Grand Ole Opry 3/12 & 3/13

Last week saw the addition of the Friday Night Opry to the weekly schedule and this week will see the return of the Tuesday Night Opry as things get back to a somewhat more normal situation at the Opry.  While there are additional shows, capacity is still limited to 1100. Some good news, as reported by Jeannie Seely on the Friday Night Opry: the Opry House has opened back up the bar. For some of the folks attending, it might have been the highlight of the night. 

In looking at the posted schedule for this weekend, Jeannie Seely and Riders In The Sky are back for both nights, continuing the current pattern. As an extra treat, Riders In The Sky will be on the televised segment this week on Circle. Very happy to see that this veteran Opry act is getting some quality time on the network. The only other Opry members appearing this weekend are Dailey & Vincent, who are scheduled for both night. 

Guesting on Friday night is someone who should be an Opry member, Mandy Barnett. She will be joined by Erin Enderlin, Rodney Atkins and John Crist. 

Joining Riders In The Sky on the televised segment Saturday will be Jimmie Allen, bluegrass artist Sam Bush and the ever popular Sara Evans. The opening hour has Niko Moon and T. Graham Brown on the schedule. 

Friday March 12

7:00: Jeannie Seely; Riders In The Sky; Erin Enderlin; Rodney Atkins
8:00: Mandy Barnett; John Crist; Dailey & Vincent

Saturday March 13
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; T. Graham Brown; Niko Moon; Dailey & Vincent
8:00: Riders In The Sky; Jimmie Allen; Sam Bush Sara Evans

Tuesday night March 15 starts the return of the Tuesday Night Opry and there is a pretty nice line-up with the newest Opry member Rhonda Vincent once again on the Opry schedule. 

7:00: Jeannie Seely; Travis Denning; Susie McEntire; Don Schlitz
8:00: Michael Ray; Gary Mule Deer; Rhonda Vincent

Yes, Susie McEntire is Reba's sister. Raised in a house with 4 children who cut their teeth on ranch work, sports, singing, and rodeo, Susie says all of these activities helped mold her values and shape her character into the woman she is today.  “My mama and daddy didn’t have a lot of money, but they had determination and a great work ethic. They instilled that in us, and gave us lots of opportunities.”

Susie started singing in front of a crowd in 2nd grade, and continued to meekly appear onstage with her brother and sister as  “The Singing McEntires” in high school and toured with Reba (in the years Reba got her first bus) 1980-1982.   She also appeared with Reba on the Opry, Johnny Carson Show, and Hee Haw. “I am very thankful to Reba for the opportunities she gave me”. 

In 1984 she said yes to God to sing for a different purpose. She was on fire to share her message, and the world opened up as she and her young family traveled literally ‘across the globe’.  In the meantime,  she recorded 17 albums.

Susie is a member of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, and an amazing seasoned performer with an amazing story, an ability to connect with the audience and make them feel like friends.

Final note: For those wondering, Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers were originally scheduled for Saturday and Tuesday, however they were taken off the final posted schedule. 
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From 50 years ago, Saturday March 13, 1971: 

1st show
6:30: Billy Grammer (host); Del Wood; The 4 Guys
6:45: Tex Ritter (host); Bill Carlisle; Justin Tubb
7:00: Roy Acuff (host); Osborne Brothers; George Morgan; Charlie Walker
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Hank Locklin; Crook Brothers
8:00: Ernest Tubb (host); Stringbean; Tom T. Hall; Jim and Jesse; Willis Brothers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Skeeter Davis; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Ray Pillow; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Tex Ritter (host); Willis Brothers; Billy Grammer; Bill Carlisle
10:00: Roy Acuff (host); George Morgan; Del Wood
10:15: Osborne Brothers (host); Skeeter Davis; Hank Locklin; The 4 Guys
10:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Tom T. Hall
10:45: Ernest Tubb (host); Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Justin Tubb; Stringbean; Charlie Walker; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Jim and Jesse; Ray Pillow; Don Winters
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Now going back a few years to Saturday March 13, 1965 on a night that Johnny Cash appeared on the Opry. 

7:30: Luzianne
Wilburn Brothers (host); I'm Gonna Tie One on Tonight
Margie Bowes: Big City
Ernie Ashworth: Love Has Come My Way
Curly Fox: Sally Goodin
Wilburn Brothers: Making Plans
Harold Morrison: The Bicycle Song
Margie Bowes: Once A Day
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
Curly Fox: The Old Gray Mule
Wilburn Brothers: I Had One Too Many

8:00: Martha White
Flatt and Scruggs (host): I Know What it Means to Be Lonesome
Bill Carlisle: Juanita
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby
Del Wood: Cattle Call
Flatt and Scruggs: Who Will Sing for Me
Crook Brothers: Ida Red
Bill Carlisle: Rough Stuff
Flatt and Scruggs: I Wonder Where You Are Tonight

8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train to Memphis
Bill Monroe: Roanoke
Grandpa Jones: Them Chickens Roost Too High
June Stearns: Faded Love
Roy Acuff: Freight Train Blues
Oswald: John Hardy
Bill Monroe: I Saw the Light
Grandpa Jones: The Champion
Roy Acuff: Shake My Mother's Hand for Me

9:00: Pet Milk
Jimmy Newman (host): Back in Circulation
Jim and Jesse: Wild Georgia Boys
Marion Worth: The Hands You're Holding Now
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Fire on the Mountain
Jimmy Newman: City of the Angels
The Harden Trio: Poor Boy
Jim and Jesse: Better Time's A' Comin'
Marion Worth: Love's Gonna Live Here
Jimmy Newman: Cry, Cry Darling

9:30: Kellogg's
Bobby Lord (host): Take the Bucket to the Well
Lonzo and Oscar: Fingers
June Carter: Worried Man Blues
Johnny Cash: Orange Blossom Special
Johnny Cash and June Carter: It Ain't Me Babe
Johnny Cash and The Carter Family: Were You There
Bobby Lord: Life Can Have Meaning

10:00: Schick
Bill Carlisle (host): The Great Snowman
Curly Fox: Jack of Diamonds
Margie Bowes: I'm Alone Because I Love You
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted

10:15: Mary Carter Paint
Bill Monroe (host): Panhandle Country
Dottie West: Didn't I
Del Wood: Alone With You
Bill Monroe: Careless Love

10:30: Harvey's
Flatt and Scruggs (host): The Good Things
Grandpa Jones: Oh, Suzannah
Flatt and Scruggs: Father's Table Grace
Earl Scruggs: Cannon ball Blues

10:45: Newport
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Crook Brothers: Chicken Reel
June Stearns: Alone With You
Roy Acuff: The Things That Might Have Been

11:00: Coca Cola
Bobby Lord (host): That's All Right
Carter Family: Sail Away Ladies
Johnny Cash: Folsom Prison Blues/Orange Blossom Special/Ballad of a Teenage Queen/Amen
The Harden Trio: Let It Be Me
Bobby Lord: When the Snow Falls
Fruit Jar Drinkers: (?)
Carter Family: I Want to Hear Little David Play
Sam and Kirk McGee: Gotta Travel On
Bobby Lord: Hawkeye

11:30: Lava
Jimmy Newman (host): Alligator Man
Lonzo and Oscar: Rip and Snort
Marion Worth: Begging to You
Jim and Jesse: Ol' Slewfoot
Jimmy Newman: You're Still on My Mind
Alan Shelton: Mocking Banjo
Marion Worth: Go on Home
Lonzo and Oscar: There's a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea
Jimmy Newman: Back in Circulation

Of course, 1965 was the year that Johnny smashed the lights out on the Opry stage and was told not to come back. That incident happened a little later in the year. 
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Finally, Saturday March 13, 1999 was a big date at the Opry as Trisha Yearwood joined the cast of the show. Here is the posted line-up from both nights 22 years ago: 

Friday March 12
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jeanne Pruett; Charlie Louvin; Jean Shepard; Billy Walker
8:00: Marty Stuart (host); Ricky Skaggs; Ralph Stanley; The Whites
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jack Greene; Jim Ed Brown; Jeannie Seely
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Charlie Walker; Skeeter Davis; Mike Snider; Holly Dunn
9:30: Johnny Russell (host); Jan Howard; Del Reeves; Janie Fricke; John Conlee

Saturday March 13
1st show
6:30; Jimmy C Newman (host); Skeeter Davis
6:45: Jim Ed Brown (host); Wilma Lee Cooper
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Bill Carlisle; Janie Fricke
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Trisha Yearwood
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Marty Stuart; John Prine; Jean Shepard; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Ricky Skaggs; The Whites; Vince Gill

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Trisha Yearwood
10:00: Vince Gill (host); Randy Scruggs
10:15: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mike Snider
10:30: Marty Stuart (host); John Prine
10:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jean Shepard; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Holly Dunn; John Conlee; Jeannie Seely; Billy Walker
11:30: Johnny Russell (host); Jack Greene; Jeanne Pruett; Del Reeves; Stonewall Jackson

Here is a thought for you and remember, this was just 22 years ago. Of the 23 acts on the Friday Night Opry, only 8 are still actively performing today: Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Jeannie Seely, Bill Anderson, Mike Snider, Janie Fricke and John Conlee. 

Of the 28 artists that performed on Saturday night, only 10 are still active: Janie Fricke, Trisha Yearwood, Bill Anderson, Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Vince Gill, Mike Snider, John Conlee and Jeannie Seely. 

And 22 years wasn't that long ago. 

On a final note regarding a couple of upcoming dates: Bill Anderson will celebrate his 60th anniversary as an Opry member on Saturday July 17, while October 30 will be the date of the Opry's 5,000 consecutive Saturday night Grand Ole Opry. 

As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.