The "Dog Days of Summer" continue and with it, another weekend at the Grand Ole Opry. This weekend, in addition to the Friday and Saturday night shows, the Opry has added a Sunday Night Opry, which is on the schedule for the next several weeks. With songwriter Tom Douglas doing a residency in the Circle room on Thursday night, that leaves on Monday night with nothing happening at the Opry House.
Looking at the shows for this weekend, specifically Friday and Saturday night, Grand Ole Opry members Jeannie Seely, Bobby Osborne and Lauren Alaina are on the schedule for Friday night, while Jeannie returns on Saturday night, along with members Ricky Skaggs and Mandy Barnett.
The Friday night show is being advertised as a Salute to the 90s, and among the non-members scheduled to appear are Billy Ray Cyrus, who we all know was huge in the 90s, with his signature song "Achy Breaky Heart" staying #1 for weeks on the Country chart and a Top 5 song on the Billboard 200. A string of hits followed.
Also on the schedule for the Friday night Opry are Rhett Akins, Coffee Anderson, Erin Kinsley and making his Opry debut, Tauren Wells, while Saturday night will feature Christian recording artist Jason Crabb. Also on the schedule is Eric Paslay, Neon Union, Bowen Young and making her Opry debut, Julie Cole.
Friday July 15
7:00: Jeannie Seely, Erin Kinsey, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Tauren Wells
Intermission
8:15: Billy Ray Cyrus, Rhett Akins, Coffee Anderson, Lauren Alaina
Saturday July 16
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely. Eric Paslay, Bowen Young, Jason Crabb
Intermission
8:15: Mandy Barnett, Neon Union, Opry Square Dancers, Julia Cole, Ricky Skaggs
No live TV this week on Circle and sadly, only 3 Opry members each night.
As mentioned, Tauren Wells will be making his Opry debut on Friday night. Tauren may not be known to many country fans; however, he is a 10-time Grammy nominee, whose 2021 duet with H.E.R., “Hold Us Together (Hope Mix),” is currently nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song and who also received a Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. He also just wrapped up a tour in which he was the headliner. As a recording artist and songwriter, his songs have amassed over one billion combined global streams and he has charted six No. 1 radio singles and toured with legends like Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey. His songs try to convey a message and he hopes that people want to hear that message.
Julia Cole is also making her Opry debut this weekend. Julia has surpassed 75 million cumulative streams of her music, has been named a 2022 CMT Next Woman of Country. Her focus on encouraging empowerment and self-worth through honest, raw, and often humorous songwriting has helped millions take a glass-half-full view of dodging a bad-relationship bullet with breakup anthems like “Side Piece,” “Thank God We Broke Up,” and “Best Worst Ex” (with Alexandra Kay) Meanwhile, love song duets like “Things I Can’t Say” (with Spencer Crandall) and “Worst Day” (with Charles Esten) have encouraged millions to pull their special someone even closer. Julia has also been heavily involved in fund-raising for women's sports initiatives. Julia has opened for acts like Dan + Shay, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Carrie Underwood, and Kenny Chesney. Additionally, she hosts “The Julia Cole Show” on YOCO 96.7FM and a new TV series, “The Ultimate Fanfest” on Circle TV (to air in the Fall of 2022).
Now from 50 years ago, Saturday July 15, 1972:
1st show
6:30: Billy Walker (host), Bill Carlisle
6:45: Tex Ritter (host), Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, Del Wood
7:00: Roy Acuff (host), Dottie West, Stu Phillips, Brother Oswald
7:30: Bill Anderson (host), Jan Howard, The 4 Guys, Crook Brothers
8:00: Ernest Tubb (host), Stringbean, Justin Tubb, Tanya Tucker
8:30: Bobby Lord (host), Jeannie C. Riley, Johnny Carver, Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Billy Walker (host), The 4 Guys, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, Del Wood
10:00: Bill Anderson (host), Jan Howard
10:15: Tex Ritter (host), Johnny Carver, Reggie Alley
10:30: Roy Acuff (host), Justin Tubb
10:45: Ernest Tubb (host), Stringbean, Crook Brothers
11:00: Stu Phillips (host), Tanya Tucker, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam McGee
11:30: Bobby Lord (host), Bill Carlisle, Jeannie C. Riley
(Hank Snow was scheduled to host the 8:30 and 11:00 segments but canceled. Tanya Tucker was at the very beginning of her career and sang "Delta Dawn" on both shows).
Recently, Keith Whitley was announced as being elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Keith passed away in May 1989. What some may not remember is that Keith made numerous guest appearances on the Grand Ole Opry in the late 1980s and in fact, it has been reported that he was going to be invited as a member of the Opry, however he passed away before the invitation could be given. One of those appearances took place 34 years ago on Saturday July 16, 1988. Here is the running order of the Opry from that night:
1st show
6:30: Bonanza
The 4 Guys (host): Tennessee
Jeannie Seely: When Your Heart's Been Stepped On
The 4 Guys: The Last Train to Glory
6:45: Rudy's
Jack Greene (host): Satisfaction
Jean Shepard: I'll Said My Ship Alone
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
7:00: Shoney's
Bill Monroe (host): Stay Away From Me; You're Causing Me Trouble
Charlie Walker: There's Not a Cow in Texas
Charlie Louvin: What About You
The Whites: No One Has to Tell Me What Love Is/It's Not What You Know, But Who You Know
Bill Monroe: The Old Crossroads is Waiting/The Long Bow
7:30: Standard Candy
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take an Old Cold Tater
George Hamilton IV: The Farmer's Dream Plowed Under
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Keith Whitley: Miami, My Amy/Don't Close Your Eyes
Jimmy Dickens: Take Me As I Am, Or Let Me Go
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Jan Howard: Where No One Stands Alone
Roy Drusky: Take Good Care of Her/One Day at a Time
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Durham's Bull
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light
8:30: Music Valley
Hank Snow (host): We'll Never Say Goodbye; Just Say So Long
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Bill Carlisle: Knothole
Ray Pillow: Don't We All Have the Right
Connie Smith: Walkin' After Midnight
Hank Snow: The Prisoner's Song
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Jimmy Dickens (host): Family Reunion
The 4 Guys: Shut the Door; Keep Out the Devil
The Whites: Doing It By the Book
Keith Whitley: Don't Close Your Eyes
Charlie Louvin: Don't It Seem to Rain a Lot in Our Loves
Jimmy Dickens: I Leaned Over Backwards for You
10:00: Little Debbie
Bill Monroe (host): John Henry
Jean Shepard: Slippin' Away
Bill Monroe: Lord, Let the Gates Swing Wide for Me
10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Wilma Lee Cooper: The White Rose/He Will Set Your Fields on Fire
Dan Kelly: Sally Goodin
10:30: Pet Milk
Jack Greene (host): Walking on New Grass
Lorrie Morgan: Silver Wings & Golden Rings
Jack Greene: The Last Letter
10:45: B. C. Powder
Stonewall Jackson (host): Ol' Chunk of Coal
Ray Pillow: I Guess He Only Knows Something I Don't Know
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Grey Eagle
Stonewall Jackson: Waterloo
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Tangled Mind
Connie Smith: I've Got My Baby on My Mind
Justin Tubb: As Long As There's a Sunday
Jan Howard: Will the Circle Be Unbroken
Roy Drusky: As Long as I Live
Hank Snow: Among My Souvenirs/Tammy
11:30: Creamette
George Hamilton IV (host): Abilene
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Bill Carlisle: Worried Man Blues
Johnny Russell: No One Will Ever Know/You'll Be Back Every Night in My Dreams
George Hamilton IV & The Moody Brothers: I Saw the Light/I'll Fly Away
(Jimmy C Newman was scheduled for both shows but canceled. Jeannie Seely, Charlie Walker and Skeeter Davis only appeared on the first show, while Wilma Lee Cooper, Lorrie Morgan, Justin Tubb and Johnny Russell only appeared on the late show. Keith Whitley was the only non-member scheduled that night).
34 years doesn't seem that long ago, yet of all of the Opry members who performed that night, only Jeannie Seely, The Whites, Melvin Sloan, Jeanne Pruett, Connie Smith, Ray Pillow, Lorrie Morgan, and Sam Wellington and other members of The 4 Guys are still living. Of that group, only Jeannie, Connie and Lorrie are still actively performing on the Opry today. Time never stands still.
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.
Anyone know where The Whites have been????????
ReplyDeleteThey are not performing. Ricky has mentioned in concerts that Buck has dementia and is living with Ricky/Sharon. Cheryl has also had some health issues previously but hopefully she is fully recovered. Age catches up with all of us.
DeleteIt was mentioned (by Brooks & Dunn I believe) that Keith Whitley was indeed three weeks away from being invited to become a member of the Opry. The Opry administration of the time had already approved this. As mentioned, sadly it did not come to pass.
ReplyDeleteAs I had mentioned, beginning Sunday night, and for the next couple of weeks, there will be a Sunday Night Opry. Here is the lineup for the show this coming week, Sunday July 17:
ReplyDelete7:00: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Chase Bryant, Riders In The Sky, Don Schlitz
Intermission
8:15: Jake Hoot, Hannah Ellis, Niko Moon, Ricky Skaggs
My comment is in regard to Don Schlitz. This will be his second Opry appearance since he was invited to become a member. Looking at the future schedules, there is no date listed for his induction. While it is not unusual for an artist to make an Opry appearance after the invite, but before the induction, it is rare that an artist would appear several times. I am not sure what the delay is unless it is in regard to scheduling. Perhaps Don has requested a certain Opry member to induct him, and that member is not currently available.
Lauren Alaina flat rocked the 'Opry last night.
ReplyDeleteShe loves country music, she loves the 'Opry, she loves entertaining, and the crowd LOVED her last night as she closed the show. It's been a while since I could feel a crowd get that involved.
Every time I get discouraged about the 'Opry, it invites somebody like Lauren to come along and fire me up.
Please 'Opry, continue inviting folks like Lauren who can actually entertain to become members!
I'm sorry to hear that Buck is not well. The Whites have been an important and faithful part of the Opry for 40 years and I do appreciate the update. I really hope someday Sharon & Cheryl can return and continue. Over the years I've been left wondering how our Opry friends are doing as they have aged (genuine concern, not being nosey). What about Bobby Bare? I have seen some recent photos that he was at Fan Fair and at the Music City Walk of Fame but he hasn't been on the Opry hardly at all since he was reinstated. Saw him in concert with Bill Anderson about 2019 but would love to see him on the Opry.
ReplyDeleteBill Anderson mentioned from the stage of the 'Opy that Bobby Bare has some health issues (or words to that effect).
ReplyDeleteBill was glad Bobby had contacted him.
Thanks for the update on The Whites. Dementia is an evil disease, and sadly I have had to see that up close and personal in my family. I also hope that Bobby Bare recovers soon as well as Sharon White. SUre miss them.
ReplyDeleteLast we saw Bobby Bare was 2016; love that guy !! Hope he improves soon. Also sad to hear about Buck White, was surprised to realize he is 91. Love Bill Anderson and his celebrating 61 years at the Opry.
ReplyDeleteA total of 6 'Opry members performing for an entire weekend.
ReplyDeleteThat's just sad.
Rename it the "somewhat country music variety show."
I will never again plan an 'Opry vacation until I check the lineup. No more buying and hoping there is somebody like Lauren Alaina on the show!
SOOOO in the all together awesome excitement about Charlie and Don, nobody mentioned the moment just uploaded to youtube with Jelly Roll and Craig Morgan! No, Jelly isn't near the singer Craig is, but it doesn't matter! If you haven't seen it, go see it!
ReplyDeleteFor those interested in the Sunday Night Opry tonight, the Opry has posted that any seat in the house is $30 tonight. So how would you feel if you had already bought a ticket at a much higher price?? And I am going to go out and say that there are plenty of tickets available for tonight.
ReplyDeleteAs a follow up, I just checked Opry.com tickets and there are plenty of good seats available for tonight, some down front. $30.
DeleteI know they’ve done this Sunday night before, but I hadn’t heard about tonight’s show until the other day. I think that most people only think about the Opry on Saturday night. I believe when they started the weekday shows it was for all the conventions that were in town during the week.
DeleteI’m only 45 minutes down the road and I would go for $30 if I had known about it ahead of time. But I have to be at work at 5:AM. Curry
It's been over 20 years so I don't remember just how this went but I have ticket price change story.
ReplyDeleteMany months before January 7, 2000 I purchased front row seats at the Opry thinking just by chance Hank Snow might come out that night just to appear on stage for his 50th anniversary. I didn't expect him to perform but if he appeared I wanted to be there.
When they decided to have the show at the Ryman I got notice that if I still wanted my good seats I now had to come up with more cash. Seems like the price went from $50 to $90. I'd have to research to be sure of that. Anyway, I was pretty upset. Not because I couldn't afford it, just the principle of the thing. I paid it!
Of course Hank passed in December 1999 so the original intent didn't matter.
Being greedy eventually catches up with you!
Jim