Grand Ole Opry 12/16 & 12/17

The subject of Grand Ole Opry members appearing on the Opry and how the process works has been brought up a few times. We all know from reading the older editions of the Grand Ole Opry History Picture Books that the Opry management would reach out to the various Opry members who were appearing on a particular Friday or Saturday night and ask if they were going to be in town and available for the following weekend. For the members not appearing, phone calls would be made to see if that particular member was available for the following weekend. In addition, talent agents and management of non-members would be called to see who was going to be in town and available for an Opry appearance if there were not enough members to fill out the lineups. 

After this process was completed, the lineups would be set, based on the number of Opry members available to appear. That number would vary. If 20 Opry members were available on a particular Saturday night, then 20 would be on the schedule. Even if the number was higher, such as 25, 30, or more, all those members would appear on at least one of the Friday or Saturday night shows. If there were any slots unfilled, then the non-members would be called. 

I bring that up because a question was asked of Bill Anderson in his recent monthly newsletter regarding his Opry appearances. Here is the question and Bill's answer: 

Does the Grand Ole Opry management schedule your appearances or is there a mutual discussion as to when you will appear?

At the beginning of each month, the Opry will e-mail a notice to all the members letting us know what nights the following month that Opry shows are scheduled. We are then asked to let the Opry know which of those nights we might be available to perform. The schedulers take it from there.

Of course, times have changed. There are now Opry shows almost every night of the week, and the number of artists on a show is much smaller, as the Opry shows are shorter in length and the artists now sing several songs instead of just one. Also, with the emphasis of having less Opry members on per show, and the scheduling of non-members, including the comedians and artists making their Opry debuts, that reduces the number of Opry members being asked to appear on the dates that they are available. 

I am not sure that answers any questions, but I thought it was good to share. 

After all the excitement last weekend, with the appearances by Carrie Underwood and the induction of Ashley McBryde, the Opry is back to one show each on Friday and Saturday night, both nights with very full and very solid lineups. 

The Friday Night Opry will feature Grand Ole Opry members John Conlee, Charlie McCoy and Ricky Skaggs, while Saturday's show has Bill Anderson, Lorrie Morgan, Bobby Osborne, Connie Smith, and a return appearance by Emmylou Harris. 

There is an interesting booking on the Friday Night Opry as John Driskell Hopkins will be appearing with Balsam Range and Debby Boone. Debby, of course, is the daughter of Pat Boone and the granddaughter of Opry legend Red Foley, while John Driskell Hopkins was one of the founding members of the Zac Brown Band.

Recording Christmas singles has become a tradition for Hopkins; “Snow” is his fourth. Along with his solo work, the singer-musician is a longtime member of the Zac Brown Band, who rallied to support him when he was diagnosed with ALS last year. He publicly shared the news in May and launched Hop on a Cure, his campaign to fund research into the disease and raise awareness. There is no known cure for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

It should be a special night at the Opry to see these wonderful performers on stage. 

Rounding out the non-members scheduled on Friday night are Jake Hoot, Avery Anna, Crowder, and making a return appearance, The Kentucky Headhunters. 

Guesting on Saturday night will be Gail Davies, who will be appearing with Emmylou, Holly Williams, comedian John Crist and making his Grand Ole Opry debut, Mitch Rossell. 

Friday December 16
7:00: Jake Hoot, John Conlee, John Driskell Hopkins & Balsam Range w/Debby Boone, Charlie McCoy
Intermission
8:15: Avery Anna, The Kentucky Headhunters, Crowder, Ricky Skaggs

Saturday December 17
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Connie Smith, Mitch Rossell, Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press. Lorrie Morgan
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson, John Crist, Opry Square Dancers, Holly Williams, Emmylou Harris and Gail Davies

A couple of very nice shows this weekend, with full lineups and a lot of variety. As a reminder, no live show on Circle television this weekend. 

Now from 50 years ago, Saturday December 16, 1972:

7:00: Jack Greene (host); Jeannie Seely; Stu Phillips; Bill Carlisle
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Charlie Louvin; Stoney Cooper; Ernie Ashworth; Diane McCall
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Grandpa Jones; Roland White and Marty Stuart; Crook Brothers
8:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Justin Tubb
9:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Bob Luman; Hank Locklin; Fruit Jar Drinkers
9:30: Hank Snow (host); Willis Brothers; The 4 Guys
10:00: Jack Greene (host); Jeannie Seely; Bill Carlisle; Ernie Ashworth
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Charlie Louvin; Stoney Cooper and Carol Lee Cooper; Roger Miller
10:30: Lester Flatt (host); Roland White; George Morgan; Grandpa Jones; Marty Stuart
10:45: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jim Ed Brown; Willis Brothers; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Justin Tubb; Sam McGee
11:30: Hank Locklin (host); Stu Phillips; Bob Luman; The 4 Guys

(Marion Worth and Bobby Bare both were scheduled and cancelled, while George Morgan missed his first spot, thus only appearing on the 2nd half of the show. Wilma Lee Cooper was missing, while Hank Snow was back on the Opry after missing for a few weeks). 


We know that some Saturday nights are better than others, and one of those very good Saturday nights took place the week before Christmas in 1994. Both shows that night featured Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Joe Diffie, Ricky Van Shelton, along with Travis Tritt and Rodney Crowell on the first show and Doug Stone on the late show. Here is the running order from Saturday December 17, 1994: 

1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Grandpa Jones (host): Old Blue
Wilma Lee Cooper: There's A Higher Power
Brother Oswald: The End of the World
Grandpa Jones: Gooseberry Pie

6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Bill Monroe (host): I'm On My Way to the Old Home
Emmylou Harris: Beneath Still Waters
Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell: Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
Bill Monroe: Bluegrass Breakdown

7:00: Shoney's
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take an Old Cold Tater
Bill Carlisle: Hand Me Down My Walking Cane
Osborne Brothers: Doin' My Time
Jean Shepard: Wabash Cannonball
Jimmy Dickens: When Your House is Not a Home

7:30: Standard Candy Company
Porter Wagoner (host): Howdy Neighbor Howdy
Travis Tritt: Can I Trust You with My Heart
Joe Diffie: Home
Vince Gill: Old Shep
Travis Tritt, Joe Diffie and Vince Gill: Wabash Cannonball
Joe Diffie: John Deer Green
Travis Tritt: I Walk the Line

8:00: Martha White
Mike Snider (host): Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Ricky Van Shelton: Hole in My Pocket/ White Christmas
Ray Pillow: Please Don't Leave Me Anymore/The Kind of Love I Can't Forget/Bubbles in My Beeer
Billy Dean: I Miss Billy The Kid/I Still Believe in Christmas
Mike Snider: 'T Was the Night Before Christmas

8:30: Kraft
Hank Snow (host): Silver Rails
The 4 Guys: Big River
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Jeannie Seely: I'll Be Home for Christmas
The Whites: Move It on Over
Hank Snow: The Prisoner's Song

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General/Drs. Cream/Sunbeam/Tennessee Pride
Jimmy Dickens and Jeannie Seely: Jingle Bells
Vince Gill: Christmas is Finally Here
Bill Monroe: Christmas Time's 'A Comin'
Jeannie Seely, Jean Shepard and Jan Howard: Away in the Manger/Silver Bells/Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer/Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
Ricky Van Shelton: White Christmas
Grandpa and Ramona Jones: Jingle Bells
Porter Wagoner: Happy Birthday Jesus
Emmylou Harris: Angel Eyes
Ricky Van Shelton: Please Come Home for Christmas
Joe Diffie: Mr. Christmas
Jeannie Seely: I'll Be Home for Christmas
Jimmy Dickens: There's No Place Like Home for Christmas
Jeannie Seely and Grand Ole Opry Cast: Silent Night

10:30: Gruhn Guitar
Mike Snider (host): Shuckin' the Corn
Billy Walker: Adam's Side
Mike Snider: The Fur Coat

10:45: Fairfield Communities
The Whites (host): Poor Folks Pleasure
Del Reeves: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
The Whites: Keep on the Sunny Side

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Right or Wrong
Charlie Walker: Smoke, Smoke, Smoke
The 4 Guys: Cottonfields/ Mariah
Doug Stone: On A 747 Tonight/Love Grows Best in Little Houses
Hank Snow: Bluebird Island

11:30: Cates Pickles
Jim Ed Brown (host): Will The Circle Be Unbroken/I Saw the Light/Gone At Last/I'll Fly Away
Jimmy C Newman: Cajuns Dream
Stonewall Jackson: Muddy Water
Johnny Russell: Ain't Cha Even Gonna Cry
Jim Ed Brown: Winter Wonderland/We Wish You a Merry Christmas

On the 2nd show, the first three segments basically ran together, although on the program Jimmy Dickens, Bill Monroe, Porter Wagoner and Grandpa Jones were listed as the hosts for the first four segments. And as you would expect, the show ran over that night. 

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.