The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the two shows this weekend, the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry.
As with the past couple of weeks, the Friday night show is set for 90 minutes and will feature Grand Ole Opry members Terri Clark, Connie Smith and Marty Stuart. Joining that trio will be Ashley McBryde, Chase Rice and John Berry.
It is really nice to see Marty back on the Opry, and he is scheduled to be appearing several times over the next couple of weeks. Ashley McBryde continues her stream of Opry appearances and John Berry seems to make an appearance each holiday season and does an awesome job with his version of "O, Holy Night."
Saturday night's show will feature Opry members Chris Young, Jeannie Seely and Mark Wills, Guesting will be comedian Henry Cho, Brett Young, Scotty McCreery and making his Grand Ole Opry debut, Dennis Quaid, who is more noted as an actor rather then as a singer.
Friday December 11
7:00: Terri Clark; John Berry
7:30: Chase Rice; Ashley McBryde
8:00: Connie Smith; Marty Stuart
Saturday December 12
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Mark Wills; Henry Cho
8:00: Scotty McCreery; Brett Young; Dennis Quaid; Chris Young
Very interesting to see actor Dennis Quaid making his Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday night.
Dennis Quaid and The Sharks have been performing in front of thousands of people receiving rave reviews. He is not just another actor turned rock star, he is a rock star. Dennis Quaid is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist. He performs many original plus classic hits such as “Spill the Wine”, “Gloria”, and many more. The band’s origins can be traced to one night when Quaid went to see actor Harry Dean Stanton and his longtime band (appropriately named the Harry Dean Stanton Band) perform at an L.A. club. Quaid was invited to join the band onstage.
At first reluctant because of his decade long layoff from music, Quaid finally did perform with the band and was successful enough that James, also a member of Stanton’s band, approached Quaid about starting a group of their own. James quickly began recruiting others for the band and it wasn’t long before Dennis Quaid & the Sharks, which specializes in “rock ‘n’ roll and country-soul,” was performing at L.A. clubs. The band even throws in a Jerry Lee Lewis song or two in the mix, such as “Great Balls of Fire,” which Quaid has firsthand experience performing, having played “The Killer” in a 1989 biopic. Quaid said the shows are as much fun for those in attendance as they are for the band. “(The audiences) have a blast, which is all we want,” he said. “I make a complete and utter fool of myself. I think that’s the only way to have fun (onstage), instead of trying to pretend to be cool and all the rest of that stuff.”
As you would expect, Dennis will be on the televised/livestream portion of the Opry on Saturday night.
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And now, from 50 years ago. Saturday December 12, 1970:
7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Drusky (host): Alone With You
Skeeter Davis: I'm A Lover; Not A Fighter
Jim and Jesse: Where the Chilly Winds Don't Blow
Del Wood: Snowbird
Roy Drusky: Burning Bridges
Skeeter Davis: I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know
Jim and Jesse: I've Got a Freight Train on My Mind
Roy Drusky: Long, Long Texas Road
8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Hank Locklin: Country Hall of Fame
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Big Midnight Special
Crook Brothers: Mississippi Sawyer
Lester Flatt: A Great Big Woman and A Little Bitty Bottle of Wine
Hank Locklin: Danny Boy
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: When My Time Comes to Go
Roland White: Turkey in the Straw
8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Ray Pillow: I'm Going Out and Burn Some Bridges
Tommy Cash: One Song Away
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
Ray Pillow: Grazin' In Greener Pastures
Brother Oswald: Worry, Worry Blues
9:00: Luzianne
Bill Anderson (host): Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Earl Scruggs Revue: Rubin
Stringbean: Me & My Old Crow
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Take Me Back to Tulsa
Jan Howard: Try a Little Kindness
Bill Anderson and Jan Howard: Someday, We'll Be Together
Earl Scruggs Revue: My Home's Across the Blue Ridge Mountains
Stringbean: Battle of New Orleans
Bill Anderson: Where Have All Our Heroes Gone
9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): Golden Rocket
Willis Brothers: Cool Water
The 4 Guys: Cottonfields/Mariah
Hank Snow: The Next Voice You Hear
Willis Brothers: Oh, Lonesome Me
The 4 Guys: Daddy Sang Bass
Hank Snow: Traveling Blues
10:00: Fender
Hank Locklin (host): Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Jim and Jesse: When I Stop Dreaming
Skeeter Davis: Bridge Over Troubled Water
Ray Pillow: Proud Mary
Hank Locklin: Jealous Heart
10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Del Wood: Are You From Dixie
Tommy Cash: Six White Horses
Roy Acuff: The Last Letter
10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): I've Been Walking
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Guide Me Home, My Georgia Moon
Willis Brothers: There Goes the Farm
Stringbean: Pretty Polly
Vic Jordan: John Henry
10:45: Beechnut
Bill Anderson (host): I Get the Fever
Earl Scruggs Revue: Paul & Silas
Jan Howard: My Son
Crook Brothers: Chicken Reel
Bill Anderson and Jan Howard: If It's All the Same to You
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Vanishing Breed
Archie Campbell: Long Black Limousine
Justin Tubb: Lodi
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cacklin' Hen
Hank Snow: Born for You
Justin Tubb: Looking Back to See
Sam McGee: Under the Double Eagle
Hank Snow: That's When the Hurtin' Sets In
11:30: Lava
Marty Robbins (host): Devil Woman
The 4 Guys: Over on the Other Side/My Special Angel
Ronnie Robbins: I'll Go on Alone/They'll Never Take Her Love From Me
Marty Robbins: I Walk Alone/So Afraid of Losing You/Big Boss Man/Bouquet of Roses/I Could Never Be Ashamed of You/Lovesick Blues/Long Gone Lonesome Blues/El Paso
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Finally, I am sure most have now seen the news that a date has been set for the induction of Rhonda Vincent as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. The date will be Saturday February 6, 2021. It has been a long wait for Rhonda as it was on February 28 that she was asked by Jeannie Seely to join the Opry's cast. Covid put a hold on that, along with Rhonda's own touring schedule. It is wonderful to see that a date has finally been set.
There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.
It occurred to me that when Jan Howard appeared that night, she was not yet a member but Bud Wendell thought she was! She'd told the story of Wendell saying he'd see her the next Saturday night and she said no. Why not? She said she wasn't a member. He was shocked and said, you are now.
ReplyDeleteI also feel a little nostalgic that she sang "Try a Little Kindness." That's one of the first three songs I ever remember hearing on the radio. The others were "Running Bear" and "Tall, Dark Stranger." They stick out for some reason.
How much of the televised portion of the Saturday segment is actual on-stage performance? and the "Opry Member" comes on last - interesting!
ReplyDeleteThat 1970 show might not be anything real special but I think it's pretty neat. As you would expect, many artist were singing their current records. Although not a huge hit, Vanishing Bread hit #52 for Hank Snow in 1970. Long, Long Texas Road would make it to #5 in 1970 and be the last time Roy Drusky got that high in the charts. Same with Skeeter Davis with Lover Not A Fighter which made it to #9. Where Have All Our Hero's Gone made it to #6 for Whisper and Someday We'll Be Together was #4 for Bill and Jan in '70. 1970 was the best year for Tommy Cash coming off Six White Horses in '69 and having One Song Away and Rise And Shine making #9 in '70. Freight Train In My Mind was a cut on the 1970 Jim and Jesse LP "We Like Trains". And it is unique to hear Roy Acuff do Last Letter. I think it was very good show.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting it Byron!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Jim, thanks for adding those wonderful comments regarding the various chart positions of the current songs that the artists were singing. Some we have forgotten over time.
DeleteConnie Smith and Marty Stuart absolutely nailed the last half hour. Missed the first hour :(
ReplyDeleteTerri Clark’s song about her mother was so moving. Lots of standing ovations last night. One of the best shows I can remember.
ReplyDeleteI wish they would put these archived programs on the website.
ReplyDelete