Grand Ole Opry July 11

It has been another sad week at the Grand Ole Opry as Opry member Charlie Daniels passed away on Monday morning. Charlie was an Opry member for over 10 years and always said that being an Opry member was part of his dream. He was always appreciated being asked and was proud to acknowledge it.

We are just past the halfway point of 2020 and it has already been a tough year with Jan Howard, Joe Diffie, Jimmy Capps, and now Charlie passing away. Sadly, there are several more members who are not in the best of health. While we mourn those who have left, we are also excited about the new members who have joined and help to keep the Opry vibrant, especially in these trying times.

The Opry continues to roll on and this week three more artists are scheduled to perform on the Opry stage. Grand Ole Opry members Larry, Steve and Rudy Gatlin are set to make their first appearance since the pandemic has started. They will be joined by guest artists Jimmie Allen and Margo Price for what should be another fine show of great music and variety. As each of these artists will be performing their own hits, I would absolutely expect a Charlie Daniels tribute along the way.
_____________________________________________________________________

From 25 years ago, Saturday July 8, 1995:

1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bill Carlisle
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Jeanne Pruett
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Stonewall Jackson; Brother Oswald; The Whites; Billy Walker
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Tracy Byrd; Bill Anderson; Martina McBride
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Johnny Russell; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Riders In The Sky; Jeannie Seely; Jack Greene; Mike Snider

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Skeeter Davis; George Hamilton IV: Martina McBride
10:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jan Howard
10:15: Grandpa Jones (host); Mike Snider
10:30: Bill Anderson (host); Tracy Byrd
10:45: Jack Greene (host); Roy Drusky; Opry Square Dance Band; The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Charlie Walker; Stonewall Jackson; Riders In The Sky
11:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Charlie Louvin; Ray Pillow; The Four Guys

50 years ago, Saturday July 11, 1970:

1st show
6:30: Bill Monroe (host); Ernie Ashworth; Cousin Jody
6:45: Stu Phillips (host); The Four Guys
7:00: Roy Acuff (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Jim and Jesse
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Willis Brothers; Crook Brothers
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Grandpa Jones; Wilma Burgess; Johnny Darrell
8:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Johnny Carver; Leroy Van Dyke; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Bill Monroe (host); Willis Brothers; Stu Phillips; Cousin Jody; Ernie Ashworth
10:00: Roy Acuff (host); Jim and Jesse
10:15: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton
10:30: Lester Flatt (host); The Four Guys; Johnny Darrell
10:45: Jimmy C Newman (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Crook Brothers
11:00: George Morgan (host); Grandpa Jones; Leroy Van Dyke; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Bob Luman; Wilma Burgess
__________________________________________________________________

And now looking back, it was on Saturday July 10, 1999 that former Grand Ole Opry member June Carter Cash made a guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, which was also her last appearance on the show.

Valerie June Carter was born on June 23, 1929 in Maces Spring, Virginia. June was introduced to country music, specifically Appalachian folk songs, at a very young age. Her mother, Maybelle Carter, was part of the Carter Family, a popular trio that grew to include June and her sisters.

After the group disbanded in 1943, June began touring with her mother and sisters as the Carter Sisters and Mother Maybelle. The act was featured on several radio and television programs, eventually becoming a regular at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.

 Noted for her comedic skills and her talents with various musical instruments, especially the autoharp, June began a successful solo career while continuing to work with her family; she made her solo debut at the Grand Ole Opry in 1950 and later toured with Elvis Presley. She also pursued an acting career, studying with Lee Strasberg.

In 1961 Carter joined the road show of famed country singer Johnny Cash. Two years later she co-wrote what was perhaps her best-known song, “Ring of Fire,” to describe her feelings about Cash, whose rendition of it became a hit. The two soon began performing together and earned a Grammy Award for their duet “Jackson” (1967). Carter encouraged Cash to seek treatment for his drug addiction, and the couple married in 1968.

June continued to record popular duets with Cash as well as perform as a solo artist—she earned her first Grammy as a solo artist for Press On (1999)—and as a member of the Carter Family, which had re-formed in the 1950s. Her autobiographies, Among My Klediments and From the Heart, were published in 1979 and 1987, respectively. Her relationship with Cash figured prominently in Walk the Line (2005), a film based on Cash’s life.

June Carter Cash passed away on May 15, 2003 due to complications from heart surgery.

Here is the running order from 21 years ago, Saturday July 10, 1999, June Carter's final Opry appearance:

1st show
6:30: Circle Club
Jimmy C Newman (host): La Cajun Band
Skeeter Davis: It's Different Now
Jimmy C Newman: Cochon De Lait
Kenny Sears: Orange Blossom Special
Bessyl Duhon: Cajun Stripper

6:45: Ryman
Jeannie Seely (host): Hey, Good Lookin'
Charlie Louvin: Jesus Is Whispering Now/When I Stop Dreaming
Jeannie Seely: It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Bill Carlisle: I've Waited Too Long
Matt King: I Wrote the Book on Heartaches
Matt King and Jessie Alexander: From Your Knees
Matt King: Memories, Fiddles and Songs
Porter Wagoner: Cabin in Gloryland

7:30: Standard Candy
Emmylou Harris (host): Hello Stranger
Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell: (?)
June Carter Cash: Little Moses/Ring of Fire
Emmylou Harris: (?)
Rodney Crowell: There's a Fool Such As I

8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): Southern Fried
Jan Howard: Together When We Tried
Stu Phillips: Have I Told You Lately That I Love You/You Win Again/Release Me
T. Bubba Bechtol: Comedy
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Old Joe Clark
Bill Anderson: Still

8:30: Physicians Mutual
Mike Snider (host): If My Nose was Runnin' Money
The Four Guys: When You Got a Good Woman, It Shows
Del Reeves: I Would Like to See You Again
Jack Greene: Love Takes Good Care of Me/Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
Mike Snider: Look What They've Done to the Dominica Hen

2nd show
9:30: B.G.R. Development
Porter Wagoner (host): Tennessee Saturday Night
Jeanne Pruett: Temporarily Yours
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya
June Carter Cash: Wildwood Flower/I Used to Be Somebody, Tiffany Anastasia Lowe

10:00: Lincoln Mercury
Emmylou Harris (host): IF I Could Only Win Your Love/Everytime You Leave

10:30: Opry Book
Jeannie Seely (host): Burning That Old Memory
Mike Snider: Snuff Dipper
Jeannie Seely: Those Memories

10:45: Joggin' In A Jug
Charlie Walker (host): Who'll Buy the Wine
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sail Away Ladies
Charlie Walker: Smoke; Smoke; Smoke

11:00: Coca Cola
Jack Greene (host): Highway to the Sky
The Four Guys: It's All Right to Have a Good Time
T. Bubba Bechtol: Comedy
Matt King: In Dreams/From Your Knees
Jack Greene: Status of A Fool

11:30: Ray Stevens
Del Reeves (host): Anywhere USA
Stu Phillips: El Tigrae
Ray Pillow: Ain't No Way to Treat My Heart
Coon Creek: This Heart of Mine/Stuck in the Middle
Del Reeves: Hound Dog

There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Opry on Saturday night.