Grand Ole Opry 4/2 & 4/3

As the Grand Ole Opry moves into April, overall things have been pretty quiet around the Grand Ole Opry House. While things have been opening up across the country, and in Nashville, the Opry is continuing to cap the attendance at 1100 per show as they continually access the current environment. We shall see where things head as we move through spring and into summer. 

In looking at the shows for Easter weekend, there are two very nice shows coming up with a couple of interesting names on the schedule. First, once again showing her commitment to being an Opry member, Rhonda Vincent is again on the schedule. She is listed for the Saturday night show, along with another Opry member who will be making his first appearance of 2021, Ricky Skaggs. Ricky has been off the Opry for a number of months and it will be nice to see him back. 

As far as other Opry members, Jeannie Seely and Riders In The Sky are listed for both nights, with Dailey & Vincent joining them on Friday. Yes, it seems that those are the members that seem to be supporting the show right now. 

Guesting on Friday night will be Tyler Rich, Mo Pitney, Smithfield and comedians Williams & Ree. Saturday night I see Steven Curtis Chapman along with Natalie Grant & Bernie Herms joining Ricky on the televised portion, which looks like will have an Easter theme, while the designated comedian on Saturday will be Henry Cho. 

Both shows this weekend are sold out. 

Friday April 2

7:00: Jeannie Seely; Mo Pitney; Riders In The Sky; Smithfield
8:00: Tyler Rich; Williams & Ree; Dailey & Vincent

Saturday April 3
7:00: Jeannie Seely; Riders In The Sky; Rhonda Vincent; Henry Cho
8:00: Ricky Skaggs; Natalie Grant & Bernie Herms; Steven Curtis Chapman

For those who might not be aware, Natalie Grant and Bernie Herms have been married since 1999. Bernie is not only a successful Christian recording artist, but he is also an accomplished songwriter and record producer. He has worked a number of artists including He has gone on to a successful music production and songwriting career and worked with artists such as Josh Groban, Kelly Clarkson, Barbra Streisand, Selena Gomez, Casting Crowns, and his wife, Natalie Grant. 

He co-wrote the GMA Dove Award Song of the Year, "East to West", with Casting Crowns vocalist, Mark Hall, at the 39th GMA Dove Awards, in 2008. The song was nominated for the Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony, and the following year at the 51st Annual in the same category.

He won a Grammy Award for best contemporary Christian music performance or song for "Thy Will" by Hillary Scott and the Scott Family in 2017. The award was shared with fellow songwriters Hillary Scott & Emily Weisband.

Natalie Grant has also had a very successful career in contemporary Christian music. She received the Gospel Music Association's Dove Award for Female Vocalist of the Year four consecutive years (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009), and again in 2012. She has also been nominated for eight Grammy Awards (2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2020).

She first started in contemporary Christian music when she auditioned for the traveling music group Truth. Later she moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue her solo career. There she signed with Benson Records in 1997 and began working on her self-titled debut which was released in 1999. She left Benson for Pamplin Music soon after and released the album Stronger in 2001. She then ended up at Curb Records after Pamplin folded, where she has made five solo albums as of 2012, starting with Deeper Life in 2003. Awaken was her breakthrough success, in 2005. It was RIAA certified gold. It was followed by Love Revolution on August 24, 2010 and Hurricane on October 15, 2013.

More recently, she released her tenth studio album No Stranger on September 25, 2020. It was preceded by the lead single "My Weapon" which was released on February 21, 2020.
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And now, from 50 years ago, Saturday April 3, 1971: 

1st show
6:30: Osborne Brothers (host); Skeeter Davis
6:45: Stu Phillips (host); Carl and Pearl Butler; Johnny Carver
7:00: Jack Greene (host); Jeannie Seely; Lonzo and Oscar; Jerry Smith
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Peggy Little; Crook Brothers
8:00: Mel Tillis (host); Willis Brothers; Stringbean; Doug Kershaw
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Hank Locklin; Louie Roberts; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Osborne Brothers (host); Willis Brothers; Skeeter Davis; Carl and Pearl Butler
10:00: Stu Phillips (host); Lonzo and Oscar; Johnny Carver
10:15: Jack Greene (host); Jeannie Seely; Jerry Smith
10:30: Roy Acuff (host); Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper
10:45: Mel Tillis (host); Lorene Mann; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Stringbean; Peggy Little; Sam McGee
11:30: Hank Locklin (host); Doug Kershaw; Louie Roberts
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Let's take a look back to Saturday April 3, 1982. It was another of the Grand Ole Opry's reunion shows, and this one was extra special and bittersweet for it was the final time that two of the Opry's originals, DeFord Bailey and Alcyone Bate Beasley appeared on the Opry. 

Alcyone Bate Beasley was the daughter of Dr. Humphrey Bate and was a member of Dr. Bate's Possum Hunters. They first appeared on the WSM Barn Dance in December 1925 and were the 2nd act to appear on the show, following Uncle Jimmy Thompson. Following the death of her father in 1936, Alcyone continued on with the Possum Hunters, eventually retiring in the 1950s. The Possum Hunters themselves would continue into the 1960s, during which time the four string band (Possum Hunters, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Crook Brothers and Gully Jumpers) were consolidated into two groups. Even though Mrs. Beasley retired from performing, she still was a regular visitor backstage at the Opry, and Once the reunion shows started in 1974, Mrs. Beasley would be a regular part of those shows. 

DeFord Bailey wasn't far behind The Possum Hunters as he first appeared on the Opry on June 19, 1926. DeFord was a regular part of the WSM Barn Dance, later the Grand Ole Opry, until he was fired by Opry founder George D. Hay in 1941. Despite invitations to appear as a guest on the Opry, DeFord stayed away until February 1974 when he was featured on the 1st reunion show. He would appear several more times at the Opry. 

DeFord Bailey passed away on July 2, 1982 while Alcyone Bate Beasley passed on October 17, 1982.

Here is the running order from 39 years ago, Saturday April 3, 1982: 

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Jimmy C Newman (host): Louisiana Cajun Band
Ernie Ashworth: Irene
Jeannie Seely: It Turns Me Inside Out
Jimmy C Newman: Texas-Cajun

6:45: Rudy's
Roy Drusky (host): Billy Bayou
Wilma Lee Cooper: I Closed My Heart's Door
David Houston: Cotton-Eyed Joe
Roy Drusky: Blues in My Heart

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Y'All Come
Kitty Wells: Amigo's Guitar
Johnny Wright: Ashes of Love
Zeke Clements: I'm So Lonesome Since You Went Away/Just a Little Lovin'
Vic Willis Trio: Faded Love
Wagonmasters: Rocky Top

7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Monroe (host): Uncle Pen
Connie Smith: I Just Had You on My Mind
Curly Fox: Sweet Georgia Brown/The Old Gray Mule
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Gray Eagle
Bill Monroe: My Florida Sunshine

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jack Shook: Carry Me Back to the Lone Prairie
Alcyone Beasley: Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland
Alcyone Beasley and Jack Shook: Let the Rest of the World Go By
DeFord Bailey: Fox Chase/Cacklin' Hen/Pan American Blues/Lost John
Sid Harkreader: Never Alone Waltz/Red Wing
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On
Bill Carlisle: I'm Movin'

8:30: Acme
Hank Snow (host): Paper Roses
The 4 Guys: It's High Time to Get Back on My Feet
Duke of Paducah: Comedy
Jean Shepard: Slippin' Away
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Sugar Tree Stomp
Stu Phillips: Have I Told You Lately That I Love You/You Win Again/Release Me
Hank Snow: Once More, You're Mind Again

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Porter Wagoner (host): You Make Everyday Feel Like Sunday
The 4 Guys: It Turns Me Inside Out
Jeannie Seely: When Your House Is Not a Home
Wilburn Brothers: If I Can't Have All of You
Kitty Wells: It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels
Johnny Wright: Poison Love
Wagonmasters: Old Flames
Porter Wagoner: The Man in the Little White Suit/Ol' Slewfoot

10:00: Fender
Bill Monroe (host): Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Curly Fox: Alabama Jubilee
Connie Smith: I've Got My Baby on My Mind
Carl Butler: Don't Let Me Cross Over

10:15: Sunbeam
Jimmy C Newman (host): Colinda
Wilma Lee Cooper: Walking My Lord Up Calvary's Hill
Zeke Clements: God Made it All; It Belongs to Him/Smoke on the Water
Jimmy C Newman: (?)

10:30: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Sunshine Special
Jack Shook: Tumbling Tumbleweeds
Alcyone Beasley: Silver Threads Among the Gold
Alcyone Beasley and Jack Shook: Someone Like You
Sid Harkreader: Amazing Grace/Sally Goodin

10:45: Beechnut
Roy Drusky (host): There'll Be Anyone Else But You for Me
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Cotton-Eyed Joe
Lonzo and Oscar: Rocky Top
Roy Drusky: Just a Closer Walk With Thee

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Down the Trail of Aching Hearts
Jean Shepard: Slippin' Away
Duke of Paducah: Comedy
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Saturday Night Hop
Kirk McGee: Blue Night
Hank Snow: I Don't Hurt Anymore

11:30: Bama
Marty Robbins (host): Don't Worry
Charlie Louvin: I Wonder Where You Are Tonight/We Could
Stonewall Jackson: Angry Words/Muddy Water
Marty Robbins: Devil Woman/That's All Right/Don't Let Me Touch You/Good Hearted Woman/18 Yellow Roses/I Don't Know Why/El Paso

As happened often with the reunion shows, this one went off the track once the original old-timers  appeared on Roy Acuff's segments. On the 1st show, his 30 minute slot ran just over 45 minutes, while the 15 minute slot on the 2nd show that Roy hosted ran almost 30 minutes. The 2nd show ended just before 1:00 a.m. 

It was an impressive group of returning Opry members that night: Kitty Wells, Johnny Wright, Zeke Clements, Curly Fox, Jack Shook, Alcyone Beasley, DeFord Bailey, Sid Harkreader, Duke of Paducah and Carl Butler, along with current Opry members Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, Crook Brothers, Fruit Jar Drinkers and Kirk McGee. About the only two missing that you would have expected to attend was current member Minnie Pearl and former member Pee Wee King. 

That will wrap it up for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend.