Grand Ole Opry 5/20 & 5/21

In looking at the lineups for both Grand Ole Opry shows this weekend, there are certainly some interesting names, with three artists making their Opry debuts this weekend, along with a return appearance by an individual who make quite an impression during his Opry debut. 

Looking at the Friday Night Opry, there is a wonderful and varied group of Grand Ole Opry members on the schedule: Jeannie Seely, Bobby Osborne, Mandy Barnett, Connie Smith, Rhonda Vincent and Lauren Alaina. Yes, six of the eight artists scheduled are Opry members and each will be bringing a different sound to the Opry. A wonderful mix of acts and musical styles. 

The only two non-members are Runaway June, of which Natalie Stovall is a member, and Michael Feinstein, who recently recorded an album of country standards, and will be making his Opry debut. 

Sadly, there are only three Opry members on the schedule for Saturday night as Steve Wariner, Riders In The Sky and Mike Snider will be performing. That makes three weeks in a row for Mike, so I will say that the goal of getting Mike back on the Opry has been a success. 

Looking at the non-members for Saturday night, Everette will be opening the show, coming on after the square dancers. While I am fine with Everette, it makes me sad that a non-Opry act is the opener. I just feel that an Opry member should be the first artist starting the show. Leslie Jordan, who made quite an impression during his Opry debut, will be back for an encore performance. Honestly, it is going to be tough for him to top his debut. The wonderful Wendy Moten is scheduled, as is Noah Schnacky and Fancy Hagood, both of whom will be making their Opry debuts. 

While I am sure it will be an interesting night at the Opry, there will be no live show on Circle TV this week as the network will be replaying Keith Urban's recent appearance. 

Friday May 20
7:00: Jeannie Seely, Runaway June, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Mandy Barnett
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith, Michael Feinstein, Rhonda Vincent, Lauren Alaina

Saturday May 21
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Everette, Wendy Moten, Noah Schnacky, Mike Snider
Intermission
8:15: Steve Wariner, Leslie Jordan, Riders In The Sky, Fancy Hagood

As mentioned, there are three artists making their Opry debuts this week: Michael Feinstein on the Friday Night Opry and Noah Schnacky along with Fancy Hagood on Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. 

Michael Feinstein’s work as an educator, archivist, interpreter, and Ambassador of the Great American Songbook have established the popular and honored musician as a pre-eminent force in contemporary music. His career is impressive and includes numerous Grammy and Emmy nominations. 

In 2022, Michael released to rave reviews, Gershwin Country, an album of standards in duet with some of the biggest names in Country Music from Dolly Parton and Alison Krauss to Brad Paisley and Amy Grant. I wonder with the recent release of his country album, if there is a chance of a surprise appearance by any of the artists that he collaborated with on the album. 

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Noah Schnacky has had over 190 million song streams and over 3 billion video views as a singer/songwriter & content creator. Noah’s passion for sharing his life and heart through music and video content uniquely connect him with his fans, who he better refers to as the world’s largest family. This meaningful connection with family all over the world can be partially attributed to his rapid growth on TikTok with over 7.8 million followers, making him one of Country Music’s leading sensations on the platform. In parallel, his music journey has continued to skyrocket most recently having released his first album, Thoughtfully Reckless, which includes a track, “Don’t You Wanna Know” with ACM New Artist of the Year, Jimmie Allen. Noah’s artistry features a modern Country sound immersed with lyrics that are both deeply personal and relatable. In 2018, the Music industry took notice of the newcomer’s self-released “Hello Beautiful”, which garnered over one million streams in just eight days, and the follow up “Maybe We Will” subsequently sustaining the earlier success. 
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Fancy Hagood is an artist making Queer Southern Pop music out of Nashville, TN and is the host of Apple Radio show, Trailblazers Radio. His debut independent album, Southern Curiosity has accumulated over 15 million streams and counting. You can find Fancy on tour opening for Elle King and various festivals. His first single “Bored” is out now off of his highly anticipated sophomore album that’s slated to be released later this year. Beyond creating music of his own he has written songs for Christina Aguilera, Little Big Town, Anderson East and more. 
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Now from 50 years ago, Saturday May 20, 1972: 

1st show
6:30: Stonewall Jackson (host); Leona Williams
6:45: Stu Phillips (host); Wilma Burgess; Johnny Carver
7:00: Roy Acuff (host); Loretta Lynn; Earl Scruggs Revue; Jerry Smith
7:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Willis Brothers; Ernie Ashworth; Crook Brothers
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Buck Trent; Speck Rhodes
8:30: Wilburn Brothers (host); Justin Tubb; The 4 Guys; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Stonewall Jackson (host); Willis Brothers; Leona Williams
10:00: Stu Phillips (host); Earl Scruggs Revue
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Johnny Carver
10:30: Wilburn Brothers (host); Jay Lee Webb
10:45: Jimmy C Newman (host); Jerry Smith; Crook Brothers
11:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Justin Tubb (host); The 4 Guys; Wilma Burgess

(Stringbean cancelled on both shows, while Ernie Ashworth and Loretta Lynn only appeared on the early show). 
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May 21, 1977 was a special night at the Grand Ole Opry, as the legendary Tennessee Ernie Ford and former Grand Ole Opry member Don Everly both made guest appearances on the show. 

Here is the running order from that night 45 years ago, Saturday May 21, 1977: 

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Justin Tubb (host): Looking Back to See
Bill Carlisle: Leave That Liar Alone
Justin Tubb: No Relief in Sight

6:45: Rudy's
Stu Phillips (host): Have a Nice Day
Willis Brothers: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Wilma Lee Cooper: No One Now
Stu Phillips: To Get to You

7:00: Shoney's
Charlie Walker (host): Lucille
Skeeter Davis: It's Love That I Feel/It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walking/Washed My Hands in Muddy Water
Brian Collins: Statue of a Fool
Charlie Walker: In the Garden

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Lonzo and Oscar: Green, Green Grass of Home
Don Everly: Bye, Bye Love/Yesterday Just Passed My Way Again
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Cray Eagle
Oswald: Mountain Dew

8:00: Martha White
Ernest Tubb (host): You Don't Have to Be a Baby to Cry
Billy Grammer: Kentucky Waltz/Tennessee Waltz
Melba Montgomery: One of These Days
Tennessee Ernie Ford: Glad Rags/Sixteen Tons
Ernest Tubb: Half a Mind

8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host0: Half a Mind
Marion Worth: Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed/Mockingbird Hill
Ronnie Robbins: The Door is Always Open
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cacklin' Hen
Hank Snow: (?)

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Stonewall Jackson (host): Don't Be Angry
Wilma Lee Cooper: Philadelphia Lawyer
Justin Tubb: No Relief in Sight/Lonesome 7-7203
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
Wilma Lee Cooper: When My Time Comes to Go
Stonewall Jackson: Waterloo

10:00: Fender
Ernest Tubb (host): Answer the Phone
Skeeter Davis: It's Love That I Feel
Stu Phillips: Have a Nice Day
Ernest Tubb: Waltz Across Texas

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Once More
Don Everly: Yesterday Just Passed My Way Again
Roy Acuff: The Great Judgement Morning/I Saw the Light

10:30: Trailblazer
Charlie Walker (host): Lucille
Lonzo and Oscar: No Relief in Sight
Brian Collins: Statue of a Fool
Charlie Walker: San Antonio Rose

10:45: Beechnut
Billy Grammer (host): Gotta Travel On
Bill Carlisle: I'm Moving
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Lafayette
Billy Grammer: How Great Thou Art

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): There's a Fool Such As I
Melba Montgomery: Don't Let the Good Times Fool You
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Hank Snow: I'm Still Moving' On
Melba Montgomery: No Charge
Kirk McGee: Victory Rag/Freight Train
Hank Snow: Back in Nova Scotia

11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): Ribbon of Darkness
Marion Worth: The Hands You're Holding Now/Just an Old Love-Turned Memory
Ronnie Robbins: The Door is Always Open/Helen
Marty Robbins: El Paso City/Among My Souvenirs/Walkin' the Floor Over You/Driftwood on the River/El Paso

First, regarding Tennessee Ernie Ford. While never an Opry member, Ernie Ford would appear on the Grand Ole Opry numerous times during his career, most always on the Martha White segment. Ernie Ford was close friends with the founders/executives at Martha White and did some promotional work for the company over the years. 

As far as Don Everly, along with his brother Phil, the Everly Brothers first appeared on the Opry on May 11, 1957 and became Opry members. They came to the Opry as part of a youth movement that took place as the Opry worked to add younger acts. Along with the brothers, Porter Wagoner was added to the cast, as well as several others. The Everly Brothers did not stay at the Opry long as their career took them to California and to national stardom. 

In 1957, Don and Phil Everly landed a recording contract. The Everly Brothers soon hit the charts with "Bye Bye Love," which made the top of the country charts and did well on the pop and R&B charts, as well. Over the next few years, the Everly Brothers continued to enjoy great success with such catchy songs as "Bird Dog" and "Wake Up Little Susie." Their unique harmonic style also lent itself beautifully to ballads, including "All I Have to Do Is Dream," one of their most famous tunes.

Behind the scenes, however, Don and Phil did not always get along. Don struggled with substance-abuse problems for years. Tensions between the two finally erupted in 1973, when Phil made an abrupt exit from the stage at a California concert. After the brothers parted ways, Don Everly continued to pursue a solo career, which he'd begun with his 1970 self-titled album. He later released Sunset Towers (1974) and Brother Juke Box (1977).

Finally, in the early 80s, the brothers reunited and would perform together, at times, over the next several decades. In 2001, the Everly Brothers were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

Don Everly passed away on August 21, 2021, at the age of 84. 

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.