2020 Year in Review

It's that time again. Each January I take a look back at the previous year at the Grand Ole Opry and this year will be no different as I review 2020. 

In looking back at last year, two things stood out in my mind: the circumstances from Covid that limited what the Opry was able to due in 2020, and the lost of five Grand Ole Opry members. 

The Grand Ole Opry ended up with 80 shows last year, down over 100 from 2019. While the number of shows was down, the good news is that through it all the Grand Ole Opry did not miss a Saturday night performance, keeping their streak in tack. In addition to the 52 Saturday performances, the Opry was able to get in 19 Friday night shows and 7 Tuesday night shows as the pandemic severely affected the Opry's ability to put on shows. There were also 2 Opry Country Classic shows. It should also be noted that of the 52 Saturday shows, 29 took place as one hour Circle network shows with no audience. 

While the Opry had 29 Saturday night shows with no audience, 28 of which lasted one hour, the Circle network and the Opry came to an agreement to televise and make available on several social media sites, those Saturday night shows. According to Pollstar, several of those Saturday nights were the highest streamed shows in terms of viewership. And since the return of the two hour Opry shows in November, Circle continues to televise and stream one hour of the Saturday night show, expanding the reach of the Opry worldwide. 

March 6 was the final Friday Night Opry, with the shows suspended until they resumed on November 6. The final Saturday in the traditional Opry format with a live audience was the following night, March 7. The Opry resumed live audience shows on Saturday October 3 with a limited audience of 500 as the Opry celebrated its 95th birthday with a one hour show. November marked the return of the two hour Saturday show with the audience capped at 1100.

As far as Opry members, the year started with 68 members. There was one addition in 2020 as Gene Watson became an Opry member on February 7. Sadly the Opry lost five members in 2019, which was the most members that the Opry has lost in one year. Jan Howard passed away on March 28, followed by Joe Diffie on March 29, Charlie Daniels July 6, Hal Ketchum November 23 and finally, Charley Pride December 12. In addition to those Opry members who passed away, Jimmy Capps, who had performed on the Opry for over 60 years, passed away on June 1. 

While Gene Watson was the only new member to join the Opry's cast, Rhonda Vincent did accept an invitation to join and she will be officially inducted on February 6, 2021.

Of the 64 members at the end of year, 45 made appearances in 2020, among those being Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, Clint Black, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Little Big Town and Reba McEntire, artists who normally don't appear often at the Opry. 

While it was not a typical year, I still came up with a Top 10 list of appearances by Opry members with Jeannie Seely leading the group with 26 appearances. Jeannie was followed by Connie Smith, who appeared 22 times. As to the rest of the Top 10 (and those who appeared 10 times or more):

Bill Anderson: 15
Riders In The Sky/Mike Snider/The Whites: 14
John Conlee/Dailey & Vincent: 13
Vince Gill/Mark Wills: 11
Bobby Osborne/Ricky Skaggs: 10

Among the remaining "active" Opry members, Steve Wariner appeared 8 times, Marty Stuart 7, Trace Adkins and Terri Clark 6, Chris Young and Chris Janson 5, Crystal Gayle, Oak Ridge Boys, Darius Rucker and Craig Morgan  4, Luke Combs, Brad Paisley, Dustin Lynch, Old Crow Medicine Show, Gene Watson and Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers 3. 

Appearing once or twice were Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Clint Black, Garth Brooks, Emmylou Harris, Alan Jackson, Little Big Town, Del McCoury, Reba McEntire, Jesse McReynolds, Lorrie Morgan, Blake Shelton, Pam Tillis, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Trisha Yearwood. 

The "active" members who did not appear in 2020 include Diamond Rio, Alison Krauss, Patty Loveless, Martina McBride, Ronnie Milsap, Eddie Montgomery, Dolly Parton, Rascal Flatts and Travis Tritt. 

(Those who I have as retired, or no longer active, include Bobby Bare, Tom T. Hall, Stonewall Jackson, Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Stu Phillips, Ray Pillow, Jeanne Pruett, Ricky Van Shelton and Randy Travis). 

In a normal year, I would take issue with those Opry members who did not appear, or made only a handful of appearances, but with Covid, I am giving everyone a break. I am not going to take a shot at anyone who felt it was best to stay home and stay safe. 

Taking a brief look at guest artists, Carly Pearce and Gary Mule Deer led with 6 appearances. Charles Esten, Michael Ray, Henry Cho, The Isaacs, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Ashley McBryde, Maggie Rose and Lauren Alaina each made 4 appearances. In addition, 15 artists made their Opry debuts in 2020. 

As the Opry begins 2021, the Opry has temporarily suspended the Friday Night Opry while continuing the two hour Saturday night shows with a limited number of artists and limited attendance. Hopefully by late Spring or Summer we will see more normalcy and a return to full audience and more traditional Opry shows. 

As always, special thanks to all who have read and/or commented on the blog this past year, and a special thanks to those who have taken the time to connect on social media or through email. I enjoy it all. 

Also special thanks to Dan Rogers and his entire team at the Grand Ole Opry for all they do to keep the Opry going. I know it is not easy. 

Everyone take care and everyone stay safe as we go through 2021.