Grand Ole Opry 1/10 & 1/11

The big news this week involving the Opry and country music was the announcement by Rascal Flatts that 2020 would be their farewell tour as the group was disbanding.

Twenty years after they launched their country-music career together, Rascal Flatts are hitting the road for one final tour. The trio of Gary LeVox, Joe Don Rooney, and Jay DeMarcus made an appearance on CBS This Morning on Tuesday, where they announced dates for the upcoming Farewell: Life Is a Highway Tour.

“When we started out 20 years ago, we could not imagine all of the people, places and gifts we would encounter,” the group tweeted earlier today. “There is no sadness. Just new chapters, new journeys, and new beginnings.”

Launching June 11th in Indianapolis, the Farewell: Life Is a Highway Tour currently has 25 dates scheduled across North America, including stops in Boston, San Diego, Toronto, and Dallas. Notably, there is not a Nashville date in the present itinerary, but the trek does begin the week following CMA Fest 2020, so there’s a possibility Rascal Flatts will get to go out in style onstage at Nissan Stadium.

The members of Rascal Flatts mentioned the yearly grind of trying to top oneself in a hyper-competitive and changing radio environment as part of the reason to exit on their own terms. Still, they didn’t rule out the possibility of reuniting to make music at some point.

Since announcing their arrival in 2000 with their self-titled debut album and the single “Prayin’ for Daylight,” Rascal Flatts have notched country airplay Number Ones in the double digits, including “Bless the Broken Road,” “What Hurts the Most,” and “Here Comes Goodbye.” They’ve also sold more than 20 million albums, including the back-to-back multi-platinum blockbusters Feels Like Today and Me and My Gang. They also took their fair share of criticism for their polished, pop-and-rock-friendly sound, which nonetheless proved to be hugely influential for Taylor Swift, Dan + Shay, and numerous others who followed. Their most recent album was 2017’s Back to Us.

Since the announcement, the subject of their Opry membership has come up. The group joined the cast in October 2011 during the Grand Ole Opry's 86th birthday weekend. While the group made just two Opry appearances this past year, since joining the cast they have averaged 6 appearances each year, with the majority of those coming on mid-week shows.

Since the group left open the possibility of reuniting at some point, my guess is that their Opry membership will continue. While I can't imagine that the Opry would offer individual memberships to each of the three, I wouldn't be surprise if each made solo appearances on the show.

Beginning with Barbara Mandrell's retirement, the Opry, with just two exceptions (The Four Guys and Holly Dunn), have allowed those who have left the business to remain as members. With groups it is a little trickier. In the case of The Four Guys, it was mentioned that there were no original members of the group left, thus their membership was ended. And while Sonny Osborne retired, and the Osborne Brothers are still listed as Opry members with Bobby Osborne has continuing as a solo act. Then there is Old Crow Medicine Show, where Ketch Secor is the only original member in what has become a very fluid group.

I suppose in the end, it really doesn't make much difference as Rascal Flatts was not making a large number of appearances on the show. Hopefully, they will have room for a final appearance on the show.
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Now looking at the Opry line-ups for this week, as the show continues the winter run at the Ryman Auditorium, it is another solid weekend of shows.

Grand Ole Opry members scheduled both nights include Mark Wills, Dailey & Vincent, Mike Snider and Riders In The Sky. Joining that group on Friday night will be Connie Smith, Joe Diffie, and Vince Gill. Nice to see Vince returning to the Opry, and in looking at those scheduled to appear in the coming weeks, Vince is listed several times.

On Saturday night, The Whites, Jeannie Seely and Bobby Osborne are scheduled.

Comedian Gary Mule Deer is listed for both nights. Joining Gary on Friday night will be guest Seaforth and Mitchel Tenpenny, while on Saturday night Brett Kissel and Abby Anderson are scheduled.

Overall, it is nice to see 7 members each night, outnumbering the non-members.

Friday January 10
7:00: Mark Wills (host); Connie Smith; Mike Snider
7:30: Dailey & Vincent (host); Joe Diffie
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); Seaforth; Mitchell Tenpenny
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Gary Mule Deer

Saturday January 11
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); The Whites; Brett Kissel
7:30: Dailey & Vincent (host); Mike Snider; Abby Anderson
Intermission
8:15: Jeannie Seely (host); Gary Mule Deer
8:45: Mark Wills (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press

As far as the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree on Saturday night/Sunday morning, there will be no live taping this week as an archived show will be broadcast.

As mentioned, Vince Gill is scheduled to appear several times in the coming weeks. Also on the schedule to appear are Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs, Chris Young, Dailey & Vincent, Terri Clark, Chris Janson, Luke Combs, Oak Ridge Boys, and for two shows next Friday night, Alan Jackson. That just carries it into February. It is really nice to see an effort being made to get many of the Opry's members back.
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And now, here is the Grand Ole Opry line-up from 25 years ago, Saturday January 14, 1995:

1st show
6:30: Bill Monroe (host); Bill Carlisle
6:45: Jimmy Dickens (host); Grandpa Jones
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Brother Oswald; Skeeter Davis; George Hamilton IV; Ricky Skaggs
7:30: Jack Greene (host); David Ball; Faith Hill
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jeanne Pruett; Jim and Jesse; Billy Walker; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Alison Krauss; Jimmy C Newman; Mike Snider

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Stonewall Jackson; Alison Krauss; Charlie Louvin; Del Reeves
10:00: Bill Monroe (host); Ricky Skaggs
10:15: Grandpa Jones (host); Jimmy C Newman
10:30: Bill Anderson (host); Charlie Walker
10:45: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jim Ed Brown; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jack Greene; Connie Smith; Stu Phillips; The Whites
11:30: Johnny Russell (host); Jim and Jesse; John Conlee; Mel McDaniel

And from 50 years ago, Saturday January 10, 1970:

7:30: Roy Drusky (host); Dottie West; Stringbean; Ernie Ashworth; The Four Guys
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jimmy C Newman; Crook Brothers; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper
8:30: Roy Acuff (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Mel Tillis; Archie Campbell; Jeannie C Riley; Del Wood
9:00: Bill Monroe (host); Hank Locklin; Jean Shepard; Justin Tubb; Fruit Jar Drinkers
9:30: Billy Walker (host); Willis Brothers; Stu Phillips; Margie Bowes; Ray Pillow; Lonzo and Oscar
10:00: Roy Acuff (host); Earl Scruggs; Revue; Dottie West
10:15: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jimmy C Newman; Stringbean; Ernie Ashworth; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper
10:30: Lester Flatt (host); Archie Campbell; Jeannie C Riley; Del Wood
10:45: Bill Monroe (host); Billy Walker; Mel Tillis; Crook Brothers; Justin Tubb
11:00: Hank Locklin (host); Willis Brothers; Stu Phillips; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Jean Shepard; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Margie Bowes; Ray Pillow; Don Winters; Lonzo and Oscar
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Finally, it was on Saturday January 11, 1969 that George Jones rejoined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry.

George's Opry history is interesting as he joined, quit, and rejoined the Opry's cast at least three different times. Not that it mattered all that much as George rarely performed on the Opry. But when he did, it was a special night.

Here is the running order from 51 years ago, Saturday January 11, 1969, the night George Jones returned to the Opry:

7:30: Standard Candy
Tex Ritter (host); Take Him Fishing
Billy Grammer: Mabel
George Morgan: Little Green Apples
Osborne Brothers: Kentucky
Margie Bowes: I Still Miss Someone
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
The Four Guys: Turn Around; Look at Me
Tex Ritter: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Miami

8:00: Martha White
Flatt and Scruggs (host); w/Paul Warren: Black Eyed Susie
George Jones and Brenda Carter: Milwaukee, Here I Come
Wilburn Brothers: We Need Lot More Happiness
Loretta Lynn: Fist City
Crook Brothers: Mississippi Sawyer
Cousin Jody: On Top of Old Smokey
George Jones: I'll Be Over You (When the Grass Grows Over Me)
Flatt and Scruggs: I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Bill Monroe: Virginia Darling
Dottie West: Reno
Bob Luman: Guitar Man
Archie Campbell and Lorene Mann: Warm and Tender Love
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Poor Ellen Smith
Roy Acuff: You Win Again

9:00: Luzianne
Porter Wagoner (host): Carroll County Accident
Mel Tillis: I Wish I Felt This Way at Home
Jim and Jessie: When the Snow is On the Roses
Dolly Parton: In the Good Old Days (When Times Were Bad)
Justin Tubb: I'm Going Back to Louisiana
Stringbean: Gonna Make Myself a Name
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton: Jeannie's Afraid of the Dark

9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): Golden Rocket
Glaser Brothers: One of These Days
Bobby Lord: Yesterday's Letters
Willis Brothers: Big Daddy
Marion Worth: Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed
Lonzo and Oscar: There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea
Stu Phillips: Little Ol Wine Drinker Me
Hank Snow: Let Me Go Lover

10:00: Fender
Tex Ritter (host): A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Miami
Wilburn Brothers: Hurt Her Once for Me
George Morgan: Wichita Lineman
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Margie Bowes: All the World is Lonely Now
Ernie Ashworth: Sad Face

10:15: Pure
Flatt and Scruggs (host): Folsom Prison Blues
George Jones and Brenda Carter: Milwaukee, Here I Come
Loretta Lynn: Woman of the World
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On
Cousin Jody: Mockingbird

10:30: Buckley's/Kent
Porter Wagoner (host): Howdy, Neighbor Howdy
Mel Tillis: Who's Julie
Roy Acuff (host): Low and Lonely
Bill Monroe: The Gold Rush
Dolly Parton: Just Because I'm A Woman
Joe Greene: Katy Hill
Bob Luman: Memphis
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby
Archie Campbell and Lorene Mann: The Dark End of the Street
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: The Birds are Back
Crook Brothers: Arkansas Traveler
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Marion Worth: Faded Love
Stringbean: Banjo Convention
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Fire on the Mountain
Hank Snow: Old Doc Brown
Sam McGee: Wheels
Chubby Wise: Lee Highway Blues

11:30: Lava
Glaser Brothers (host): Release Me/Then I Turned & Walked Slowly Away/Many Tears Ago/You Win Again/There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight
Jim and Jesse: Yonder Comes the Freight Train
Stu Phillips: Bring Love Back into Our World
Lonzo and Oscar: Love Took My Heart and Smashed That Sucker Flat
Glaser Brothers: The Last Thing on My Mind

Just looking at my notes, it appeared that there was some confusion in the 10:30/10:45 segment as both Porter Wagoner and Roy Acuff were hosts and took turns introducing the various acts. The two segments sort of merged together.

The other notation is that Mel Tillis was announced as a new Opry member that night, but there seems to be no confirmation of that. I know there has been speculation that Mel was, for a short time, an Opry member and in fact, he is pictured in one of the Opry's Picture History Books.  He was on the Opry on an almost weekly basis for a short period of time. However, when he was introduced later as a member by Pam Tillis, there was no mention of Mel's earlier association with the Opry.

That takes care of it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone listens and enjoys the Opry this weekend.