Another year is in the books, and I know that a lot of the readers, and Grand Ole Opry fans in general, are interested in numbers. With that in mind, here is a short recap and look back at 2022 in regard to the Grand Ole Opry.
The year started with 67 Opry members with five new members added: Lauren Alaina, Jamey Johnson, Charlie McCoy, Don Schlitz and Ashley McBryde. One member, Loretta Lynn, passed away. With 71 members, the Opry is at its highest number of members in many years (and of note, two more have already been invited to become members at the start of 2023, bringing the total to 73).
There were 212 shows in 2022 spread among every night of the week with the exception of Monday. I do want to note that the total includes the Thursday Opry Country Classic Shows, and the Opry Country Christmas shows, as all of those shows were aired on WSM. What is not included in the count are the shows that the Opry puts on for various convention and corporate events, along with off-site Opry shows that are not aired on WSM. Two examples being the Garth Brooks concert at Nissan Stadium, in which the Opry was the opening act, and the Nashville Grand Prix show, which was conducted and sponsored by the Opry.
Among the notable dates in 2022, Barbara Mandrell was honored upon her 50th anniversary as an Opry member, and while she didn't perform, she was honored with two shows to celebrate. Ricky Skaggs and Riders In The Sky became 40-year Opry members and Marty Stuart hit year 30. And while no special recognition was mentioned, Stu Phillips reached year 55.
Special mention also to Jeanne Seely, who not only celebrated her 55th year as an Opry member but was also recognized for making over 5,000 appearances on the Opry, the most by any Opry member.
There were 21 Opry members who appeared 10 or more times in 2022:
Jeannie Seely: 87
Riders In The Sky: 79
Connie Smith: 50
Mandy Barnett: 47
John Conlee: 42
Bill Anderson: 37
The Gatlin Brothers: 34
Rhonda Vincent: 34
Dailey & Vincent: 29
Ricky Skaggs: 27
Charlie McCoy: 26
Don Schlitz: 26
Bobby Osborne: 25
Mark Wills: 22
The Isaacs: 21
Mike Snider: 18
Jamey Johnson: 14
Del McCoury Band: 13
Lorrie Morgan: 13
Lauren Alaina: 12
Carrie Underwood: 10
On the opposite end of the spectrum, you have the group of "active" members who did not appear at all last year:
Diamond Rio
Alan Jackson
Alison Krauss
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Ronnie Milsap
Old Crow Medicine Show
Travis Tritt
There are a number of Opry members who are now retired, or inactive, that I do want to mention:
Bobby Bare
Patty Loveless
Barbara Mandrell
Jesse McReynolds
Dolly Parton
Stu Phillips
Ray Pillow
Jeanne Pruett
Ricky Van Shelton
Randy Travis
(Yes, Dolly is on the list. While she is still very much active, she has not been doing any touring and in fact as announced that she will no longer be doing any major concerts. There is still hope that among her limited performances, an Opry visit might be included).
Another name not mentioned is Rascal Flatts, as the group has seemed to have broken up (or at the very least, has taken a hiatus. It should be noted the Rascal Flatts member Gary LeVox has made several appearances as a solo artist.
The other 31 members not listed fell in between, ranging from Craig Morgan with 9 appearances, down to Luke Combs, Little Big Town, Eddie Montgomery, Brad Paisley, Marty Stuart and Pam Tillis, each of whom only made it to the Opry House a single time.
I think it is important to note that currently there is no set number of Opry appearances required by the members. My understanding when the various new Opry members are added, there is discussion that takes place as to what the expectations are.
Over 350 non-members made guest appearances on the show, with 103 of those acts making their Grand Ole Opry debut. The variety of those making Opry debuts ranged from rock and pop acts such as Vince Neil and The Beach Boys, comedians Willian Lee Martin and James Gregory, bluegrass groups Appalachian Road Show and Hogslop String Band, gospel acts We Are Messengers and Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and numerous contestants from TV shows such as The Voice. In other words, a lot of variety. Some of those acts were very good and were asked back, when some were very forgettable and probably one and done.
The list of those non-members who made 10 or more appearances include Gary Mule Deer, Henry Cho, Maggie Rose, Wendy Moten and Aaron Weber. Right behind that group were Lindsay Ell, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Charlie Worsham and Steven Curtis Chapman.
It looks like 2023 is going to be another busy year at the Opry as it appears that the recent history of having Opry shows literally every night of the week will continue. Opry Country Classics will be back and I have heard that Opry Country Christmas will also be returning.
Jeanne Pruett will be celebrating her 50th year as an Opry member, Diamond Rio their 25th and the Opry will ring in year 98 in October. And, if the past couple of years are any indication, we will see more members added to the Opry cast and dozens upon dozens making their Opry debuts. In other words, a very busy year.
As the Opry gets closer to their 100th anniversary in 2025, my personal opinion is that the Opry continues to be in good hands under the leadership of Dan Rogers and his team. It is not easy putting on all of these shows each week and sometimes it is difficult to fill the lineups. I appreciate the dedication that Dan has and the decisions he has made, specifically in regard to the addition of new members. By my count, 11 new members have been added since the change in leadership, with a couple more already set for 2023. The future looks exciting.
Again, my thanks to everyone, and I mean everyone, who I have met or communicated with as this journey continues. We may disagree at times, but all of us have one thing in common: we love the Opry and its history. Most importantly, we care.
Now on to 2023............
Byron
aka Fayfare
I really thought Travis Tritt appeared once or twice this year. I know he had to cancel several shows this year when he had surgery. Was one of those an Opry appearance?
ReplyDeleteJ in OK
I checked, and the last time Travis Tritt was on the Opry was February 27, 2021.
DeleteSo why doesn't Mo Pitney ever get any consideration as an Opry member ???????
ReplyDeleteProof that the Opry has made some outstanding additions over the last few years. 9 of them in particular are rockin’ it. Then, God bless Carrie Underwood and her devotion to this institution. One of the busiest and still-hottest artists in the industry STILL has time for the Opry. Garth & Trisha deserve props too honestly. Their appearances on the Opry stage are limited unfortunately, but their representation of it outside the Opry complex is quite strong.
ReplyDeleteI also agree Mo Pitney would be a great addition to the Opry.
ReplyDeleteI will second the comments and thank Byron for this post. I was glad to see the ones who appeared more than 10 times included several of the newer members. My lack of respect for the active performers appearing once or not at all is boundless.
ReplyDeleteEven though the Opry did that big emphasis on the 90s during the fall, most of the active members who did not make any appearances last year were from that era.
ReplyDeleteThanks much, Byron. It is always fun to look back. I wish Vince Gill would appear more often. He is a fantastic entertainer. When you think about the ages of the top performers it makes you wonder who will fill those gaps when they are gone. I agree the class of 90’s need to step up.
ReplyDeleteAs for Mo, he hasn't been asked I'd guess because most folks would have the reaction of "who?" This is a show, but these days it's about names people know. They wanna sell tickets. Just my guess. Vince was seemingly appearing like, twice a month a few years back. He is of course really busy with that little band he's in, but I'm sure as his touring days slack, he'll be around much more often.
ReplyDelete