Grand Ole Opry 11/12 & 11/13

So here we go with another weekend of Grand Ole Opry shows, with Saturday night being #5002. Standing out this week is the return of Crystal Gayle to the Opry, as she is on the schedule for Friday night. Strangely, this will only be Crystal's 2nd appearance of 2021. Also listed on the schedule for Friday, and somewhat of a last minute addition, is Opry member Vince Gill. Bobby Osborne was originally on the schedule, but he was taken off and Vince added. 

Also scheduled on the Friday Night Opry are members Dustin Lynch and Mark Wills. Mark returns on Saturday night, where he will be joined by Jeannie Seely, Bill Anderson, Connie Smith and John Conlee. Nice to see Mark and John scheduled for the TV portion on Circle. 

Lauren Alaina, who many feel will be a future member of the Opry, is also on the schedule for Friday night, along with Sam Williams, comedian Aaron Weber and making her Opry debut, Mackenzie Porter. Speaking of Sam Williams, I can say that I have been pretty impressed with the grandson of Hank Williams, Jr. 

Besides the Opry members already listed, bluegrass veteran Dale Ann Bradley is on the schedule for Saturday night, while Jesse James Decker and Billy Ray Cyrus are listed for the televised portion, which is being promoted as a salute to veterans. 

Speaking of Dale Ann Bradley, seems to me that it has been a few years since she has been on the Opry as a solo performer, although she has appeared on the Opry recently when she was a member of Sister Sadie. Dale Ann is a member of the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and during her career she has won six IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards. She has also received two Grammy nominations. In January of 2020, she was voted SPGBMA’s Female Vocalist of the Year. Oh Darlin’, her first 2020 project- a collaborative album of stripped down duet recordings with Sister Sadie bandmate Tina Adair, produced a chart topping single of the same name.

Friday November 12
7:00: Mark Wills; Sam Williams; Aaron Weber; Crystal Gayle
Intermission
8:15: Mackenzie Porter; Dustin Lynch; Lauren Alaina; Vince Gill

Saturday November 13
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Bill Anderson; Connie Smith; Dale Ann Bradley
8:00: Mark Wills; Jesse James Decker; John Conlee; Billy Ray Cyrus

So who is Mackenzie Porter? 

Originally from Canada, Mackenzie Porter records for Big Loud Records and is now being featured on Country radio with the headline-making Dustin Lynch collaboration “Thinking ‘Bout You,” alongside last year’s DRINKIN’ SONGS: THE COLLECTION – an arsenal of two years’ worth of new music produced by Joey Moi. 

Entertainer of the Year, 5X Female Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Video of the Year and 2X Fans’ Choice – as well as 2021 and 2015 JUNO Award nominations, both for Country Album of the Year. Mackenzie became the first female artist to have three back-to back #1 singles at Canadian Country radio in 22 years with “About You,” “These Days” and “Seeing Other People” in early 2020, following Shania Twain in 1998. Porter also earned her first crossover Top 10 at Canadian Pop radio – a first since 2003 for a Canadian Country artist – with “These Days (Remix),” and joined CMT’s elite sisterhood of tastemakers and trailblazers as one of their Next Women of Country class of 2021. The Pandora 2021 Country Artist to Watch and co-star of Netflix’s Travelers joins Jordan Davis’ 2021 BUY DIRT this fall after touring extensively on her own, previously sharing the stage with Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Chris Lane, and Dallas Smith.

I am sure she will be doing a collaboration with Dustin Lynch on Friday night. 
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Now from 50 years ago, with the running order from Saturday November 13, 1971: 

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Osborne Brothers (host): Rocky Top/Nine Pound Hammer/Take Me Home Country Roads

6:45: Rudy's
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Del Wood: Gloryland March
Dickey Lee: Never Ending Song of Love
Stonewall Jackson: Washed My Hands in Muddy Water

7:00: Luzianne
Bill Monroe (host): Careless Love
Charlie Walker: Got My Mind on the Border of Mexico
Earl Scruggs Revue: Nashville Skyline Rag
Barbara Mandrell: Treat Him Right
Bill Monroe: In the Pines
Charlie Walker: My Baby Used to Be That Way
Earl Scruggs Revue: Brand New Tennessee Waltz
Bill Monroe: Mule Skinner Blues/White Oak Breakdown

7:30: Standard Candy
Stu Phillips (host): Help Me Make it Through the Night
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Big Midnight Special
Stringbean: Mountain Dew
Willis Brothers: Pretty Diamonds
Stu Phillips: I'd Rather Be Sorry
Crook Brothers: Arkansas Traveler
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Lord, I'm Coming Home
Stringbean: Nine Pound Hammer

8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): Will You Be Loving Another Man
Billy Walker: Darling Days
Dottie West: Paper Mansions
Harold Weakley: Where No One Stands Alone
Lester Flatt and Uncle Josh: The Bluebirds Sing for Me
Billy Walker: Smokey Places
The 4 Guys: Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town
Dottie West: Six Weeks Every Summer; Christmas Every Other Year

8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Wilburn Brothers: That's She Leaving Feeling
Connie Smith: I'm Sorry if My Love Got in Your Way
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Devil's Dream
Roy Acuff: Where Could I Go But to the Lord
Wilburn Brothers: Someone Before Me
Connie Smith: Crumbs From the Table

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Bill Anderson (host): I Get the Fever
Willis Brothers: Chant of the Plains
Jan Howard: Evil on Your Mind
Osborne Brothers: Take Me Home Country Roads
Bill Anderson: Quits
Bill Anderson and Jan Howard: Dis-Satisfied
Osborne Brothers: Ruby
Bill Anderson: Cincinnati, Ohio

10:00: Fender
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host): Forget; Forgive Us #1
Del Wood: Are You From Dixie
Dickey Lee: Never Ending Song of Love
Wilma Lee Cooper: No One Now

10:15: Union 76
Bill Monroe (host): Train 45 Heading South
Earl Scruggs Revue: T for Texas
Barbara Mandrell: Tonight My Baby's Coming Home
Bill Monroe: Cripple Creek

10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Stringbean: Ol' Man, Can You Play the Banjo
Charlie Walker: Got My Mind on the Border of Mexico
Lester Flatt: Father's Table Grace

10:45: Beechnut
Roy Acuff (host): I Saw the Light
Crook Brothers: Gray Eagle
Onie Wheeler and Charlie Collins: Mother Prays Loud in Her Sleep
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

11:00: Coca Cola
Billy Walker (host): Things/Ashes of Love
Dottie West: Six Weeks Every Summer; Christmas Every Other Year
Stu Phillips: Have I Told You Lately That I Love You/You Win Again/Release Me
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Billy Walker: You Gave Me a Mountain
Dottie West: Willy's Winter Love
Sam McGee: Wheels
Billy Walker, Dottie West and Connie Smith: Farther Along

11:30: Elm Hill
Wilburn Brothers (host): It Looks Like the Sun's Gonna Shine
Connie Smith: Ribbon of Darkness
The 4 Guys: Cottonfields/Maria/Let There Be Peace
Connie Smith: Down in the Valley
Wilburn Brothers: Little Johnny From Down the Street

Pretty solid line-up for the 1971 show. A reminder that Barbara Mandrell was not an Opry member as of yet and interesting that the Osborne Brothers had the opening segment to themselves as Ernie Ashworth was originally slated for that time slot. 

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.