Grand Ole Opry 3/31 & 4/1 (Updated)

Coming off the big weekend in which Ronnie Milsap was honored and recognized, things get a little bit quieter this weekend at the Grand Ole Opry as the Opry closes out the month of March with the Friday Night Opry and moves in April with Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. 

Looking at the Friday night show, Grand Ole Opry members Riders In The Sky, John Conlee and Bobby Osborne are on the schedule. Among the non-members are a couple of Opry favorites, Suzy Bogguss and The Bellamy Brothers. I have mentioned it before, but we are seeing more of the brothers from Florida over the past year than we have seen previously. Also on the schedule is Sierra Ferrell, Priscilla Block and making her Opry debut, Lauren Weintraub. 

Looking at the lineup for Saturday night, Opry member Steve Wariner leads the list, along with Mandy Barnett and Jeannie Seely. Comedian Brian Bates is on the schedule as is The Swon Brothers, Wylie & The Wild West and Thompson Square. Those last two groups used to be on the Opry but neither has appeared in recent time. Finally, the Cleverlys are back for another appearance. Folks, for those who haven't seen this group live, they are something else.  As The New York Times wrote, “If Earl Scruggs, Dolly Parton, and Spinal Tap spawned a litter of puppies, it would be the Cleverlys.” 

In addition to their appearance on the Opry, the Cleverlys will also be hosting the Midnite Jamboree on Saturday night. 

Friday March 31
7:00: Riders In The Sky, Lauren Weintraub, John Conlee, Suzy Bogguss
Intermission
8:15: Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Priscilla Block, Sierra Ferrell, The Bellamy Brothers

Saturday April 1
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, The Swon Brothers, Mandy Barnett, The Cleverlys
Intermission
8:15: Wylie & The Wild West, Brian Bates, Opry Square Dancers, Thompson Square, Steve Wariner

As mentioned, Lauren Weintraub will be making her Opry debut on Friday night. Named among American Songwriter’s all-genre shortlist of “Artists to Watch” in 2023, she is one of Nashville’s buzziest newcomers. Coming to Nashville from Boston, she recently released her debut EP, ’This Is Your Brain On Love' (11.4 via Virgin Music), which already has amassing 20.6M+ streams. With nearly half a million average monthly listeners on Spotify, alone, Lauren was named a HITS Magazine “One to Watch” for 2022 and earned a nomination for “TikTok Songwriter of the Year” at the 2022 iHeartRadio Awards, igniting a loyal fanbase of more than 800k+ followers across social media.


Now going back 45 years ago to Saturday April 1, 1978. This was also the night of the Grand Ole Opry's annual reunion show, often referred to as "Old-Timer's Night." 

1st show
6:00: Vietti
Jimmy C Newman (host): Jambalaya
Wilma Lee Cooper: Come Walk with Me
Lonzo and Oscar: Crawdad Song
Charlie Louvin: Warm, Warm Woman
Zeke Clements: Live & Learn/Somebody's Been Beating My Time/Why Should I Cry Over You/Just A Little Lovin'/Smoke On The Water
Jimmy C Newman: Diggy Liggy Lo

6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Stonewall Jackson (host): Don't Be Angry
Sid Harkreader: Mockingbird Breakdown
Stonewall Jackson: Waterloo

6:45: Rudy's
Jack Greene (host): You Love Takes Care of Me
Jeannie Seely: Since I Met 'Cha, Boy
Curly Fox: The Old Gray Mule
Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely: Sing For The Good Times

7:00: Shoney's
Archie Campbell (host): Make Friends
Justin Tubb: What's Wrong with The Way That We're Doing It Now
Pee Wee King: Deck of Cards/Tennessee Waltz
Billy Grammer: Bonaparte's Retreat

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball/Tennessee Central No.9/Sunshine Special
Minnie Pearl: Carless Love
Alcyone Beasley: My Wild Irish Rose
Jack Shook: Along The Santa Fe Trail
Alcyone Beasley and Jack Shook: When The Desert Sun Goes Down
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Eighth of January
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away

8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Big Wind's A' Comin'
Del Reeves: When My Angel Turns Into A Devil
Guy Willis and C.W. Mitchell: Boots & Saddle
Annie Lou and Danny Dill: Slippin Around
The 4 Guys: You've Got Me Runnin
Porter Wagoner: Katy Did/Swing Lo, Sweet Chariot

8:30: Stephen's
Hank Snow (host): In The Misty Moonlight
Billy Walker: San Antonio Rose/You Gave Me A Mountain
Paul Howard: Stay A Little Longer
Wilburn Brothers: Trouble's Back In Town
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
Hank Snow: It Kinda Reminds Me of Me

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Del Reeves (host): Two Dollars In The Juke Box/A Dime At A Time
Jimmy C Newman: Colinda
Wilma Lee Cooper: Bucket To The South
Lonzo and Oscar: No Relief In Sight
Charlie Louvin: If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again
Ernie Ashworth: You Can't Pick A Rose In December
Del Reeves: When My Angel Turns Into A Devil

10:00: Fender
Jack Greene (host): You Love Takes Good Care Of Me
Jeannie Seely: Who Needs You
Del Wood: There's A Big Wheel
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Pee Wee King: Tennessee Waltz/Beer Barrel Polka
Roy Acuff: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

10:30: Trailblazer
Porter Wagoner (host): Tennessee Saturday Night
Billy Grammer: I Still Love You As I Did In Yesterday
Stonewall Jackson: Angry Words
Porter Wagoner: I've Enjoyed As Much of This As I Can Stand/On A Highway Headed South

10:45: Beechnut
Archie Campbell (host): Make Friends
Justin Tubb: What's Wrong with The Way That We're Doing It Now
Crook Brothers (with Sid Harkreader) and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Gary Eagle

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
The 4 Guys: When Will I Be Loved/The Wurlitzer Prize
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Guy Willis: Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
Kirk McGee: Victory Rag/Freight Train
Hank Snow: Paper Roses

11:30: Elm Hill
Billy Walker (host): Sing Me A Love Song To Baby
Stu Phillips: Let Me Love You All Over Again/Crystal Chandeliers
Wilburn Brothers: It Looks Like The Sun's Gonna Shine/The Light House
Billy Walker: A Legend In My Time

(Jim and Jesse, along with Marion Worth cancelled that night. Minnie Pearl appeared only on the first show, while Ernie Ashworth, Del Wood and Stu Phillips only did the late show). 

Obviously, from looking at the lineups for both shows that the early show was the one to be at. The vast majority of the former Opry members appeared on that show. 

The reunion shows began in February 1974, with the idea of bringing back the old-timer's one more time before the Opry left the Ryman Auditorium. It went over so well that it was brought back each year, before ending in the mid 1990s, as many of those former Opry members passed away, and very few of those living came back. 

1978 was certainly one of the better ones. 

Finally, some have asked if I would post the lineup from Saturday April 30, 1966, the night Ray Pillow became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Here is that lineup from 57 years ago: 

7:30: Luzianne
Billy Walker (host): How Do You Ask Someone To Love You
George Hamilton IV: Big Steel Railroad
The Homesteaders: Flowers On The Wall
Cousin Jody: Steel Guitar Rag
Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away
Curly Fox: Won't 'Cha Come Home Bill Bailey
George Hamilton IV: Write Me A Picture
The Homesteaders: Going Down The Mountain
Billy Walker: Charlie's Shoes

8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs (host): Nine Pound Hammer
Bobby Bare: Four Strong Winds
Grandpa Jones: Cabin Just Over The Hill
Del Wood: Piano Roll Blues
Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs: I Know What It Means To Be Lonesome
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Bobby Bare: Detroit City
Grandpa Jones: Old Rattler
Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs: Foggy Mountain Breakdown

8:30: Stephen's
Roy Acuff (host): Tennessee Central No. 9
Wilburn Brothers: It's Another World
Marion Worth: One Has My Name, The Other My Heart
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Roy Acuff: Wreck On The Highway
Wilburn Brothers: Troubles Back In Town
Brother Oswald: Roll On Buddy, Roll On

9:00: Pet Milk
Ernest Tubb (host): Jealous Lovin' Heart
Tompall and The Glaser Brothers: A Girl Like You
Ray Pillow: Common Colds & Broken Hearts
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Ernest Tubb: Waltz Across Texas
Margie Bowes: That Completely Destroys My Plans
Tompall and The Glaser Brothers: Teardrops 'Til Dawn
Ray Pillow: Even The Bad Times Are Good
Leon Rhodes: Leon's Guitar Boogie

9:30: Kellogg's
Willis Brothers (host): Give Me 40 Acres
The Carter Family: It Ain't Me Babe
Waylon Jennings: Time To Bum Again
June Carter: Tall Loverman
Willis Brothers: Love Thy Neighbor
Harold Weakley: To Mommy, In Care of God
The Carter Family: Wildwood Flower
Skeeter Willis: A Maiden's Prayer

10:00: Schick
Billy Walker (host): Cross The Brazos At Waco
Curly Fox: The Old Gray Mule
Cousin Jody: Wabash Blues
Billy Walker: Cattle Call

10:15: Pure
Wilburn Brothers (host): I'm Gonna Tie One On Tonight
Del Wood: Night Train To Memphis
Wilburn Brothers: Someone Before Me
Don Helms: The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise

10:30: Harvey's
Bobby Bare (host): A Man of Constant Sorrow
Grandpa Jones: I Don't Love Nobody
Bobby Bare: 500 Miles Away From Home
Grandpa Jones: Eight More Miles To Louisville
Bobby Bare: It Ain't Me, Babe/The Answer Is Blowing In The Wind/Worried Man Blues

10:45: Newport
Ernest Tubb (host): 'Til My Getup Has Got Up & Gone
Jack Greene: Born To Lose
Crook Brothers: Ida Red
Ernest Tubb: Half A Mind

11:00: Coca Cola
Roy Acuff (host): The Great Speckled Bird
Tompall and The Glaser Brothers: Same Old Memories
Margie Bowes: Big City
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Sam McGee: Wheels
Ray Pillow: Thank You, Ma'am
Onie Wheeler: Too Hot To Handle

11:30: Lava
Willis Brothers (host): Gonna Swing 'Til My Rope Breaks
George Hamilton IV: Abilene
Waylon Jennings: Anita, You're Dreaming
Archie Campbell: The Men In My Little Girl's Life
Willis Brothers: A 6 Ft 2 By 4
Marion Worth: Cryin' Time
George Hamilton IV: Truck Driving Man
Willis Brothers: God Walks These Hills with Me

It was certainly a great lineup at the Grand Ole Opry the night Ray Pillow became a member. 

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.