Grand Ole Opry 4/15 & 4/16

Update: The Friday Night Opry has been posted. 

It is going to be a very busy weekend for the Grand Ole Opry as in addition to the Friday and Saturday night shows at the Grand Ole Opry House, the Opry is also going to be the opening act for Garth Brooks, as he is performing at Nissan Stadium this weekend. 

As to the shows at the Opry House, Saturday night will feature the return of Opry member Carrie Underwood. Carrie has been very busy lately with her Las Vegas residency, along with her appearances on the various award shows. Nice to see her back at the Opry. 

Joining Carrie on Saturday night will be Opry members John Conlee Riders In the Sky, and a special appearance by Darrin and Rhonda Vincent, along with their family, who will be performing as The Vincent Family. 

As Rhonda posted, From Greentop MO to the Grand Ole Opry. Sat 4/16/2022 Darrin Vincent & I will perform together on the #Opry stage w/our family - Mom, brother Brian, daughters Victoria, Sally, & Tensel. Join us to celebrate our risen Savior. I am sure this will be special, as Easter Sunday is the following day. 

For those who do not know, The Sally Mountain Park in Queen City, MO, site of the family-run bluegrass festival managed by Rhonda and Darrin Vincent’s parents for 33 years, has been listed for sale.

Back when Rhonda and Darrin were youngsters, they performed alongside their parents, Johnny and Carolyn Vincent, as members of the family band, The Sally Mountain Show. In 1986 they launched the festival, close to their home in Kirksville, and ran it every summer until COVID restrictions shut them down in 2020. Rhonda always returned for the fest, and the Sally Mountain Show would reunite for the event up to Johnny’s passing in 2014.

In announcing the sale, the Vincents shared the following…“After much prayerful consideration, the Vincent family has decided to offer for sale, the land where we hosted the Bluegrass Festival for so many years. We have made many wonderful memories over the years on this property and now the time has come to offer the opportunity for someone else to build a future here.”

A while back, comedian James Gregory was listed on the Opry schedule, however, he had to cancel. He has rescheduled and Saturday night will see him making his debut on the Opry. In addition to James, Lindsay Ell, Anne Wilson and Sam Williams are scheduled to appear. 

Looking at the Friday Night Opry, Rhett Walker, Joshua Ray Walker, Jessica Willis Fisher and comedian John Crist are on the schedule. For Joshua Ray, it will be his Opry debut. 

Raised on bluegrass, Joshua Ray Walker lists Texas legends like Guy Clark and Billy Joe Shaver among his essential inspirations, but also notes the undeniable influence of country superstars like Alan Jackson and George Strait (“All those ’90s country songs were so hook-driven, they really bored into my brain,” he says). With the arrival of Wish You Were Here (an album that spent 12 consecutive weeks on the Americana radio albums chart), Walker won lavish praise from outlets like NPR Music and began opening for such artists as Colter Wall and Charley Crockett, in addition to headlining tours in the U.S. and Europe. Hailed by No Depression as “an album that outshines expectations for what country music can, and should, sound like,” Glad You Made It earned the admiration of leading critics like Ann Powers (“a new voice who really impressed me”), with its singles featured on such coveted playlists as Spotify’s Indigo and Tidal’s Best of Country 2020. 

As to the rest of the Friday Night Opry, Opry members Jeannie Seely, Bobby Osborne and Connie Smith are on the schedule, along with Riders In The Sky and John Conlee, who are also appearing on Saturday night. 

Friday April 15
7:00: Jeannie Seely, Jessica Willis Fisher, John Conlee, Rhett Walker
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith, John Crist, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Joshua Ray Walker, Riders In The Sky 

Saturday April 16
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, John Conlee, Lindsay Ell, Sam Williams, Darrin and Rhonda Vincent & Family
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky, Anne Wilson, James Gregory, Carrie Underwood

Somewhat surprisingly, there will no live TV this week as Circle TV will be televising a repeat show. Just my thought, but with the Opry also opening for Garth, it might have spread their resources a little bit as I am sure some of the focus will be on that show. While I haven't seen all of the acts announced that will be opening for Garth, he did mention Chris Young and a closing number with a number of veteran Opry members. I do believe that Jeannie Seely will be a part of that. 
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Now from 50 years ago, Saturday April 15, 1972: 

1st show
6:30: Billy Walker (host), Donna Fargo
6:45: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host), Del Wood, Barbara Fairchild
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host), Dolly Parton, Jerry Clower
7:30: Roy Acuff (host), Skeeter Davis, Willis Brothers, Crook Brothers, Vernon Soloman
8:00: Ernest Tubb (host), Jean Shepard, Charlie McCoy
8:30: Charlie Walker (host), Penny DeHaven, The 4 Guys, Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Billy Walker (host), Willis Brothers, Del Wood, Barbara Fairchild
10:00: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host), Jerry Clower
10:15: Porter Wagoner (host), Dolly Parton
10:30: Roy Acuff (host), Skeeter Davis, Leon McAuliffe
10:45: Ernest Tubb (host), Jean Shepard, Crook Brothers
11:00: Charlie Walker (host), Charlie McCoy, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host), The 4 Guys, Penny DeHaven

(Hank Snow was scheduled for both shows but cancelled, thus Charlie Walker hosted both of Hank's segments. As a reminder, Jerry Clower was making a guest appearance as he was not a member at that time. Also, nice to see Donna Fargo and Charlie McCoy making appearances on the Opry that night). 

April 12-15, 1972 was the first Fan Fair in Nashville. The event was held at the Municipal Auditorium and drew an estimated 5,000 fans. The event featured over 20 hours of live entertainment and over 100 merchandise and autograph booths. Since that first year, the event has grown each year, eventually turning into the CMA Music Fest, and now held in June. 

Fan Fair started as a result of the number of fans who were attending the annual Disc Jockey Convention held by WSM Radio and The Grand Ole Opry each October. Because of the large number of non-radio people attending, the decision was made to have a separate event for the fans, thus Fan Fair was born. After taking place downtown, the event was moved to the Nashville Fairgrounds. Each year, hundreds of country music artists would have autograph sessions, private shows, and meet-and-greets for the thousands of fans who would attend. Eventually, the event became so big that limits had to be placed as to attendance, and the CMA took over, changing the name and the focus. 

Over the years, some of the best Opry shows would take place during the annual October Birthday Weekend and in June, during Fan Fair/CMA Music Fest week. While the quality of the birthday shows has leveled off in recent years, CMA Fest is still going strong, with Opry shows each night of the week, featuring many of the Opry's biggest names. And it all started in 1972. 

So, looking at that show from April 15, 1972, here is the detailed running order from that night: 

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Billy Walker (host): Smokey Places
Donna Fargo: The Happiest Girl in the Whole USA
Billy Walker: You Gave Me a Mountain

6:45: Rudy's
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host): Coming Down from God
Del Wood: Are You From Dixie
Barbara Fairchild: Love's Old Song
Stoney Cooper and Earl Sneed: Back Up & Push

7:00: Luzianne
Porter Wagoner (host): What Ain't to Be Just Might Happen
Dolly Parton: Touch Your Woman
Jerry Clower: Comedy
Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton: The Right Combination
Dolly Parton: Joshua
Speck Rhodes: Running Bare
Porter Wagoner: Be a Little Quieter

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Skeeter Davis: Sad Situation
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Vernon Solomon: Sally Johnson/Sally Goodin/Weather Britches

8:00: Martha White
Ernest Tubb (host): In the Jailhouse Now
Jean Shepard: I Thought of You/It Wasn't God Who Made Honky-Tonk Angels/You Win Again/A Dear John Letter
Charlie McCoy: Today I Started Loving You Again
Ernest Tubb: Say Something Nice to Sara
Jean Shepard: Virginia
Charlie McCoy: Orange Blosom Special
Leon Boulanger: For the Good Times

8:30: Stephens
Charlie Walker (host): Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Penny DeHaven: Gone
The 4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Charlie Walker: My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You
The 4 Guys: Shenandoah
Charlie Walker: Jambalaya

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Billy Walker (host): When a Man Loves a Woman
Willis Brothers: Bob
Del Wood: Standing Room Only
Barbara Fairchild: Loving You is Sunshine
Billy Walker: Gone Our Endless Love
Barbara Fairchild: He Touched Me
Del Wood: Down Yonder
Billy Walker: Heartaches by the Number

10:00: Fender
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host): Big Midnight Special
Jerry Clower: Comedy
Wilma Lee Cooper: Philadelphia Lawyer

10:15: Union 76
Porter Wagoner (host): Wake Up Jacob
Dolly Parton: Coat of Many Colors
Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton: Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man/The Last Thing on My Mind

10:30: Trailblazer
Roy Acuff (host): I Saw the Light
Skeeter Davis: Sad Situation
Leon McAuliffe: Steel Guitar Rag/San Antonio Rose
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

10:45: Beechnut
Ernest Tubb (host): Pass the Booze
Jean Shepard: Second Fiddle
Crook Brothers: Chicken Reel
Ernest Tubb: Another Story; Another Time; Another Place

11:00: Coca Cola
Charlie Walker (host): Good Deal Lucille
Charlie McCoy: Today I Started Loving You Again
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Charlie Walker: Little Old Wine Drinker Me
Charlie McCoy: Orange Blossom Special
Kirk McGee: Milk Cow Blues
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down

11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): I Walk Alone
The 4 Guys: Cotton Fields/Mariah/Shenandoah
Penny DeHaven: Down in the Boondocks
Marty Robbins: Singing the Blues/Begging to You/Don't Worry/Big Boss Man/I'll Step Aside/To Get to You

The name Vernon Solomon might not be familiar to many. In 1972, Vernon Solomon was the winner of the Grand Master Fiddler Championship, and an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry was included to the winner. Vernon was from Texas and in fact, there is a YouTube video of Vernon being introduced by Roy Acuff, performing during the contest. 

And 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 also hope that everyone has a blessed Easter Sunday.