Grand Ole Opry Saturday February 27

In looking at the Grand Ole Opry line-up for this week, the name that stands out is Opry member Travis Tritt, who will be making one of his very infrequent visits to the Opry. 

In some ways, you could say that he is celebrating his 29th year as a member of the Opry, as it was on Saturday February 29, 1992 that Travis became an Opry member. From the time he became a member, Travis could generally be counted on for a couple appearances each year, generally on Porter Wagoner's segments, as it was Porter who had inducted Travis as a member. For whatever reason, after Porter passed away in 2007, Travis stopped coming to the Opry and would not return again until 2017. Since then, he has been back a handful of times, last appearing in 2019. While not to speculate, his reappearance at the Opry in 2017 took place after Pete Fisher had left as the Opry's general manager. I guess everyone can form their own opinion. Regardless, I am happy to see Travis back at the Opry. 

Joining Travis this week at the Opry will be Carly Pearce, who if I am counting correctly, will be making her 80th guest appearance. She will be appearing in support of her new album 29, and is expected to sing music from the album. I think many of us ask the question each time Carly appears. "Will this be the week she is asked to become an Opry member?" That I cannot answer but I still expect it to happen at some point. 

Going through the rest of the schedule, besides Travis, Grand Ole Opry members scheduled for this week include Jeannie Seely, Mark Wills and Chris Janson. Comedian Chonda Pierce and Hailey Whitters fill out the show. 

7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Carly Pearce; Mark Wills; Chonda Pierce
8:00: Chris Janson; Hailey Whitters; Travis Tritt
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From 50 years ago, Saturday February 27, 1971:

1st show
6:30: Billy Grammer (host); Justin Tubb; Bill Carlisle
6:45: Hank Locklin (host); Norro Wilson; Freddy Weller
7:00: Charlie Walker (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Grandpa Jones
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Skeeter Davis; Willis Brothers; Crook Brothers
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); George Hamilton IV; Archie Campbell; Stringbean
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jimmy C Newman; The 4 Guys; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Stu Phillips

2nd show
9:30: George Hamilton IV (host); Willis Brothers; Hank Locklin; Justin Tubb; Bill Carlisle
10:00: Charlie Walker (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Norro Wilson
10:15: Billy Grammer (host); Grandpa Jones; Freddy Weller
10:30: Lester Flatt (host); Skeeter Davis; Stringbean
10:45: Roy Acuff (host); Archie Campbell and Lorene Mann; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jimmy C Newman; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); The 4 Guys; Stu Phillips
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Now looking back, it was Saturday February 26, 2005 that Charlie Louvin was recognized upon his 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. 

Charles Elzer Loudermilk was born on July 7, 1927. Born and raised in Alabama, Charlie began singing professionally with his brother Ira as a teenager on local radio programs in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The boys sang traditional and gospel music in the harmony style they had learned while performing in their church's choir.

After Charlie left the act briefly in 1945 to serve in World War II, the brothers moved first to Knoxville and later to Memphis, working as postal clerks by day while making appearances in the evening. Another brief disbandment due to Charlie's service in the Korean War led to the brothers' relocation to Birmingham, Alabama.

Primarily known as gospel artists, the Louvins were convinced by a sponsor that "you can't sell tobacco with gospel music," and began adding secular music to their repertoire. They began making appearances on the Grand Ole Opry during the 1950s, becoming official members in 1955. The Louvin Brothers released numerous singles, such as "When I Stop Dreaming", with over 20 recordings reaching the country music charts. Their rich harmonies served as an influence to later artists such as Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons and The Byrds.

By the 1960s Charlie and Ira's popularity had waned and the brothers split up in 1963. In 1965, Ira was killed in a car accident with Charlie continuing to perform solo, and maintaining his Opry membership.

While never having a No. 1 single as a solo artist, he did have several Top 10 singles including "I Don't Love You Anymore," "See the Big Man Cry," and "The Only Way Out (Is to Walk Over Me." Interestingly, two of the songs most associated with Charlie, "Will You Visit Me On Sundays" and "Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep," both failed to make the Top 20. His last single, "Back When We Were Young," was released in 2010 and failed to make the charts. 

In 2001, the Louvin Brothers were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Charlie Louvin underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer on July 22, 2010. Doctors expected a full recovery, however Charlie died from its complications in the early morning of January 26, 2011. He was 83. 

Here is the running order from Saturday February 26, 2005, when Charlie was recognized upon his 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry: 

1st show
6:30: Cracker Barrel
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed
Connie Smith: (?)/I Keep Looking for a Reason
Lane Turner: (?)
Jimmy Dickens: What Will I Do Then

7:00: Tootsie's
Jeannie Seely (host): Burning that Old Memory
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya
Jack Greene: Statue of a Fool
David Lee Murphy: Nobody's Perfect/Party Crowd
Jeannie Seely: Make the World Go Away

7:30: Standard Candy
Ricky Skaggs (host): Black Eyed Susie
The Whites: Blue Letters/Doing it By the Book
Craig Morgan: Almost Home/That's What I Love About Sunday
Ricky Skaggs: The Family Who Prays

8:00: Martha White
Jim Ed Brown (host): Pop A Top
Charlie Louvin: What Are Those Things
Miranda Lambert: I Can't Be Bothered to Miss You Anymore/Me & Charlie Talking
Opry Square Dance Band: Cherokee Shuffle
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells

8:30: Tennessee Pride
Bill Anderson (host): Walk Out Backwards
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Mel McDaniel: Stand Up
Bill Anderson: Him & Me/Bright Lights & Country Music

2nd show
9:30: Cracker Barrel
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take an Old Cold Tater
Connie Smith: Love's Not Everything/Hearts Like Ours
David Lee Murphy: (?)/(?)
Jimmy Dickens: Life Turned Her That Way

10:00: Martha White
Ricky Skaggs (host): I Live a Simple Life
The Whites: Making Believe/Swing Down Chariot
Lane Turner: (?)/(?)
Ricky Skaggs: Sis Draper

10:30: Rutledge Hill Press
Jeannie Seely (host): Roarin' & Runnin'
Charlie Louvin: Must You Throw Dirt in My Face
Craig Morgan: That's What I Love About Sunday/When a Man Can't Get a Woman Off His Mind
Opry Square Dance Band: (?)
Jeannie Seely and Charlie Louvin: Think I'll Go Somewhere & Cry Myself To Sleep

11:00: Cracker Barrel
Bill Anderson (host): Liars 1; Believers 0
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/He Is My Everything
Miranda Lambert:  I Can't Be Bothered to Miss You Anymore/Me & Charlie Talking
Bill Anderson: The Corner of My Life

11:30: Opry Visa
Jim Ed Brown (host): Southern Loving
Mel McDaniel: Louisiana Saturday Night/Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On/Stand Up
Jim Ed Brown: The Old Lamplighter/Four Walls/He'll Have to Go/Blue Side of Lonesome

In his later years, especially after he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, Charlie would complain about his Opry appearances being cut, blaming it on the fact that Hall of Fame members received a higher amount of pay for being on the Opry. 
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Finally, with Travis Tritt appearing on the Opry this weekend, I thought it would be appropriate to post the line up from the night he was formally inducted as an Opry member 29 years ago, Saturday February 29, 1992, the only Grand Ole Opry member to have joined the cast of the Opry on February 29, leap year. 

1st show
6:30: Bill Anderson (host); Skeeter Davis; David Houston
6:45: Del Reeves (host); Charlie Louvin; Jimmy C Newman
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jan Howard; Mike Snider; Jean Shepard; Ray Pillow
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Trisha Yearwood; Travis Tritt
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Connie Smith; The Four Guys; Opry Square Dance Band; Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:30; Hank Snow (host); The Whites; Stonewall Jackson; Boxcar Willie; Roy Drusky

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jean Shepard; Charlie Louvin; Jeannie Seely; Travis Tritt
10:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Trisha Yearwood
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Mike Snider
10:30: Boxcar Willie (host); Wilma Lee Cooper
10:45: Bill Anderson (host); Jimmy C Newman; Opry Square Dance Band; Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Charlie Walker; Bill Carlisle; Justin Tubb; Del Reeves
11:30: The Four Guys (host); Roy Drusky; The Whites; Connie Smith

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