Mid-Week Opry Shows

A couple of interesting Opry shows this week. Let's start off with the press release regarding the Tuesday Night Opry: 

The Grand Ole Opry will celebrate Bass Pro Shops 50th anniversary on the October 25th Tuesday edition of the long running radio show. The Bass Pro Shops 50th Anniversary Celebration will feature performances by not only some of the biggest names in country music but some of the artists who have long represented the love of the outdoors and the lifestyle Bass Pro Shops represents including the legendary John Anderson as well as Opry members Dierks Bentley, Chris Janson, Dustin Lynch, and Rhonda Vincent.

The Bass Pro Shops 50th Anniversary Celebration will be filmed with highlights to air as a Saturday night Opry Live on November 19th on the Opry’s television broadcast home, Circle Network, Circle All Access Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The special Tuesday Night Opry can be heard on opry.com and wsmonline.com, SiriusXM Willie’s Roadhouse, and the show’s flagship radio home, WSM Radio.

Tuesday October 25
7:00: Connor Smith, Blessing Offor, Henry Cho
7:40: Intermission
7:50: Dierks Bentley, Charles Esten, Gary LeVox, Rhonda Vincent, Clay Self, Dustin Lynch, John Anderson, Chris Janson

As you can see, a very star-studded last hour of the show with a nice group of Opry members. For those interested, Clay Self is a singer-songwriter out of Branson Mo, who has been a proud member of the Bass Pro family for 34 years. This will be his Opry debut. It will also be the Opry debut for Blessing Offor, who recently received a 2022 Dove Award nomination for New Artist of the Year and has charted on Billboard's Christian Airplay chart. 

Taking a look at the Wednesday Night Opry, Opry members Jeannie Seely, Del McCoury, Don Schlitz, Connie Smith and Gary LeVox are on the schedule. It seems that each Opry shows features an Opry debut and Wednesday night is no exception as Ashley Cooke will be making her debut. She is another of the young, up and coming country artists. 

Wednesday October 26
7:00: Jeannie Seely, Del McCoury Band, Don Schlitz, Matt Maher
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith, Jelly Roll, Ashley Cooke, Gary LeVox

Finally, Opry Country Classics takes place on Thursday night, and it is wonderful to see The Whites back on the Opry schedule. The Whites have not appeared on the Opry stage since 2020, prior to Covid, and I had heard that recently they had been working hard to get back. Not sure if Buck White will be with them or not. Hopefully he will be. Regardless, it will be great to hear The Whites back on the show. 

Thursday October 27
Opry Country Classics
Larry Gatlin
The Gatlin Brothers
Ricky Skaggs
The Whites
William Lee Golden & The Goldens
Carlos DeFord Bailey

I know that any true Opry fan, who knows the history of the Opry, will recognize the name DeFord Bailey, and for those who might be wondering, Carlos DeFord Bailey is the grandson of DeFord. 

Born Carlos Deford Bailey in Nashville, TN, Carlos was immensely blessed with talent being the son of "Nashville Blues Legend" Deford Bailey, Jr., and the grandson of world-famous Grand Ole Opry Star, Deford Bailey, Sr. 

Carlos was born into music and started singing at the age of five. The first song he performed was "Sitting On The Dock of The Bay" by the late Otis Redding. Carlos became inspired by The Jackson Five and began to emulate Michael with a microphone.

He competed in talent shows, performed at PTA meetings and community centers. By the time he graduated to junior high school, he was a seasoned performer. He was Lead Male Vocalist for the School Choir and performed at school assemblies and sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the start of all football games. 

Carlos stays busy doing charity performances for underprivileged children and makes regular appearances on television & radio in Music City.

A while back. William Lee Golden & The Goldens made an impressive debut on the Opry. So good that they have been invited back and are part of the Thursday night schedule. 

Overall, a very good group of mid-week Opry shows.