The Grand Ole Opry schedule has been posted for this weekend and I hope everyone enjoys Gary Mule Deer, as the comedian is scheduled for all three shows this weekend. Yes, there are three shows as the Opry will have two shows each Saturday night through the month of October.
More on the Saturday shows in a minute, but let's take a look first at the Friday Night Opry which will feature Opry members Ricky Skaggs, Dailey & Vincent, Connie Smith, Bobby Osborne and Lauren Alaina. That is a real solid group of Opry members, each a little different in style and age. And it is always nice when one of the Opry's newest and youngest members appear.
Besides Gary Mule Deer, non-Opry members appearing on Friday night will be Kristian Bush and making her Opry debut, Avery Anna.
Opry member Vince Gill will be closing out both shows on Saturday night, joined by Jeannie Seely, who continues to add Opry shows to her record-breaking total. The only other Opry member scheduled on Saturday is the Opry's newest member, Don Schlitz.
As mentioned, Gary Mule Deer will be on both shows, joined by Restless Road, Rhett Atkins, Tenille Towns, and making their Opry debut, Cody Carnes and Kari Jobe.
Friday September 30
7:00: Dailey & Vincent, Connie Smith, Avery Anna, Ricky Skaggs
Intermission
8:15: Kristin Bush, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Gary Mule Deer, Lauren Alaina
Saturday October 1
1st show
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Restless Road, Rhett Akins, Cody Carnes and Kari Jobe
8:00: Don Schlitz, Tenille Towns, Gary Mule Deer, Vince Gill
2nd show
9:30: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Restless Road, Rhett Akins, Cody Carnes and Kari Jobe
10:30: Don Schlitz, Tenille Towns, Gary Mule Deer, Vince Gill
Avery Anna will be making her Opry debut on Friday night, while Cody Carnes and Kari Jobe will hit the stage on Saturday night.
Warner Music Nashville singer / songwriter Avery Anna is originally from Arizona. She started singing at 10 years old, quickly picking up the guitar and piano, but it wasn’t until she started her TikTok channel that she realized her full potential. Her repertoire spans classic country artists such as Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline to modern acts like Taylor Swift and Kelsea Ballerini. Now with 1.4 million followers and almost 27 million likes, Avery is ready to share her own music with the world. The 2022 YouTube Artist on the Rise has released four tracks, and her single “Narcissist” is already making a statement. A SiriusXM Highway Find, the song has landed on major playlists such as Spotify’s New Music Friday, Apple Music’s Country Risers and has over 86 million global streams. The Flagstaff native has just begun to take her music on the road, opening for acts such as Josh Turner, Martina McBride, & Parmalee as well as playing overseas for C2C Festival in London.
Cody Carnes is a worship leader who is passionate about creating spaces where innovative artistry and authentic worship can collide. Since releasing his solo label debut project in 2017, Carnes has continued to impact the worship music genre with powerful church anthems like “Nothing Else,” “Run To the Father,” and “Christ Be Magnified.” In 2020, he released his studio album, Run To The Father, which earned him his first GRAMMY Award nomination. He also received GRAMMY nominations for “The Blessing” and the album The Blessing (Live) for the 63rd and 64th Awards, as well as "The Blessing" being named “Song of the Year” (2021) and “Worship Song of the Year” (2020) at the GMA Dove Awards. He will be releasing his first-ever live recorded album on September 30th.
Kari Jobe, who is also a worship leader, has been using her gifts to lead people into the presence of God. When she began leading worship at age 13, she never imagined she would be nominated for three GRAMMY® awards, win multiple Dove Awards, have two RIAA Gold Certified singles, or be praised by the New York Times. In 2020, Jobe released her highly acclaimed GRAMMY-nominated album The Blessing (Live), which featured the worldwide hit “The Blessing” co-written by her, Cody Carnes and Elevation Worship’s Chris Brown and Pastor Steven Furtick. She received back-to-back GRAMMY nominations for the song “The Blessing” and the album The Blessing (Live) for the 63rd and 64th Awards. She has more than 1.18 million YouTube subscribers and over 340 million channel views.
Now from 50 years ago, Saturday September 30, 1972:
1st show
6:30: Willis Brothers (host); Bill Carlisle
6:45: The 4 Guys (host); Del Wood; Pam Gilbert
7:00: Justin Tubb (host); Stringbean; Jeanne Pruett
7:30: Bill Monroe (host); Jean Shepard; Joe and Rose Lee Maphis; Crook Brothers
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Dottie West; Jimmy Dickens
8:30: Wilburn Brothers (host); Grandpa Jones; Marion Worth; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Johnny Carver
2nd show
9:30: Willis Brothers (host); Grandpa Jones; Bill Carlisle; Pam Gilbert
10:00: Justin Tubb (host); Stringbean; Jeanne Pruett
10:15: Bill Monroe (host); Jean Shepard; Del Wood
10:30: Roy Acuff (host); Jimmy Dickens
10:45: The 4 Guys (host); Dottie West; Crook Brothers
11:00: The 4 Guys (host); Charlie Louvin; Joe and Rose Lee Maphis; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Wilburn Brothers (host); Marion Worth; Johnny Carver
(David Houston was scheduled for both shows but canceled, while Charlie Louvin appeared only on the late show. As a reminder, Jeanne Pruett and Jimmy Dickens were not Opry members in 1972. Overall, a pretty thin lineup of Opry members).
Pam Gilbert appeared on both shows that night. She did some recording in Nashville in the late 60s and early 70s, but other than that, she largely disappeared.
Who else finds it hard to believe that Dierks Bentley has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry for 17 years? Well, it is true as on Saturday October 1, 2005, Dierks became a member of the Opry's cast. Here is the running order from that night:
1st show
6:30: Cracker Barrel
Jimmy Dickens (host): Me & My Big Loud Mouth
Connie Smith: The Hurting's All Over
Billy Walker: Behind Closed Doors
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya/Diggy Liggy Lo
Jimmy Dickens: Mountain Dew
7:00: Tootsie's/Standard Candy
Dierks Bentley: Lot of Leavin' Left to Do
Marty Stuart: Rock Island Line/Cry My Lonesome Heart
Chely Wright: You Never Can Tell/What a Beautiful Day
Dierks Bentley: I Can't Help It/Come A Little Closer Baby/Domestic Light & Cold
Chris Cagle: Anywhere but Here/Life is Short
8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Why Don't You Haul Off & Love Me
John Conlee: They Also Served/Rose Colored Glasses
Jim Ed Brown: Southern Loving
Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius: Fools
Opry Square Dance Band: Whiskey Before Breakfast
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home
8:30: Tennessee Pride
Bill Anderson (host): Wild Weekend
T. Bubba Bechtol: Comedy
Bobby Osborne: Doin' My Time/Rocky Top
Bill Anderson: Mama Sang a Song
2nd show
9:30: Cracker Barrel
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed
Mel McDaniel: Stand Up
Jeannie Seely: Too Far Gone
Chely Wright: You Never Can Tell/Bumper of My SUV
Jimmy Dickens: September Memories
10:00: Caribbean Cruise
Porter Wagoner (host): Howdy, Neighbor, Howdy
Jan Howard: Lord, I Hope This Day is Good
John Conlee: I'm Only In It For the Love/They Also Served
Chris Cagle: My Love Goes On & On/Laredo
10:30; Johnny Walker Tours
Marty Stuart (host): Country Rock 'N Roll
Stonewall Jackson: A Wound Time Can't Erase
Connie Smith: If I Can Talk to Him/Fight On
Opry Square Dance Band: Snowflake Reel
Marty Stuart: I Can't Even Walk Without You Holding My Hand
11:00: Opry Visa
Bill Anderson (host): Po' Folks
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/Statue of a Fool
Dierks Bentley: Come A Little Closer, Baby/What Was I Thinking
Bill Anderson: Tips of My Fingers
11:30: Country Christmas
Jim Ed Brown (host): Pop A Top
T. Bubba Bechtol: Comedy
Bobby Osborne: Foggy Mountain Rock
Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius: I'm Leaving It Up to You
(Sonny Osborne was ill which is why Bobby appeared alone).
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 as the Opry rolls into the month of October.
One of our blog readers tried to post this information and update regarding Pam Gilbert, but for some reason kept receiving an error message. I did want to share and also add that there are several YouTube videos of Pam. Thanks so much to the "Illinois Entertainers" for sharing this information with us.
ReplyDeletePam Gilbert is an Illinois treasure. Her family owned and operated the Illinois Country Opry in Petersburg, IL in the 60's & 70's. Illinois
finest live country music show featuring Pam and the Country Giants
along with Nashville's biggest stars. From this institution came Tom
Rutledge who was discovered at the opry by Dolly Parton. Tom left the opry to play with Dolly and later, Jim Ed Brown, Sylvia (they married in the 80's) and Alan Jackson. Tom Hemby was also discovered at the opry and has performed with Amy Grant for many years. Other notables were Steve McLyea who toured with Ronnie Milsap. Carlotta Gail went on to headline shows in Branson, Mo. for many years.
During this time period of her opry performance Pam Gilbert was very young, guessing around 13-14 years old. It is my personal opinion that if stardom was truly what Miss Gilbert desired it certainly was achievable. The ICO attracted 2,500 fans weekly for their opry shows. That would be a hard one to walk away from. Today, Pam performs Southern Gospel music with her husband, Mark Fisher. Illinois Country Opry and info on Pam's early years can be found at MarkandPamFisher.com.
Thanks to "Illinois Entertainers" for sharing this! Pam was 17 during her Grand Ole Opry appearance. She continued to perform regionally after the Illinois Country Opry closed in 1979 and was a regular with the now-defunct New Salem and Nashville Sound opry shows. We were married twenty-two years to the day after her only Grand Ole Opry appearance (and she didn't even remember that being the date!)
DeleteThere are folks who will say only 2 members is pretty sad, but I'll take Vince over 90 percent of even the active members! He's just the best!
ReplyDeleteThere’s 3.
DeleteA shout-out to Byron. People did a story on Jeannie Seely's record number of appearances, and mentioned that Byron did the research.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mike
DeleteHere is the link to the story if anyone is interested:
https://people.com/search?q=jeannie+seely
This is one of those posts that will hit multiple things.
ReplyDeleteFirst, congratulations to Byron for being recognized for researching the Jeannie Seely appearances and for the grate Opry historian he is. We can celebrate a little too since we participate here and he is our friend.
Turning to the less positive!
Over the years it has been said here that the Opry became stale in the 80's with the same artist each week doing many of the same songs and the Opry became a walking museum of has-beens. I don't think those exact words were ever used but that has kind of been the point being made. At least what they were doing was good music and most acts were still up to par in performing and pleasing to listen to.
Well, in some ways the Opry is becoming stale to me know. Gary Mule Deer is good and I'm fine with him being on the Opry......occasionally! But as often as he is and with mostly the same routine, he is becoming stale. We were watching a Family Reunion show recently and Little Jim was telling a couple of his short jokes, the two brother rabbits and the pigeon leaving his calling card on the old mans head, and Bill Anderson noted that he had heard him tell those over and over and they were still funny......because of Jimmy's timing and demeanor while telling them. He noted the same about Minnie. Feels like that is missing with Gary. Also, how long are they going to run the same piece sponsored by Humana with Trisha Yearwood inducting I think Carley Pearce? There have been several inductions in the past couple years but maybe they like this one because of Trisha, it's almost Garth! Then there is the 90's music quiz. If you are going to keep that up then get more than three or four tunes. The band is talented enough to do that. Reality check here, how many in the crowd have ever heard all that before? When they ask how many are there the first time the applause is overwhelming. Wonder what they will do when they run out of first timers? I used to be under the impression a business survived on loyal customer that always returned for more!
Now to something that goes beyond the Opry. If you want to write a song that makes me take note of an issue, a cause you believe in, a person you want to recognize.....grandpa, grandma, Jesus, the first step to get me to listen and take note is to make your performance enjoyable to listed to, or at least tolerable. This weekend I heard some songs on the Opry that I think I would have enjoyed the story or the message but I just couldn't listen to them. Either they were nearly screaming out me with loud drums as backup or the delivery was so sour and weird I just couldn't stand it.
Now, we all remember Marty Stuart the night of his induction when they were celebrating the passing of Mr. Acuff. Marty said "here's a song for all you old farts in the audience" and sang Long Black Veil. Took me a long time to look past that comment but I realize now that I have become on of those old farts! My problem is that my taste in most everything has never changed but everything around me has. I guess we all go through it and that is life.
I'll crawl back in my hole for a while.
Hope everyone is doing well.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Jim, I agree. The Opry and a lot of the artists forget about the radio audience and only focus on the audience at the show. I remember being with Charlie Louvin one night at the Midnite Jamboree. He asked one of the guys,doing the sound board,to get him a list of the songs he sung; when he had hosted a few months ago. He said, “ he didn’t want to sing all the same songs.” Curry
ReplyDelete