Grand Ole Opry 12/2 & 12/3

Another of the Grand Ole Opry members who has yet to appear in 2022 comes off the list this weekend as Emmylou Harris is scheduled for the Friday Night Opry. Emmylou will be appearing with her longtime friend and collaborator Rodney Crowell. 

With the return of Emmylou to the Opry, that just leaves the following "active" members who have yet to appear this year: Diamond Rio, Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Ronnie Milsap, Old Crow Medicine Show, Dolly Parton and Travis Tritt. (I will mention that both Ronnie and Travis have stopped touring due to illness, however both were active for the majority of the year). I mentioned it before, but I think the real disappointments on the list are Diamond Rio, Martina and Old Crow. Those three were touring for most of the year and had ample opportunities to appear on the Opry. 

Let's set those folks aside and concentrate on the Opry members who will be on the Opry this weekend. In addition to Emmylou, the Friday Night Opry has Connie Smith, John Conlee and Mandy Barnett on the schedule, while Saturday's Grand Ole Opry lists Riders In The Sky, Jeannie Seely, Sharon White and Don Schlitz as scheduled to appear. 

In addition to Rodney Crowell, others who will be guesting on Friday include Logan Mize, Louis York and The War and Treaty. 

There is an interesting pairing schedule for Saturday night as Becky Buller will be appearing with Sharon White and the legendary Fairfield Four. That promises to be a good one. Additionally, Chapel Hart will be making another Opry appearance and I am sure it will be just as memorable as their previous ones. 

Rounding out Saturday night will be Suzy Bogguss, Frank Ray and making his Opry debut, Dalton Dover. 

No live Circle TV this weekend and no comedians on the schedule. 

Friday December 2
7:00: Connie Smith, Logan Mize, John Conlee, Louis York
Intermission
8:15: Mandy Barnett, The War and Treaty, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell

Saturday December 3
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Riders In The Sky, Dalton Dover, Jeannie Seely, Becky Buller Band w/Sharon White and The Fairfield Four
Intermission
8:15: Frank Ray, Suzy Bogguss, Opry Square Dancers, Chapel Hart, Don Schlitz

Now from 50 years ago, Saturday December 2, 1972:

7:00: Billy Walker (host); Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; The 4 Guys
7:30: Wilburn Brothers (host); Stringbean; Jeanne Pruett; Jimmy Capps and Hal Rugg
8:00: Tex Ritter (host); Grandpa Jones; Anne Murray; Crook Brothers
8:30: Roy Acuff (host); Jim Ed Brown; Karen Wheeler; Brother Oswald; Onie Wheeler
9:00: Del Reeves (host); Stu Phillips; Jamey Ryan; Fruit Jar Drinkers
9:30: Charlie Walker (host); Willis Brothers; Gordy Tapp; Carolee Snow; Jimmy Riddle
10:00: Wilburn Brothers (host); Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; The 4 Guys
10:15: Tex Ritter (host); Stringbean; Jeanne Pruett
10:30: Roy Acuff (host); Grandpa Jones; Anne Murray
10:45: Del Reeves (host); Stu Phillips; Crook Brothers
11:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Willis Brothers; Cates Sisters; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Tompall (host); and The Glaser Brothers; Jamey Ryan; Charlie Walker

(Justin Tubb and Marion Worth both cancelled, while Billy Walker and Tompall and The Glaser Brothers had only one spot. It was the Grand Ole Opry debut for Anne Murray, while some will remember Jamey Ryan as being married to Charlie Dick). 

Lee Greenwood gave an interview at one time, years ago, where he stated that he had been asked to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He said that he declined because he was so busy doing road dates and appearing in Las Vegas that he felt it wouldn't be right for him to join the Opry. He added that even though he declined Opry membership, he was told that he had an open invitation to appear on the Opry whenever he wished. One of those nights was on December 3, 1988. 

Here is the running order from that night 34 years ago: 

1st show
6:30: Bonanza
Del Reeves (host): Two Dollars in the Jukebox/A Dime at a Time/Looking at the World Through a Windshield
Boxcar Willie: The Wreck of the Old 97
Del Reeves: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me

6:45: Rudy's
Jim Ed Brown (host): Mariah
Lorrie Morgan: I Wish That I Could Fall in Love Today
Jim Ed Brown: A Child is Born

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Carroll County Accident
Connie Smith: Walkin' After Midnight
Jimmy C Newman: The Cajun Way
The 4 Guys: What'll You Do About Me
Jimmy Dickens: Me & My Big Loudmouth
Porter Wagoner: Forty Miles From Poplar Bluff
Kathy Koon: Sally Goodin

7:30: Standard Candy
Ricky Skaggs (host): I'm Tired
Jerry Clower: The Coon Hunt
Lee Greenwood: Hearts Aren't Made to Break/You Can't Fall in Love When You're Crying
Ricky Skaggs: Wheel Hoss

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby/Country Sunshine
Roy Drusky: Too Old to Die Young/One Day at a Time
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Grey Eagle
Minnie Pearl: Comedy
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light

8:30: Music Valley Drive
Hank Snow (host): I Don't Hurt Anymore
Jack Greene: Our Time
Jean Shepard: At The Time
Jim and Jesse: A Rider in the Rain
Charlie Louvin: When I Stop Dreaming
Hank Snow: It Kinda Reminds Me of Me

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Tennessee Border
Wilma Lee Cooper: Walking My Lord Up Calvary's Hill
Del Reeves: Orange Blossom Special
Billy Walker: Can I Just Call You Up Now & Then
Jimmy Dickens: Sleepin' At the Foot of the Bed
David Houston: My Elusive Dreams
Porter Wagoner: Ole Slewfoot

10:00: Little Debbie
Boxcar Willie (host): Fireball Mail/Train of Love/Hand Me Down My Walking Cane/Wreck of the Old 97/I'm Moving On/Wabash Cannonball/Night Train to Memphis
Lee Greenwood: Dixie Road/It Turns Me Inside Out

10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry

10:30: Pet Milk
Jerry Clower (host): Pessimistic Barber
Ray Pillow: Lucky Me
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted

10:45: B.C. Powder
Ricky Skaggs (host): Christmas Time's A Comin'
Jeannie Seely: Why Doesn't He Just Leave Me Alone
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Ragtime Annie
Ricky Skaggs: Country Boy

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Gonna Find Me a Bluebird
Jean Shepard: Many Happy Hangovers to You
Jim and Jesse: I'm Gonna Love You One More Time
Justin Tubb: Blue Eyed Elaine
Jack Greene: I'll Be Home on Christmas Day
Hank Snow: Lord, I Do Believe

11:30: Creamette
Jimmy C Newman (host): Cajun's Dream
The 4 Guys: Turn Around, Look at Me
Charlie Louvin: 'Til the End
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby/Every Time Two Fools Collide
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya

You know, when all was said and done, I'm sorry that Lee declined the invitation to join the Opry. I think he would have made a good member. 

To finish it up for this week, the third in the series of Opry Country Christmas shows will take place on Sunday December 4. Besides the regular Christmas show artists, the Sunday show will feature Scotty McCreery and Louise Mandrell. 

Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Scotty McCreery
Also Appearing: Gatlin Brothers, Mandy Barnett, Riders In The Sky, Charlie McCoy, Louise Mandrell

With that, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend. 

J