The line-ups have been posted for the Grand Ole Opry shows this weekend with what is now considered a full line-up for both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry.
The Friday Night Opry will feature Opry members Riders In The Sky and Connie Smith, while on Saturday night, Jeannie Seely, Dailey & Vincent, Del McCoury Band, and holding over from Friday night, Riders In The Sky. Of that group, only Del McCoury will be on the Circle TV televised segment, which returns with a live show after showing Carly Pearce's induction last week.
Guesting on Friday night will be Country Music Hall of Fame member Charlie McCoy, along with Charlie Worsham, Sarah Potenza, Brandon Lay, and the designated comedian this weekend, Gary Mule Deer.
Gary Mule Deer returns on Saturday night. While he will not be on the Circle TV televised portion this weekend, Brett Young, The War and Treaty and Callista Clark will. For Callista, this will be the 2nd Opry appearance in the past several weeks for this 17 year old. For The War and Treaty, it will be a return to the Opry stage for that duo, consisting of the husband and wife duo of Michael Trotter Jr., and Tanya Blount.
Friday August 20
7:00: Riders In The Sky; Brandon Lay; Connie Smith; Charlie Worsham
Intermission
8:15: Sarah Potenza; Gary Mule Deer; Charlie McCoy; Charles Esten
Saturday August 21
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Riders In The Sky; Dailey & Vincent; Gary Mule Deer
8:00: Del McCoury Band; Callista Clark; The War and Treaty; Brett Young
Of the 8 artists schedule for Friday night, 2 are Opry members, while 4 of the 8 on Saturday are members of the Opry.
______________________________________________________________________
Now from 50 years ago, Saturday August 21, 1971:
1st show
6:30: Billy Grammer (host); Carl and Pearl Butler; Margie Bowes
6:45: Stu Phillips (host); LaWanda Lindsey; Hugh X Lewis
7:00: Tompall and The Glaser Brothers (host); Ernie Ashworth; Bill Carlisle; Stan Hitchcock
7:30: Tex Ritter (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Willis Brothers; Crook Brothers
8:00: Ernest Tubb (host); Johnny Carver; Jerry Smith; Jeanne Pruett
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The 4 Guys; Ronnie Dove; Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Willis Brothers (host); LaWanda Lindsey; Carl and Pearl Butler; Hugh X Lewis
10:00: Stu Phillips (host); Margie Bowes
10:15: Billy Grammer (host); Earl Scruggs Revue
10:30: Tex Ritter (host); The 4 Guys
10:45: Ernest Tubb (host); Jerry Smith; Roger Miller; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Ronnie Dove; Jeanne Pruett; Fruit Dar Drinkers
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Marion Worth; Johnny Carver
(Roger Miller made a surprise appearance on the second show that night, singing "King of the Road" and "In The Summertime/You Don't Want My Love").
________________________________________________________________________
To finish it up for this week, let's go back 45 years, to Saturday August 21, 1976. This was the night that future Grand Ole Opry member Charlie Daniels made his Opry debut.
Charlie said it was always his dream to become an Opry member and it took a while. He became an Opry member at the age of 71 on January 19, 2008, 32 years after his debut. Charlie remained an active Opry member until his death last year.
Charlie was always proud of his Opry membership, and as he said, “To be able to be a member and to have my name linked with my heroes is some pretty heady stuff for a guy that loves music and loves the Grand Ole Opry as much as I do,”
Here is the running order from August 21, 1976:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Wilburn Brothers (host): There Must Be More to Love Than This
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Wilburn Brothers: Country Kind of Feeling
6:45: Rudy's
Billy Grammer (host): Gotta Travel On
Pam Johnson: Dallas/Crazy
Billy Grammer: God Will Take Care of You/How Great Thou Art
7:00: Shoney's
Bob Luman (host): Let Me Make the Bright Lights Shine for You
Willis Brothers: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Johnny Russell: Catfish John/Baptism of Jesse Taylor
The Heckles: A Boy Like You
Willis Brothers: Cimarron
Bob Luman: A Satisfied Mind
7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jimmy C Newman: Blue Darling
Oswald: Columbus Stockade Blues
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Gray Eagle
Jimmy C Newman: Diggy Liggy Lo
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light
8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): Salty Dog Blues
Charlie Louvin: Mama's Angels
The 4 Guys: When Will I Be Loved
Sheb Wooley: That's My Paw
Lester Flatt: The Life of Riley
Charlie Louvin: Little Reasons/Will You Visit Me on Sundays/What are Those Things
The 4 Guys: Hello Walls/Big Bad John/Wings of a Dove
Kenny Ingram: Flint Hill Special
8:30: W. E. Stephens
Charlie Walker (host): Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Jimmy Dickens: Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed
Charlie Daniels Band: Wichita Jail/Orange Blossom Special
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Old Hen Cackle
Jimmy Dickens: I Love Lucy Brown
Charlie Walker: T for Texas
Joe Edwards: Black Mountain Rag
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Bob Luman (host): Let Me Make the Bright Lights Shine for You
Johnny Russell: Kaw-Liga/Red Necks, White Socks & Blue Ribbon Beer
The Heckles: A Boy Like You/(?)
Steve Wariner: Lyin' Eyes
Bob Luman: A Satisfied Mind
10:00: Fender
Wilburn Brothers (host): It's Another World
Bill Carlisle: Have a Drink on Me
Judy Rose: Just Enough to Keep Me Hangin' On
Wilburn Brothers: God Bless America Again
10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Back in the Country
Onie Wheeler: Go Home
Howdy Forrester: Ol' Man, Can You Play the Fiddle
Roy Acuff: Cabin in Gloryland
10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Will You Be Loving Another Man
Billy Grammer: Somewhere My Love
Charlie Walker: You Cheatin' Heart
Lester Flatt: A Great Big Woman & A Little Bitty Bottle of Wind
Marty Stuart: Lost Indian
10:45: Beech-Nut
The 4 Guys (host): Cottonfields/Mariah
Louie Roberts: Hurt
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Billy in the Low Ground
The 4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On
11:00: Coca Cola
Jimmy C Newman (host): Jambalaya
Charlie Daniels Band: Texas/The South's Gonna Rise Again
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbin Ridge
Jimmy C Newman: Before the Next Teardrop Falls
Kirk McGee: While I'm Away
11:30: Elm Hill
Charlie Louvin (host): Let's Put Our World Back Together/A Toast to Mama/Love Has to Die All By Itself/I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow/I Want a Happy Live
Jimmy Dickens: I'm Little But I'm Loud/I Leaned Over Backwards for You
Sheb Wooley: The Tennessee Hurt
Ben Colder: Almost Persuaded #2/Fifteen Beers Ago
Charlie Louvin: I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby/Don't Laugh/My Baby's Gone/When I Stop Dreaming
An interesting note from that night as Johnny Russell was on along with the Heckles. The Heckles, who were from West Virginia and appeared on the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree, were a family group that consisted primarily of Beverly and her sister Susie. In 1977, Johnny, who was 37, married Beverly, who was 17. For a short period of time, Johnny and Beverly performed as a duo and toured with Loretta Lynn among others. In addition to singing with Johnny, Beverly also performed with her sister and attempted a solo career, charting "Bluer Than Blue" in 1978.
Johnny and Beverly divorced n the mid-80s, and in the aftermath of the divorce Johnny wrote "Got No Reason Now For Goin' Home" which was recorded by Johnny and became a hit for Gene Watson.
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.
I hope Byron will permit a little promotion here!!
ReplyDeleteI have the latest book by Bill Anderson, "Whisperin' Bill Anderson, an Unprecedented Life in country Music"(2016) I've had it a couple years and have not read it yet. By mistake, my brother purchased the audio book version. I've never listened to an audio book before.
We had to make an eight hour round trip yesterday for a family matter and we listened to about the first half of the book. Peter Cooper wrote little history pieces of current events between the chapters and he reads those. The rest of the book is read by Bill. However, it really doesn't sound like he is reading to you. It sounded more like he was riding along in the back seat telling you stories.
I'm a hard copy guy. I want my magazines, books and photos in hand. But, I must say this is one instance when I would suggest if you are interested in Bill's book, consider the audio book. I would not give up my hard copy that I can pull from the shelf in an instant and it contains a lot of photos. But I highly recommend the audio book.
End of promotion!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
When is the 5,000th show???
ReplyDeleteOctober 30, 2021
DeleteYes, Saturday October 30 will be the Opry's 5000th Saturday night show. They are planning a big celebration for that night and as part of the milestone they have opened an exhibit in the Roy Acuff House commemorating the 5000th show, along with honoring WSM radio.
DeleteVegas should start offering the following bet:
ReplyDelete"On what date will the Grand Old 'Opry's hold its first show ever without a single 'Opry member?
Second try:
ReplyDeleteVegas should start offering the following bet:
"On what date will the Grand Old Opry' hold its first show ever without a single 'Opry member?
The news is circulating on the internet that Tom T. Hall has died.
ReplyDeleteSadly, it is true. The "Singing Storyteller" has passed away.
ReplyDeleteTom T. Hall.... R.I.P. Met him once when I was a student at FSU in Tallahassee
ReplyDeleteSarah Potenza.... uffff that was painful.... dislike. Hope she has a side job.
ReplyDeleteEnthusiastically agree Nit73 !!!! Dashmann, Flushing, Michigan ---
DeleteJeff Hoag will be doing a tribute to Tom T. Hall on Tuesday July 24th on WSM after the Opry. Beginning about 9:15 CT. RIP Tom T. You will be missed. Bob
ReplyDeleteOf course, the Tom T. Hall tribute will be on August 24. I am glad that someone else is capable of making this kind of a mistake. I consider it a talent.
DeleteBruce: Thanks for finding my mistake. Sorry. Yes the Tom T. Hall tribute is August 24th. Bob
DeleteIn case you haven't seen it... here's a great article on Connie Smith in People Magazine (oldtimeopry)
ReplyDeletehttps://www.google.com/amp/s/people.com/country/connie-smith-releases-the-cry-of-the-heart-album/%3famp=true
Hi. I was "Unknown." Maybe I still am!
ReplyDeleteThe New York Times did a big feature on Connie Smith, and a long obituary on Tom T. Hall. I already emailed the corrections department, since it said he apparently had no children (Dean is, I believe, from his first marriage?), and referred to Jimmy C. Newman as a "Cajun singer" who recorded "DJ for a Day." Actually, Jimmy co-owned NewKeys, which published T's catalogue. That one was the first.
Connie Smith's new album is phenomenal. She sounds 20 not 80. Lots of traditional country music. I would highly recommend.
ReplyDeleteCircle Opry descended rapidly after the Del McCoury portion tonight. Actually War and Treaty were very good, but nowhere near country. Callista Clark and Brett Young seem extremely talented but their songs are the cookie cutter type put out by so many young artists - like they had to write a song and came up with this one ---- no discernable story, understandable lyrics or emotion in their performances --- sorry --- dinosaur Dashmann, Flushing , Michigan ---
ReplyDeleteFormer Opry member Don Everly has passed away.
ReplyDelete