Grand Ole Opry 5/21 & 5/22

I thought I would start off this week with an article from Billboard magazine that highlighted the Grand Ole Opry's decision to go back to full capacity at the Grand Ole Opry House and how it felt at the Opry last weekend: 

It likely won’t have the shelf life of Throwback Thursdays or Taco Tuesdays, but “full-capacity Friday night” had an oddly special ring to it on May 14. Grand Ole Opry announcer Bill Cody uncorked the phrase as the WSM-AM Nashville show had every ticket in the 4,400-seat Opry House available for the first time since March 10, 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic forced live entertainment off the stage. Some 2,400 tickets were sold, according to Opry vp/executive producer Dan Rogers, as the reboot coincided with an unexpected bonus: Barely 24 hours before the show’s start, the city of Nashville dropped face-mask mandates. The Opry matched the metro policy — signs indicated masks were welcome, but not required — and at least 90% of ticket-buyers dropped the fabric.

“It just felt liberating,” The Oak Ridge Boys’ Joe Bonsall said after the group closed the two-hour show with “Elvira.” “It felt like maybe, just maybe, we are really on our way here. Maybe we are emerging. I mean, it was just awesome. I knew it would be, but it was even more awesome than I thought it would be. I almost cried out there. I didn’t, but I almost did.”

In ideal Opry fashion, the lineup reflected a variety of styles and eras. Lorrie Morgan opened with her chart-topping 1990 single “Five Minutes,” and the rest of the talent parade featured current hitmaker Michael Ray, Western vocal quartet Riders in the Sky, comedian Aaron Weber, Nashville actor Charles Esten and newcomer Brittney Spencer, who sang a new song, “Sober& Skinny,” for the first time in public .Spencer’s appearance was a personal milestone, for she made her Opry debut. While she felt its significance (she conceded that her breathing was more pronounced during “Sober” as she fought off a case of nerves), she was still present enough to recognize a positivity across the audience. “It felt like relief,” she said. “It’s this crazy time for a lot of people. This is their first time hearing live music in 14 or 15 months. I feel like you can just hear everyone taking a big sigh and [having] a] a sense of belonging.”

While most live events were canceled or postponed across the United States once the virus broke out in March 2020, the Opry kept going, in great part because it is a radio show at heart and was able to exist without an audience. Parts of the program also air on the Circle Network, and Opry management made major adjustments to keep it on the air, with a minimal lineup of artists performing to a vacant house. It was livestreamed beginning March14, 2020, a move that Rogers now believes will lead to greater support at an international level.

 Opry executives followed city guidelines closely, opening Opry House seating to 500 socially distanced patrons in October and gradually adding more tickets as Nashville loosened policies. The Oaks appeared two or three times when no fans were present — the last visit, Bonsall indicated, felt “really weird” — but even after scattered seating was introduced, the atmosphere was unavoidably unusual. “You look up in the balcony, and there’s all these people looking down in masks,” he quipped. “It kind of looked like the gallery on Grey’s Anatomy, looking down at a brain transplant.”

Still, after 14 months of caution, the abrupt return to more normal conditions was as much an oddity as the beginning stages of the pandemic. “There was a backstage tour today, and it was the first time in well more than a year that I looked out and saw people in a group together without masks on,” noted Rogers. “It was just as strange as it looked in March of 2020 to see all these people walking around with masks on. I had the opposite experience today when I walked out and thought, ‘Oh my God: faces.’ ”

The backstage area, more than any part of the rebooted Opry experience, remains abnormal. Historically, the volume of acts — combined with their entourages, family members and personal guests, as well as other industry visitors — creates a mild party atmosphere that spills out to the side stages, where fans can see hangers-on. Those areas were barren on May 14, and the typically crowded back hallways were likewise spacious and easily navigated. That will probably remain the case for several months as the Opry respects the most cautious members of the community. “My goal is to bring the area backstage to normal, where it feels congenial and Opry-like, if you will, but to really over the next few weeks still try to limit the number of people,” said Rogers. “That’s just so those who are back here can feel a little more comfortable. Maybe you don’t have your mask on when you’re walking through the family room and maybe you can go get your free popcorn from the green room again.”

Full-capacity Fridays, as well as full-capacity Saturdays and Tuesdays, are returning at an ideal time as the Opry looks forward to several significant milestones. Launched on Nov. 28, 1925, the show celebrated its 95th anniversary during the lockdown. Its 5,000th Saturday concert is set for Oct. 30, and its 100th birthday is less than five years away. After coping successfully with a lethal, invisible threat, management has a refreshed attitude about any upcoming challenges. “It’s not as if I had a lack of confidence before this,” observed Rogers. “But I thought, ‘If this team can get through this’ — and I knew we would be able to — ‘we’ll have so much more confidence, and things will seem so much easier to take on." 

Now for this weekend at the Grand Ole Opry: 

Following in the footsteps of Bill Anderson, who made his first Opry appearance of 2021 on Tuesday night, John Conlee returns to the Opry for the first time in 2021 as he will be the opening artist on this weeks Friday Night Opry. It is wonderful to see John back and I know many have looked forward to the legends returning. 

Joining John on Friday night will be Grand Ole Opry members Vince Gill, Riders In The Sky, and Jeannie Seely. While John and the Riders are just scheduled for Friday, Vince and Jeannie are doing double duty this weekend as they are scheduled for both nights. 

Guesting on Friday night will be Hannah Dasher, Dan Tyminski, comedian Gary Mule Deer and Brandy Clark. Gary Mule Deer is back on Saturday night, joined by Americana artist Jim Lauderdale, frequent Opry guest Carly Pearce, while Charlie Worsham, Leslie Jordan and Brothers Osborne will be joining Vince on the Circle televised segment. 

Friday May 21

7:00: John Conlee; Hannah Dasher; Riders In The Sky; Dan Tyminski
8:00: Jeannie Seely; Gary Mule Deer; Brandy Clark; Vince Gill

Saturday May 22
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Jim Lauderdale; Carly Pearce; Gary Mule Deer
8:00: Vince Gill; Charlie Worsham; Leslie Jordan; Brothers Osborne

I think it is safe to say that both nights are very solid with a good mixture of artists. 

Leslie Jordan, who was on the recently aired ACM awards, is making his Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday night. 

Leslie Jordan arrived in Hollywood back in 1982 (with $1500 sewn into his clothing by his steel magnolia Mother) was the starting point. After a brief career as a jockey, Jordan has enjoyed the full show-business spectrum; the lean days, the bumps in the road, the acclaim, reaching the pinnacle of television performing with award recognition, the ensuing victory laps, followed by an alarming and unexpected down slope, the dangers of being type cast or stereotyped, the challenges to remain “current” and “relevant” in a rapidly changing world of technological advancement, and the ever present threat of being put “out to pasture” by a youth obsessed culture and industry.

Leslie won an Emmy Award winner in 2006 for “Will & Grace”. He has enjoyed rapturous reviews for his original stage plays (“My Trip down the Pink Carpet”, “Stories I can’t tell Mama”, “Fruit Fly”), and supporting presence in one of Hollywood’s most prestigious, message-minded films of the last decade (“The Help”, 2012).

He’s been singled out with great notices for his off-Broadway musical theatre debut in 2011 (“The Lucky Guy”). His defining role as “Brother Boy” in the cult film sensation “Sordid Lives” evolved into a well received prequel on the Logo Channel. As the celebrated author and star of his own HBO Special (“Pink Carpet”); Leslie Jordan remains consistently sought after as a Guest Star on every imaginable form of episodic, comedic television (TV Land’s “The Ex’es”, Fox’s “Raising Hope”, Disney Channel’s “Shake It Up!”, and ABC’s “The Neighbors”. He enjoyed a star turn in the third season of FX’s instant classic “American Horror Story” opposite Hollywood heavyweights Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Sarah Paulson and Francis Conroy.

In 2017 & 2018 Leslie Jordan again sparred with his lovable nemesis “Karen Walker” as a guest actor in the triumphant return of “Will & Grace”. More recently Mr. Jordan scored a lead role playing SID in THE COOL KIDS alongside comedy heavyweights Martin Mull, Vicki Lawrence, and David Alan Grier.

When Covid hit, shutting down much of the entertainment industry,  Leslie took to Instagram and his videos caught the attention of Instagram titans such as Janet Jackson, and quickly went viral, escalating his Instagram audience from 70,000+ followers to over 5.4 Million followers. Suddenly a viral sensation, Leslie Jordan quickly also became an international media darling and an unofficial “uplifting face and voice of the pandemic”, appearing on (and in) every imaginable broadcast outlet, from “Anderson Cooper” to “Today”, “OUT/UK”, and beyond.

All of that led to Leslie Jordan debuting on the Grand Ole Opry this weekend. _________________________________________________________________

And now from 50 years ago, Saturday May 22, 1971: 

1st show
6:30: Bobby Lord (host); Lonzo and Oscar; Brian Collins
6:45: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host); Bill Carlisle
7:00: Stu Phillips (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Barbara Fairchild, Stringbean
7:30: Jack Greene (host); Jeannie Seely; Willis Brothers; Crook Brothers
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Connie Smith; Archie Campbell; Roland White
8:30: Ernest Tubb (host); The 4 Guys; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Bobby Lord (host); Willis Brothers; Earl Scruggs Revue; Lonzo and Oscar
10:00: Archie Campbell (host); Bill Carlisle
10:15: Stu Phillips (host); Connie Smith; Stringbean
10:30: Lester Flatt (host); Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Brian Collins
10:45: Ernest Tubb (host); Barbara Fairchild; Crook Brothers
11:00: Jack Greene (host); Jeannie Seely; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Jimmy Dry; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); The 4 Guys; Don Winters

Among the cancellations that night were Marion Worth and Ernie Ashworth
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Now for a couple of line-ups to look back on. First, way back to May 22, 1948 and here is the running order from that night 73 years ago: 

7:30-American Ace Coffee
Roy Acuff-We Planted Roses on Our Darling's Grave
Tommy Magness-Cacklin' Hen
Annie Lou and Danny-We're Making Money on the Farm
Jimmy Riddle-Silver Bells
Roy Acuff-Unloved and Unclaimed
Uncle Dave Macon and Dorris-Give Me Back the Money I Paid for a Wife
Jug Band-Polly Wolly Doodle
Roy and Gang-The Great Speckled Bird
Sonny Day-Lost Indian
Annie Lou and Danny-Little Green Valley
Oswald-Those Walls of Grey
Roy and Gang-Were You There

8:00-Purina
Eddy Arnold-Texarkana Baby
Bill Monroe-Blue Moon of Kentucky
Bradley Kincaid-Two Little Orphans
Oklahoma Wranglers-Cool Water
Eddy Arnold-Don't That Moon Look Lonesome
Jamup and Honey-Jokes
Zeke Clements-Little Rock Arkansas
Bill Monroe-I'm Working on a Building
Crook Brothers-Black Mountain Rag
Eddy Arnold-I'll Hold You in My Heart

8:30-Warren Paint & Color Co. 
Ernest Tubb-Don't Flirt With Me
Lew Childre-Put on Your Old Grey Bonnet
Paul Howard-Breaking It Off a Little Too Far
String Beans-Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms
Ernest Tubb-Seaman's Blues
Grandpa Jones-Riding on That Train
Robert Lunn-I'm a Man Not a Mouse
Possum Hunters-Take Your Foot Out of the Mud
Ernest Tubb-Daisey Mae

9:00-Royal Crown
Roy Acuff-Sweeter Than the Flowers
Jimmy Riddle-My Little Gal
York Brothers-Look Before You Leap
Texas Ruby-Hold on Little Doggie
Fruit Jar Drinkers-Raven's Gap
Lonzo and Oscar-Cornbread and Lasses
Curly Fox-Deck of Cards
Roy Acuff-Life's Railway to Heaven
Oswald-Weary Lonesome Blues
Tommy Magness-Smoky Mountain Rag

9:30-Prince Albert
Red Foley-Television
Old Hickory Singers-Bicycle Built for Two
Cowboy Copas-Tennessee Waltz
Minnie Pearl-Jokes
Red Foley-I Love to Tell the Story
Cowboy Copas-Signed Sealed and Delivered
Rod Brasfield-Jokes
Wally Fowler-Keep on the Firing Line
Red Foley-Picking Up Pieces of a Broken Heart
Square Dance-Blackberry Blossom

10:00-Wallrite
Bill and Don-Molly and Ten Brooks
Bradley Kincaid-Blue Tail Fly
Bill and Doyle-Sweetheart You Done Me Wrong
Quarter-Remember the Cross
Benny Martin-Down Yonder

10:15-Weather House
Roy Acuff-Not a Word from Home
Uncle Dave Macon and Dorris-When You and I were Young Maggie
Roy Acuff-Poem
Gang-There's a Beautiful House
Jug Band-Lazy Day

10:30-Fletcher Wilson
Texas Ruby-It's Over Forever
Curly Fox-Down Yonder
York Brothers-Bothered by the Blues
Curly and Ruby-Someone More Lonesome Than You

10:45-Martha White
Milton Estes-New Filipino Baby
Lew and String Beans-Foggy Mountain Top
Jimmy Selph-That Old Moon
Milton Estes-I'll Fly Away

11:00-Eddy Arnold Songbook
Eddy Arnold-Teardrops in My Heart
Grandpa Jones-Rosa Lee
Gully Jumpers-Ricketts Hornpipe
Eddy Arnold-You Only Want Me When You Are Lonesome
Eddy Arnold-Molly Darling

11:15-Gaylock Seat Covers
Ernest Tubb-Our Last Goodbye
Dot and Smokey-Golden River
Drake Brothers-My Best to You
Ernest Tubb-Yesterday's Tears

11:30
Lonzo and Oscar-Old Mother Nature
Cowboy Copas-Ain't Nobody Gonna Miss Me
Wally Fowler-I'm on My Way
Lonzo and Oscar-Poppin' Bubble Gum

11:45
Paul Howard-San Antonio Rose
Zeke Clements-Blue Mexico Skies
Fruit Jar Drinkers-Just Because
Robert Lunn-New River Train
Paul Howard-Please Don't Leave

Some forgotten names and some forgotten songs!
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Finally, moving ahead to May 21, 1977. On this particular night former Grand Ole Opry member Don Everly made a guest appearance. Here is that running order from 44 years ago: 

1st show
6:30-Mrs. Grissoms
Justin Tubb (host)-Looking Back to See
Bill Carlisle-Leave That Liar Alone
Justin Tubb-No Relief in Sight

6:45-Rudy's
Stu Phillips (host)-Have a Nice Day
Willis Brothers-Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Wilma Lee Cooper-No One Now
Stu Phillips-To Get to You

7:00-Shoney's
Charlie Walker (host)-Lucille
Skeeter Davis-It's Love That I Feel/It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels
Stonewall Jackson-Why I'm Walking/Washed My Hands in Muddy Water
Brian Collins-Statue of a Fool
Charlie Walker-In the Garden

7:30-Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host)-Wabash Cannonball
Lonzo and Oscar-Green Green Grass of Home
Don Everly-Bye, Bye Love/Yesterday Just Passed My Way Again
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers-Gray Eagle
Oswald-Mountain Dew

8:00-Martha White
Ernest Tubb (host)-You Don't Have to Be a Baby to Cry
Billy Grammer-Kentucky Waltz/(?)/Tennessee Waltz
Melba Montgomery-One of These Days
Tennessee Ernie Ford-Glad Rags/Sixteen Tons/Just a Closer Walk with Thee
Ernest Tubb: Half a Mind

8:30-Stephens
Hank Snow (host)-I Don't Hurt Anymore
Marion Worth-Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed/Mockingbird Hill
Ronnie Robbins-The Door is Always Open
Fruit Jar Drinkers-Cacklin' Hen
Hank Snow-(?)

2nd show
9:30-Kellogg's
Stonewall Jackson (host)-Don't Be Angry
Wilma Lee Cooper-Philadelphia Lawyer
Justin Tubb-No Relief in Sight/Lonesome 7-7203
Willis Brothers-Truck Stop
Wilma Lee Cooper-When My Time Comes to Go
Stonewall Jackson-Waterloo

10:00-Fender
Ernest Tubb (host)-Answer the Phone
Skeeter Davis-It's Love That I Feel
Stu Phillips-Have a Nice Day
Ernest Tubb-Waltz Across Texas

10:15-Union 76
Roy Acuff (host)-Once More
Don Everly-Yesterday Just Passed My Way Again
Roy Acuff-The Great Judgement Morning/I Saw the Light

10:30-Trailblazer
Charlie Walker (host)-Lucille
Lonzo and Oscar-No Relief in Sight
Brian Collins-Statue of a Fool
Charlie Walker-San Antonio Rose

10:45-Beechnut
Billy Grammer (host)-Gotta Travel On
Bill Carlisle-I'm Moving
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers-Lafayette
Billy Grammer-How Great Thou Art

11:00-Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host)-There's a Fool Such as I
Melba Montgomery-Don't Let the Good Times Fools You
Fruit Jar Drinkers-Hickory Leaf
Hank Snow-I'm Still Movin' On
Melba Montgomery-No Charge
Kirk McGee-Victory Rag/Freight Train
Hank Snow-Back in Nova Scotia

11:30-Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host)-Ribbon of Darkness
Marion Worth-The Hands You're Holding Now/Just an Old Love-Turned Memory
Ronnie Robbins-The Door is Always Open/Helen
Marty Robbins-El Paso City/Among My Souvenirs/Walking the Floor over You/Driftwood on the River/El Paso

Don and Phil Everly made their Opry on  May 11, 1957 and joined the cast on June 1. They were part of a youth movement at the Opry in response to the rock n' roll invasion that deeply affected the Opry and country music. Dee Kilpatrick was the Opry's manager at the time, and in addition to the Everly Brothers he added Ferlin Husky and Rusty and Doug Kershaw, along with a slew of younger country acts that included Porter Wagoner, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, Stonewall Jackson and the Wilburn Brothers. 

At the time of joining the Opry, Don was 20 and Phil 18. While they are primarily thought of in regards to their rock n' roll hits, they came to the Opry with a country music background. Their parents, Ike and Margaret Everly, were country-gospel artists known throughout the South and Midwest. Ike taught both of his sons basic guitar licks and a number of traditional country songs. As youngsters, they toured in the summer with their parents and when Ike and Margaret retired, Don and Phil came to Nashville looking for a career of their own. 

Wesley Rose put them in touch with Felice and Boudleaux, who had just written "Bye, Bye Love." The brothers recorded the song for Cadence Records and it became a smash hit. The Everly Brothers were on their way and the hit song brought them to the Opry. Hit after hit followed, songs that hit both the country and rock n' roll charts and the Everly Brothers were in demand across the country. Thus, their time at the Opry was very, very short and as soon as they came, they were basically gone. 

Don and Phil Everly were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. 
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Finally, I know there is a lot of interest in the future of the Ernest Tubb Record Shop Midnite Jamboree, so I wanted to share this Facebook message that was posted earlier this week: 

The Texas Troubadour Theatre on Music Valley Drive, Nashville, Tennessee, has been host to Ernest Tubb's Midnite Jamboree since January of 1995. The distinctive marquee has welcomed Jamboree attendees for over 26 years.

On May, 29th, 2021, we would like to invite everyone to come and attend as Rhonda Vincent hosts our final show from that location on Music Valley Drive.

The beautiful Marquee will be coming down and taken to its new home in Texas. We are working now on a new location for The Texas Troubadour Theatre (new address to be announced at a later date).

As for 'The Midnite Jamboree', it will be moving back to it's original location in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop store number 1, located at 417 Broadway, 37203. Our first live audience MNJ will be held there July, 3, 2021. We are hopeful and excited for the things to come! The music, special moments, and friends made at the Music Valley Drive location will forever hold a special place in the history of the Midnite Jamboree. (the Cowboy Church will continue to meet at the Music Valley Drive theatre).

While it is sad news to see the Midnite Jamboree moving from the comfortable confines of the Texas Troubadour Theater, it is still welcomed news that the Midnite Jamboree will continue on and resuming live shows once again. 

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.