Grand Ole Opry 10/7 & 10/8

This weekend the Grand Ole Opry will celebrate its 97th birthday as the show continues to move toward year 100. There will be one show on Friday night and two shows on Saturday, with the 2nd hour of the first show televised on Circle TV, along with the various online sites that show the Opry. 

Obviously the shows this weekend, and in fact all week, will be overshadowed by the death of Grand Ole Opry and Hall of Fame member, Loretta Lynn. Just last week, Loretta achieved the milestone of her 60th year as a member of the Opry. I am sure that there will be numerous tributes to Loretta this weekend at the Opry and I am sure that the televised segment on Circle will be feature a few Loretta Lynn songs. She was certainly a country music icon and deserves all the tributes and honors that she has received. 

So, looking at the schedules for the shows this weekend, Grand Ole Opry member Ricky Skaggs is scheduled for all three shows. On the Friday Night Opry he will be joined by members Terri Clark, Charlie McCoy, Bobby Osborne, Connie Smith and Craig Morgan, while on Saturday night, Steve Wariner, Vince Gill and Bill Anderson are scheduled to appear, along with Jeannie Seely on the early show and Connie Smith on the late show. 

Guesting on Friday night will be LOCASH and Jon Pardi, who has been very well received during his recent Opry appearances with some mentioning that he could be a future Opry member. 

Deana Carter, comedian Dusty Slay and Chapel Hart, coming off an impressive Opry debut several weeks ago, will round out the schedule on Saturday night. 

Friday October 7
7:00: Terri Clark, Connie Smith, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; LOCASH
Intermission
8:15: Charlie McCoy, Craig Morgan, Ricky Skaggs, Jon Pardi

Saturday October 8
1st show
7:00 Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Ricky Skaggs, Bill Anderson, Dusty Slay
8:00: Steve Wariner, Deana Carter, Chapel Hart, Vince Gill

2nd show
9:30: Opry Square Dancers, Connie Smith, Chapel Hart, Bill Anderson, Deana Carter
10:30: Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, Dusty Slay, Vince Gill

The lineups both nights are very solid and it is wonderful to see a great group of Opry members scheduled. Even with these lineups it just doesn't compare to the great birthday weekends that those of us have experienced through the years. There was a time, not that long ago, when the birthday weekend was one of those times when most of the Opry's members would appear, visit with fans and doing autograph sessions. I know many used to make the annual trip to the Opry for those shows and I do miss seeing many of those folks. And for those who may wonder, I have only missed one birthday weekend since the 80s, and that was in 1994, which was the show that featured the Opry's Hall of Fame members. 

All thing considered, I still am looking forward to a great weekend, which I am sure will include many sharing their memories of Loretta. 

In addition to the Friday and Saturday Opry shows, this weekend will also include a Sunday Night Opry that will feature Grand Ole Opry members The Isaacs, Ricky Skaggs, Jeannie Seely, Mandy Barnett, Don Schlitz and Rhonda Vincent. Also scheduled to appear are Texas Hill and Tiera Kennedy. 

Sunday October 9
7:00: Rhonda Vincent, Texas Hill, Jeannie Seely, The Isaacs
Intermission
8:15: Tierra Kennedy, Don Schlitz, Mandy Barnett, Ricky Skaggs

Now from 50 years ago, Saturday October 7, 1972: 

1st show
6:30: Stu Phillips (host), Lonzo and Oscar
6:45: Justin Tubb (host), Del Wood, Norma Gallant
7:00: Jack Greene (host), Jeannie Seely, Duke of Paducah
7:30: Bobby Lord (host), Willis Brothers, Jeanne Pruett, Crook Brothers
8:00: Roy Acuff (host), Stringbean, Charlie Walker, Hank Williams, Jr
8:30: Del Reeves (host), Jimmy Newman, The 4 Guys, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Bill Carlisle

2nd show
9:30: Stu Phillips (host), Willis Brothers, Lonzo and Oscar, Duke of Paducah, Bob and Pat Geary
10:00: Justin Tubb (host), Del Wood, Norma Gallant
10:15: Jack Greene (host), Jeannie Seely, Stringbean
10:30: Roy Acuff (host), Hank Williams, Jr.
10:45: Jimmy Newman (host), Jeanne Pruett, Crook Brothers
11:00: Bobby Lord (host), Charlie Walker, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam McGee
11:30: Del Reeves (host), Bill Carlisle, The 4 Guys

(At the time, Norma Gallant did a few duets with Justin Tubb, thus the reason why she was on the Opry and on his segment). 

Buck Owens was never a member of the Grand Ole Opry, but that doesn't mean that he never appeared on the show as he made quite a few appearances when he was in Nashville, and in many cases, those appearances corresponded to when he was taping Hee Haw. One of those appearances took place on Saturday October 8, 1988. Here is the running order from that night 34 years ago: 

1st show
6:30: Bonanza
The 4 Guys (host): Turn Your Radio On
Lorrie Morgan: So Wrong For So Long
The 4 Guys: Fox on the Run

6:45: Rudy's
Jack Greene (host): I Don't Believe I'll Fall in Love Today
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything

7:00: Shoney's
Bill Monroe (host): Why Did You Wander
Jean Shepard: Are You Teasing Me
Ray Pillow: I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried
Vern Gosdin: Set "Em Up Joe/Chiseled in Stone
Bill Monroe: A Beautiful Life

7:30: Standard Candy
Porter Wagoner (host): I'm Gonna Feed You Now
Dan Seals: Three Time Loser/Everything That Glitters is Not Gold
Buck Owens: Hot Dog/Act Naturally/Together Again/Love's Gonna Live Here/Crying Time/I've Got a Tiger By the Tail/Together Again
Porter Wagoner: Dooley

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Roy Drusky: Too Old to Die Young/One Day at a Time
Riders In The Sky: Tumbling Tumbleweeds/When Payday Rolls Around
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Bile Them Cabbage Down
Minnie Pearl: Comedy
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light

8:30: Music Valley
Hank Snow (host): Tangled Mind
Charlie Louvin: The Precious Jewel
Patty Loveless: Lonely Side of Live
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Bill Carlisle: Leave That Liar Alone
Hank Snow: Where Romance Calls

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Sugarfoot Rag
The 4 Guys: What'll You Do About Me
Del Reeves: A Dozen Pair of Boots
Dan Seals: Big Wheels in the Moonlight/God Must Be a Cowboy at Heart
Porter Wagoner: Y'all Come

10:00: Little Debbie
Bill Monroe (host): Molly & Tenbrooks/Blue Moon of Kentucky
Jeannie Seely: I'll Be Around When It's Over
Bill Monroe: The Bluest Man in Town

10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Billy Walker: You Gave Me a Mountain

10:30: Pet Milk
Stonewall Jackson (host): Don't Be Angry
Jan Howard: Where No One Stands Alone
Stonewall Jackson: Me & You & A Dog Named Boo

10:45: B.C. Headache Powder
Jack Greene (host): The Devil's Den
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sail Away Ladies
Jack Greene: If It's Love Your Playing For

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Filipino Rose
Jean Shepard: Someone's Gotta Cry
Roy Drusky: Don't It Make You Want to Go Home
Justin Tubb: As Long As There's a Sunday
Osborne Brothers: Pathway of Teardrops
Hank Snow: Among My Souvenirs

11:30: Creamette
Charlie Louvin (host): I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow
Patty Loveless: Lonely Side of Love/Blue Side of Town
Riders In The Sky: Yonder Comes the Santa Fe/Carry Me Back to the Lone Prairie
Charlie Louvin: In The Cross

As you can see, Buck Owens only did the first show that night, on the televised portion on TNN and performed a melody of his hits. In fact, that first show that night was impressive as it included Vern Gosdin, Lorrie Morgan, Minnie Pearl, Dan Seals and Patty Loveless, in addition to Skeeter Davis, Ray Pillow and Bill Carlisle, while one the second show, Del Reeves, Jeannie Seely, Billy Walker, Stonewall Jackson, Jan Howard and Justin Tubb were listed. 

What is interesting is that exactly one year later, Buck was back on the Opry, on a night that also included Garth Brooks. Here is the lineup from October 7, 1989:

1st show
6:30: Jimmy C Newman (host): Jeannie Pruett
6:45: Jim Ed Brown (host) w/The Browns
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Jean Shepard, Jim and Jesse, Ray Pillow, Skeeter Davis
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host): Garth Brooks, Jeannie Seely, Buck Owens
8:00: Roy Acuff (host): Connie Smith, Osborne Brothers, David Houston, Opry Square Dance Band
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Roy Drusky, Bill Carlisle, Jan Howard, Charlie Louvin

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Buck Owens, Jean Shepard, Stonewall Jackson
10:00: Jim Ed Brown (host): Dottie West
10:15: Roy Acuff (host): Stonewall Jackson
10:30: Jimmy Dickens (host): Garth Brooks
10:45: Osborne Brothers (host): Charlie Walker, Opry Square Dance Band
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Connie Smith, Ray Pillow, Justin Tubb, Roy Drusky
11:30: Johnny Russell (host), Bill Carlisle, Charlie Louvin, David Houston, Jan Howard

Unlike the year before, Buck appeared on both shows. On a side note, Dottie West was scheduled on the 6:45 segment of the first show with Jim Ed Brown but didn't make it. She did appear on the second show. 

Finally, as I wrote, the only recent birthday show I have missed was in 1994. While it doesn't correspond with this weekend, I thought I would share the show that I missed. It took place on Saturday October 15 and here is the running order from the first show that night: 

6:30: GHS Strings
Bill Monroe (host): Mule Skinner Blues
Stonewall Jackson: Ol' Chunk of Coal
Bill Monroe: Why Did You Wander

6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Grandpa Jones (host): Oh Suzannah
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Jimmy Dickens: Out Behind the Barn
Grandpa Jones: Any Old Time

7:00: Shoney's
The 4 Guys (host): River of Dreams
Wilma Lee Cooper: The World Can't Stand Long
Brother Oswald: Eunita
Jeanne Pruett: Temporarily Yours
The 4 Guys: It's Alright to Have a Good Time/When You Got a Good Woman, It Shows

7:30: Standard Candy
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sail Away Ladies
Porter Wagoner: Take an Old Cold Tater
Mike Snider: Possum Hide
Jeannie Seely: I'm Moving On/I've Been Everywhere/I Don't Hurt Anymore/There's A Fool Such as I
The Bluegrass Boys: Mule Skinner Blues/Blue Moon of Kentucky/Uncle Pen
Grand Ole Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry
Porter Wagoner: I Saw the Light

(The four Hall of Fame members: Jimmy Dickens, Grandpa Jones, Hank Snow and Bill Monroe sat on stage in chairs as they were honored by Porter Wagoner, Mike Snider, Jeannie Seely and The Bluegrass Boys)

8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Jack Greene: Statue of a Fool
Jean Shepard: Slippin' Away
Charlie Walker: There's a Star-Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere
The Whites: Hangin' Around
Porter Wagoner and Collen Walters: Burning the Midnight Oil
Colleen Walters: Alone with You

8:30: Kraft
Hank Snow (host): My Memories of You
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells
Ray Pillow: That Ain't No Way to Treat My Heart
Jan Howard: You Don't Know Me
Billy Walker: Come a Little Bit Closer
Hank Snow: A Message From the Trade Winds

I don't think anyone can complain about that show. Just sorry I missed it. 

There you have it for this week. I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend as the Opry celebrates its 97th birthday weekend. As I wrote, I will be in Nashville for the entire week and looking forward to all of the shows. 

As always, thanks for reading and commenting.