Merry Christmas!! The Grand Ole Opry will be having only one show this weekend, on Christmas night. There will be no Friday Night Opry on Christmas eve (Friday) as they decided to give everyone the night off to enjoy the holiday with their families.
For the show on Saturday night, expect a lot of Christmas music as the show is being advertised as such. The line-up looks very solid with Opry members Jeannie Seely, Bobby Osborne and Riders In The Sky on the schedule.
Nice to see two of my favorites, T. Graham Brown and Darin & Brooke Aldridge on the schedule. I know there are many of us who feel that T. Graham is in line to become an Opry member in the near future.
Saturday December 25
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Jake Hoot; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; T. Graham Brown
Intermission
8:15: Teea Goans; Riders In The Sky; Darin & Brooke Aldridge; John Berry
Christmas night from 50 years ago, Saturday December 25, 1971:
7:00: Shoney's
Tex Ritter (host): Wayward Wind
Archie Campbell: Make Friends
Jimmy C Newman: Alligator Man
Ernie Ashworth: Wanted Man
Tex Ritter: Fall Away
The 4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On
Jimmy C Newman: Louisiana Dirty Rice
Ernie Ashworth: My Bottle is Dry
7:30: Standard Candy
Wilburn Brothers (host): It Looks Like the Sun's Gonna Shine
Earl Scruggs Revue: Nashville Skyline Rag
Ray Pillow: Step Aside
Tom T Hall: Chattanooga Dog
Earl Scruggs Revue: Swing Lo, Sweet Chariot
Ray Pillow: Since Then
Tom T Hall: That's How I Got to Memphis
8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host) and Bill Monroe: Will You Be Loving Another Man/Little Cabin Home on the Hill
Grandpa Jones: Jingle Bells
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Lord, I'm Coming Home
Charlie Louvin and Diane McCall: I'm Gonna Leave You
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Stu Phillips: I'd Rather Be Sorry
Stringbean: Mountain Dew
Lester Flatt: Shuckin' the Corn
8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Tex Ritter: Here Was a Man
Jean Shepard: Safe In These Loving Arms of Mine
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Del Reeves: The Best is Yet to Come
Lonzo and Oscar: Charming Betsy
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Del Wood: Are You From Dixie
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light
9:00: Luzianne
Ernest Tubb (host): Thanks A Lot
Dottie West: Six Weeks Every Summer; Christmas Every Other Year
Earl Scruggs Revue: T for Texas
Wilburn Brothers: Christmas at the Opry
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
George Morgan: Easy Loving
Jack Greene: Statue of a Fool
Jeannie Seely: All Right, I'll Sign the Papers
Ernest Tubb: The Women Make a Fool Out of Me
9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): As Love Goes
Willis Brothers: Women's Liberation
Marion Worth: For the Good Times
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Jim Ed Brown: Morning
Tom T Hall: The Year that Clayton Delaney Died
Jimmy C Newman: A Fallen Star
Hank Snow: My Blue Eyed Jane
10:00: Fender
Bill Monroe (host): Were You There
Wilma Lee Cooper: I Don't Care if Tomorrow Never Comes
Charlie Louvin: I Placed a Call/Will You Visit Me on Sundays
Stringbean: Herding Cattle
Ray Pillow: Heart Over Mind
10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): When I Lay My Burden Down
Tex Ritter: Christmas Carols by the Old Corral
Jean Shepard: I Thought of You/It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels/You Win Again/A Dear John Letter
Del Wood: Gloryland March
10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Is Anybody Going North to Cincinnati
Grandpa Jones: The Valley of the Never Do No Good
Stonewall Jackson: Life to Go
Lester Flatt: Sugar Tree Stomp
10:45: Beechnut
Ernest Tubb (host0: Blue Christmas
Wilburn Brothers: The War Keeps Dragging On
Stu Phillips: Help Me Make it Through the Night
Crook Brothers: Mississippi Sawyer
The 4 Guys: Shenandoah
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): In the Misty Moonlight
Dottie West: Put Your Hand in the Hand
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Lonzo and Oscar: Easy Loving
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby
Sam McGee: Buck Dancer's Choice
Hank Snow: Christmas Roses
11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): Singing the Blues
Marion Worth: I Really Don't Want to Know
Charlie Walker: My Baby Used to Be that Way
Marty Robbins: I Walk Alone/Long Gone Lonesome Blues/I'm So Afraid of Losing You Again/Today I Started Loving You Again/They'll Never Take the Love from Me/Begging to You/Don't Worry/Big Boss Man/The Best Part of Living/Walking the Floor Over You
What a line-up!!! You certainly will not see a show like that today. Marty's segment alone lasted well over 30 minutes did not end until just after 12:30. Certainly those attending got their money's worth that night.
Finally, there is only one member of the Grand Ole Opry who joined the cast on Christmas Day and that would be Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers. They joined the cast in 1976 and will be celebrating their 45th anniversary as members of the Grand Ole Opry. Here is the line-up from that night:
1st show
6:00: Bill Monroe (host); Ray Pillow; Marion Worth; David Hooton; Ernie Ashworth
6:30: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host); Charlie Louvin; Del Wood
6:45: Ernest Tubb (host); Skeeter Davis; Billy Grammer
7:00: Roy Acuff (host); Charlie Walker; Minnie Pearl; Jimmy C Newman; Stu Phillips
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Dottie West; Justin Tubb; Crook Brothers; Stoney Mountain Cloggers; Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Jack Greene; Jeannie Seely; Vic Willis; Bob Luman
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jeanne Pruett; Stonewall Jackson; Bill Carlisle; Jim and Jesse; Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Ernest Tubb (host); Charlie Louvin; Skeeter Davis; Wayne Hammond; David Hooten; Billy Grammer
10:00: Bill Monroe (host); Ray Pillow Ernie Ashworth; Del Wood
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Marion Worth; Charlie Walker
10:30: Lester Flatt (host); Jack Greene; Jeannie Seely; Jimmy C Newman
10:45: Porter Wagoner (host); Justin Tubb; Larry Gatlin and The Gatlin Brothers; Crook Brothers; Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Bob Luman; Vic Willis; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Kirk McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Jeanne Pruett; Bill Carlisle
When Larry Gatlin joined the Opry, he was like many of the others who joined during that period. They were starting to hit it big and as their stardom grew, they kind of left the Opry behind. Happily, in the past dozen or so years, Larry has been making regular Opry appearances and seems to have found happiness in being on the Opry stage. He is good for the Opry, bringing a lot of energy and fun.
There you have it for Christmas night 2021. Depending on when you read this, you will be either waiting on Santa or have already finished opening your gifts. Either way, I hope Santa is good to all of you. Enjoy the Opry tonight and Christmas blessings to all.
Grant Turner used to say the winter shows were best because so many members were in. And now ....
ReplyDeleteThe Bill Monroe/Lester Flatt duets are on YouTube and they are GREAT.
Teea Goans is a wonderful talent. And John Berry will most likely close Christmas Night show with O Holy Night. (Anonymous in PA)
ReplyDeleteI remember reading an interview that Wilma Lee Cooper did in which she said that many of the Opry's members who appeared on Christmas Eve or Christmas would exchange gifts and cards. It was one of the few times that the majority of the Opry's members would appear together.
ReplyDeleteHope PA guy is right about John Berry closing out the show.
ReplyDeleteHow neat would that be?
8:15-9:15pm Teea Goans, Riders In The Sky, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, & John Berry According to the Opry's website John Berry is closing. Bob
DeleteFor several years back in the early 80s, when I was working for the Opry, I would pop by the Opry House and grab a twig that had fallen off the Christmas tree on the stage and take it home. I didn't have room in my tiny apartment for a Christmas tree but a Christmas twig, in a Coke bottle with a single red ball hanging on it, was just perfect.
ReplyDeleteI don't post much anymore but I drop by several times a week and enjoy all of the comments very much. Over the past couple of weeks, I've discovered some really good documentaries on YouTube that you all might enjoy.
The first is on Uncle Dave Macon that features interviews with Roy Acuff, Curly Fox, Zeke Clements, Walter Bailes, Alcyone Beasley, Kirk McGee, Paul Howard, Fiddlin' Sid Harkreader and Uncle Dave's sons, Archy and Dorris. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWUCV9Z42xs
The second is a 30 minute documentary on Deford Bailey and has a lot of photos that I had never seen before and interviews with his children. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOBsnT8P1As
Finally, a great documentary on the Osborne Brothers. Lots of footage and great interviews. Sonny always told it like it is and he tells about the issues they had with Jimmy Martin and the Wilburn Brothers. It's 90 minutes long but more than worth the investment of your time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOBsnT8P1As
Merry Christmas to all from Florida!
Barry, thank you for great posts and for adding to my viewing pleasure!
DeleteBarry, as always, thanks. And Merry Christmas to you and as always, thanks for sharing.
DeleteBarry: Thank You and Merry Christmas to you. Bob
ReplyDeleteBarry,
ReplyDeleteI personally would enjoy you telling us a little about your relationship with the 'Opry.
Any insights you can give us as to what you did would be very enjoyable to some of us.
Merry Christmas to everybody.
I totally understand it's none of our business, but it can't hurt to ask!
Typo, Merry Christmas to everybody was supposed to show up last!
ReplyDeleteNat,
ReplyDeleteOver the years Barry has shared a lot of his Opry experiences on the blog. However, I don't know how you would search for his posts. They are very interesting and educational.
Merry Christmas to everyone.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Maybe Byron could help you or if you have the time you could search through the blog and write down the dates. Bob
DeleteByron does enough, won't ask him to do any more! :)
DeleteI'm hoping Barry can share with all of us regarding his time at the 'Opry.
I think many of us here would find it interesting.
MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL! Even though it's now over! haha I am going to take more time to chat here in 2022!
ReplyDeleteIt was a wonderful Opry show last night. As expected, John Berry closed the show with "O Holy Night." Besides John, every other artist did a great job and it was truly a country Christmas show last night.
ReplyDelete