Grand Ole Opry 6/25 & 6/26

So what does everyone think? It was really expected at some point that Carly Pearce would become the Opry's next member and last night it took place, as several speculated that it might. Really the only surprise was Dolly Parton issuing the invite several days prior instead of Reba at the Opry House. Personally, as I wrote before, I am fine with it and believe Carly will be a good member. I think she "gets it" and has had a solid relationship with several Opry members, most notably Jeannie Seely. For those who might not be aware, Bobby Bones and the Circle network did filming last night and it will be shown on July 31. Also, Tuesday August 3 will be Carly's official induction date. 

One more note about last night: some mentioned, and were surprised, that Reba only did two songs. After WSM went off the air and the Opry signed off, Reba did come back on and did two additional songs that were taped for the Macy's July 4 special. She then finished up with "Fancy." So those who attended last night really had a great experience with Reba. 

Now on to this week at the Grand Ole Opry: 

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-ups for the two shows this weekend and when looking at what is scheduled, we should all be pleased with the Circle TV segment for Saturday night, as the hour is being advertised as a tribute to Grand Ole Opry member Connie Smith. Connie's husband, Marty Stuart, has put the hour together and has picked the artists, all of whom will be on stage with Connie. Besides Connie and Marty, the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band, Lee Ann Womack and Mandy Barnett will be appearing on the televised hour. 

Connie, is in the process of releasing her first new album in years, with the album being produced by Marty. Connie is also going to be the subject of a new television special being produced by Marty called "Connie: The Cry of the Heart." That program will be shown on Circle TV at 8:00, prior to the televised Opry. The show will cover the highlights of Connie's career, including who has influenced her and her love and devotion to her husband, who has helped to rejuvenate Connie's career.  

As mentioned, Lee Ann Womack will be one of the artists on stage with Connie on Saturday night. There was a time when Lee Ann made a number of Opry appearances and she was pretty popular, with a number of songs on the charts including "I Hope You Dance," which was a major cross-over hit. Four of her studio albums have received a Gold certification or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America. Additionally, she has received five Academy of Country Music Awards, six Country Music Association Awards, and a Grammy Award. She has sold over 6 million albums worldwid3. 

While Saturday night's final hour promises to be a fun hour, let's look at the rest of the Opry line-ups for this weekend, starting with the Friday Night Opry, which will feature Opry members Bill Anderson and Jeannie Seely. 

Among the guest artists who will be appearing on Friday night will be Rory Feek. Rory just released his first solo album since the death of his wife Joey in 2016. The album, titled Gentle Man, features duets with Dolly Parton, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill, Lee Ann Womack and Alison Krauss. I know many of us remember Joey + Rory's Opry appearances and television show. It took five years, but it is nice to see Rory back on the Opry. 

Also appearing on Friday night will be Jimmie Allen, Home Free, Brooke Eden, Charles Esten, who has made over 100 Opry appearances, and Ray Fulcher, who will be making his first appearance on the Opry. 

Joining those already mentioned on Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, will be Opry members Riders In The Sky, and guest artist Tony Jackson and the designated comedian this week, Henry Cho. 

Friday June 25
7:00: Bill Anderson; Rory Feek; Jeannie Seely; Home Free
Intermission
8:00: Ray Fulcher; Charles Esten; Brooke Eden; Jimmie Allen

Saturday June 26
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Riders In The Sky; Tony Jackson; Mandy Barnett; Henry Cho
8:00: Connie Smith; Mandy Barnett; Lee Ann Womack; Tennessee Mafia Jug Band; Marty Stuart

That all adds up to just two Opry members on Friday night, both appearing during the first hour of the show, and three members on Saturday night. 

I know that there are some who might not be familiar with the Tennessee Mafia Jug Band which embodies the spirit of the classic days of country music with their influences leaning heavy on the sounds of Uncle Dave Macon, Stringbean or Roy Acuff with his Smoky Mountain Boys.  They all hail from the pastoral hills and hollers of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, home of Bill Monroe, Bashful Brother Oswald, Stringbean, Grandpa Jones, Keith Whitley, Bill Carlisle, Jack Greene, Lonzo & Oscar just to name a FEW!

Leroy Troy, the Tennessee Slicker, the most popular man in country music, the sultan of Goodlettsville, sings lead and some harmony vocals with the band. He plays banjo, washboard, harmonica and ukulele. Leroy carries on the tradition of Stringbean and Uncle Dave Macon with his antics on the banjo as well as pounding on the washboard like Roy Acuff’s Jug Band. Leroy was a regular member of Marty's TV show. Other members of the group include Mike Armistead, who plays guitar, sings lead and harmony vocals; Shad Cobb who plays fiddle; Sir Cecil Ernie Sykes, who blows the jug while crooning in the best hillbilly style; Andy Todd who handles the bass; and finally Mike Webb who is the “peoples choice” of the group. He’s the best dobro player on the stage or in the band period, some have even said that there’s no beginning to his talent and we couldn’t agree more with the people! He brings a whole new element to the Jug band in the ways of comedy, dancing, singing, guitar picking and playing the sweet sounds of hillbilly music on his dobro in the styling of Bashful Brother Oswald.

If you have never seen this group before, you are in for a treat and it is wonderful that they will be featured on the Circle TV segment this weekend. 
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Now from 50 years ago, Saturday June 26, 1971:

1st show
6:30: Willis Brothers (host); Carl and Pearl Butler
6:45: Bill Carlisle (host); Del Wood; Pat Daisey
7:00: The 4 Guys (host); Joe and Rose Lee Maphis; Jimmy Dickens; Compton Brothers
7:30: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Skeeter Davis; Crook Brothers
8:00: Justin Tubb (host); Stringbean; Marion Worth; Stu Phillips; Louie Roberts
8:30: Charlie Walker (host); Connie Smith; Stan Hitchcock; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Willis Brothers (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Skeeter Davis; Compton Brothers; Curtis McPeak
10:00: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host); Del Wood; Jimmy Dickens
10:15: Bill Carlisle (host); Joe and Rose Lee Maphis; Pat Daisey
10:30: Stu Phillips (host); Stringbean; Carl and Pearl Butler
10:45: The 4 Guys (host); Leona Williams; Crook Brothers
11:00: Justin Tubb (host); Connie Smith; Louie Roberts; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Charlie Walker (host); Marion Worth; Stan Hitchcock

Another thin night for Opry members. 
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Well, it all had to come to an end sometime and for Willie Nelson, his Opry membership ended on Saturday June 25, 1966 as after less than two years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, Willie made his last appearance as a member. In Willie's case, he was in the process of leaving Nashville and heading back to Texas where, in many ways, he reinvented himself and became the Willie we know and love today. 

Here is the line-up from that night 55 years ago: 

6:30: Mrs. Grissoms 
Ernie Ashworth (host): (?)
Grandpa Jones: (?)
Ernie Ashworth: (?)

6:45: Rudy's
Bill Anderson (host) Po' Folks
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me
Jimmy Gately: Old Faithful
Bill Anderson: I Love You Drops

7:00: National Life and Insurance Company
Osborne Brothers (host): Up This Hill & Down
Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away
Connie Smith: If I Talk to Him
Roy Drusky: Rainbows & Roses
Osborne Brothers: (?)
Roy Drusky: Alone With You
Connie Smith: Even Tho
Billy Walker: Down to My Last Cigarette
Osborne Brothers: I'll Be Alright Tomorrow
Jerry Byrd: The Married Man

7:30: Luzianne
George Morgan (host): No Man Should Hurt as Bad as I Do
Dottie West: Would You Hold It Against ME
Del Wood: Rainbow
Chuck Wagon Gang: I'm Getting Ready
George Morgan: Almost
Stu Phillips: Mansion on the Hill
Dottie West: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
George Morgan: Why at My Door, He's Standing

8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Country Music Has Gone to Town
Osborne Brothers: Up This Hill & Down
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers:  Sally Goodin
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Cousin Jody: Wabash Cannonball
Porter Wagoner: I Dreamed I Saw America on Her Knees
George McCormick: Where the Old Red River Flows
Osborne Brothers: Hard Time
Mac McGaha: Katy Hill

8:30: Stephens
Ernest Tubb (host): Two Glasses Joe
Loretta Lynn: You Ain't Woman Enough
Wilburn Brothers: I Can't Keep Away from You
Willie Nelson: I Love You Because
Ernest Tubb: Letters Have No Arms
Loretta Lynn: Before I'm Over You
Wilburn Brothers and Loretta Lynn: Put it Off Until Tomorrow
Willie Nelson: I'm Still Not Over You
Ernest Tubb: Give Me a Little Old Fashioned Love

9:00: Pet Milk
Hank Locklin (host): Cryin' Time
Jean Shepard: Ain't You Ashamed
Ray Pillow: Common Cold & A Broken Heart
Bill Carlisle: Take This Country Music & Shove It
Hank Locklin: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Duane Dee: Danny Boy
Jean Shepard and Ray Pillow: I'll Take the Dog
Bill Carlisle: The Great Snowman
Hank Locklin: Y'All Come

9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): The Count Down
Willis Brothers: Private Lee
George Morgan: No Man Should Hurt as Bad as I Do
Grandpa Jones: Kitty Clyde
Hank Snow: I've Cried a Mile
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Walking in My Sleep
George Morgan: You're the Only Good Thing
Grandpa Jones: Nobody Knows But Me
Hank Snow: I Don't Hurt Anymore

10:00: Schick
Bill Anderson (host): You Don't Want My Love
Dottie West: Would You Hold it Against Me
Ernie Ashworth: At Ease, Heart
Bill Anderson: Bright Lights & Country Music

10:15: Pure
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
George McCormick: There's a Woman
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Porter Wagoner: I'll Go Swinging/I've Enjoyed as Much of This as I Can/Misery Loves Company/Sorrow on the Rock
Mac McGaha and Buck Trent: Turkey in the Straw

10:30: Harvey's
Ray Pillow (host): Thank You Ma'am
Jean Shepard: Many Happy Hangovers to You
Del Wood: Blue Moon of Kentucky
Ray Pillow: Six Days on the Road

10:45: Newport
Ernest Tubb (host): Thanks A Lot
Hank Locklin: I Can't Stop Loving You
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Mississippi Sawyer
Ernest Tubb: Mr. Juke Box

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Loretta Lynn: You Ain't Woman Enough
Wilburn Brothers: I Can't Keep Away from You
Fruit Jar Drinkers: (?)
Hank Snow: Down the Trail of Aching Hearts
Sam McGee: Victory Rag
Loretta Lynn: How Great Thou Art
Osborne Brothers: Hard Time
Hank Snow: I'm Moving On

11:30: Lava
Bobby Lord (host): That's All Right
Duane Dee: Take Good Care of Her
Archie Campbell: The Men in My Little Girl's Life
Willis Brothers: Diamonds on Your Hands
Chuck Wagon Gang: Cabin on the Hill
Bobby Lord: Lonely Street
Cousin Jody: Mocking Bird
Bobby Lord: Hawkeye

Since leaving the Opry, Willie has made just a handful of appearances on the Opry. 

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To finish it up for this week, on Saturday June 26, 1982, B.J. Thomas appeared on the Saturday night Grand Ole Opry for the final time as a member. As with a couple of others from that era, B.J.'s time as an Opry member was fairly short as he, like Don Williams who had joined the cast during the same time period, found that Opry membership just wasn't what he thought it would be and he moved on. There were no hard feelings as B.J. would come back and appear on the Opry as a guest a number of times. While this was his final Saturday night, his last appearance as a member would take place on the Friday Night Opry in August. 

Here is the running order from Saturday June 26, 1982:

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Jeannie Seely: I'm Almost Ready
Stonewall Jackson: Ol' Chunk of Coal

6:45: Rudy's
Charlie Walker (host): San Antonio Rose
Connie Smith: "Til I Kissed You
Ray Pillow: My Love Belongs to You
Charlie Walker: T for Texas

7:00: Shoney's
Jack Greene (host): Try a Little Kindness
Skeeter Davis: He Will be There
Justin Tubb: As Long as There's a Sunday
Lonzo and Oscar: Boogie Grass Band
Wilburn Brothers: Arkansas
Jack Greene: Step Up and Meet Mr. Sunshine/She's the Rock I'm Leaning On

7:30: Standard Candy
Grandpa Jones (host): Nashville on My Mind
Jean Shepard: Too Many Rivers
Jim and Jesse: Northwind
Billy Walker: Welcome Back to My Heart
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Lafayette
Grandpa Jones: The Deep Dark Corners of My Mind/Night Train to Memphis

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
George Hamilton IV: Cornbread, Beans, & Sweet Potato Pie
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Barbara Mandrell: 'Til Your Gone/Swing Lo, Sweet Chariot/(?)
Roy Acuff and Barbara Mandrell: I'll Fly Away

8:30: Acme
Hank Snow (host): I Don't Hurt Anymore
The 4 Guys: I Think About Your Lovin' all the Time
Roy Drusky: Remember Me, I'm the One Who Loves You
B.J. Thomas: Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Sugar Tree Stomp
Hank Snow: The Call of the Wild

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Jack Greene (host): Wanting You, But Never Having You
The 4 Guys: Stealing the Feeling
Charlie Walker: Don't Play Me No Songs about Texas
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Connie Smith: I Just Had You on My Mind
Vic Willis Trio: You Were Always on My Mind
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything

10:00: Little Debbie
Grandpa Jones (host): Are You From Dixie
Jeannie Seely: It Turns Me Inside Out
B.J. Thomas: Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song
Grandpa Jones: Neighbors

10:15: Sunbeam
Stonewall Jackson (host): Don't Be Angry
Ray Pillow: Days When You Were Still in Love with Me
Stonewall Jackson: Muddy Waters

10:30: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Sunshine Special
Barbara Mandrell: Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms/You Got to Reach a Little Bit Higher
Roy Acuff: Cabin in Gloryland

10:45: Beechnut
Billy Walker (host): Detour
Skeeter Davis: Silver Threads and Golden Needles
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Soldier's Joy
Billy Walker: Welcome Back to My Heart

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): From a Jack to A King
Jean Shepard: Alabama Jubilee
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Saturday Night Hop
Lonzo and Oscar: That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine
Justin Tubb: Texas Dance Hall Girl
Kirk McGee: Railroad Blues
Hank Snow: So Goes My Heart

11:30: Bama
Jimmy C Newman (host): Thibodeaux & His Cajun Band
Roy Drusky: Always/Don't It Make You Want to Go Home
George Hamilton IV: Break My Mind/Forever Young
Cajun Country: Tex-Cajun
Jimmy C Newman; Jambalaya

Sadly, B.J. passed away this past spring.

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