We have talked before about Carrie Underwood and her commitment to the Grand Ole Opry. That commitment will be on display again this weekend as Carrie returns for all three shows this weekend: the Friday Night Opry and two shows on Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. For Carrie, these three appearances, coming off a couple of appearances just a few weeks ago, will be her 6th, 7th and 8th appearances of the year. When adding up the numbers and looking at the entire list of 70 Opry members, only 14 members will have appeared on the Opry more often than Carrie thus far this year.
Carrie is one of the biggest stars in country music. She has released a new album and has a big tour coming up in the fall. Yet, as we have mentioned before, she finds time for the Opry. Not only does she appear, she also has expressed her love for the Opry and what Opry membership means to her and her career. She has set the example for her contemporaries, most of whom seem not to be able to find the time to appear on the Opry. We should all be fortunate that Carrie takes being an Opry member seriously and we can only hope that the other missing Opry members will wake up and realize how important the Opry has been to country music and make an effort to get over to 2804 Opryland Drive and make an appearance or two on the show.
One of those who has not appeared on the show thus far in 2022 will be appearing this weekend as Trace Adkins is scheduled for both shows on Saturday night. Another of those who has been missing in 2022 is Darius Rucker. He was listed on the Opry website as "scheduled to appear," however he is now off the schedule due to a scheduling conflict.
Besides Carrie Underwood and Trace Adkins this weekend, Grand Ole Opry members Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider, Connie Smith and Ricky Skaggs are on the schedule for Friday night, while Riders In The Sky will join Carrie and Trace on the early show Saturday night, with Mandy Barnett set for the late show.
Comedian Aaron Weber is scheduled for all three shows. Guesting with Aaron on Friday night will be Nicolle Galyon and veteran country artist Jo Dee Messina. Saturday night will have Caitlyn Smith, Matthew West and Restless Road appearing in addition to Aaron.
Friday August 19
7:00: Jeannie Seely, Nicolle Galyon, Mike Snider, Jo Dee Messina
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith, Aaron Weber, Ricky Skaggs, Carrie Underwood
Saturday August 20
1st show
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Riders In The Sky, Caitlyn Smith, Restless Road, Aaron Weber
8:00: Trace Adkins, Carrie Underwood
2nd show
9:30: Opry Square Dancers, Mandy Barnett, Restless Road, Carrie Underwood
10:30 Caitlyn Smith, Aaron Weber, Trace Adkins
Even with Carrie and Trace on the Opry this Saturday, there is no live Circle TV
Now from 50 years ago, Saturday August 19, 1972:
1st show
6:30: Roy Drusky (host); Joe and Rose Lee Maphis
6:45: Stu Phillips (host); Diane Jordan
7:00: Earl Scruggs Revue (host); Connie Smith; Charlie Walker; Johnny Paycheck
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Willis Brothers; Karen Wheeler; Crook Brothers
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Stringbean
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The 4 Guys; Marion Worth; Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Roy Drusky (host); The Willis Brothers; Jimmy C Newman; Joe and Rose Lee Maphis
10:00: Roy Acuff (host); Earl Scruggs Revue; Charlie Walker
10:15: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton
10:30: Bill Anderson (host); Stu Phillips
10:45: Bill Anderson (host); Stringbean; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Louie Roberts; Marion Worth; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); The 4 Guys; Don Winters
(On the first show, Charlie Walker was scheduled to host the 7:00 segment, however Earl Scruggs ended up the host. Ernie Ashworth and Del Wood were scheduled for the first show but canceled. Connie Smith was scheduled for just the first show, while Jimmy C Newman and Bill Anderson, who hosted a double segment, were only scheduled for the second).
On August 19, 1967, Charlie Walker was introduced as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Charlie Walker is best remembered for the 1958 honkytonk classic "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down," a song also responsible for launching the career of its composer, then-unknown Harlan Howard. Born in Copeville, TX, on November 2, 1926, Walker began performing in his teens. In 1943, he signed on as a singer and guitarist with Bill Boyd's Cowboy Ramblers, but enlisted in the U.S. Army the following year, serving in Tokyo as a disc jockey for the American Forces Radio Network. Following World War II Walker settled in San Antonio, where he was hired as an on-air personality with local radio outlet KMAC. He remained with the station for a decade and grew so popular and influential that in 1981 he was inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame.
Even with his success as a DJ, Charlie continued performing, and in 1952 he signed to Imperial Records, cutting a series of little-noticed singles including "I'm Looking for Another You," "Out of My Arms," and "Stay Away from My Head." The label cut him loose in mid-1953, and a year later he resurfaced on Decca, scoring a regional hit that summer with "Tell Her Lies and Feed Her Candy." In late 1955 he reached the national country charts with "Only You, Only You," but the remainder of his Decca output failed to enjoy comparable success, and he parted ways with the label in 1957, landing at Mercury long enough to release two additional singles, "Dancing Mexican Girl" and "I'll Never Let It Show."
Upon signing with Columbia in mid-1958, Walker was assigned "Pick Me Up on Your Way Down," penned by aspiring songwriter Howard, at that time a forklift driver at a California printing factory. With its insistent shuffle rhythm and memorable turn-of-phrase title, the single became an immediate hit, entering the country Top Five and establishing the careers of both men. But while Howard emerged as one of the most prolific and successful composers in Nashville history, Walker never again achieved the same commercial heights -- follow-up singles like "I'll Catch You When You Fall," "When My Conscience Hurts the Most," and "Who Will Buy the Wine" still charted but following 1963's "There's Where Katie Waits," Columbia cut its losses. It took more than a year for Walker to resurface on record via the Epic-label effort "Close All the Honky Tonks."
In mid-1965, he scored a minor hit with "Wild as a Wildcat," and two years later earned some notoriety for the novelty effort "Don't Squeeze My Sharmon," inspired by toilet paper brand Charmin's commercial catch phrase. After spending several years headlining, the Las Vegas casino, the Golden Nugget, Walker was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry in 1967, and his rowdy, witty songs made him a perennial fan favorite throughout his four-decade stint with the Opry. He also continued recording throughout the 1970s, charting for the last time with 1974's Capitol release "Odds and Ends." A few months after colon cancer forced him to end his performing career, Charlie Walker died on September 12, 2008.
From a personal standpoint, Charlie was one of the nicest Opry members that I have met. We had a mutual friend that was a radio DJ in Ohio, and each time I saw Charlie he never failed to ask how his friend was doing.
While Charlie's induction date is listed as August 17, it was a few nights later, Saturday August 19, 1967, that Charlie was introduced as the Opry's newest member. Here is the running order from that night:
1st show
6:30: (?)
6:45: (?)
7:00: Luzianne
Hank Locklin (host): Please Help Me I'm Falling
The 4 Guys: Walking in the Sunshine
June Stearns: Habit; Not Desire
Pete Drake: I Just A Guitar (Everybody Picks on Me)
Hank Locklin: Hasta Luego
Bobby Barnette: Down Came the World
The 4 Guys: Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town
Jerry Whitehurst: (?)
Hank Locklin: Jambalaya
7:30: Cordite
Billy Walker (host): Let's Think About Living
Del Wood: 12th Street Rag
Mel Tillis: Goodbye Wheeling
Margie Singleton: Ode to Billy Joe
Billy Walker: Bear with Me a Little Longer
Leon Ashley: Laura
Del Wood: Are You From Dixie
Mel Tillis: Life Turned Her That Way
Billy Walker: Del Rio
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train to Memphis
Jim and Jesse: The Ballad of Thunder Road
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Crook Brothers: Layfayette
Loretta Lynn: If You're Not Gone Too Long
Larry McNeely: (?)
Roy Acuff: Cabin in Gloryland
8:30: Stephens
Ray Pillow (host): Thank You Ma'am
Marion Worth: If I Kiss You, Will You Go Away
Jerry Greene: Sally Was a Good Old Girl
Bobby Jenkins: Lovesick Blues
Ray Pillow: I Just Want to Be Alone
Curtis McPeak: The World is Waiting for the Sunrise
Johnny Carver: It's Such a Pretty World Today
Marion Worth: You're Good Girls Gonna Go Bad
Ray Pillow: Take Your Hands Off My Heart
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Billy Walker (host): Cross the Brazos at Waco
Willis Brothers: Somebody Knows My Dog
Pete Sayers: Wash My Face in the Morning Dew
Del Wood: Ballin' the Jack
Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Willis Brothers: I Still Do
Billy Walker: Cattle Call
10:00: Schick
Ray Pillow (host): If' Is a Mighty Big World
Margie Singleton: Ode to Billy Joe
Leon Ashley: Laura
Ray Pillow: Six Days on the Road
10:15: Pure
George Morgan (host): I Couldn't See
Mel Tillis: The Fugitive
Loretta Lynn: Don't Come Home a Drinkin'
George Morgan: You're the Only Good Thing
10:30: Buckley's
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Harold Weakley: Almost Persuaded
Roy Acuff: Put My Little Shoes Away
10:45: Kent
Hank Locklin (host): Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Crook Brothers: Ida Red
Hank Locklin: Release Me
11:00: Coca Cola
Bill Anderson (host): I Got the Fever/Get While's the Getting's Good
The 4 Guys: Roll, Muddy River
Jimmy Gately: Crying Don't Pay
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Fire on the Mountain
Bill Anderson: Papa
Sam McGee: Spanish Two Step
The 4 Guys: Shenandoah
Bill Anderson: No One's Gonna Hurt You Anymore
11:30: Lava
Marty Robbins (host): Singing the Blues
Marion Worth: Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed
Jerry Greene: Danny Boy
Jim and Jessie: Diesel on My Tail
Bobby Sykes: Living a Lie
Don Winters: Chime Bells
Marion Worth: A Legend in My Time
Marty Robbins: Tonight Carmen/Begging to You/Ribbon of Darkness/Don't Worry/The Shoe Goes on the Other Foot Tonight
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.
Hate to beat a dead horse, but having only THREE 'Opry members on a Saturday night Grand Old 'Opry 7:00 show is just sad, even if one of them is Carrie Underwood who will guarantee a sellout.
ReplyDeleteBless her!
Respectfully, I think you are beating a dead horse. That is a great line up! The beloved and entertaining Riders, two rising stars (Caitlyn &Restless), a funny comedian, a top and very talented contemporary Christian artist (Matthew West) and then closing out with two highly successful members. That’s a great variety and gives airtime to multiple musical styles! I love it!
DeleteI'll agree with Nat and add that I suspect some Friday folks are around Saturday and vice versa. Also, Darius Rucker still lists the Opry on his tour schedule for Saturday night. I wish he would be more serious about his membership, but I can say that about a lot of people.
ReplyDeleteInteresting to see Earl Scruggs host a segment! And I suspect "Uncle Bill" and "Uncle Jimmy," as Lorrie Morgan referred to them when she was inducted, both ran in from the road to perform--the commitment Opry members had back then. I remember, the first time I got to hear the Opry on WSM, Bill Monroe was on Hank Snow's segment because he was coming back from out of town and couldn't get in any earlier, and Mr. Snow commented that he wasn't sure how long it had been since he'd introduced the Father of Bluegrass!
Count me in. Three out of 70 members on a Saturday is sad. Some of these schedules seem light on performers in general, anyway.
DeleteI appreciate Carrie Underwood for continuing to demonstrate she values her membership. May there be more like her.
J in OK
Carrie completely puts to rest the idea that a busy touring schedule is a good reason to miss the popry. I suppose the argumment could be made that by doing 2 shows a night it might not count as much as if they were on different days? None the less, she's one of the most successful artists not only in country music, but in music history at this point and still does show up sooooooooo much! God love her for that!
ReplyDeleteLike I have said many times before if I were running the Opry, there would be a purge of individuals to send a message. Needs to be accountability. Membership is not something like a bumper sticker. Show you earn it, want it and respect it.
ReplyDeleteAgree, Nat, Michael, J(in OK), Nittanee73 - also agree. Carrie's tour schedule is not all that demanding so she does manage to get to the Opry a little more regular - maybe she doesn't need the tours as much as some of the other "on the road" entertainers. Look at Rhonda Vincent who has a tremendous schedule and gets there - but there are also many of the "members" who are in town and just don't make it to the Opry. Years ago, the Opry leadership would start calling all members on Mondays for the upcoming weekend to see who would be in town and available - obviously they are not doing that these days.
ReplyDeleteAgreed on Carrie's tour schedule. But even the people who have taken time off haven't fulfilled their obligations. They are often in town on weeknights, and there are plenty of opportunities then, as opposed to ye olden days when the Opry rarely did a weekday/weeknight show.
DeleteI'm guessing, and too lazy to go to the Opry website and check, that the 9:30 portion of the 2nd Saturday show runs longer than 10:00. Not at all a jab at Byron, just wondering.
ReplyDeleteThe first Saturday show gets us ever closer to a couple opening acts and a headliner.....in other words, a concert! Just a comment because I have felt this is where we have been headed for a long time. When that happens, it will be hard to call it the Grand Ole Opry, at least in the traditional sense.
I've never been in to Carrie's music but I do give her much credit for walking the walk and remembering where the Opry is. And, remember that either the last or next to the last time Ray Price appeared on the Opry he got to do it twice because Carrie was there and they had two shows that night!
Jim
I agree that I wish more of the Opry members would support the show, however, it occurs to me that Opry's “business model” has changed drastically since Roy Acuff died 30 years ago this year. Bigger stars no longer work for the same union scale that most of our favorite 22-25 members did in the 70s/80s and 90s. The Opry is no longer geared to the radio audience, it's geared toward the hotel conventions and obnoxious bachelorette parties that have taken over Broadway.
ReplyDeleteListen when one of the artists asks how many people are there for the first time - it's the majority. It’s not repeat Opry fans who drive hundreds of miles to see the show. The audience today could care less if they get to see one person they've heard of bc they aren't Opry fans. It bothers me that the Saturday night show has been reduced to only two hours, but again, their business model tells them that they can fill the house with five or six acts and one big name which is what they budget for along with a comedian, a newcomer the record label pays to appear, and two or three of what's left of the core members.
The midweek shows are only there to make money from the conventions. I remember as a young child in the late 70s when there used to be an "Opry Star" show every day in the summer that was free if you went to Opryland (we saw Bill Monroe and Wilma Lee Cooper together in 1978). That was still in the days when the radio audience mattered to its sponsors and National Life was still using the Opry to sell insurance.
I am no fan of Fisher, especially the way he treated the veterans, but I will say he did work harder to get more of the newer members to appear and we saw a lot of Opry long-lost members after he became manager. Fisher also moved the show from a regional focus by getting rid of the long-term sponsors (Martha White/Standard Candy/Rudys/Pet Milk/Coca-Cola) toward national sponsors as he moved into the money-making convention model which killed the southern charm of the show. (I think I heard Josh Turner say once he would appear more often, but the Opry didn’t want him on that often.)
When we started going yearly in the late 80s we used to be disappointed when we’d rush to get the Friday Nashville Banner to read the line up, when the same 20-25 acts were always one without any of the bigger stars of the time. Of course, that was when tickets cost $8 and we'd go to all four two and half shows on Friday/Saturday (or a Friday night show in the winter that was FOUR hours) and sometimes the matinee (where we finally managed to see Minnie Pearl.)
Yes, I certainly agree there are plenty of deadbeat Opry members who think it's a trophy on the shelf but the days of 20-22 members on one show - or even 10 members on one show sadly appear to be over. The price of the ticket and a 10-hour drive just isn’t worth it for me to see three Opry members. Even when I plan a trip to Nashville, it’s usually for a show at the Ryman and no longer includes the Opry. I’m certain the Opry isn’t losing sleep over me. I watch the line-ups every week on this blog (thank you Byron) really enjoy the old lineups, remember all the good times we had at the Opry. Once in a while I remember to listen for Bill Anderson or Jeannie Seely or Connie Smith or Bobby Osborne or Rhonda Vincent.
Opry Dan is doing a good job with what he’s been given but I suspect he's working under a money making model that comes from the top, which we can debate, but it may be the only way the Opry survives, at least under this management. Otherwise, an Opry member like Mandy Barnett would be on every show as would Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider (whom I'm really glad is back) and a few others. If Opry Dan is listening, I'd really like the segment hosts to come back where at least we could have four Opry members as hosts, and which would bring of the banter back. (Oldtimeopry)
(Oldtimeopry) - well said 1
DeleteAgreed on a lot of this! But I have to mention this. Fisher unloaded regional sponsors because they were going to do all of these big national partnerships ... and they didn't happen. Funny thing: When Hal Durham was GM, he said there always was a waiting list to sponsor segments. And they didn't seem to be hurting financially.
DeleteSpeaking of Hal Durham......along with Bob Whittaker, they didn't sign enough new members from the mid 80' to the mid 90's. On top of that, many they did sign either retired, passed away, were let go or stayed away and were not there to bridge the gap between the 60's and 70's generation and the generation hired by Fisher or being hired now. They let the torch die down or maybe burn out completely. That's not the entire problem, it's changing times and taste and business models too but it hasn't helped.
ReplyDeleteOn a different note, I'd like to compliment Kelly Sutton for good job announcing last night. She didn't sound fake or annoying, stayed on point and connected with the audience well.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Jim, I'll argue with you a little on that one. If you look at the members added from 1985 until Durham "retired" in 1993--I'm not convinced it was his idea--he actually added a decent number. But he didn't enforce the minimum appearances and THAT was a big problem, and still is. Whittaker was quirkier about his additions, but he approved Oswald's membership, and after that I forgive him for some things.
DeleteMichael, I'll give you that they signed more than I thought from 85 to 93. However, several of them, even those that were relatively young at the time, have either passed, retired or are semi retired. And, those who haven't can't seem to find the place very often. Johnny Russell, Mel McDaniel, Roy Clark, Holly Dunn, Joe Diffie, Charley Pride, and Hal Ketchum have passed. Randy Travis is not able to perform. Ricky Van Shelton retired long ago. Patty Loveless must be retired or in semi retirement. We all know Reba's track record. Garth comes out on special occasions and maybe he's doing things behind the scenes we don't know about. Alan Jackson has issues but rarely comes around anyway. Vince has been loyal but is wearing his Eagles jacket at present. Travis Tritt is missing as is Allison Krause. Marty Stuart is building his museum...which a great thing. Not sure where Emmylou is. You know who our hero is? The little hog farmer from Gleason, Mike Snider!
DeleteMy point is, that generation that could have bridged the gap, for various reason, is pretty much missing form the weekly Opry shows.
Jim
Jim, I agree completely!
DeleteSaturday's first show must be going to be broadcast on Circle TV later. Or was it on TV last night? I didn't bother to turn on the TV.
ReplyDeleteBobby Bones blabbed incessantly, poor Carrie Underwood got to sing only four songs on her portion of the show as Bones droned on, mostly about himself.
I guess Circle is introducing the 'Opry to some new folks. I'll leave it at that.
Nat, it was not televised live. It was taped and will be shown at a later date.
DeleteThanks for the clarification Byron. It sounded like it was on TV, or was being put in the can for broadcast later.
DeleteIt takes a lot of work and timing to merge TV, radio, and a live show. The live crowd doesn't seem to mind it as much as I do listening on the radio.
I felt sorry for Bobby Bones. Being asked to vamp for three and a half minutes for TV ads isn't easy. I preferred Kelly Sutton's interviewing the entertainers more than Bones talking about himself. But that's just me. :)
why can't a totally country kid like Mo Pitney appear on the Opry more often with an invitation to join ????? Mo is the real thing ! Flushing , Mich Dashmann
ReplyDeleteBill Anderson had a song relating to your question Dashmann.
ReplyDelete"Too Country, What's That?"
Mo Pitney, Malpass Brothers, Teea Goans - those are definitely real country - plus we all have said T. Graham would be a good addition. I'm sure Mo, Chris, Taylor, Teea, and T. would be there regularly.
ReplyDeleteNat Hill IV sure hit our sensitive side for this string of posts !!
ReplyDelete"Too Country" hit the nail square on the head. They say it is the home of Country Music but wherever it is coming from on high, it is pretty obvious that most of what we call "Too Country" means too hick, old fashion, twangy, and on and on and on, (There's another Anderson song, side B to Mama Sang a Song) and they don't want that image. Otherwise, back beating the dead horse, you wouldn't have so many old rock singers and other genres on every week. Let's not forget Comcast/NBC Universal. They won't even be able to utter the words "Too Country".
ReplyDeleteJust my 2 pennies worth!
So this is what is like getting old!
Jim
Jim and I are in total agreement.
DeleteYeah, and all you youngsters stay off our lawns! :)
Jim, we will have to think about something new and different to gripe about next week.
ReplyDeleteAs Mark Chestnutt sings, "I'll think of something!"
What has happened to the WSM - AM 650 clear channel signal ????? In Michigan I used to pick it up clear as a bell when the daylight stations ceased operation, which was 10 PM in the summertime and 6 PM in the wintertime. It is now almost midnight and still just static with a little bit of unintelligible music ! Flushing , Michigan Dashmann ---
ReplyDelete