Grand Ole Opry 11/18 & 11/19

Tis the weekend before Thanksgiving and while everyone will be finishing up their Turkey buying before the holiday, the Grand Ole Opry will be putting on a pair of shows, the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. 

Grand Ole Opry member Mark Wills is scheduled for both nights. He will be joined on Friday night by Opry members John Conlee, Connie Smith, and closing out the show, the Oak Ridge Boys. 

Saturday night, in addition to Mark, has Jeannie Seely, Bobby Osborne, Don Schlitz and Lauren Alaina listed on the lineup. 

One of the bigger duos in country music, Brothers Osborne head up the non-member list on Friday, joined by Emily Ann Roberts, and making his Opry debut, Jason Eady. Saturday night as Tony Trischka on the schedule, along with Alexandra Kay, who will be making her Opry debut. 

For those who might be familiar with Tony Trischka, he is one of the finest banjo players alive, and in fact, has been called the "Father of Modern Bluegrass." His last album, Shall We Hope, was released in January 2021. Ahead of its release, a video of the album’s “Christmas Cheer (This Weary Year)” landed on a Rolling Stone best-of list and was described by Jon Parales (New York Times) as having “virtuosic picking… with a coda of elegant string-band counterpoint." Now over the age of 70 and continuing a career that began in the early 70s, Tony is still relevant in today's musical environment. He's been on the Opry before, and it is great to see him back. 

Friday November 18
7:00: Mark Wills, Emily Ann Roberts, John Conlee, Brothers Osborne
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith, Jason Eady, Oak Ridge Boys

Saturday November 19
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Mark Wills, Alexandra Kay, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top x-Press
Intermission
8:15: Tony Trischka, Opry Square Dancers, Don Schlitz, Lauren Alaina

Just seven acts each night, with no live TV this week on Circle as they will be showing two hours of performances from the 50th anniversary show of Bass Pro Shops that took place at the Opry earlier this month. 

So, as mentioned, there are a pair of artists making their Opry debut this weekend, Jason Eady and Alexandra Kay. 

Jason Eady grew up in Jackson, Mississippi and has been influenced by bluegrass, Don Williams and Willie Nelson. He is married to, and frequently collaborates with, Texas singer-songwriter Courtney Patton. Jason collaborated with Kevin Welch on his last three albums, AM Country Heaven from 2012, Daylight and Dark from 2014, and his self-titled album from 2017. AM Country Heaven debuted at number 40 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 9 on the Top Heatseekers chart. 

Highway Prayer: A Tribute to Adam Carroll, released on Austin-based Eight 30 Records in late 2016, featured Eady's take on Carroll's "Errol's Song." Additionally, Eight 30 Records' Floater: A Tribute to the Tributes to Gary Floater featured Eady's version of "Stand Back Boys I'm Fixing to Care.

Alexandra Kay grew up in Missouri and began writing songs at the age of 15. She started working in the entertainment business at a young age by booking commercials and voice-over work. While performing in multiple musical theater productions, Alexandra decided to try her luck as a contestant on American Idol in 2011.

Alexandra Kay started working in hip hop and R&B in early 2012. Using the platform Nelly created, Alexandra sewed herself into the St. Louis music scene. Working with notable STL artists such as Nelly and Huey Alexandra created enough buzz to sign an independent record deal with Nettwork Entertainment in 2013. Her first single “No More” was a radio hit spending three weeks at #1 on the New Music Weekly Top 40 pop chart, also scoring at the top of Hot AC and Hot 100 charts.

Starting her country music career independently at 22, Alexandra began recording cover videos of many 90’s country music favorites and posting them on her Facebook fan page, going viral dozens of times. quickly drew a dedicated fan base on Facebook, which has grown to over 1.4 million followers to date.

Alexandra Kay has recently captivated a new audience of country music lovers with 272,000 followers on Instagram. On TikTok Alexandra Kay’s following has grown to over 3.2 million followers and generated over 44.3 million likes. Alexandra Kay has gained over 45 million collective streams on Spotify and Apple Music through independent releases:

Now, from 50 years ago, Saturday November 18, 1972: 

1st show
6:30: Billy Walker (host); Ernie Ashworth
6:45: Billy Grammer (host); Justin Tubb; Norma Gallant
7:00: Stonewall Jackson (host); Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Stringbean; Ray Pillow
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Bobby Bare; Willis Brothers; Crook Brothers
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; Archie Campbell; Jimmy C Newman
8:30: Charlie Louvin (host); Charlie Walker; The 4 Guys; Marion Worth; Diane McCall; Stu Phillips; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson (host); Willis Brothers; Jan Howard; Ernie Ashworth; Charley Pride
10:00: Stonewall Jackson (host); Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Stringbean
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Billy Grammer; Justin Tubb and Norma Gallant
10:30: Bobby Bare (host); Charlie Walker
10:45: Archie Campbell (host); Ray Pillow; Crook Brothers
11:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Charlie Louvin; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Diane McCall; Sam McGee
11:30: Stu Phillips (host); Marion Worth; The 4 Guys

(Billy Walker appeared only on the first show)

Del Wood joined the Grand Ole Opry on 13, 1953. On Friday November 18, 1988 she celebrated her 35th anniversary as a member of the Opry. 

Del Wood was known for her rollicking piano style, which was best demonstrated on her million selling instrumental, "Down Yonder." 

Polly Adelaide Hendricks was born in 1920 on her family's farm in Nashville. Prior to beginning her career in music, she worked in the stage Public Health Department. According to Del, "L. Wolfe Gilbert's old-time ragtime tune liberated me from the typewriter keys to the 88s after "Down Yonder" shot up the charts. Actually, it was a bigger hit on the pop charts than it was in country. I was originally booked by MCA with acts like Tony Bennett, Guy Mitchell and The Four Aces. You name 'em, I worked with 'em."

Del first appeared on the Opry in February 1952 and took the stage name of Del Wood to make it easier for radio programmers. Her stage name was created by combining part of her middle name with part of her married name (Hazelwood). 

Del recorded a number of albums and played a number of different songs on the Opry, but "Down Yonder" was her only #1 record. 

Del passed away in October 1989.

Here was the Friday Night Opry line-up from Friday November 18, 1988: 

7:30: Grandpa Jones, Del Reeves, Lorrie Morgan, Justin Tubb, Jan Howard
8:00: Porter Wagoner, Stonewall Jackson, Jeanne Pruett, Wilma Lee Cooper
8:30: Roy Acuff, Jean Shepard, Ray Pillow
9:00: Hank Snow, Charlie Louvin, Connie Smith, Del Wood
9:30: Jack Greene, The 4 Guys, Skeeter Davis, Carlisles, Osborne Brothers
10:00: Jimmy C Newman, Vic Willis Trio, Ernie Ashworth, Teddy Wilburn
10:30: Jimmy Dickens, Charlie Walker, Jeannie Seely, Johnny Russell
11:05: Grand Ole Gospel w/Jimmy Snow

(Those Friday night shows were the best. As you can see, there were 29 acts that night, and 3 hours and 30 minutes of music). 

While Del only appeared on the Friday Night Opry, here is the running order from Saturday November 19, 1988:

1st show
6:30: Bonanza
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleepin' At the Foot of the Bed
The 4 Guys: Fox on the Run
Jimmy Dickens: I'm Just Blue Enough to Do Most Anything

6:45: Rudy's
Grandpa Jones (host): Apple Jack
Skeeter Davis: The Rose
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Grandpa Jones: Cold Winds A' Blowin'

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Wake Up, Jacob
Jeannie Seely: Why Doesn't He Just Leave Me Alone
Osborne Brothers: Georgia Mules & Country Boys/Rank Strangers
Stonewall Jackson: Side Steppin' the Blues
Jan Howard: Heartaches By The Number
Porter Wagoner: A Satisfied Mind
Glenda Faye Kniphfer: Black Mountain Rag

7:30: Standard Candy
Charlie Walker (host): Who Will Buy the Wine
Jerry Fricke: Please Help Me I'm Falling/She's Single Again
Forrester Sisters: Sincerely/(?)
Ricky Van Shelton: I'll Leave This World Loving You/From A Jack to A King
Charlie Walker: Take Me Back to Tulsa

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/Statue of a Fool
Charlie Louvin: Loving Arms
Jennifer O'Brien: He Taught Me How to Yodel
Minnie Pearl: Comedy
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sugar in the Goard
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away

8:30: Music Valley Drive
Hank Snow (host): Down the Trail of Aching Hearts
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells
Jean Shepard: At The Time
Jimmy C Newman: Thibodeaux & His Cajun Band
Roy Drusky: Time Has Made a Change in Me
Hank Snow: Crying Time

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Janie Fricke: Please Help Me I'm Falling/She's Single Again
George Hamilton IV: Forever Young
Ray Pillow: Too Many Memories
Forrester Sisters: Sincerely
Porter Wagoner: Forty Miles From Poplar Bluff

10:00: Little Debbie
Grandpa Jones (host): Mountain Dew
Osborne Brothers: Your Love is Like a Flower
Connie Smith: The Keys in the Mailbox
Grandpa Jones: Gathering Flowers From the Hillside

10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Ball Knob Arkansas
Wilma Lee Cooper: A Daisy A Day/He Will Set Your Fields on Fire

10:30: Pet Milk
Jimmy Dickens (host): John Henry
Jimmy C Newman: (?)
Jimmy Dickens: I Leaned Over Backwards for You

10:45: B. C. Powder
Jack Greene (host): Wanting You but Never Having You
Jeanne Pruett: Back To Back
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sally Goodin
Jack Greene: All The Time/There Goes My Everything

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Forever+1; Forever +2
Lorrie Morgan: Crazy
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
Roy Drusky: Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy
Tommy Hunter: Ragged but Right
Hank Snow: The Governor's Hand

11:30: Creamette
Jim Ed Brown: Southern Loving
The 4 Guys: Tennessee
Charlie Louvin: Buried Alive
Jean Shepard: Too Many Rivers
Johnny Russell: No One Will Ever Know
Jim Ed Brown: Scarlet Ribbons

(Of note, Minnie Pearl only did the first show, while Ricky Van Shelton was scheduled for the late show but canceled his spot. There were several other Opry members who only appeared on one of the shows that night). 

A final word on Del Wood: She was one of the Opry's members who did not care for the "new breed" of Opry members that were joining the Opry toward the end of her career. She felt that they were not dedicated to the Opry and not appearing as often as they should. She was also one of those who were not happy about her spots being cut. She was pretty vocal in her feelings. To finish up that thought, and relative to the recent passing of Jerry Lee Lewis, when Jerry Lee first appeared on the Opry, he specifically mentioned that the only Opry member who was nice to him was Del Wood. I am sure that sharing the love of the piano, there was a mutual respect between the two. 

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.