As reported last week, the Grand Ole Opry has temporarily suspended the Friday Night Opry until February 19. While that is disappointing to see, happily the Saturday night shows will be continuing with the two hour format and the final hour televised on Circle and available on various streaming sites, such as the Circle page on Facebook and Twitter. Of course, you can listen to the entire two hour show on WSM.
Looking at the line-up for this weekend, we once again see Grand Ole Opry members Jeannie Seely and Riders In The Sky on the schedule, joined by members Dailey & Vincent. Guest artists include frequent guest Carly Pearce, along with comedian Henry Cho, noted contemporary Christian artist Michael W. Smith and Jake Hoot.
Some will recall that Jake Hoot, who made his Grand Ole Opry debut last February, was the season 17 winner on The Voice. Since then he has released four singles that have hit the charts but with limited success.
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Riders In The Sky; Jake Hoot; Henry Cho
8:00: Dailey & Vincent; Carly Pearce; Michael W. Smith
A pretty solid line-up for Saturday night.
_____________________________________________________________________
Now from 50 years ago, Saturday January 16, 1971:
7:00: Billy Walker (host); Jim and Jesse; Bill Carlisle; Lonzo and Oscar
7:30: Bill Monroe (host); Charlie Louvin; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Hank Locklin
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Ray Pillow; George Hamilton IV; Crook Brothers; Ernie Ashworth
8:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Stringbean; George Morgan
9:00: Roy Acuff (host); Billy Grammer; Margie Bowes; Fruit Jar Drinkers
9:30: Hank Snow (host); Willis Brothers; Charlie Walker; Stu Phillips
10:00: Bill Monroe (host); Charlie Louvin; Lonzo and Oscar; Bill Carlisle
10:15: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Hank Locklin; Jim and Jesse
10:30: Lester Flatt (host); Billy Walker; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Ray Pillow
10:45: Roy Acuff (host); Willis Brothers; George Hamilton IV; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Billy Grammer; George Morgan; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Stringbean; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Charlie Walker; Margie Bowes; Ernie Ashworth; Ronnie Robbins
It should be noted that it was George Hamilton IV's first Opry appearance in over a year.
______________________________________________________________________
It was a very special weekend 22 years ago as the Grand Ole Opry returned to the Ryman Auditorium for the first time since leaving the Ryman in March 1974. It was a wonderful weekend with a sold out show on Friday night and two sell-outs on Saturday. Saturday's Grand Ole Opry was highlighted by Ricky Skaggs inviting Trisha Yearwood to become the Opry's newest member. It was a memorable weekend and I was very fortunate to be at all three shows.
Here is the running order from that weekend, starting with the Friday Night Opry on January 15, 1999:
7:30
Porter Wagoner (host): Company's Comin'
Billy Walker: Ashes of Love/Blue Moon of Kentucky/That's All Right
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Del McCoury Band: (?)
Bill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Porter Wagoner: Overnight/A Satisfied Mind
8:00
John Conlee (host): The Old School
George Hamilton IV: The Circle of Wood
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
John Conlee: Busted/Rose Colored Glasses
8:30
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take An Old Cold Tater
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Holly Dunn: Daddy's Hands
Jimmy Dickens: Another Bridge to Burn
9:00
Ricky Skaggs (host): It's Mighty Dark for Me to Travel
The Whites: Blue Letters
Jack Greene: The Last Letter
Vince Gill: Don't Come Crying to Me/Pockets of Gold
Ricky Skaggs: Little Maggie
9:30
Bill Anderson (host): Wild Weekend
Del Reeves: Bells of Southern Bell
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Jim and Jesse: Southbound Train
Hank Locklin: Danny Boy
Bill Anderson: I Wonder If God Likes Country Music
10:00
Johnny Russell (host): In A Mansion Stands My Love
Sherrie Austin (:)
Jim Ed Brown: The Three Bells
The 4 Guys: Amazing Grace
Mike Snider: The Fur Coat
Johnny Russell: The Baptism of Jesse Taylor
Saturday January 16
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Jimmy C Newman (host): Big Mamou
Wilma Lee Cooper: Big Midnight Special
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya
6:45: Dickey's
Billy Walker (host): Charlie's Shoes
Skeeter Davis: Silver Threads and Golden Needles
Billy Walker: Adam's Side: The Wedding Song
7:00: Shoney's
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take An Old Cold Tater
Holly Dunn: Don't Worry
The 4 Guys: Cottonfields/Mariah
Joe Diffie: Texas Sized Heartache/Behind Closed Doors
Jimmy Dickens: I'd Rather Sleep in Peace Then Know You're Gone
7:30: Standard Candy
Ricky Skaggs (host): Get Up John
Steve Wariner: Holes in the Floor of Heaven
Steve Wariner and Ricky Skaggs: Windy & Warm; Eight More Miles to Louisville/Freight Train
Trisha Yearwood: Living on the Wrong Side of Memphis/A Powerful Thing
8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Howdy, Neighbor, Howdy
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Mike Snider: If My Nose was Runnin' Money
Jim Ed Brown: In the Garden
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Cherokee Shuffle
Porter Wagoner: When the Shiny Silver Eagle Meets the Great Speckled Bird
8:30: Physician's Mutual
Bill Anderson (host): Po' Folks
Jan Howard: Rock Me Back to Little Rock/Evil on My Mind
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me I'm Falling
The Whites: Pins & Needles
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Bill Anderson: I Wonder If God Likes Country Music
2nd show
9:30: Opry Book
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Brother Oswald and Charlie Collins: Wabash Cannonball/The Great Speckled Bird
Charlie Louvin: Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep
Trisha Yearwood: The Perfect Love/Til I Get it Right/She's In Love with the Boys
10:00: Lincoln Mercury
Jack Greene (host): Walking on New Grass
Jim and Jesse: El Comancheros
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/He Is My Everything
10:15: Opry Book
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind the Barn
Martina McBride: 'Til I Can Make it on My Own
Jimmy Dickens: I Love Lucy Brown
10:30: Epiphone
Ricky Skaggs (host): I'm' Lonesome; I'll Never Find the Way
Joe Diffie: A Pickup Man
Ricky Skaggs: Blue Moon of Kentucky
10:45: Jogging In A Jug
Steve Wariner (host): Burning the Roadhouse Down
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Durang's Hornpipe
Steve Wariner: Holes in the Floor of Heaven
11:00: Coca Cola
Bill Anderson (host): No Fair Falling in Love
Holly Dunn: Daddy's Hands
George Hamilton IV: Abilene
Vince Gill: When I Call Your Name/Go Rest High on That Mountain
Bill Anderson: Still
11:30: Detro Enclosed Trailers
Johnny Russell (host): Good Hearted Woman
Stu Phillips: Colorado
Del Reeves: Hound Dog
Mike Snider: Short Little Lulu/Clinch Mountain Backstep/Mississippi Sawyer
Stonewall Jackson: Muddy Water
It was a wonderful weekend and went so well that the Opry has returned each winter to it's former home.
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.
On George IV, if I recall correctly, wasn't it in 1971 that he left the Opry because he wanted to be in North Carolina when he wasn't all over Europe, and came back in 1976 as a member? Or am I off on that?
ReplyDeleteAh, even in 1999, the lineups had so much more oomph than in, say, 2019.
Mike, your memory is pretty good. It looks like it was in 1972 that he left the Opry, giving up his membership and moving back to North Carolina. In 1971 he was still appearing on the Opry somewhat on a regular basis and I see him listed on a couple of the line-ups early in 1972, but not later in the year. He rejoined the Opry on May 8, 1976.
DeleteThere's hope for me yet. Thanks!
DeleteWe were at the two Saturday night shows in 1999. One of the highlights for me was seeing Chet Atkins. He was introduced by Ricky Skaggs on the first show and appeared at the podium surrounded by Hearil Hensley, Jerry Strobel(Opry House Manager who would be let go by Gaylord the following year after some 30 years service), Ricky Skaggs, Tim Thompson(Stage Manager), Ralph Davis and Hoot Hester. He was rather frail and didn't talk too much.
ReplyDeleteThat night, I spent most of my time at the back of the confederate Gallery(is it still called that?) in the large walkway where Keith Bilbry shot is TV introductions. I got a lot of good photo's with a 300mm lens and a monopod. Nobody bothered me. Had I been on the main floor I would have been confined to my seat I'm afraid. That was a real special weekend.
On a different subject, anyone remember Alecia Nugent who made some appearances on the Opry in the early 2000's? She was doing Bluegrass at the time. After being gone from Nashville a decade, she's back with a new project called "The Old Side of Town" (the Tom T song). It's pure Country what I have heard so far. How about having her back on the Opry? (She might be a little too old now since she is basically unknown!!!)
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Is 49 too old? I always liked Alecia Nugent. Bob
ReplyDeleteI just read that Opry member Garth Brooks is to recieve the Kennedy Center Honors. He is only the 9th country artist to receive this award in 41 years! That must be a great honor for him. Acuff, Cash, Willie, Loretta, Dolly, George Jones, Haggard and Reba are the others.
ReplyDeleteThis will be the Friday Night Opry show for tonight:
ReplyDeleteThis isn’t just a “band” aid for conservation. This is the National Wild Turkey Federation Foundation’s Conservation AID benefit concert to support wildlife conservation in 2021, and you are invited!
The NWTF Foundation’s Conservation AID live concert will feature some of the top artists in country music, including Blake Shelton, Craig Morgan, Dustin Lynch, Chris Janson, Travis Denning, Lindsay Ell, LoCash, Easton Corbin and Chuck Wicks. It doesn’t get better than this — great music at a legendary venue, and the proceeds go to support the future of our wildlife. Get your NWTF Foundation’s Conservation AID concert tickets before they sell out.
I do believe the show will be broadcast as usual on WSM at 7:00. Also there is a live stream that can be purchased for $20
Wow !!!!! While not being a big Gospel fan, I found Michael W. Smith's portion of the Circle Opry very enjoyable, with his music being more country than some of the young folks who call themselves country. Then he floored me and brought tears to my eyes when he finished with " America the Beautiful " after all the attacks our democracy has been through since the November election. ---- Dashmann, Flushing , Michigan
ReplyDeleteNow that football is pretty much over it is back to Opry weekends. Looking at the upcoming weeks it will be interesting. Next week, no Opry Memeber on tv.
ReplyDeleteHere listening to teh Midnite Jamboree...Its Mandy Barnett and Charlie McCoy playing records, and singing in the studio. Jennifer Herron hosting. I see they updated the webpage and the archives, wish they would have more archives and had not taken so many of them away....
In many ways, ETRS is better country music than the Opry ----and more fun to listen to ----- Dashmann, Flushing, Michigan ---
DeleteI still don't like the new website. Nothing has been added to the archives since July. I loved the Midnight Jamboree. Bob
DeleteI thought both shows were very good this weekend. Friday night with 10 artists flowed well. 2 songs each with Blake finishing it up with 4. Just over 2 hours and well worth it. Saturday was fine also and I agree that Michael W. Smith was outstanding, closing with "America the Beautiful." Dailey & Vincent performed without their band, which is one of the requirements now at the Opry and Carly Pearce also did a nice job. It was enjoyable to listen to and to watch.
ReplyDeleteI could be mistaken on this and I hope I am. Didn't Lady A and Emmylou have members of their bands with them recently? I remember watching those livestreams and wondering how they managed to get permission for that.
DeleteA.B.
I don't remember if Lady A did nor did not. Emmylou had only her bass player with her. Two of her band members, who were not with her at the Opry, had previously tested positive for Covid. As I wrote before, the Opry has tightened up as far as allowing artists to bring their bands in with them, trying their best to keep it safe backstage.
DeleteSo how many people attended this Friday night event at the Opry House?
ReplyDeleteJim
It was sold out with 1100 in attendance. The top ticket price was $150 as it was a fundraiser for the Wild Turkey Federation. Not sure how many paid the $20 to watch the live stream. I am sure those numbers will come out during the coming week.
Delete