So, who else enjoyed Saturday night's Grand Ole Opry? I thought the John Anderson tribute was well done. John looked and sounded great, and those who appeared with him, honored him well. Sierra Hull was amazing, as was David Rawlings and Gillian Welch. While it was a short appearance, it was good to see Tyler Childers at the Opry.
I know a few of us thought that John would certainly make a great Opry member, and maybe the show Saturday night will put him into the mix. Listening to those hits, it made me think that I never really appreciated John's career. Thanks again to the Opry for another great night of music.
Now looking ahead to the mid-week shows, the Tuesday Night Opry will feature a trio of Opry members: Mark Wills, Mandy Barnett and Lauren Alaina. Also, on the schedule is another guest appearance by one of those artists in the mix, Scotty McCreery, along with comedian Henry Cho, a return appearance by Shy Carter and the Opry debut for Ben Rector.
Tuesday August 9
7:00: Mark Wills, Shy Carter, Mandy Barnett, Henry Cho
Intermission
8:15: Scotty McCreery, Ben Rector, Lauren Alaina
Opry Country Classics returns for another show on Thursday night, hosted once again by Larry Gatlin. It appears that Jamey Johnson will be the spotlight artist for the show.
Thursday August 11
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Jamey Johnson
Also Appearing, The Gatlin Brothers, T. Graham Brown, Jeannie Seely, Sunny Sweeny
A couple of very nice shows this week.
First I have to say how wonderful it was to have back-to-back weeks of Opry live-stream. Just so miss the weekly live-stream! The Saturday Grand Ole Opry was just wonderful, especially the hour that paid tribute to John Anderson, thank you Grand Ole Opry! I don't think he has been as recognized an artist all these years. One of the most recognizable voices in country music without a doubt. Sierra Hull was just great, really enjoyed her performance as well as David Rawlings & Gillian Welch & Tyler Childers was really very good. And I really enjoyed John Anderson himself. Have always loved Seminole Wind, the first sounds on the piano & fiddle are so iconic, when we hear them, we know what song we are about to hear & I have always loved its accompanying video. And Swingin' ... nothing more can be said about this iconic song or the voice behind it that hasn't been said already, still an outstanding song & he sure can still sing & here's hoping the Opry will consider extending an invitation to John Anderson for membership.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your name appearing in Music Row magazine, Byron. As I said on FB ... #coolbeans
Two great line-ups this week ~ Thursday's Spotlight artist! Yay!!! Jamey Johnson. I am very happy he is an Opry member & I am very happy he is making as many appearances since becoming a member a few months ago as he is.
And I wanted to extend my condolences to the family of Olivia Newton-John. One forgets just how many great songs she had until hearing snippets of quite a few of them on the radio this morning. She was a well-rounded artist singing pop & country music, winning several CMA awards, the movies she appeared in, especially Grease & then creating the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute. May she Rest in Peace.
(Jeanene)
Hi, Byron!
ReplyDeleteI was reading some posts from Reba's 40th a few years back and I saw that you shared all the (handful of) times Reba had ever appeared on the Opry.
Could the same be done for Barbara? I'm curious as to how her attendance was - not only compared to Reba's - but as someone who claims to love the Opry as much as she does.
Thank you!
Josh, the total I have is 137 from the date she joined in 1972 until she retired in 1997. What is interesting, yet not unexpected is that 114 of those appearances came between 1972-1980. She only appeared on the Opry 23 times after that. Like so many of the others, when her career got hot and she became a superstar, her Opry appearances dropped off the radar.
Delete137 is a BIG number, whenever Barbara chose to rack them up.
DeleteThanks Byron!
Very good lineups Tuesday and Thursday, but hate to see the number of acts as 7 and 6. I wonder how many actual songs we hear in a given show these day compared to years ago?
ReplyDeleteEspecially Thursday night, where it seems like they find all sorts of imaginative ways to keep music from being played.
I take 'credit' for the above remark. :)
DeleteNat Hill IV
I have no inside knowledge, but the 2nd half of the show tonight could be a set up. Only 3 acts and one particular Opry member who is close to one of the guest artists tonight.
ReplyDeleteNever gave it another thought once I looked at the line-up, just thought, what a good line up.
DeleteNOW THAT would be outstanding Byron. As you know I watched both of them on Idol that year, both were just terrific, it was too bad only one could win. But I often think, she may not have won Idol, but she won being asked to be a member of the Opry & for me? That is better than being an Idol winner, well, sorta, either would be such a wonderful thing have happen to someone.
We'll see .... enjoy the show everyone.
(Jeanene)
Jeanene is a prophet!
DeleteLast night's second hour (Tuesday 'Opry) will be broadcast on Circle TV!
Lauren Alaina is a first class entertainer, and I commend her for obviously loving being a member of the Grand Old 'Opry.
Ha! Well, Nat, I don't know about being a prophet, what I would like to see for myself is a PROFIT! haha!
DeleteYou give me too much credit, but I will take it, thank you. I do think Lauren Alaina is a darned good entertainer & she tells of her love of the Opry all the time. As you have read, I watched her & Scotty McCreery every week starting from the first audition week to the night he won & there was nothing she couldn't sing. Maybe the next time they are both on the Opry, they are given the opportunity to do some type of "duet" since they are such good friends. She easily gets the Opry audience up on their feet, just like Chris Janson does. (I dig him too! I refer to him as the Opry's wild-child, he's all over the stage with that harmonica of his. He's been missing from the Opry stage, time for another couple of appearances, of course I could say that about most members except the newest ones, who, by the way are doing a very good job of getting to the stage.) Maybe the Opry will extend an invitation to Scotty McCreery at some point, maybe not, but I hope so, had my fingers crossed last night, well, it didn't happen, but I know the Opry, they do their invitations differently every time & no one sees it coming, artists or fans that's what they do so well & it's always very exciting. I would love to see T. Graham Brown become a member as well.
And yes, when I heard Natalie Stovall's voice, I thought they might be recording that hour. Wish the Opry would just go back to live-streaming & back to Nan Kelley every week. Watched her when she was on the Opry when it was on live every week on GAC, she is really terrific.
(Jeanene)
Jeanene,
ReplyDeleteThe long ads on Circle TV make for a very odd WSM broadcast during the combined radio/TV broadcast. Interviews take place on
WSM during the long Circle ads, and the merge back to TV can be awkward. It's complicated. Wish Circle wasn't so ad-heavy. But at least the 'Opry is getting out there on TV.
Nat, Circle is not offered on DirecTV, so I don't see any programming unless it is posted on FB or the Opry is live-streamed. We know Circle is no different than any other TV/radio station & the need for revenue to keep them going & I agree, it's great that the Opry is once again on TV.
Delete(Jeanene)
While I love John Anderson, I believe that the faithfulness of T. Graham Brown as a guest for many, many times should merit his Opry membership first. Hopefully someday that will happen.
ReplyDelete