It is the end of the year and the final two Opry shows of 2019. Boy, the year went fast but they seem to always do.
In looking at the line-up, it is a little surprising that a number of artists will be on both Friday and Saturday night. The list includes Grand Ole Opry members Mike Snider, Jeannie Seely and Riders In The Sky, along with guest artists Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Gary Mule Deer and Darin & Brooke Aldridge.
Two other Opry members will be performing this weekend: Bobby Osborne on Friday night and Jesse McReynolds on Saturday. Joining Bobby on Friday night will be Drew Baldridge, T. Graham Brown, Gary Burr and Hall of Fame member Charlie McCoy. Saturday night the list includes William Michael Morgan, Scooter Brown Band and Don Schlitz.
Friday December 27
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Drew Baldridge; T. Graham Brown
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Gary Burr; Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Gary Mule Deer
8:45: Darin & Brooke Aldridge; Charlie McCoy
Saturday December 28
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); William Michael Morgan; Jesse McReynolds
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Scooter Brown Band; Darin & Brooke Aldridge
Intermission
8:15: Jeannie Seely (host); Gary Mule Deer; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Don Schlitz; Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
It seems that the week between Christmas and New Years is always one of the more difficult weeks for the Opry as many of the members have shut it down for the year and are off on vacations and spending time with their families. The same holds to those who guest on the Opry. From the weekend before Christmas through the first of the year is basically a dead time in the entertainment industry unless it is Las Vegas or other resort cities.
Certainly not like years past when it seemed that almost every Grand Ole Opry member would be at the Opry around Christmas and New Years.
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line up from 10 years ago, the weekend of December 25 & 26, 2009:
Friday December 25
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Blaine Larsen
7:30: George Hamilton IV (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Elizabeth Cook
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jack Greene; Dailey & Vincent
8:30: Mike Snider (host); Charlie Louvin; T. Graham Brown
Saturday December 26
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Rebecca Lynn Howard
7:30: George Hamilton IV (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Eddy Raven
8:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jan Howard; Dailey & Vincent; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Mike Snider (host); Jack Greene; Restless Heart
Now from 25 years ago, the weekend of December 23 & 24, 1994:
Friday December 23
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Bill Carlisle; Stonewall Jackson; Jean Shepard; Billy Walker
8:00: Bill Monroe (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Ray Pillow; Charlie Walker
8:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Brother Oswald & Charlie; Del Reeves; Johnny Russell
9:00: Hank Snow (host); The Four Guys; Charlie Louvin; Osborne Brothers
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jim and Jesse; Connie Smith; Stu Phillips
10:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); George Hamilton IV; Jeannie Seely; Justin Tubb; The Whites
10:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; Riders In The Sky; Mike Snider
(for those counting at home, that is 31 artists on the Friday show that night)
Saturday December 24
1st show
6:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Bill Carlisle
6:45: Bill Monroe (host); Del Reeves
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Jean Shepard; Charlie Walker; Vic Willis Trio
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; Jim and Jesse; Jeannie Seely; Mike Snider
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Roy Drusky; Ricky Skaggs; The Whites; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The Four Guys; Charlie Louvin; Connie Smith; Billy Walker
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Brother Oswald & Charlie; Ray Pillow; Jean Shepard; Stonewall Jackson
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Mike Snider
10:15: Bill Monroe (host); Jan Howard
10:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jim and Jesse
10:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); The Four Guys; Jim Ed Brown; Charlie Louvin; Billy Walker
11:30: Johnny Russell (host); Osborne Brothers; Jeannie Seely; Charlie Walker; Connie Smith
And from 50 years ago, Saturday December 27, 1969:
7:30: Billy Walker (host); Charlie Louvin; George Morgan; Del Wood
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Roy Drusky; Osborne Brothers; Margie Bowes; Crook Brothers
8:30: Bill Monroe (host); George Hamilton IV; Archie Campbell; Bob Luman; Wilma Lee Cooper; Ray Pillow
9:00: Ernest Tubb (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Del Reeves; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Jimmy C Newman
9:30; Hank Snow (host); Willis Brothers; Stu Phillips; Stringbean; Charlie Walker
10:00: Charlie Louvin (host); Billy Walker; Del Wood; Wilma Lee Cooper
10:15: George Hamilton IV (host); Archie Campbell; Bob Luman; Ray Pillow
10:30: Roy Drusky (host); George Morgan; Stringbean; Jimmy C Newman
10:45: Ernest Tubb (host); Bill Monroe; Margie Bowes; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Willis Brothers; Earl Scruggs Revue; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Stu Phillips; Justin Tubb; Charlie Walker
To finish up the year 2019, here is the final line-up from 1974, December 28 as the Opry closes out its first year in the new Grand Ole Opry House:
1st show
6:00: Vietti
George Morgan (host); I Want to Go to Heaven
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On
Jim and Jesse: Paradise
Stu Phillips: Let Me Love You All Over Again
George Morgan; The Last Letter
Ernie Ashworth: Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor
Billy Grammer: Wildwood Flower
George Morgan: In the Misty Moonlight
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Bill Monroe (host): Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Wilburn Brothers: It Looks Like the Sun's Gonna Shine
The Four Guys: Top of the World
Bill Monroe: The Gold Rush
6:45: Rudy's
Porter Wagoner (host); On A Highway Headed South
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Did You Think to Pray
Bill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Porter Wagoner: Carolina Moonshine
7:00: Rudy's
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Charlie Walker: Odds & Ends
Stonewall Jackson: Life to Go
Del Wood: Just Because/Bill Bailey/Beer Barrel Polka
Roy Acuff: Sunshine Special
Charlie Walker: Your Cheating Heart
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Late
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light
7:30: Standard Candy
Ernest Tubb (host): I've Got All the Heartaches I Can Handle
Jean Shepard: Slippin' Away
Archie Campbell: Make Friends
Ray Pillow: Countryfried
Ernest Tubb: Half a Mind
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Cotton-Eyed Joe
Jean Shepard: Poor Sweet Baby
Ernest Tubb: Walking the Floor Over You
8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): Salty Dog Blues
Charlie Louvin: Love is the Foundation
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
Paul Warren: Katy Hill
Lester Flatt: Homestead on the Farm
Charlie Louvin: Will You Visit Me on Sundays
Willis Brothers: Cool Water
Marty Stuart: Rawhide
8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cacklin' Hen
Justin Tubb: Sunshine Lady
Jeanne Pruett: Welcome to the Sunshine
Hank Snow: Indian Love Call/I Don't Hurt Anymore
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Billy Grammer: Wildwood Flower
Barbara Lea: Ain't Love Grand
Bill Carlisle: I'm Moving
Wilburn Brothers: There Must Be More to Love Than This
Porter Wagoner: Carolina Moonshine
10:00: Fender
Bill Monroe (host): John Henry
Jim and Jesse: Love Is a Fading Rose
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Late
Stu Phillips: Let Me Love You All Over Again
Ernie Ashworth: Each Moment Spent With You
10:15: Union 76
Ernest Tubb (host): In the Jailhouse Now
George Morgan: Release Me
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: There's A Big Wheel
Charlie Walker: Odds & Ends
The Four Guys: Hello Walls/Big Bad John/Wings of a Dove
10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Little Maggie
Archie Campbell: The Cockfight
Jean Shepard: Poor Sweet Baby
Del Wood: Keep on the Firing Line
Lester Flatt: Maggie Blues
10:45: Beech-Nut
Roy Acuff (host): Back in the Country
Ray Pillow: Living in the Sunshine of Your Love
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Soldier's Joy
Roy Acuff: Cabin in Gloryland
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): You're Easy to Love
Billy Walker: You Gave Me a Mountain
Charlie Louvin: I Want a Happy Life
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Sam McGee: Wheels
Hank Snow: There's A Fool Such as I
11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): I Walk Alone
Jeanne Pruett: Welcome to the Sunshine/Satin Sheets
Justin Tubb: Bad, Bad Leroy Brown/Loving Arms
Ronnie Robbins: If You Love Me, Let Me Know
Marty Robbins: Love Me/Don't Worry/Singing the Blues
What a way to finish the year. And each segment that night was hosted either by a current Hall of Fame member, or a future member.
That's a wrap for 2019. I hope everyone has a safe and Happy New Year. As always, my thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!!
If you think about the folks who filled up the Opry lineup say from the late 70's to the early 90's, most of them lived in Nashville or just beyond like Brentwood and had for years. They were mostly all close to each other as were their families and the Opry was probably just another place to get together and celebrate the season. That tight community has dwindled to a dozen or so and the new folks see leisure time and ways to celebrate the season, or anything for that matter, in a different light. Ferlin Husky had a song in his 1967 Christmas album titled "Christmas Don't Seem Like Christmas Anymore". That's true at the Opry compared to 20+ years ago.
ReplyDeleteFor the first time in several years we did not get to hear Bill Anderson do "MY Christmas List Grows Shorter Every Year" since Eddie Stubbs didn't work any of the shows Bill was on. Maybe only strange folks like me and Stubbs like that kind of thing!
Merry Christmas to all the folks here. Enjoy all your comments very much.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Well said. People don't visit much anymore, and it seems like every one has their own thing going.
DeleteMerry Christmas, everyone. I hope you enjoy it.
J in OK
Jim, morbid country songs got me thru a rough spot in my marriage many years ago --why does a sad country song make you feel so much better ?????? Vern Gosden and Reba were the best at the morbid stuff !!!! and my marriage went for 49 years until my beloved wife's stroke and eventual demise -----
DeleteDashmann , Flushing Mich -----
Merry Christmas to Byron and all the Fayfarers!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to Byron and to everybody who follows the blog!
ReplyDeleteI have to say I am a little surprised that this weekend is a low spot for the Opry. It seems like it would be a great weekend for the Nashville based artists who are on the road a lot to get a couple appearances in while they are home in Nashville, but I guess many of them end up leaving town to go to their original hometowns instead.
Sounds like a very entertaining week end --- 'Bean and Grampaw aren't coming back ----- be glad we still have an Opry and treasure it -----pretty solid country music and comedy to get us to the New Year !!!! Give the kids a chance to show respect for tradition ---- Dashmann, Flushing Michigan
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ReplyDeleteFor all the doomsayers, I predicted and believe I was correct in predicting this weekend's shows would be wonderful ---- anyone else have thoughts on them ??? The Aldridges were particularly outstanding as was Don Schlitz, in my opinion --- Dashmann, Flushing, Michigan
ReplyDeleteI was able to catch bits and pieces of both shows while traveling in North Carolina (WSM was coming in loud and clear south of Raleigh both nights). I agree that overall both nights were fine. My wife was listening with me and the only act she didn't really care for was Gary Mule Deer. I can see her point.
ReplyDeleteWhat in the WORLD is going on at the 'Opry Website.
ReplyDeleteWho's running Gaylord?
Unbelievable.
Opry schedule now features printing the artists names vertically. Now that's certainly avant-garde and absolutely ridiculous. Get to turn your head sideways to see who's appearing.
Nat Hill IV, I hate the opry.com new website, too. Thank God for this site. When I want to know who's on the Grand Ole Opry, I come to FAYFARE!
ReplyDeleteMe too. Bob
ReplyDeleteAnd so do I every week !!!! Byron, your blog is the best ---thanks for all your hard work, and interesting stuff you pass along ---- have a wonderful New year and thanks again to Byron and all you true Opry lovers !!!! Dashmann, Flushing , Michigan, 76 years old
ReplyDeleteand going strong !!!!
I don't know how to contact the webmaster at opry.com so i sure hope they read our messages on here. Thank You Byron for the GREAT JOB that you do. Bob
ReplyDelete