Grand Ole Opry 8/26 & 8/27

As I sit here thinking what to write about the Grand Ole Opry shows this weekend, there is nothing that jumps to the front of my mind. Not that the shows are bad, in fact both nights look pretty solid, it's just that coming off of last weekend where we had Carrie Underwood and Trace Adkins, there is nothing special that stands out. 

Looking at the Friday Night Opry, Opry member Steve Wariner returns. Joining Steve will be members Riders In The Sky and, after being away for a few weeks, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press. 

Darin & Brooke Aldridge are back for another guest appearance, along with comedian Brad Upton. Americana/Bluegrass artist Jim Lauderdale is on the schedule, as is Frank Ray and King Calaway. As with most shows, there will be an Opry debut as Kimberly Kelly is scheduled. 

Saturday night's Grand Ole Opry has members Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider, and Hall of Fame members Bill Anderson and Connie Smith are on the schedule. Comedian Brad Upton is doing double duty this weekend as he is also scheduled for Saturday. Becky Buller Band will bring along some bluegrass, while A Thousand Horses and Madison Kozak round out the schedule. 

Friday August 26
7:00: Riders In The Sky, Jim Lauderdale, Frank Ray, Darin & Brooke Aldridge
Intermission
8:15: King Calaway, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Kimberly Kelly, Brad Upton, Steve Wariner

Saturday August 27
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, A Thousand Horses, Mike Snider, Madison Kozak, Bill Anderson
Intermission
8:15: Brad Upton, Becky Buller Band, Opry Square Dancers, ERNEST, Connie Smith

And now, from 50 years ago, Saturday August 26, 1972: 

1st show
6:30: Charlie Walker (host); Stringbean; Jeanne Pruett
6:45: Stu Phillips (host); Willis Brothers; Diane Jordan
7:00: Billy Grammer (host); Connie Smith; Stan Hitchcock; Singing Rambos
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Grandpa Jones; Karen Wheeler; Crook Brothers
8:00: The 4 Guys (host); Dottie West; New Kingston Trio; Louie Roberts
8:30: Wilburn Brothers (host); Marion Worth; Don Gibson; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Willis Brothers (host); Dottie West; Charlie Walker; Louie Roberts
10:00: Stu Phillips (host); Stan Hitchcock; Diane Jordan
10:15: Billy Grammer (host); Stringbean; Singing Rambos
10:30: Roy Acuff (host); Grandpa Jones; Connie Smith
10:45: The 4 Guys (host); Jeanne Pruett; Crook Brothers
11:00: Tompall (host); & The Glaser Brothers; New Kingston Trio; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Wilburn Brothers (host); Marion Worth; Don Gibson; Jimmy Helms

(Tompall & The Glaser Brothers appeared only on the late show. Also, as a reminder, Jeanne Pruett was not an Opry member at this time. She would join the cast the following year). 

An interesting group that was on that night were the New Kingston Trio. This was another version of the Kingston Trio, which form in 1954. As with many other groups, the membership of the group would change over the years. In 1967, the original group took a break and disbanded, leading to, what would become, The New Kingston Trio. This version began performing in 1969 and would continue through the mid-70s, when the membership of this group changed, and thanks to some legal maneuvering, the original name was restored, and the group was reformed. The Kingston Trio continues to tour with musicians who licensed the name and trademark in 2017.

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Dolly Parton joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1969, thanks to her own success and also from her association with Porter Wagoner. During her years with Porter, Dolly appeared pretty regularly on the Opry, the majority of time with Porter. However, after she broke away from Porter and went out on her own, she became a super-star and her Opry appearances greatly diminished. In fact, there were a number of years in which Dolly did not appear at the Opry at all. 

On August 26, 1995, after being away from the Opry for 7 years, Dolly returned and here is the running order from that night 27 years ago: 

1st show
6:30: DHS Strings
Grandpa Jones (host): Ol' Rattler Left Us Years Ago
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Grandpa Jones: Apple Jack

6:45 Country Music Hall of Fame
Jean Shepard (host) w/Skeeter Davis: Silver Threads & Golden Needles
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Jean Shepard: I'm Walkin' the Dog

7:00: Shoney's
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take an Old Cold Tater
Jan Howard: Oh, Lonesome Me
Stu Phillips: Crystal Chandeliers
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Billy Walker: Adam's Side/Charlie's Shoes
Jimmy Dickens: Out Behind the Barn

7:30: Standard Candy
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Ken Mellons: Rub-a-Dubbin'
Dolly Parton: Jolene/Something Special
Vince Gill and Dolly Parton: I Will Always Love You
Porter Wagoner: Sugarfoot Rag

8:00: Martha White
Jeannie Seely (host): Burning That Old Memory
Jimmy C Newman: Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road
Ray Pillow: Someone Had to Teach You
Mike Snider: Soldiers Joy/Angeline the Baker/Old Molly Hare
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sally Goodin
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me

8:30: Kraft
Hank Snow (host): I Don't Hurt Anymore
Connie Smith: Once A Day
Charlie Walker: Smoke; Smoke; Smoke
Del Reeves: She Thinks I Still Care/Bad News
Hank Snow: Tangled Mind

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Freight Train Boogie
Jeanne Pruett: Back-to-Back
Ray Pillow: Too Many Memories
Ken Mellons: I Saw the Light/Juke Box Junkie
Colleen Walters: Ain't 'Cha Even Gonna Cry
Porter Wagoner: Big Wind

10:00: Goody Headache Powder
Jeannie Seely (host): Bubbles in My Beer
Wilma Lee Cooper: Gathering Flowers from the Hillside
Jeannie Seely: Too Far Gone

10:15: Tennessee Pride/Cooper's
Grandpa Jones (host): Fix Me a Pallet Down on the Floor
Roy Drusky: Have I Stayed Away Too Long
Grandpa Jones: Four Stone Walls & A Ceiling

10:30: Gruhn Guitar
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed
Jimmy C Newman: Allons ah Layfayette
Jimmy Dickens: Mountain Dew

10:45: Fairfield
Jean Shepard (host): I Don't See How I Can Make It with You Gone
Stu Phillips: Colorado
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Acorn Hill
Jean Shepard: Farewell Party

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Ramblin' Rose
Connie Smith: Sing; Sing; Sing
Charlie Walker: My Life's Been a Pleasure
Del Reeves: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
Jan Howard: My Heart Skips a Beat
Hank Snow: Jack to a King
Tommy Vaden: Lee Highway Blues

11:30: Loreal
Mike Snider (host): Foggy Moutain Chimes
Barry and Holly Tashian: Running Wild/I Dreamed of an Old Love Affair
Billy Walker: You Gave Me a Mountain/Word Games/Singing the Blues
Mike Snider: Waiting' on Ed to Call

Dolly Parton (along with Vince Gill) only appeared on the first show that night, which was the televised portion. And while Porter Wagoner hosted the segment, he did not sing with Dolly. Dolly did sing with Vince, as at the time their duet of "I Will Always Love You" was out on radio. 

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.