Grand Ole Opry 12/13 & 12/14

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the three shows this weekend. There will be one show on Friday night and two shows on Saturday. I will be in Nashville this weekend and will be going to all three Opry shows and of course, I will offer my thoughts and observations when I return next week.

Looking at the schedule, the Opry's newest member, Luke Combs is scheduled for the Friday Night Opry. This will be the first Opry appearance for Luke since becoming a member. In addition to the Opry, Luke is also doing two nights of shows at the Bridgestone Arena including on Friday night which means he will be on the Opry in the first segment and then headed over to the arena.

Also scheduled for the Friday Night Opry are members Kelsea Ballerini, Old Crow Medicine Show, Riders In The Sky, Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, John Conlee, Bill Anderson and Mike Snider. In fact, the only non-member scheduled is Charlie Worsham, as in addition to his appearance with Old Crow Medicine Show, he is also doing a solo spot.

Looking at the schedule for Saturday night, Opry member Steve Wariner is scheduled for both shows, as is Connie Smith, with Jesse McReynolds listed for the early show and Bobby Osborne for the late show. Also scheduled are John Conlee, Bill Anderson, Riders In The Sky and Mike Snider, all of whom are also appearing on Friday night.

Guesting on Saturday night are comedians Williams & Ree, who have done a few Opry shows this year, Jameson Rodgers and Kathy Mattea. I know there are more than a few of us who believe that Kathy would make a great Opry member, and who knows, maybe the invite will come on Saturday.

Friday December 13
7:00: John Conlee (host); Mike Snider; Luke Combs
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Charlie Worsham
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Kelsea Ballerini
8:30: Old Crow Medicine Show (host); Riders In The Sky

Saturday December 14
1st show
7:00: John Conlee (host); Jameson Rodgers; Mike Snider
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds; Williams & Ree
8:00: Steve Wariner (host); Connie Smith; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Kathy Mattea

2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Jameson Rodgers; Mike Snider
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Williams & Ree
10:30: Steve Wariner (host); Connie Smith; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Kathy Mattea

As I mentioned, this is just Luke's first Opry appearance since his induction earlier this year. I know Luke is about the hottest act in country music right now and doing a lot of road dates. Hopefully as his schedule is set for 2020, he will find more time to do the Opry. Personally, I really enjoy Luke and his performances and he is a great addition to the Opry cast. It would just be nice if he was there more often.
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the second weekend of December 2009:

Friday December 11
1st show
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Jim Ed Brown; Chuck Wicks
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jack Greene; Vince Gill
8:00: Steve Wariner (host); Connie Smith; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Rascal Flatts

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Chuck Wicks
10:00: Mike Snider (host); Ray Pillow; Rascal Flatts
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Connie Smith; Steve Wariner
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Stonewall Jackson; Vince Gill

Saturday December 12
1st show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Trace Adkins
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jack Greene; Nanci Griffith
8:00: Marty Stuart (host); Dale Jett & Hello Stranger; Connie Smith; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys

2nd show
9:30; Jimmy Dickens (host); Jim Ed Brown; Nanci Griffith
10:00: Marty Stuart (host); Stu Phillips; Dale Jett & Hello Stranger; Connie Smith
10:30: Mike Snider (host); Trace Adkins; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Vince Gill

Now from 25 years ago, Saturday December 10, 1994:

1st show
6:30: Bill Monroe (host); Skeeter Davis
6:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); Brother Oswald
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bill Carlisle; The Whites; Jim Ed Brown; Jimmy C Newman
7:30: The Four Guys (host); J.D. Sumner & The Stamps Quartet; James Blackwood
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Johnny Russell; Connie Smith; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jeannie Seely; Billy Walker; Riders In The Sky; Mel McDaniel

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); J.D. Sumner & The Stamps Quartet; James Blackwood
10:00: Bill Monroe (host); Riders In The Sky
10:15: Jimmy Dickens (host); Ricky Skaggs
10:30: Billy Walker (host); Roy Drusky
10:45: The Four Guys (host); Charlie Walker; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jeannie Seely; Jim Ed Brown; Stonewall Jackson
11:30: Johnny Russell (host); Jimmy C Newman; Mel McDaniel

And from 50 years ago, Saturday December 13, 1969:

7:30: Roy Drusky (host); Dottie West; Stu Phillips; Wilma Lee Cooper
8:00: Billy Walker (host); Merle Kilgore; Margie Bowes; Crook Brothers
8:30: Roy Acuff (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Bill Carlisle; Del Wood
9:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Justin Tubb; Johnny Darrell; Fruit Jar Drinkers
9:30: Hank Snow (host); Willis Brothers; Marion Worth; Louie Roberts
10:00: Roy Drusky (host); Billy Walker; Stu Phillips; Del Wood
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Dottie West; Wilma Lee Cooper
10:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Merle Kilgore; Bill Carlisle
10:45: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Jimmy C Newman; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Willis Brothers; Margie Bowes; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Marion Worth; Johnny Darrell; Don Winters
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To finish it up for this week, I am going back Saturday December 14, 1974 (the first year at the new Grand Ole Opry House) as on that particular night, DeFord Bailey appeared on the Opry.

DeFord was one of the Opry's original members and was with the Opry until he was fired by George D. Hay in 1941. While he said he would never come back, he did make a couple of appearances on the Opry, the most famous being in February 1974 at the Opry's 1st Old-Timer's Night, which turned into an annual reunion show where former Grand Ole Opry members came back. After that appearance, he would return for several more of the reunion shows.

Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe and Minnie Pearl were very influential in talking to DeFord and working to get him back on the Opry so it was absolutely to surprise that DeFord appeared on Roy's segment on this particular night.

Here is the running order from Saturday December 14, 1974, the night DeFord Bailey appeared on the Opry:

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Willis Brothers (host); Truck Stop
Jim and Jesse: Paradise
Ernie Ashworth: Oh, Lonesome Me
Willis Brothers: Buying Popcorn

6:45: Rudy's
Bill Anderson (host): Everytime I Turn the Radio On
Bill Carlisle: Same Old Take That the Crow Told Me
The Four Guys: What About Me
Bill Anderson: Proof

7:00: Rudy's
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Billy Grammer: Wildwood Flower/Under the Double Eagle
Bob Luman: Let Me Make the Bright Lights Shine for You
Barbara Lea: May You Never Be Alone
Justin Tubb: Loving Arms
Porter Wagoner: Carolina Moonshiner

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Stoney and Carolee Cooper: Shackles & Chains
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Eighth of January
Brother Oswald: Little Darling
DeFord Bailey: Pan American Blues/Ain't Gonna Rain No More/Fox Chase
Carolee Cooper: Forgetting About You
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light

8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Grandpa and Ramona Jones: Jingle Bells
Connie Smith: I Got My Baby on My Mind
Stu Phillips: Let Me Love You All Over Again
Marty Stuart and Curly Seckler: Christmas Time's A' Comin'
Grandpa and Ramona Jones: It Takes a Lot of Loving
Connie Smith: How Great Thou Art
Charlie Nixon: Maggie's Blues

8:30: Stephens
Roy Drusky (host): Second Hand Rose
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Late
Mel Tillis: Heart Over Mind
Fruit Jar Drinkers: (?)
Roy Drusky: The Bitter They Are, The Harder They Fall
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Mel Tillis: Memory Maker/Sawmill

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Bill Anderson (host): (?)
Willis Brothers: Cool Water
Jim and Jesse: Love Is a Fading Rose
Bill Anderson: City Lights
Ernie Ashworth: Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor
Mary Lou Turner: Poor Sweet Baby
Bill Anderson: Everytime I Turn the Radio On

10:00: Fender
Bob Luman (host): Kaw-Liga
Bill Carlisle: I'm Moving
Justin Tubb: Sunshine Lady
Bob Luman: Six Days on the Road

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Back in the Country
Billy Grammer: Somewhere My Love
Roy Acuff: Turn Your Radio On

10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): A Big Woman & A Little Biddy Bottle of Wine
Grandpa Jones: Heading South
Connie Smith: Dallas
Lester Flatt: Homestead on the Farm/Foggy Mountain Breakdown

10:45: Beech-Nut
The Four Guys (host): Down by the Lazy River
Stoney and Carolee Cooper: To My Mansion in the Sky
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Soldier's Joy
The Four Guys: Let Me Be There

11:00: Coca-Cola
Roy Drusky (host): Dixie Lily
Fruit Jar Drinkers: (?)
Mel Tillis: Life Turned Her That Way/Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town
Roy Drusky: All for the Love of a Girl/Three Hearts in a Triangle/Somewhere My Love
Sam McGee: Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Harold Weakley: Legend in My Time
Roy Drusky: Anymore

11:30: Elm Hill
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Ronnie Robbins: If We Make It Through December/If You Love Me Let Me Know
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Late
Stu Phillips: She Thinks I Still Care/Let Me Love You All Over Again
Stonewall Jackson: Washed My Hands in Muddy Water/Don't Be Angry/Waterloo

There you have it for this week. Thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend.

If I hear of anything newsworthy, I will certainly pass it along when I get back.