Grand Ole Opry 4/21 & 4/22 Updated

This will be an abbreviated post for this week, as my lovely wife and I are spending the week in Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Hopefully, I will be able to catch up as the week goes on. 

Taking a look at the Friday Night Opry, Grand Ole Opry members the Oak Ridge Boys are on the schedule. Earlier in the year, the Oaks posted their Opry dates for the entire year. I know Lauren Alaina did the same and personally, I don't think it is a bad idea. It helps those acts get in their appearances and gives their fans somewhat of an idea when to purchase tickets. 

Also scheduled are members Bobby Osborne, Riders In The Sky and Don Schlitz.

Guesting on Friday will be Sara Evans, Catie Offerman, and making his Opry debut, Brandon Ratcliff. 

Saturday night has Opry members Del McCoury Band and Henry Cho listed, along with Jeannie Seely, The Whites, and making it a two show weekend, Riders In The Sky. 

Steve Earle is back for another Opry appearance, along with Erin Kinsey and making his Opry debut, Chancey Williams. 

I am sure some have noticed that over the past year, both Sara Evans and Steve Earle have been making more appearances on the Opry than both have done in the past. 

Friday April 21 

7:00: Riders In The Sky, Catie Offerman, Brandon Ratcliff, Don Schlitz 

Intermission 

8:15: Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Sara Evans, Oak Ridge Boys

Saturday April 22

7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Riders In The Sky, Erin Kinsey, The Whites, Del McCoury Band

Intermission 

8:15: Jeannie Seely, Opry Square Dancers, Henry Cho, Chancey Williams, Steve Earle

As mentioned, Brandon Ratcliff and Chancey Williams are making their Opry debuts this weekend. 

Brandon Ratcliff is from Cotton Valley, Louisiana and is signed to Monument Records. In 2019 he released his first single "Rules of Breaking Up." He has opened for Kelsea Ballerini and Keith Urban, and his most recent release is Tale of Two Towns, which is described as a "coming of age record." 

Chancey Williams is from Wyoming and is described as a "neo-traditional country music sensation." He is one of only two artists (Chris LeDoux) to both compete in the rodeo and perform on the main stage at Cheyenne Frontier Days and the only singer/songwriter to be endorsed by CINCH®. Beginning 2022, Chancey was named iHeartRadio’s 2022 Rocky Mountain Country Music Awards Entertainer of the Year. Williams also won Songwriter of the Year for ‘The Saint’ and Album of the Year for his most recent record produced with country hitmaker, Trent Wilmon, 3rd Street.

Now from 45 years ago, Saturday April 22, 1978:

1st show
6:30: Bill Monroe (host); Wilma Lee Cooper
6:45: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jerry Clower
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Wilburn Brothers; Skeeter Davis; Billy Grammer
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Stu Phillips; Guy Willis; Marion Worth; Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
8:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Roy Drusky; The 4 Guys; Ernie Ashworth
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jeanne Pruett; Stonewall Jackson; Bill Carlisle; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Bill Monroe (host); Jim Ed Brown (host); Billy Grammer; Wilma Lee Cooper
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Skeeter Davis; Wilburn Brothers
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Guy Willis
10:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Stu Phillips; Marion Worth
10:45: Jerry Clower (host); The 4 Guys; Crook Brothers; Tennessee Travelers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Roy Drusky; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Ernie Ashworth; Kirk McGee
11:30: Stonewall Jackson (host); Jeanne Pruett; Bill Carlisle; Sheila & Bill Carlisle, Jr. 

(Guy Willis appeared as a solo act as his brother Vic was in the hospital)

Here is the detailed running order: 

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Bill Monroe: Mary Jane, Would You Be Mine
Wilma Lee Cooper: Come Walk with Me
Bill Monroe: Clinging To A Saving Hand

6:45: Rudy's
Jim Ed Brown: I've Rode with The Best
Jerry Clower: Comedy
Jim Ed Brown: It's That Time of The Night

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner: Ol' Slewfoot
Wilburn Brothers: Trouble's Back In Town
Wilburn Brothers and Skeeter Davis: Get All Excited
Skeeter Davis: Silver Threads & Golden Needles/He Will Be There
Billy Grammer: Memory Waltz
Porter Wagoner: Tennessee Saturday Night/Cold Hard Facts of Life/Carroll County Accident/Green, Green Grass of Home

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff: Wabash Cannonball/Tennessee Central No. 9/Sunshine Special
Stu Phillips: I'd Rather Be Sorry
Guy Willis: Boots & Saddle
Marion Worth: Fool #1
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Durang's Hornpipe
Roy Acuff: Will The Circle Be Unbroken

8:00: Martha White
Grandpa Jones: Little Pink
Roy Drusky: Fraulein/Don't It Make You Want To Go Home
The 4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On/My Special Angel
Ernie Ashworth: Give Me 100 Reason
Grandpa Jones: Kitty Klide

8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow: I Don't Hurt Anymore
Jeanne Pruett: Sweet Sweetheart/Satin Sheets
Stonewall Jackson: The Spirits of St. Louis
Bill Carlisle: Is Zat You Myrtle
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cacklin' Hen
Hank Snow: Bluebird Island

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Kenny Baker: Instrumental
Jim Ed Brown: Four Walls/He'll Have To Go/Distant Drums/Mexican Joe
Billy Grammer: Georgiana Moon Waltz
Wilma Lee Cooper: Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow
Bill Monroe: I'm Working On A Building

10:00: Fender
Porter Wagoner: Big Wind's A' Comin'
Skeeter Davis: It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels
Wilburn Brothers: Knoxville Girl
Porter Wagoner: Swing Lo, Sweet Chariot

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff: Back In The Country
Guy Willis: Home On The Range
Oswald: Mountain Dew
Roy Acuff: Wreck On The Highway

10:30: Trailblazer
Grandpa Jones: Ol' Blue
Stu Phillips: Crystal Chandeliers
Marion Worth: Just A Little Lovin'
Grandpa Jones: Night Train To Memphis

10:45: Beech-nut
Jerry Clower: Comedy
The 4 Guys: Hangin' On
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Katy Hill
Jerry Clower: Comedy

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow: The Wreck of The Old 97/One More Ride
Roy Drusky: Peel Me A Nanner/One Day At A Time
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Ernie Ashworth: Give Me 100 Reasons
Kirk McGee: Victory Rag/Freight Train
Hank Snow: Hobo Bill's Last Ride

11:30: Elm Hill
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Jeanne Pruett: Sweet Sweetheart/Satin Sheets
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Sheila Carlisle and Bill Carlisle Jr.: When I Stop Dreaming
Stonewall Jackson: The Spirits of St. Louis

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.