nominated. Her name was called time after time, as she was honored with “Female Artist of the Year,” “Songwriter of the Year,” “Album or EP of the Year” for Rebel Child, “Video of the Year” for “Cold Feet” and “Single of the Year” for “What He’s Into.”

As fall approached, The Bachelor producers invited Tenille to Los Angeles to film her second appearance singing an original song on the show. The episode is set to air January 21, 2019.

Rolling Stone named Tenille one of their “10 New Country Artists You Need To Know” in September, calling her “An edgy, Fearless-era Taylor Swift with crystalline vocals; ideal for hopeless romantics who are fire signs.” The feature went on to say: “‘I Hate This’ addresses the helplessness that comes with any broken relationship, with Arts’ voice drifting and lilting over a Dobro riff.”

And the answer to her most commonly asked question is yes, Arts is her real last name!
________________________________________________________________________

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the 3rd weekend in September 2009:

Friday September 18
7:00: John Conlee (host); Jean Shepard; George Hamilton IV; The Flatlanders
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jim Ed Brown; John Anderson
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Stonewall Jackson; Riders In The Sky; Suzy Bogguss
8:30: Vince Gill (host); Jan Howard; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; The Whites

Saturday September 19
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Buddy Jewell
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jack Greene; Jim Ed Brown; The Lovell Sisters
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Ray Pillow; Josh Thompson; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: John Conlee (host); Jean Shepard; The Whites; Raul Malo

Now from 25 years ago, Saturday September 17, 1994:

1st show
6:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Brother Oswald
6:45: Jim Ed Brown (host); Bill Carlisle; Jeanne Pruett
7:00: Jack Greene (host); Stonewall Jackson; The Whites; Lorrie Morgan
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Johnny Russell; Brenda Lee
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); The Four Guys; Ray Pillow; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jean Shepard; Charlie Walker

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jeanne Pruett; Stonewall Jackson; Brenda Lee
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Lorrie Morgan
10:15: Bill Anderson (host); The Whites
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jean Shepard
10:45: Jeannie Seely (host); Ray Pillow; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jimmy C Newman; Charlie Walker
11:30: Jack Greene (host); The Four Guys; Johnny Russell; Johnny Tillotson
______________________________________________________________________

It was an interesting night at the Grand Ole Opry 50 years ago, as on Saturday September 20, 1969, Bobby Bare rejoined the Grand Ole Opry. Bobby originally joined the cast in the early 1960s, then left. He came back in 1969 and stayed until 1974 when he left again. Bobby then had his Opry membership reinstated in 2018.

Here is the running order from that night 50 years ago, Saturday September 20, 1969 when Bobby rejoined the Opry:

1st show
6:30: Mrs Grissoms
Jack Greene (host); Your Love Takes Care of Me
Stringbean: Mountain Dew
Jack Greene: The Key that Fits Her Door
Stringbean: Battle of New Orleans

6:45: Rudy's
Osborne Brothers (host): Tennessee Hound Dog
The Four Guys: Games People Play
Doug Kershaw: Diggy Liggy Lo
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top

7:00: Luzianne
Archie Campbell (host): Make Friends
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Stu Phillips: Little Tin God
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Jean Shepard: Seven Lonely Days
Del Wood: Pony Boy
Willis Brothers: Buying Popcorn
Stu Phillips: The Wild Side of Life
Jean Shepard: I Thought of You/It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels

7:30: Standard Candy
George Morgan (host): Like a Bird
Skeeter Davis: Silver Threads and Golden Needles
Grandpa Jones: Are You From Dixie
George Morgan: You Gave Me a Mountain
Crook Brothers: Ida Red
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Grandpa Jones: Give My Love to Nell

8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): Shady Grove
Jim Ed Brown: Free Born Man
Bobby Bare: Margie's at the Lincoln Park Inn
Victor Jordan: Home Sweet Home
Lester Flatt: Folsom Prison Blues
Jim Ed Brown: The Three Bells
Bobby Bare: Detroit City
Lester Flatt: Ballad of Jed Clampett

8:30: Stephens
Ernest Tubb (host): Two Glasses Joe
Marion Worth: Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed
Earl Scruggs: Shuckin' the Corn
Jim and Jesse: I'm Hoping that You're Hoping
Ernest Tubb: Dear Judge
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Gray Eagle
Marion Worth: Don't Worry
Randy and Gary Scruggs: If I Were a Carpenter
Billy Parker: Sing Me a Sad Song

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Jack Greene (host): Walking on New Grass
Willis Brothers: Alcohol & #2 Diesel Don't Mix
Osborne Brothers: Tennessee Hound Dog
Del Wood: Ballin' the Jack
Jack Greene: The Key that Fits Her Door
Willis Brothers: Bob
Osborne Brothers: Making Plans
Jack Greene: Statue of a Fool

10:00: Fender
Stu Phillips (host): Little Tin God
The Four Guys: Put a Little Love in Your Heart
Marion Worth: You Ain't Women Enough
Stu Phillips: Crystal Chandeliers

10:15: Pure
George Morgan (host): Candy Kisses
Jean Shepard: A Real Good Woman
Stringbean: Lonesome Road Blues
George Morgan: Really Don't Want to Know

10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Little Maggie
Grandpa Jones: Banjo Sam
Skeeter Davis: Going Down the Road Feeling Bad
Lester Flatt: Before I Met You

10:45: Kent
Ernest Tubb (host): In the Jailhouse Now
Earl Scruggs: Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Crook Brothers: Sally Goodin
Ernest Tubb: Just a Drink Away

11:00: Coca-Cola
Archie Campbell (host): Scarlet Ribbons
Bobby Bare: The Streets of Baltimore
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Dance all Night
Archie Campbell: The Cockfight
Bobby Bare: Margie's at the Lincoln Park Inn
Sam McGee: Faded Love

11:30: Lava
Jim Ed Brown (host): Looking Back to See
Doug Kershaw: Louisiana Man
Jim and Jesse: When I Stop Dreaming
Jim Ed Brown: Love of the Common People
Doug Kershaw: Battle of New Orleans
Jim and Jesse: Johnny B Goode
Jim Ed Brown: The Old Lamplighter/The Three Bells/Pop a Top

I have heard that Bobby Bare has been feeling better lately and hopefully he continues to improve.

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