Grand Ole Opry 10/11 & 10/12

Update:

The line-ups have been posted.

Friday October 11
1st show
7:00: Bill Anderson; John Conlee
7:30: Mark Willis; Connie Smith; Mike Snider
8:00: Margo Price; Dierks Bentley
8:30: Emmylou Harris; Chris Janson

2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson; Chris Janson
10:00: Jeannie Seely; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; John Conlee
10:30: Riders In The Sky; Margo Price
11:00: Mark Wills; Emmylou Harris

Saturday October 12
1st show
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Bill Anderson; Jeannie Seely; Candi Carpenter
7:30: Margo Price; Toby Keith
8:00: Lady Antebellum; Hank Williams, Jr.
8:30: Dolly Parton

2nd show
9:30: Opry Square Dancers; Bill Anderson; Connie Smith
10:00: Candi Carpenter; Margo Price
10:30: Toby Keith; Lady Antebellum
11:00: Dolly Parton

Really a mix and match on both nights. Some of the veterans set for just one show, with a couple traditional segments and then two guest segments. While Dolly is scheduled for just the last segment on each of the Saturday night shows, it will be interesting to see what interaction she has the rest of the night. And what about a Friday night appearance?
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Well, it is finally here, "Dolly Week" at the Grand Ole Opry as Dolly Parton will be celebrating her 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. While the actual anniversary date was this past January, it took until October for Dolly and the Opry to agree on the date.

While the planning has been going on for a while, there was a big announcement earlier this week regarding Dolly, the Opry, and NBC. "Dolly Parton: 50 Years at the Grand Ole Opry" will air on November 26 from 9-11 p.m. This two hour special will include Dolly interacting and performing with many of the artists scheduled to appear on this weekend's Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. While Dolly is only scheduled to perform on Saturday night, it would appear that she will also be making some type of appearance on Friday. The special will also include Dolly talking about the Opry and highlighting the Dolly backstage exhibit that is on display in Studio A behind the Opry House.

So, with all of that going on, there still is no official line-up listed for the shows this weekend. Here is what I have:

Scheduled to appear on both of the Friday night shows are Emmylou Harris, Margo Price, Chris Janson, Bill Anderson and Mark Wills. Additionally, Dierks Bentley is scheduled for the 1st show. Margo Price is also scheduled to appear on both shows Saturday night, where she will be joined by Lady Antebellum, Jeannie Seely, Toby Keith and Candi Carpenter. And in a real surprise, Hank Williams, Jr. is scheduled for the 1st show.

More acts will be announced and I am sure there will be some special unannounced surprises. Once the full line-up is posted, I will update.
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the second weekend in October 2009. It was also the weekend of the Opry's 84th birthday celebration.

Friday October 9
7:00: John Conlee (host); Jeannie Seely; Riders In The Sky; Ricky Skaggs
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Patty Loveless
8:00: Mike Snider (host); BJ Thomas; Josh Turner
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jack Greene; Jean Shepard; Montgomery Gentry.

Saturday October 10
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); The Whites; Kathy Mattea
7:30: Lorrie Morgan (host); Jan Howard; George Hamilton IV; Jean Shepard
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jim Ed Brown; Joe Diffie; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Mike Snider; Diamond Rio

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Lorrie Morgan; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
10:00: Mike Snider (host); Ray Pillow; Kathy Mattea
10:30: Diamond Rio (host); Stu Phillips; Jean Shepard; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jim Ed Brown; Joe Diffie.

What was interesting is that both shows featured all Opry members with the exception of BJ Thomas on the Friday Night Opry, who was a former Opry member, and Kathy Mattea on Saturday night, who in my opinion, should be an Opry member.

Now from 25 years ago, Saturday October 8, 1994:

1st show
6:30: Jean Shepard (host); Bill Carlisle
6:45: Bill Anderson (host); Wilma Lee Cooper
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Stonewall Jackson; Brother Oswald; The Whites
7:30: Holly Dunn (host); Mel McDaniel; Riders In The Sky
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jeanne Pruett; Melissa Marshall; Jack Greene; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jim and Jesse; The Four Guys; Billy Walker; Mike Snider

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jeanne Pruett; Riders In The Sky; Holly Dunn
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Osborne Brothers
10:15: Jean Shepard (host); Ray Pillow
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); The Whites
10:45: Jack Greene (host); Charlie Walker; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jeannie Seely; Billy Walker; Johnny Russell
11:30: Mike Snider (host); The Four Guys; Connie Smith

Finally, from 50 years ago, Saturday October 11, 1969:

1st show
6:30: Glaser Brothers (host); Del Wood; Connie Eaton
6:45: Stu Phillips (host); Linda Martel; Jack Barlow
7:00: Roy Acuff (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Darrell McCall
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Charlie Walker; Dolly Parton; Crook Brothers; Buck Trent
8:00: Ernest Tubb (host); Skeeter Davis; Charley Pride; Billy Parker
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Fruit Jar Drinkers; Archie Campbell

2nd show
9:30: Glaser Brothers (host); Stu Phillips; Willis Brothers; Connie Eaton
10:00: Bobby Luman (host); Charlie Walker; Jack Barlow
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Skeeter Davis
10:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Del Wood
10:45: Ernest Tubb (host); Margie Bowes; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jimmy Newman; Darrell McCall; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Del Reeves (host); Justin Tubb; Charley Pride

Looking back into a few other dates that occurred this weekend, on Saturday October 11, 1986, the Grand Ole Opry celebrated it's 61st birthday. Here is the running order from that night, 33 years ago:

1st show
6:30: Bonanza
Jim Ed Brown (host): Looking Back to See
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Osborne Brothers: Once More
Jim Ed Brown: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On

6:45: Rudy's
Charlie Walker (host): The Mean Woman with the Green Eyes
The Four Guys: The Grandest Lady of them All
Charlie Walker and Joe Edwards: Ida Red

7:00: Shoney's
Tom T. Hall (host): The Year that Clayton Delaney Died
David Houston: No One Will Ever Know/Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Hank Locklin: Danny Boy
Ed Bruce: The Streets of Laredo/You're the Best Break this Old Heart Ever Had
Tom T. Hall: Old Dogs, Children and Watermelon Wine

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
The Whites: It Should've Been Easy
Connie Smith: Hold Me Back
Crook Brothers and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Instrumental
Roy Acuff: Meeting in the Air

8:00: Martha White
Bill Monroe (host): Molly & Tenbrooks
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
Jean Shepard: Second Fiddle
Riders In The Sky: Teardrops in My Heart
Roy Drusky and Riders In The Sky: Cool Water
Bill Monroe: Lord, Protect My Soul

8:30: Music Valley Drive
Hank Snow (host): Forever +1; Forever +2
Lorrie Morgan: Do I Love You
Billy Walker: Am I Blue
Del Wood: 12th Street Rag
Stu Phillips: The Great El Tigrae
Hank Snow: Nevertheless/Nova Scotia

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Bill Monroe (host): Uncle Pen
The Four Guys: Fox on the Run
Jeannie Seely: All I Need to Know
Tom T. Hall: P.S., I Love You/I'm Not that Good at Goodbyes
Bill Monroe: Boat of Love

10:00: Little Debbie
Stonewall Jackson (host): Don't Be Angry
Jan Howard: You Don't Know Me
Bill Carlisle: Leave that Liar Alone
Stonewall Jackson: 'Ol Chuck of Coal

10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Charlie Louvin: I Can't Help It/Mansion on the Hill
Roy Thackerson: Orange Blossom Special/Ragtime Annie
Roy Acuff and Grand Ole Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry

10:30: Pet Milk
Jim Ed Brown (host): Everyday People
Ed Bruce: Nights are the Loneliest Part of the Day
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells

10:45: Heil Quaker
Billy Walker (host): Word Games
The Whites: Blue Letters
Crook Brothers and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Bill Cheatham
Billy Walker: You Gave Me a Mountain

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Right or Wrong
Justin Tubb: Thanks Troubadour, Thanks
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me, I'm Falling
Connie Smith: Hold Me Back
David Houston: Living in a House Full of Love
Hank Snow: It Kinda Reminds Me of Me/Nova Scotia

11:30: Quincy's
Jack Greene (host): Midnight Tennessee Woman
Lorrie Morgan: Unchanged Melody
Roy Drusky: Mississippi
Riders In The Sky: How the Yodel was Born
Johnny Russell: No One Will Every Know

Finally, the Grand Ole Opry's 77th birthday bash took place on Saturday October 12, 2002 and included a surprised guest, Clint Black, who was not listed in the program for that night. It was truly a surprise when Bill Anderson brought him out.

1st show
6:30: Tennessee Pride
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind the Barn
The Whites: Swing Down Chariot
Holly Dunn: Can't Stop Now
Steve Wariner: Where Did I Go Wrong/You Don't Have Very Far to Go
Jimmy Dickens: Mountain Dew

7:00: Opry Book/Standard Candy
Bill Anderson (host):
Clint Black: Are You Sure Waylon Done it This Way/Wondering
Bill Anderson: I Wonder if God Likes Country Music
Rebecca Lynn Howard: God's Country
Martina McBride: Where Would You Be/Harper Valley PTA
Ralph Stanley: I Have Been Blessed/The Girl From The Greenbriar Shore
Ralph Stanley Jr.: Ruby, Don't Take You Guns To Town
Ralph Stanley: Man of Constant Sorrow
Bill Anderson: The Corner of My Life
Grand Ole Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry

8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Why Don't You Haul Off & Love Me
Bill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Connie Smith: Ain't Had no Lovin'
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Opry Square Dance Band: Cherokee Shuffle
Porter Wagoner: Just Someone I Used to Know

8:30: Physicians Mutual
Jeannie Seely (host): Those Memories
Billy Walker: She Goes Walking Through My Mind
T. Bubba Bechtol: Comedy
Lorrie Morgan: I Didn't Know My Own Strength/I'm One of a Kind
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me

2nd show
9:30: Opry Book
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take An Old Cold Tater
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells
Osborne Brothers: Kentucky
Lorrie Morgan: Don't Stop in My World/Cry Me a River
Jimmy Dickens: I'd Rather Sleep in Peace Then Know You're Gone

10:00: Lincoln Mercury/Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Billy Walker: Jesus Walks In
Jack Greene: Statue of a Fool
Ralph Stanley: I Hear a Choo-Choo Coming/Katy Daley/Mountain Dew/Little Maggie
Wagonmasters: (?)

10:30: WSM online.com/Ryman Auditorium
Bill Anderson (host): Po Folks
Charlie Louvin: Will You Visit Me on Sundays
Martina McBride: I Have Been Blessed/Harper Valley PTA
Opry Square Dance Band: Rachel
Grand Ole Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry

11:00: Coca-Cola
Steve Wariner (host): Burning the Roadhouse Down
Holly Dunn: Can't Stop Now
T. Bubba Bechtol: Comedy
Rebecca Lynn Howard: God's Country/Forgive
Steve Wariner: You Don't Have Very Far to Go

11:30: Opry.com
Jeannie Seely (host): Hey Good Lookin'
Ernie Ashworth: Each Moment Spent with You
Ray Pillow: Dreams of a Dreamer
Connie Smith: How Great Thou Art
Jeannie Seely: Pride

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

And congratulations to Dolly Parton. Hopefully this will not be the last that we see her on the Opry.