Grand Ole Opry 11/4 & 11/5

I wanted to share this news. I know some have already heard, but in case......

Jerry Whitehurst, longtime pianist for “Hee Haw,” Ralph Emery’s “Nashville Now,” and the Grand Ole Opry staff band, died at the age of eighty-four on October 30. 

A native Nashvillian, Whitehurst got his first break playing piano part-time in the Grand Ole Opry backing band in 1961 in his early twenties, when he was working by day for a trucking firm. While continuing to play weekends at the Opry, he became a staff pianist for WSM radio and TV, including for WSM’s “Bobby Lord Show” on syndicated TV. 

Whitehurst’s resume quickly mushroomed from there. His musical skill and easy-going demeanor landed him one long-running job after another in Nashville: the “Hee Haw” house band, starting with the show’s CBS-TV debut in 1969; Ralph Emery’s local WSM early-morning TV show in Nashville, which led to becoming the musical director as well as pianist for Emery’s “Nashville Now” talk show on The Nashville Network (though Whitehurst continued doing Emery’s WSM show). 

Whitehurst was so in demand that by the late 1980s he was doing about 500 TV episodes per year, according to an article in “The Tennessean.” The “Nashville Now” staff band he led won the Academy of Country Music’s Non-Touring Band of the Year award five years in a row, from 1985 to 1989.

Somehow over the years, Whitehurst also found time to play on occasional Nashville recording sessions for Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner, Johnny Paycheck, Connie Smith, Marty Robbins, and others. But playing for a live audience at the Opry and on “Nashville Now” was always his preference, even over celebrity “Hee Haw” tapings. “I had much rather do live performances,” he told the “Nashville Banner.” “That’s why I enjoy our daily TV shows so much. There’s a feeling a musician gets from a live audience that you don’t find while taping a show.”

I will always remember Jerry playing the "Cannonball" for Roy. 

Now to this week, as it looks like a fairly quiet weekend at the Grand Ole Opry as they end the October string of two Saturday night shows, at least until Ashley McBryde's induction on December 10. While I wouldn't call the lineups for this weekend spectacular, I will say that they are pretty solid. 

Starting with the Friday Night Opry, Opry members Riders In The Sky, Don Schlitz and Connie Smith are listed on the schedule. Representing bluegrass music will be The Grascals. At one time, the group was making fairly regular Opry appearances, and there was some talk that they could have been considered future members, but over the past couple of years, their appearances have been few and far between. 

Also scheduled for Friday night is Madeline Edwards, Zach Top, Stephanie Quayle and making his Opry debut, Bailey Zimmerman. 

Looking at Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, Opry members Jeannie Seely and John Conlee are on the schedule, along with a return appearance by Riders In The Sky, as the "cowboys" are making it a two-show weekend. 

A couple of regular and popular guest artists are on the schedule as Charlie Worsham and Darin & Brooke Aldridge are set to appear. Kaitlin Butts will be making her Opry debut, while Neon Union and Jessica Willis Fisher fill out the lineup. 

Friday November 4
7:00: Riders In The Sky, Zach Top, Stephanie Quayle, The Grascals
Intermission
8:15: Madeline Edwards, Connie Smith, Bailey Zimmerman, Don Schlitz

Saturday November 5
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Neon Union, Jessica Willis Fisher, Darin & Brooke Aldridge
Intermission
8:15: John Conlee, Opry Square Dancers, Kaitlin Butts, Charlie Worsham, Riders In The Sky

As mentioned, Bailey Zimmerman and Kaitlin Butts are making their Opry debuts this weekend. 

Bailey Zimmerman records for Warner Music Nashville / Elektra Music Group. His song “Fall In Love” is currently racing up the Billboard Hot 100 chart after climbing all the way to #1 on Apple Music’s Top Country Songs chart. The song has had more than 380 million global streams to date and an average of more than 10 million global streams a week. His most recent release, “Rock and A Hard Place,” debuted atop multiple charts as the highest non-Morgan Wallen country song premiere of the year upon release. The emphatic power debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Country Streaming Songs and Country Digital Song Sales charts, #2 on their Hot Country Songs chart and #24 on their all-genre Hot 100 chart. 

Kaitlin Butts is a singer/songwriter from Oklahoma. Her new album, What Else Can She Do find the emerging songwriter delivering a collection of delicate, strong, and gallant characters and transformative storytellers. What Else Can She Do is a visceral display of just how raw and mighty words and actions can be–and how sometimes, knowing when to walk away can be just as compelling. Following up her delightful debut Same Hell, Different Devil and a diverse run of singles–the cosmic dancer “Marfa Lights,” haunting murder ballad “White River,” and the sweet tranquility of “How Lucky Am I,”–What Else Can She Do finds the Oklahoma songwriter in full blossom. Released in April, What Else Can She Do rose to top 10 Albums on the Americana Albums Chart and continues to receive widespread critical acclaim:

Now from 50 years ago, Saturday November 4, 1972: 

1st show
6:30: Tex Ritter (host), Ernie Ashworth
6:45: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host), Del Wood, George McCormick
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host), Dolly Parton, Osborne Brothers
7:30: Jimmy C Newman (host), Justin Tubb, Willis Brothers, Crook Brothers
8:00: Lester Flatt (host), The Nashville Grass, Lonzo and Oscar, Stu Phillips, Marty Stuart
8:30: Hank Snow (host), Tompall and The Glaser Brothers, The 4 Guys, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Marion Worth

2nd show
9:30: Tex Ritter (host); Willis Brothers, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper
10:00: Osborne Brothers (host), Ernie Ashworth, Del Wood
10:15: Roy Acuff (host), Brother Oswald, Onie Wheeler, Jimmy Riddle
10:30: Lester Flatt (host), Justin Tubb, Marty Stuart and Roland White, Paul Warren
10:45: Jimmy C Newman (host), Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host), The 4 Guys, Stu Phillips, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam McGee
11:30: Tompall (host) and The Glaser Brothers, Marion Worth, Lonzo and Oscar

(Billy Walker and Charlie Walker were scheduled for both shows but canceled. Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton were scheduled for the second show, however they canceled. Porter and Dolly did appear on the first show. In an odd twist, Roy Acuff was scheduled for the first show, however he was late getting back to Nashville after an appearance in North Carolina. He appeared briefly during the 8:00 segment and said a few words from the stage. He did appear on the second show). 

Glen Campbell was never a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and actually made very few appearances on the show. It is somewhat surprising that Glen didn't make his first appearance on the Opry until November 5, 1983, when he was well into his career. But then again, when you think about it, probably not as Glen was based in Southern California and rarely made the trip to Nashville. 

Here is the running order from Saturday November 5, 1983, the night Glen Campbell made his Grand Ole Opry debut: 

1st show
6:30: Bonanza
Billy Walker (host): Detour
Jeanne Pruett: We Came So Close
Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away

6:45: Rudy's
Stonewall Jackson (host): Muddy Water
Skeeter Davis: I Want You Bad
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry/Waterloo

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Jim and Jesse: Are You Tired of Me, My Darling
Teddy Wilburn: If You're Gonna Do Me Wrong, Do It Right
Roy Drusky: Wings of a Dove
Citico Creek: Midnight Flyer
Porter Wagoner: That Was Then; This Is Now

7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Monroe (host): Mule Skinner Blues
Jean Shepard: For the Good Times
Charlie Louvin and Danny Henson: Nobody's Darling but Mine
Lonzo and Oscar: Way Down Deep in My Soul
Charlie Walker: My Window Faces the South
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sugar in the Goard
Bill Monroe: Travelin' This Lonesome Road

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jan Howard: Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
Connie Smith: I'm Only in It for the Love/Sing, Sing, Sing

8:30: Acme
Hank Snow (host): Right or Wrong
The 4 Guys: Sweet Ruby Red
Mel Tillis: In The Middle of the Night/I'll Take as Much As I Can Get
Glen Campbell: Gentle on My Mind/A Letter to Home
Hank Snow: My Happiness

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
The 4 Guys: My Special Angel
Jeannie Seely: When Will I See You Again
Billy Walker: You Gave Me a Mountain
Citico Creek: Bye, Bye Love/Midnight Flyer
Porter Wagoner: The Cowboy's Hat

10:00: Little Debbie
Roy Drusky (host): Mississippi
Jean Shepard: If Teardrops Were Silver
Vic Willis Trio: Always on My Mind
Roy Drusky: Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy

10:15: Sunbeam
Bill Monroe (host): In Despair
Wilma Lee Cooper: Sunny Side of the Mountain
Ray Pillow: Too Many Memories
Bill Monroe: Old Dangerfield

10:30: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train to Memphis
Stu Phillips: Blue Canadian Rockies
Bill Carlisle: Oh, What a Party
Mark O'Connor: (?)/Chicken Reel

10:45: Beech-Nut
Jimmy C Newman (host): Jambalaya
Connie Smith: You've Got Me Right Where You Want Me
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Gray Eagle
Cajun Country: Dixi-Cajun

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Hello Love
Charlie Louvin: Now It's Food Stamps & Calvin Klein Jeans
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
Jim and Jesse: Blue Ridge Mountain Blues/Never On Sunday
Hank Snow: Among My Souvenirs

11:30: Hardee's
Jack Greene (host): Midnight Tennessee Woman
Jan Howard: Will The Circle Be Unbroken
Mel Tillis: Take Me Back to Tulsa
Mel Tillis and Glen Campbell: Slow Night
Glen and Shorty Campbell: I Can't Stand This Loneliness
Glen Campbell: El Paso/A White Sport Coat/Devil Woman/I'll Go On Alone/You Gave Me a Mountain
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything

As you can see, Glen did a tribute to Marty Robbins during the 11:30 segment that Marty had made his own over the years. 

There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting. Tell your friends and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.