Let's start off with this bit of news:
"The Grand Ole Opry will return to Friday evening performances, and will expand both its Friday and Saturday evening shows to two hours, starting Nov. 6. The two-hour Saturday evening shows will include a one-hour, 8 p.m. CT Circle and Gray TV station broadcast, which can also be viewed on DISH Studio Channel 102, Sling TV, and other TV affiliates in addition to a companion livestream on Circle All Access Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. The Opry can also be heard on 650 WSM-AM, wsmonline.com, and SiriusXM.
The Opry paused performances that included a live audience on March 14, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Opry House will continue to have limited-capacity in-venue audiences, in compliance with operating plans developed in collaboration with the Nashville Public Health Department that include socially distanced seating, mandatory masks for all guests and staff, as well as enhanced cleaning practices."
Nice to see the Opry continue to work its way back to normal. It will be interesting to see what type of format and the number of artists that will be scheduled each week and will the focus be on the one hour televised portion on Saturday night?
But definitely a move in the right direction.
_________________________________________________________________________
Continuing on to this week, the Grand Ole Opry continues to celebrate its 95th anniversary through out the month of October, with a different theme each week.
The theme for this Saturday night is a celebration of chart-topping songs and those that wrote them. It promises to be a great show with two of the best songwriters in the history of country music on the schedule. Grand Ole Opry member, and Country Music Hall of Fame member, Bill Anderson will be making his first Opry appearance since March. He will be joined by another Hall of Fame member, and frequent Opry guest, Don Schlitz.
One of the newest Opry members Chris Janson is also scheduled, as are two of the best female voices in the business, Mandy Barnett and Brandy Clark.
Nice to see five artists on the schedule as the Opry continues to offer the one-hour social distancing shows that are televised on Circle TV, and on Facebook, Twitter, etc.
____________________________________________________________________
Now 50 years ago, Saturday October 17, 1970. On that particular night, the Opry celebrated its 45th birthday:
1st show
6:00: Vietti
Bill Anderson (host); Charlie Walker; Wilma Lee Cooper; Skeeter Davis; Jimmy C Newman; Willis Brothers
6:30: Bill Monroe (host); Charlie Louvin; George Morgan; Del Wood
6:45: Tex Ritter (host); Jack Greene; Jeannie Seely; The Four Guys
7:00: Roy Acuff (host); Hank Locklin; Margie Bowes; Glaser Brothers; Billy Walker; Jim Ed Brown; Jim and Jesse
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Mel Tillis; Crook Brothers; Jean Shepard; Justin Tubb
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Del Reeves; Dottie West; Osborne Brothers; Billy Grammer; Ernie Ashworth
8:30: Ernest Tubb (host); Loretta Lynn; Bobby Lord; Earl Scruggs Revue; Stu Phillips; Wilburn Brothers; Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Dolly Parton; Jimmy C Newman; Jean Shepard; Willis Brothers; Justin Tubb; Del Wood
10:00: Bill Anderson (host); George Morgan; Wilma Lee Cooper; Charlie Louvin; Skeeter Davis; Charlie Walker
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Tex Ritter; Jack Greene; Jeannie Seely; Billy Grammer
10:30: Lester Flatt (host); Margie Bowes; Jim and Jesse
10:45: Ernest Tubb (host); Loretta Lynn; Jim Ed Brown; Wilburn Brothers; Crook Brothers
11:00: Bill Monroe (host); Dottie West; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Mel Tillis; Osborne Brothers; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Del Reeves; The Four Guys; Bobby Lord; Stu Phillips; Ernie Ashworth
I would say that was a pretty solid night!!
_____________________________________________________________________
The following year, Grand Ole Opry celebrated its 46th birthday on Saturday October 16, 1971. It was also the night that country music star Freddie Hart made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.
Here is the running order from that that:
1st show
6:00: Vietti
Tex Ritter (host): Just Beyond the Moon
Dolly Parton: Coat of Many Colors
Jim Ed Brown: Morning
Stonewall Jackson: Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Roy Drusky: Long, Long Texas Road
Willis Brothers: Women's Liberation
Tex Ritter: Fall Away
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Bill Anderson (host) and Jan Howard: Dissatisfied
Jan Howard: Hurt All Over
Ray Pillow: Haven't You Heard
Ernie Ashworth: A Bottle of the Blues
Bill Anderson: Quits
6:45: Rudy's
Bill Monroe (host): I Heard a Sweet Voice Calling
Stu Phillips: I'd Rather Be Sorry
Bill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Bill Monroe: Katy Hill
7:00: Luzianne
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Coming Down from God
Tom T Hall: I Remember the Year that Clayton Delaney Died
Del Wood: Gloryland March
Howdy Forrester: Sally Goodin
George Morgan: Gentle Rains of Home
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away
7:30: Standard Candy
Ernest Tubb (host): Answer the Phone
Loretta Lynn: Put Your Hand in the Hand
Charlie Louvin and Melba Montgomery: Something to Brag About
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
Jeannie Seely: All Right, I'll Sign the Papers
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Ernest Tubb: Shenandoah Waltz
8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): Will You Be Loving Another Man
Grandpa Jones: Are You From Dixie
Dottie West: Country Girl
Billy Walker: You Gave Me a Mountain
Del Reeves: Philadelphia Fillies
Justin Tubb: Big Fool of the Year
Lester Flatt: Foggy Mountain Breakdown
8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): Sea Shores of Mexico
Wilburn Brothers: That She's Leaving Feeling
Connie Smith: How Great Thou Art
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Devil's Dream
Bob Luman: Today I Started Loving You Again/Honky-Tonk Man
The Four Guys: Shenandoah
Hank Snow: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Tex Ritter (host): Fall Away
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Dolly Parton: Coat of Many Colors
Jim Ed Brown: She's Leaving
Roy Drusky: I Love the Way That You've Been Loving Me
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Jimmy C Newman: Louisiana Dirty Rice
Del Wood: Are You From Dixie
10:00: Fender
Bill Anderson (host): Quits
Bill Anderson and Jan Howard: Dissatisfied
Grandpa Jones: Mountain Dew
Ray Pillow: The Waitress
10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Stu Phillips: I'd Rather Be Sorry
George Morgan: Gentle Rains of Home
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): The Bluebirds Singing for Me
Tom T Hall: I Remember the Year that Clayton Delaney Died
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Lester Flatt: Orange Blossoms Special
10:45: Beechnut
Ernest Tubb (host): Letters Have No Arms
Loretta Lynn: Lead Me On
Billy Walker: How Great Thou Art
Crook Brothers: Eighth of January
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Snowbird
Earl Scruggs Revue: T For Texas
Jack Greene: There's a Whole Lot About a Woman a Man Don't Know
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Del Reeves: Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On/Hound Dog
Freddie Hart: Easy Lovin'/My Hang Up is You
Sam McGee: San Antonio Rose
11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): Devil Woman
Wilburn Brothers: That She's Leaving Feeling
Connie Smith: Just One Time
The Four Guys: Let the Sun Keep Shining
Bob Luman: Getting Back to Norma
Marty Robbins: I Walk Alone/Begging to You/Don't Worry/Big Boss Man/They'll Never Take Her Love From Me/Singing the Blues/El Paso
The Opry members who were not scheduled that night were Bobby Bare, Margie Bowes, Archie Campbell, Skeeter Davis, Billy Grammer, George Hamilton IV, Hank Locklin, Lonzo and Oscar, Bobby Lord, Osborne Brothers, Minnie Pearl, Jean Shepard, Stringbean and Marion Worth.
Those who were scheduled but failed to appear were Porter Wagoner, Glaser Brothers, Jim and Jesse and Cousin Jody, while Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper cancelled on the second show.
While the first show that night ran relatively on time, the second show did not end until 1:00 a.m. I think it is safe to say that everyone got their money's worth that night.
_____________________________________________________________________
Finally, can you believe that it has been 28 years since Roy Acuff made his final appearance on Saturday's Grand Ole Opry? It was the night of the Opry's 67th birthday celebration. I know many of us know about that final night, and the unplanned duet he did with Bill Anderson. I was there that night and it was an emotional scene.
Here is the running order from Saturday October 17, 1992:
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Bill Monroe (host): Mule Skinner Blues
Jim Ed Brown: Pop A Top
Bill Monroe: Ozark Rag
6:45: Hall of Fame
Grandpa Jones (host): Cindy
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Roy Drusky: Peel Me a Nanner
Grandpa Jones: Gone Home
7:00: Shoney's
George Hamilton IV (host): Abilene
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Mike Snider: Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me, I'm Falling
Jean Shepard: Let's All Go Down to the River/I Saw the Light/Will the Circle Be Unbroken/I'll Fly Away/Somebody Touched Me
George Hamilton IV: Break Me Mind
7:30: Standard Candy
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Shelly West: Standing In Sorrow's Way/You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma
John Conlee: Hit the Ground Running/Miss Emily's Picture
Porter Wagoner and the Grand Ole Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Connie Smith: Then & Only Then/Sing, Sing, Sing
Bill Anderson and Roy Acuff: I Wonder If God Likes Country Music
Bill Anderson: Still
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sally Goodin
Dan Kelly: Turkey Buzzard
8:30: Kraft
Hank Snow (host): Ancient History
The Four Guys: Big River
Jan Howard: You Don't Know Me
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
The Whites: San Antonio Rose
Hank Snow: It Kinda Reminds Me of Me
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Wilma Lee Cooper: Singing Waterfall
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me
Mike Snider: Green Sleeves
Porter Wagoner and the Grand Ole Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry
Porter Wagoner: Big Wind
10:00: Life's Highway
Bill Monroe (host): Life's Highway
Roy Drusky: All for the Love of a Girl
Jimmy Campbell: The Old Tennessee River
10:15: Sunbeam/Tennessee Pride
Roy Acuff (host): Once More
Hank Locklin: Danny Boy/Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
10:30: Pet Milk
Grandpa Jones (host): Don't 'Cha Cry Melinda
Jean Shepard: Someone's Gotta Cry
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Grandpa Jones: My Little Old Home Down in New Orleans
10:45: B.C. Powder
George Hamilton IV (host): Life's Railway to Heaven
Shelly West: Jose Cuervo
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Black Mountain Rag
George Hamilton IV: Forever Young
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): There's a Fool Such as I
The Four Guys: How Married are You Mary Ann
Connie Smith: Once a Day
John Conlee: Before My Time/Rose Colored Glasses
Hank Snow: On That Old Hawaii Shore with You
11:30: Creamette
Jim Ed Brown (host): Morning Comes Too Early
Jan Howard: Together When We Tried
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
The Whites: Swing Down Chariot
Johnny Russell: Why Me Lord
Jim Ed Brown; The 3 Bells
Roy would make one more Opry appearance on the following Friday night, where he performed sitting in a directors chair, being too frail to stand. Saturday October 24 would be the last time Roy's name would be printed in an Opry program, however he did not appear that night as his family did not wake him from his nap.
There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night.
Hopefully Rhonda Vincent's induction will take place in the new schedules in early November !!!! It would be wonderful if it could be with a full house but it needs to be done soon.
ReplyDeleteI was looking at Rhonda Vincent's tour schedule for the rest of 2020, and there are only a couple of weekend dates that she is free. Saturday October 24, Saturday October 31 and Friday November 6. Most of November and December she is doing a Christmas show in Branson. She is also free Christmas weekend, but I would be very surprised if she made the trip to Nashville.
DeleteJust in my mind, November 6 would seem like a logical date as it is the first of the Friday night shows, and the first show to go back to 2 hours. But until we hear something from the Opry, it is still a wait and see. Hopefully they can get it done before 2021.
Thanks as always.
ReplyDeleteHow I wish I could have been there on Mr. Acuff's last Saturday night. Bill wrote about that so beautifully.
I hope that the gang here will allow me to make 2 or 3 long posts. About 3 years ago I set out to put all of our experiences into a book to include some of the several thousand photos taken at the Opry and at road shows. I'm not doing too well having only completed the chapter on Mr. Acuff and Billy and Bettie Walker. I would like to share my writings of the last few appearances Mr. Acuff made on the Opry. I have a lot of this on tape so in some cases it is simple transcription.
ReplyDeleteWe had managed our way backstage in July 1989 to meet Mr. Acuff, Oswald, Eunita and Dan Kelly. Grant Turner was our escort. We returned to see Mr. Acuff on the Opry in November 1989 and attended the weekend after his death in November 1992.
Sorry if I have posted some of this before but we have some new folks out there I think.
Stay tuned!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
On Saturday September 12, 1992 Roy opened his first show with "The Wabash Cannonball". Jean Shepard and Stonewall Jackson were his guests. To close the show, he started off with "The Things That Might Have Been" and got a big applause. Roy said to the audience "alright, thank you, you are mighty nice, thank you". He turned to announcer Kyle Cantrell and said "Kyle, are you all through over there?" "If you haven't got anything else to do I'll finish up out here". Kyle replied "it's all yours". Roy said "boys, you got anything in mind?" "Lets start a crap game". He then turned to Larry McNeely on harmonica and said "Larry, where you at, take me off" and Larry went into "Freight Train Blues". As Larry started playing you could hear Roy say "ya" as though he was excited about doing the song. There are a lot of words in that song and three places where there are high notes. By this time, Roy was getting pretty weak and feeble but he did a really good job, better than when he was in top form. He got over a two minute applause and just as the crowd started to settle down, Oswald started playing the intro to "Great Speckled Bird" for an encore. However, Roy just said "thank you, you are very kind" then went into his pitch about coming to Opryland. It was a powerful performance! He would do "Freight Train Blues" one more time on Saturday September 26.
ReplyDeleteOn Saturday October 10, Roy Again opened his first show with the "Cannonball" and then in an unusual move, went right into another song. Someone had requested he do "The End Of Memory Lane". When he finished, he got a long standing ovation and he said "don't everybody leave". It must have been a moving experience in the Opry House watching this 89 year old legend at center stage in his fragile state sing "The End Of Memory Lane". Bill Anderson was one of the guests on this portion and he and Roy closed with "I Wonder If God Likes Country Music".
On Saturday October 17 Bill Anderson was again on Roy's first show. I did not know it but earlier in the day Roy had been taken to the hospital and doctors wanted him to stay overnight. Even though he was scheduled, folks at the Opry were not expecting him to perform. A determined Roy Acuff opened with the "Cannonball", and when he was done he kind of chuckled and said "I didn't think I was going to make it". Connie Smith was his first guest and he stood at center stage and held onto her for support. you could feel it over the airwaves of WSM that Roy was not doing too well. When Bill came out to perform, they talked about the first World Series game (Atlanta and Toronto, Atlanta won) and then Bill ask Roy if he would sing with him. I love Bill Anderson, but I remember being shocked and a bit upset that Bill would ask Roy to do "their" song while Roy was in that condition.
Bill's Po Folks Band started into "I Wonder If God Likes Country Music" and I thought sure I could feel the emotion in the Opry House coming over WSM. They did the song and Roy really struggled to do hi part, but they made it. They got a long standing ovation and Bill could hardly speak. Roy kept saying to the audience "thank you , all right, thank you, I'm gonna have him do another one". Bill said in a broken voice "I don't think they want to hear me". "But thank you for sharing that with me, that's a very special song, and I thank you more than you know". "Truly the King of Country Music ladies and gentlemen". I knew then that Bill could see what I couldn't over the radio, that this was probably their last time, and it was!
Jim
Bill eloquently wrote about this entire episode in his 1993 book "I Hope You're Living As High On The Hog A the Pig You Turned Out To Be". He stated that Roy could barely see or stand and kept his eyes closed during the entire song. After the song, he leaned over and said to Roy "They're standing up Mr. Roy". Roy said "They're not going home are they?" There is a wonderful picture in Bill's book of Bill looking at Roy clinging to the Opry mic stand with his eyes closed and singing his part.
ReplyDeleteAs sick as he was, Roy did the second show that night, opening with "Once More". He would close the second show simply by saying "Thank you people for being a wonderful audience, we want you to come back and see us again sometime, maybe I'll feel more like singing a song, thank you an d good night to you all".
He went in the hospital the next day, Sunday the 18th where he stayed until Wednesday the 21st. Friday October 23 he was back on the Opry stage. He was so weak he performed setting down this night. He told the audience "I'm not a dead man but I'm not alive by a whole lot". On the first show he did the "Wabash Cannonball" and Charlie Walker closed the show for him. You could tell by the way Roy talked and the way announcer Kyle Cantrell and the guests acted that Roy was not doing well. He opened the second show with "Night Train To Memphis". Charlie Collins and Larry McNeely closed the show. "Night Train To Memphis" would be the last song Roy would ever perform on the Opry.
I had recorded Roy's performances for several years and figured that I would have the last Opry performance he did. I had been working a lot of hours and I laid down on the be to rest with the radio on while I waited for Roy to come on. I fell asleep and woke up just un time to hear him finish "Night Train To Memphis".
The next night, Saturday the 24th, Roy was in the house with plans to take the stage. Bill Anderson learned about 15 minutes before Roy was to go on that he had become too ill and Bill would be taking his place. The Smoky Mountain Boys helped Bill open the Martha White portion. On the second show, George Hamilton IV took Roy's place and again the Smoky Mountain Boys helped out. (This is what I have in my notes from 28 years ago)
Saturday October 24th went a little different than my notes according to Elizabeth Schlappi in the second edition of her book "Roy Acuff, The Smoky Mountain Boy" published in 1993. She wrote that on the 24th after having lunch with family, Roy took a nap and inadvertently slept through the afternoon and into the evening. She does not indicate that he ever went to the Opry that evening.
Roy entered the hospital the last time on Friday October 30. He had been diagnosed months earlier with congestive heart failure. Doctors felt they could treat it with medication. However, he would remain in the hospital until he passed at 2:35am Nashville time Monday November 23, 1992, one month after his last Opry appearance. Less than eight hours late he was laid to res at Springhill Cemetery on Galitan Road about 3.5 miles northeast of the Opry House. Roy had requested immediate burial and only a handful of people including family and band members were present. His mother, father, brothers and wife Mildred are also buried there. Mildred had passed June 17, 1981.
(I'm not sure where the conflict is with my notes on the 2th of October compared to what was in Elizabeth Schlappi's book. It seems I recall hearing Bill Anderson talk about that night and how he was expectantly called to step in Roy at the last minute.
Hope you enjoy my memories of those final performances.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Spell check!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat last paragraph should read the 24th of October and unexpectantly! Maybe that's not even a word but you get the point!
Jim
Jim: Thanks for sharing your memories. Bob
DeleteGreat memories/stories Jim.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Jim, as always, I appreciate your posts and what you add to the blog. Wonderful memories and I believe you covered it perfectly. Not sure of why there is a difference between what you wrote and what Elizabeth wrote. I am sure her information came from family members or close associates of Roy's. Either way, I am sure many who did not know the story of Roy's final appearances on the Opry, learned something new.
ReplyDeleteI'll second all of that. Thanks, Jim!
ReplyDeleteBill said he was getting ready to do Mr. Acuff's segment when Hal Durham leaned in and said he'd be hosting instead. Bill was just offstage when he heard a noise, and turned, and two of the band were virtually carrying Mr. Acuff to the stage. And I think of Bill Monroe being ill during his final performance and Wilma Lee Cooper having a stroke during a song and finishing it.
By the way, on a funnier note, one night Mr. Acuff missed his segment because he and Grant Turner got into a conversation in the dressing room and were too engrossed to notice the time!
Thanks for all the remarks.
ReplyDeleteAfter Mr. Acuff passed I didn't figure I would ever get back to the Opry but we did dozens of times from 1996 to 2013 including that night backstage.
When I was younger, Roy Acuff and Hank Snow were unquestionably my favorites. They still are but as we became more active and got to meet so many others from the Opry, the gap between my appreciation for others and Mr. Acuff and Mr. Snow narrowed. Bill Anderson is a good example.
But originally, Roy Acuff and Hank Snow were the two I never dared miss on Friday and Saturday night. After a basketball game, instead of going out and running around, it was straight home to catch Roy Acuff's second Opry show. That is probably why I am still single and lead a dull social life! Even after all these years, I still tear up just reading what I wrote and it is even worse when I listen to what I have on tape.
I was listening to some music at work a few days back and again thought how blessed we are to know and love the music of the Opry and other greats that were not connected to the Opry. The guy that works in my office talks about mood music and the beat and mostly listens t 80's rock. He looked at me like I was a freak when I told him I listened to every word and was more interested in the instrumentation and the technique and style of the individual musicians on the records than I was the beat! Whether they were good or bad lessons, a lot of of who I am comes from the lyrics in those songs and the attitude, sincerity and kindness of those artists we eventually got to meet "though the years" as Jan Howard would say. Truly a blessing.
Thanks to Byron for providing this great place for us to share our memories and to all who read and participate.
Jim
Knightsvile, IN
Really nice Grand Ole Opry show tonight with just one exception. Lauren Alaina!! Do I need to say anything more.
ReplyDeleteActually I will. Up to 1100 tonight at the Opry House. So they went from 500 the first week, to 800 last week and another 300 more this week. Nice to see.
And it was nice to see Bill Anderson back on the Opry. Glad that the legends are getting invited back to perform.
Byron: You don't have to elaborate but did I not see everything? Admit I was in and out but I thought I saw a little of all the artist. When was she on?
ReplyDeleteNever an Opry member but intertwined with several who were at one time or another, Johnny Bush passed yesterday at 85. Did you know he was a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame? One report I saw stated that but they missed that it was the Texas CHOF!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
No Jim, Johnny Bush was not a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. In fact, I have never even heard that his name came up over the years. He was a member of the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.
DeleteByron: I knew he wasn't. I'm always amazed when I read things in the news that I have a pretty good knowledge of and see misinformation. Always makes me wonder what is reported incorrectly that I have little knowledge when I'm depending on the person getting paid to find and report the facts to inform me.
DeleteJim
I wonder if they confused him with Johnny BOND?
DeleteMaybe. But Rolling Stone stated that he was in the Texas HOF so maybe that is where the confusion or mistake came from.
DeleteJim
Lauren Alaina was the host this week on the non-TV feeds, those who watched on Facebook, Twitter or on the Circle website. That is how I have to watch it now as the local TV channel no longer shows the Opry live. Usually it is Natalie Stovall, which I have come to appreciate as I think she does a nice job. Last night Lauren filled in and I just thought she was awful!!! She just seemed out of control, giggly, self-promoting herself. In my mind, she just didn't go over so well. Next week, Natalie is gone again and Carly Pearce will be hosting. Bobby Bones was still doing the TV feed during the commercial breaks, but it seemed to me that his portion had been pre-taped.
ReplyDeleteI certainly could have done without her.
DeleteOl' Whisper showed he still has the songwriting chops, didn't he? "Someday It'll All Make Sense" actually has more to do, I think, with the death of his longtime partner. But, wow.
Michael: I suspect you are right about Bill's inspiration for his part of "Someday It'll All Make Sense". But like a lot of well written songs, they can be inspirational during a variety of hardships. The timing sure worked out!
DeleteAny thoughts out there as to if the format will go back to the same as before the reduction to one hour? I'm wondering if Bill, Jeannie and Connie go back to hosting!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Thanks Byron. I wasn't aware of what was happening on those other outlets.
ReplyDeleteJim
Personally, I was surprised that Bill did not perform first on last night's show. It didn't make sense to me they had someone with whom I was unfamiliar as the beginning act (I guess it shows I listen to very little modern country music). I guess it had to do who would get more attention as the show began. It was good to see Mandy performing. If you have not heard her new album, you are really missing some wonderful music. One more thought: has anyone ever considered that Jimmy Fortune might be a good addition to the Opry? I think he would add a lot to the Opry.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea !! Jimmy Fortune would be a wonderful Opry addition. Can you imagine the great songs that could come out of a Bill Anderson - Jimmy Fortune colaberation ??? Dashmann, Flushing Michigan ---
DeleteI am so tired of these "NON-MEMBERS" opening the Grand Ole Opry. Having them introduced later in the show is fine. But put MEMBER on to open!
DeleteI agree with everyone here. But this isn't new. When CMT did the one-hour show that was really a variety show held for an hour of the Opry at the Opry House, guests would open it. I always have thought that was wrong and agree with those who prefer the old TNN format. And I think Byron referred to this once, about hearing someone say they'd seen the show on CMT, came to the Opry, and this isn't what they had seen. To me, it's truth in advertising.
DeleteAs noted below, Ol' Whisper, Jim Ed, and Porter were the hosts with the TV experience to time things carefully. I'm reminded of the early show where then-VP Bush was on, and Mr. Acuff brought him out earlier than planned. Mr. Acuff commented at the end that it was his segment, so he did it as he wanted. THAT was the Opry, and still is, frankly.
Is it just me, or isn't Circle Network having a little trouble figuring out what in the world to do with the 'Opry show?
ReplyDeleteThe TV show stops EXACTLY on the hour. They cut off Chris Jansen Saturday night just as he was about to sing a great song.
Then Circle Network television shows a repeat of the exact same show for another hour. Very strange way to run a network.
How many different outlets are there for the show, and how many different hosts? I'm serious when I ask that question. Just seems VERY strange.
Opry: Just broadcast the radio show on the radio and television and forget about doing it six different ways. I guess the TV advertisers make my suggestion impossible, but I really miss the 'Opry announcers. Bobby Bones, Lauren Alaina, etc. ain't cutting it with this old codger. Natalie Stovall is a notable exception.
Nat, problem is, most people today don't listen to the radio or watch tv. I don't have either in my room, and neither does anyone my age or younger that I know. So if you want the opry to reach the most people, wsm is actually the worst place for it to only be. However in the good news department, I spoke to a dear friend who is a well known news writer for Country Weekly and so knows everyone in Nashville. While she did confirm what I said last week about wsm not having any listeners to speak of either online or on air, she does think, though she can not say for certain, that they will leave it as it is if only for the sake of tridition and the possibility of artists getting angry. But again the sad reality is, doing youtube and facebook is the best thing the opry could have done for itself. E Z
DeleteAs long as Ryman Hospitality owns WSM, there is pretty much a 0% chance of a change in format.
DeleteAs to the Opry getting cut off at the top of the hour, those of us who remember the old TNN/CMT days, know that was a pretty common occurrence back then. It was slightly better during the GAC days after Pete Fisher became more actively involved with rehearsing the televised hour and in timing out the show.
You will recall that in the TNN days it wsa pretty much the Opry as it happened unrehearsed. So, the shows that played out and timed out best were those hosted by Bill Anderson, Jim Ed Brown and Porter Wagoner who had that experience of timing out programs.
DeleteBring on Jimmy Fortune! He is one of the best candidate for membership out there. He's still a great singer and writer, respects tradition and history, well suited to a family audience, a member of the HOF and has many years left as a performer. I second the omination!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
I think there might be an issue of the performers talking too much before they go into their songs. They probably have everything scheduled correctly for the show, but some people gab too much which hurts the final performer.
DeleteI don't get Circle Network where I am so I watch the livestream on Youtube on my laptop and use an HDMI cable to connect it to my TV so I can watch it on a bigger screen. If there's an Opry Extras afterward like last week with Brandy and Don, they go through the credits and go right back into the live show until it's over. Something to think about in the future if TV cuts off on the hour.
A.B.
Byron can expand on this if he likes, but as I recall Minnie Pearl telling it, NBC and Prince Albert made them rehearse their segment for Saturday night. As I remember the story, someone from the network asked then-young Roy Acuff about timing and he said that if they had extra time they played an extra fiddle tune. And the network said, oh, no, we're not doing that.
DeleteShe also said she and Rod Brasfield were given scripts and had to rewrite them because the jokes came out of New York and wouldn't make sense to anyone listening!
Michael, you are absolutely correct. I have some copies of the Prince Albert scrips in my collection. What is interesting is that if you listen to the first Prince Albert show, and it is archived online on various spots, the timing wasn't there and the show was a little rough. It did get better quickly.
DeleteI'm amazed that kids watch stuff on a 7" screen.
ReplyDeleteBut you're probably exactly right EZ, and I guess I should be happy somebody is paying attention to the 'Opry on some form of electronic device!