I am taking a much needed vacation this week down to Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains, as Miss Nellie and I enjoy some time hiking and looking for bears. This is an annual trip for the past 20+ years as we enjoy getting away. Depending on our schedule, we might even sneak in a visit to the Carter Family Fold on Saturday night for some great, traditional string band music.
So, taking a quick look at the line-ups, the Friday Night Opry has only one Opry member listed, and that is Mark Wills. Saturday night has Bill Anderson and Bobby Osborne on the schedule. Lauren Alaina makes another guest appearance on Friday night while Suzy Bogguss is on the Saturday schedule. The designated comedian this weekend is Gary Mule Deer, who is performing both nights. Finally, I want to mention Teea Goans, who is making a guest appearance on Friday night. She is one of the underrated talents in Nashville and I am happy to see her back on the Opry.
That said, here is the line-up for this weekend's Grand Ole Opry Shows:
Friday September 17
7:00: Mark Wills; Teea Goans; Larry Fleet; LOCASH
Intermission
8:15: Waylon Payne; Gary Mule Deer; Don Schlitz; Lauren Alaina
Saturday September 18
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Bill Anderson; Ray Scott; Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys; Emily West
Intermission
8:15: Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Gary Mule Deer; Caylee Hammack; Jon Randall; Suzy Bogguss
No Circle live TV this week as the network will be showing a repeat of a previous show.
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And now from 50 years ago, Saturday September 18, 1971:
1st show
6:30: Willis Brothers (host); Calhoun Twins; Mayf Nutter
6:45: Bill Monroe (host); Peggy Little
7:00: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host); Tommy Overstreet; Wilma Burgess; Jimmy Martin
7:30: Charlie Louvin (host); Diane McCall; Bob Luman; Stringbean; Crook Brothers
8:00: Billy Grammer (host); Skeeter Davis; Hugh X. Lewis
8:30: Wilburn Brothers (host); The 4 Guys; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Harold Weakley; Carolina Chapparels
2nd show
9:30: Bill Monroe (host); Willis Brothers; Peggy Little; Calhoun Twins; Hugh X. Lewis
10:00: Charlie Louvin (host); Wilma Burgess; Mayf Nutter; Diane McCall
10:15: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host); Tommy Overstreet
10:30: Bob Luman (host); Stringbean
10:45: Billy Grammer (host); Crook Brothers
11:00: Wilburn Brothers (host); Skeeter Davis; Billy "Crash" Craddock; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Carolina Chapparels
11:30: The 4 Guys (host); Jimmy Martin; Harold Weakley
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Saturday September 17, 1977 was the night that Reba McEntire made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry. At the time, I don't think anyone had any idea that some day Reba would become a member of the Opry, elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and carve out a career that would place her as one of the greatest country female vocalists of all time.
Here is the running order from that night 44 years ago, the night Reba made her Opry debut:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Bob Luman (host): Lonely Women Make Good Lovers
Dottsy: After Sweet Memories, Play Born to Lose Again
Bob Luman: Satisfied Mind
6:45: Rudy's
Billy Walker (host): Don't Stop in My World
Wilburn Brothers: Troubles Back in Town
Billy Grammer: (?)/ Tennessee Waltz
Billy Walker: Behind Closed Doors
7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Wilma Lee Cooper: Where Is America Going/No One Now
Del Wood: Wood Cutter
Bill Carlisle: Elvira/I Was on My Way to the Show
Porter Wagoner: Tennessee Sunshine/Cold Hard Facts of Life/Carroll County Accident/Green, Green Grass of Home
7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jim and Jesse: Don't Ever Take our Love From Me/Last Train to Clarksville
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Lafayette
Oswald: Mountain Dew
Roy Acuff: Where the Soul of Man Never Dies
8:00: Martha White
Ernest Tubb (host): Answer the Phone
Dolly Parton: Apple Jack/Me & Little Andy
Ernest Tubb: Half A Mind
Jimmy C Newman: The Kind of Love I Can't Forget/Diggy Liggy Lo
8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
The 4 Guys: The Morning Sun/Don't It Make You Want to Go Home
Marion Worth: Just A Little Lovin'/Just An Old Love Turned Memory
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
Hank Snow: I'm Moving On
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Porter Wagoner (host): Big Wind's A-Coming
Billy Walker: Word Games/You Gave Me a Mountain
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On
Dottsy: Storms Never Last/I'll Be Your San Antone Rose
Porter Wagoner: Cold Hard Facts of Life/Carroll County Accident/Green Green Grass of Home/On A Highway Headed South
10:00: Fender
Ernest Tubb (host): Two Glasses Joe
Wilburn Brothers: Country Kind of Feelings/Because He Lives
Ernest Tubb: Waltz Across Texas
10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): I Couldn't Believe It Was True
Wilma Lee Cooper: Poor Ellen Smith
Roy Acuff: That's the Man I'm Looking For/Farther Along
10:30: Trailblazer
Dolly Parton (MC): Joshua
Bill Carlisle: Same Ol' Tale That the Crow Told Me
Dolly Parton: Love Is Like a Butterfly
10:45: Beech-Nut
The 4 Guys (host): Mother Country Music
Reba McEntire: Invitation to the Blues
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Gray Eagle
The 4 Guys: Mariah
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): There's A Fool Such As I
Jim and Jesse: Just One of a Kind/Paradise
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Del Wood: Down Yonder
Kirk McGee: Victory Rag/Freight Train
Hank Snow: Just a Faded Petal From a Beautiful Bouquet
11:30: Elm Hill
Jimmy C Newman (host): Jambalaya
Marion Worth: Fool #1/Mockingbird Hill
Johnny Carver: Living Next Door to Alice/Afternoon Delight
Jimmy C Newman: Diggy Liggy Lo
As you can see, Reba appeared only on the second show. And yes, Dolly did MC a segment (remember that a female was not called a host at that time, but they did lead and star in segments).
That is it for this week. As always thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.
Mark, Teea, Bill, Suzy - at least when listening on the WSM archives I can skip over all but these. Teea is outstanding (singer, songwriter, entertainer with great stage presence, and respect for the music and musicians who preceded her). (from Anonymous in PA)
ReplyDeleteTo say that this week's lineup is underwhelming is understatement. But then I noticed: in 1971, when there were 60 members and attendance requirements were enforced, I counted 12 members on the show. I suspect that week people were muttering that the Opry was going to seed.
ReplyDeleteI think the Saturday lineup is pretty darned good, and I'm sorry it won't be on Circle network.
ReplyDeleteLooked up some of the names I haven't heard of on Youtube, and I was actually impressed.
James Freeze did a fantastic job on “ I wonder if God likes Country Music” tonight. Bill really brings emotion to that song.
ReplyDeleteYes and yes to James and Bill. Did anyone else notice that Bill stated that it was last song Mr. Acuff sang on the Opry? I guess he can say that if Charley Worsham can say that Jeannie Seely had the big hit on Tom T's Harper Valley PTA! I heard him say that on one of the week night shows a week or two ago.
ReplyDeleteThe last time they did the song together was Saturday October 17th. The last song he performed on the Opry was Night Train to Memphis the following Friday October 23rd. We've all discussed these dates before but I thought it was worth repeating.
It was good to hear Bill and James do the song tonight. I'd have to do some digging but it seems like with 2020 being what it was that it has been well over a year. I may be off on that but it has been a while.
Jim
Knightsville, IN