Grand Ole Opry 12/6 & 12/7

During the course of 94 years, the Grand Ole Opry has presented a wide variety of entertainment which has included a number of non-country performers. Some have been great while a few others have been largely forgettable.

On Friday night, the Opry will be presenting another non-country performer who will be making her Grand Ole Opry debut, and that is the legendary Dionne Warwick.

In one of the most extraordinary examples of staying power the music industry has ever known, five-time Grammy Award-winning music legend, Dionne Warwick continues to regale audiences internationally. From the early 1960’s on, her iconic sound set the bar in American pop music by earning more than 60 charted hit songs and selling over 100 million records.

She has done more than entertain the world; as a humanitarian, she has advocated for global well- being through such efforts as AIDS awareness, The Starlight Foundation, children’s hospitals, and music education. Ms. Warwick notably served as U.S. Ambassador of Health, appointed in 1987 by President Ronald Reagan, and in 2002 acted as a United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization. In using her music to support her activism, she performed in the all-star charity single, “We Are the World,” and in 1984’s “Live Aid. She also made recording history with Gladys Knight, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder with, “That’s What Friends Are For,” a number one hit and the first recording dedicated to raising awareness for AIDS.

Her hit records, which are familiar to most everyone, include "Do You Know the Way to San Jose," "Promises, Promises," "Walk on By," "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," and "Say a Little Prayer."

Dionne continues to perform throughout 2019. She earned a Lifetime Achievement Grammy from the recording academy, released a Top 3 album, “She’s Back”, and has a new holiday release, “The Voices of Christmas” – which features duets/collaborations with the Oak Ridge Boys and John Rich, among many others.

Personally, I am very excited and looking forward to hearing Dionne on the Opry. She will be singing several of her holiday songs and hopefully a melody of her hits.

Joining Dionne on the Friday Night Opry will be Opry members John Conlee, Connie Smith and Jeannie Seely. Guesting, in addition to Dionne, will be Dom Flemons, Ashley Monroe, Dusty Slay, Eric Paslay, Mrs. Tom Hanks, otherwise known as Rita Wilson, and making his Opry debut, Kendell Marvel.

Friday December 6
1st show
7:00: John Conlee (host); Connie Smith; Dom Flemons
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Ashley Monroe; Kendell Marvel
8:00: Dusty Slay; Rita Wilson
8:30: Eric Paslay; Dionne Warwick

2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Connie Smith; Dom Flemons
10:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Ashley Monroe; Kendell Marvel
10:30: Dusty Slay; Rita Wilson
11:00: Eric Paslay; Dionne Warwick

Looking at Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, John Conlee and Jeannie Seely are back, along with members Mike Snider and Jesse McReynolds. It is nice to see Jesse back on the Opry's schedule as he has missed the last couple of weeks with the flu. Hopefully he will be well enough to make both shows.

Guesting on Saturday night will be Rhett Akins, Levi Hummon, comedian and radio personality Bobby Bones, Margo Price, Charles Esten and making their Opry debut, The Singing Contractors. And yes, they were really contractors who were singing on the job and decided to give a career in music a try.

The talented duo is transitioning from building houses to building the kingdom.  They have signed with Gaither Music Group and are releasing Working on a Building, Hymns & Gospel Classics–their national debut recording and companion DVD–that not only showcase the vocal skills that have earned millions of Facebook views and national TV appearances, but also the fun-loving personalities behind the music.

I can honestly say that I have never heard of this duo before but I wish them well on their Opry debut.

Saturday December 7
1st show
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Rhett Akins; Jesse McReynolds
7:30: John Conlee (host); Levi Hummon; Bobby Bones
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); The Singing Contractors; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Margo Price; Charles Esten

2nd show
9:30: Mike Snider (host); Rhett Akins; Jesse McReynolds
10:00: John Conlee (host); Levi Hummon; Bobby Bones
10:30: Jeannie Seely (host); The Singing Contractors; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Margo Price; Charles Esten

I am not really thrilled with the way the shows are structured either night. On Friday, it would appear that there is the traditional format for the first half of the show and then it goes into the mid-week format with no host. Then on Saturday, it appears there are three traditional segments and then a final segment with no host.

Makes you wonder why they just didn't do it like the week before with one host hosting the final hour, as Vince did last Saturday night. But then again, this is what happens when there are only a limited number of Opry members available, or willing, to do the Opry on any given night.
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 10 years ago, the first weekend in December 2009:

Friday December 4
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jack Greene; Del McCoury Band
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); John Conlee; The Whites
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Mike Snider; Mark Wills
8:30: Marty Stuart (host); Jan Howard; Jim Ed Brown; The Quebe Sisters

Saturday December 5
1st show
7:00: John Conlee (host); Jimmy C Newman; Del McCoury Band
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; Jim Ed Brown; Jamie O'Neal
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); Connie Smith; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Trisha Yearwood

2nd show
9:30: John Conlee (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Trisha Yearwood
10:00: Mike Snider (host); Jeannie Seely; Del McCoury Band
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jean Shepard; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jamie O'Neal; Connie Smith

Now from 25 years ago, Saturday December 3, 1994, on a night when Garth Brooks appeared and Hank Snow cancelled.

1st show
6:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Bill Carlisle
6:45: Billy Walker (host); Skeeter Davis
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Jimmy C Newman
7:30: Johnny Russell (host); Chonda Pierce; Garth Brooks
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jan Howard; Hank Locklin; Osborne Brothers; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: The Four Guys (host); Stonewall Jackson; Mark Collie

2nd show
9:30: Johnny Russell (host); Brother Oswald; Garth Brooks
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Ray Pillow
10:15: Jimmy Dickens (host); Roy Drusky
10:30: Billy Walker (host); Riders In The Sky
10:45: Jimmy C Newman (host); Jan Howard; Opry Square Dancers; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: The Whites (host); Connie Smith; Hank Locklin
11:30: The Four Guys (host); Jeannie Seely; Mark Collie

Finally, from 50 years ago, Saturday December 6, 1969:

7:30: Tex Ritter (host); Grandpa Jones; Stu Phillips; Wilma Lee Cooper
8:00: Stonewall Jackson (host); Charlie Walker; Justin Tubb; Crook Brothers
8:30: Roy Acuff (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Ernie Ashworth
9:00: Billy Walker (host); Osborne Brothers; The Four Guys; Fruit Jar Drinkers
9:30; Hank Snow (host); Willis Brothers; Bobby Harden
10:00: Tex Ritter (host); Grandpa Jones; Stu Phillips; Wilma Lee Cooper
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Earl Scruggs Revue
10:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Charlie Walker; Dolly Parton; Justin Tubb
10:45: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Osborne Brothers; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Willis Brothers; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); The Four Guys; Ernie Ashworth; Bobby Harden; Don Winters

Yes, that is correct. Porter Wagoner hosted two segments back to back.

Lastly, for those looking ahead to 2020, long-lost Opry member Alan Jackson is scheduled to appear on the Opry on Saturday January 18. Two shows that night as in addition to Alan, Opry member Alison Krauss is listed as is the legendary Gene Watson. And for those keeping track at home, Alan's last Opry appearance was in June 2016.

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