This weekend at the Grand Ole Opry, Carrie Underwood will be making her first appearance of 2023, and actually it will be two appearances as the Opry has two shows on the schedule for Saturday night, both of which will feature Carrie.
It's always a special night when Carrie returns to the Opry and as you would expect, Opry Live on Circle TV will actually be a live show this week. Joining Carrie on the televised portion will be guest artists Michael Ray and Deana Carter. This will be only the second live telecast Opry of 2023 and the first since the first weekend of February.
Also on the schedule for Saturday are Opry members Connie Smith. Jeannie Seely, Bill Anderson, Riders In The Sky, and making their Grand Ole Opry debut, Tigirlily Gold. Yes, Connie Smith is back on the Opry schedule for the first time in several months. Very happy to see this news!!!
Breaking News: I wanted to share this news that was posted by Circle:
Get a FIRST LOOK at our brand-new Circle Now app! Download today and stream the exclusive full 2-hour Opry Live show LIVE from the Opry House for FREE. Only available in the Circle Now app this Saturday, May 13 at 8/7c pm!
Enjoy performances by Opry Members Bill Anderson, Connie Smith, Jeannie Seely, Riders In The Sky, and Carrie Underwood, along with Tigirlily Gold, Deana Carter, and Michael Ray!
That is certainly big news. With the Circle Now app, the entire Opry show on Saturday night will be available to watch!!
Now moving on to the Friday Night Opry where Jeannie Seely is scheduled, joined by members Del McCoury, Charlie McCoy, and back for this third appearance of the year, Mike Snider.
Guest artists on the Friday schedule are Larry Fleet, Americana artist Jim Lauderdale, Drake Milligan, Maggie & Tae, and making their Opry debut, My Sister, My Brother.
Friday May 12
7:00: Jeannie Seely; Larry Fleet; Mike Snider; My Sister, My Brother; Del McCoury Band
Intermission
8:15: Jim Lauderdale; Drake Milligan; Charlie McCoy; Maddie & Tae
Saturday May 13
1st show
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Connie Smith, Jeannie Seely, Tigirlily Gold, Bill Anderson, Riders In The Sky
8:00: Michael Ray, Deana Carter, Carrie Underwood
2nd show
9:30: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Tigirlily Gold, Bill Anderson, Carrie Underwood
10:30: Deana Carter, Opry Square Dancers, Michael Ray, Riders In The Sky
So, with Carrie Underwood's appearance this weekend, that leaves the following "active" Opry members yet to make an appearance thus far in 2023:
Clint Black
Luke Combs
Diamond Rio
Emmylou Harris
Alan Jackson
Alison Krauss
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Eddie Montgomery
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Pam Tillis
Travis Tritt
Josh Turner
Keith Urban
While I am disappointed in every name on that list, Luke Combs and Brad Paisley are the two that stand out. While we all are familiar with Brad's track record (and his comments after Jimmy Dickens passed away which now seem like empty words), I really thought we would get more out of Luke after he joined. He's still young, so there is time. I will also add that Josh Turner is scheduled for an upcoming show.
(One more note on Carrie: she is scheduled for both Opry shows on Tuesday June 6, the traditional Tuesday night start for CMA Fest).
As mentioned, My Sister, My Brother will be making their Opry debuts on Friday night, while Tigirlily Gold will be debuting on Saturday night.
My Sister, My Brother, is a fairly new duo, and consists of Garrison Starr and Sean McConnell. Both are known for their songwriting and found that their voices blended together. They currently have a self-titled, five song EP out on the market.
Tigirlily Gold, which consists of sisters Kendra and Krista, record for Monument Records and has a new EP "Blonde" that will be out shortly. The EP was produced by Shane McAnally, Pete Good and Alex Kline. Originally from North Dakota, the sisters started at an early age, touring the Midwest in the mid 2010s. In 2017, they relocated to Tennessee and landed a weekly residence performing at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row on Nashville’s famed lower Broadway. They released their debut EP in 2021 and consider Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Sugarland and Rascal Flatts among their musical influencers.
Now from 45 years ago, Saturday May 13, 1978:
1st show
6:30: Billy Walker (host); Jimmy Dickens
6:45: Osborne Brothers (host); Wilma Lee Cooper; Justin Tubb
7:00: David Houston (host); Skeeter Davis; Billy Grammer; Stu Phillips
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Jean Shepard; Wilburn Brothers; Crook Brothers
8:00: Grandpa Jones (host); The 4 Guys; Charlie Louvin; Bill Carlisle; Guy Willis
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jimmy C Newman; Stonewall Jackson; Del Wood; Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Stu Phillips (host); Osborne Brothers; Wilma Lee Cooper; Jimmy Dickens
10:00: David Houston (host); Skeeter Davis; Guy Willis
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Billy Grammer; Bill Carlisle
10:30: Grandpa Jones (host); Jean Shepard; Wilburn Brothers
10:45: Stonewall Jackson (host); The 4 Guys; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Charlie Louvin; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Justin Tubb; Kirk McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Jimmy C Newman; Del Wood; Norman Wade
(Porter Wagoner was scheduled to host the 7:00 and 9:30 segments but cancelled. Billy Walker was scheduled for both shows but only appeared on the early show).
Norman Wade appeared on the 11:30 segment with Marty Robbins. Marty was Norman's biggest influence during is career, thus the connection. In fact, Norman worked for Marty for approximately 15 years. Marty also played dobro on a few of Norman's recordings. Overall, Norman had limited chart success, however in 1984, he was honored with lifetime membership of the Jimmie Rodgers Memorial Festival in Meridian, Mississippi.
Merle Haggard never became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. However, over the course of his Hall of Fame career, he did make several appearances on the show, including one of his last appearances anywhere. As far as the Opry, it all started for Merle on Saturday May 1, 1967, when he made his first appearance on the show. Here is the running order from that night 57 years ago:
7:30: Cordite
Billy Walker (host): Oh, Lonesome Me
Bill Carlisle: Rusty Old Halo
Bob Luman: You Can Take The Boy From The Country
Margie Bowes: Makin' Believe
Billy Walker: Anything Your Heart Desires
Ernie Ashworth: At Ease, Heart
Bill Carlisle: What Kinda Deal Is This
Margie Bowes: There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight
Billy Walker: Del Rio
8:00: Martha White
Flatt & Scruggs (host): Nine Pound Hammer
Charlie Louvin: Here Comes Someone's Heartache
George Hamilton IV: Urge For Going
Crook Brothers: Arkansas Traveler
Ray Pillow: Six Days On The Road
Merle Haggard: The Bottle Let Me Down
Charlie Louvin: On The Other Hand
8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Please Come Back, Little Pal
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: You've Never Very Far From My Mind
Wilburn Brothers: Hurt Her Once For Me
Loretta Lynn: You Ain't Woman Enough
Roy Acuff: Waltz of The Wind
Tommy Hunter: Fill Up Your Cup of Disgrace
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: It Started Again
Wilburn Brothers: Roarin' Again
Howdy Forrester: Instrumental
Roy Acuff: Cabin In Gloryland
9:00: Luzianne
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Bobby Lord: Look What You're Doing To You
The Browns: I'd Just Be Fool Enough
Minnie Pearl: You Are My Sunshine
Porter Wagoner: Cold Hard Facts of Life
Norma Jean: Conscience, Keep an Eye On Me Tonight
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Devil's Dream
9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): Rhumba Boogie
Jimmy Newman: Louisiana Saturday Night
Marion Worth: Walk Thru This World
George Morgan: I Couldn't See
Hank Snow: (?)
Cousin Jody: On Top of Old Smokey
Jimmy Newman: Cry, Cry Darling
Hank Snow: Down At The Pawn Shop
10:00: Schick
Flatt & Scruggs (host): It Was Only The Wind
Charlie Louvin: God Bless Her 'Cause She's My Mother
Margie Bowes: Enough To Make A Woman Lose Her Mind
George Hamilton IV: Early Morning Rain
10:15: Pure
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting In The Air
Bill Carlisle, Jr.: Just To Satisfy You
Ray Pillow: Two Minus One Leaves Blue
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
Howdy Forrester: Instrumental
10:30: Buckley's
Wilburn Brothers (host): The Shoe Goes On The Other Foot Tonight
Loretta Lynn: If You're Not Gone Too Long
Teddy Wilburn and Loretta Lynn; Sweet Thang
Ernie Ashworth: Sad Face
10:45: Kent
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host): The Birds Are Back To Sing
Bob Luman: Let's Think About Living
Crook Brothers: Lafayette
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Each Season Changes You
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Conscience, I'm Guilty
Bobby Lord: Life Can Have Meaning
Jim Ed Brown: Pop A Top
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Lost Indian
Hank Snow: The Runt
Sam McGee: Nine Pound Hammer
Tommy Hunter: In A Way
Jim Ed Brown: You Can Have Her
Hank Snow: (?)
11:30: Lava
Jimmy Newman (host): Louisiana Saturday Night
Marion Worth: Apartment No. 9
Merle Haggard: Days of Wine & Roses/Swinging Doors
Jimmy Newman: Jambalaya
Marion Worth: Loose Talk
Cousin Jody: Wabash Cannonball
Jimmy Newman: Dropping Out of Site
(Billy Walker, Minnie Pearl, Porter Wagoner, Norma Jean and George Morgan only had one spot. Jim Ed Brown premiered a new song on the Opry that night: Pop A Top, and at this point in his career, Jimmy was not known as Jimmy C Newman, just Jimmy Newman).
There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry tonight.
Great stuff as always! It's ironic that Merle made his Opry debut on a night that Marty was not there, since he named for a son for Marty AND did a great imitation of him.
ReplyDeleteThat 67 show is great. Tommy Hunter did both sides of his current record, both very good songs. Hank Snow did on of my favorites of his, Down at the Pawn Shop and The Runt, on of his best recitations. The Wilburn Brothers had just had a big hit with Hurt Her Once For Me. Jimmy Newman did a great Tom T. Hall written song, Dropping Out Of Sight. Look What Your Doing To You was a real good song by Bobby Lord. Norma Jean's Conscience, Keep An Eye on Me Tonight was a good song and I's like to have heard that live with Buck Trent playing his electric banjo on it. Billy Walker did Del Rio which was one of his Monument western songs that compared to Cross The Brazos and Matamoras. And this was near the end of the girls performing with Jim Ed. The same for Lester and Earl. What a show. Merle was just a bonus.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this Byron.
Jim
This is Mike, who has become Anonymous again and was up above. Agreed, Jim. And it's nice to see Marty Stuart's roommate back on the schedule this week.
DeleteI find it both interesting and encouraging that the Circle App's first full 'Opry show will feature FIVE faithful 'Opry members!
ReplyDeleteIt's just does my heart so much good to hear Roy Acuff coming across WSM on an Opry broadcast and know that for a while, people in the house get to see Roy and Minnie on the stage on the big screen.
ReplyDeleteNice to hear Mike Snider on the Opry again too.
Jim
Mike Snider should be commended for coming in from Gleason just to do that six minutes. Went awful fast it seemed.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mike!
Jim
Last night, as I am sure others did, I watched the entire Grand Ole Opry first show on the Circle TV app. My thanks to the Opry and Circle TV for making this show available and I hope that we will see more of this.
ReplyDeleteI was very happy that a few of the acts that we normally don't see on Opry Live were on that opening hour: Connie Smith, Bill Anderson and Riders In The Sky. None of those three disappointed.
I really was anxious to see and hear Connie as she had not been on the Opry in several months. She sounded good. Regarding her appearance, she looked good, my wife, who was watching it with me, commented that she looked "tired" and I agree. It is hard to believe that Connie is over 80. Hopefully she is well, and we can look forward to seeing and hearing more of her on the Opry.
What I really liked about the first hour on the Circle TV app was that it flowed like an Opry show should. It certainly wasn't like the hour that aired on Circle TV at 8:00. There were no special announcers, guests, etc. Mike introduced the acts, and they did their songs. Nothing special and it was great.
I did want to say that it was nice to see Natalie back on the TV portion. I know she has been dealing with a serious health issue and it would appear that she is on the road to a full recovery. While some of us may not particularly care for her, I am happy for her.
I am guessing that we might see more of an entire Opry show on the Circle TV app, and my guess is that they are probably thinking of doing a subscription service to pay a fee to see these shows. If it was reasonably priced, I would pay, especially if the shows were like we saw last night.
Wish this kind of technology was available “back in the day”. At times, if the weather wasn’t just right, that WSM signal could be very elusive even though it was a blowtorch clear channel. Now, with the technology of online radio, satellite radio, and video streaming, you can listed (or watch) anytime and anywhere. Did they stream both shows, or only the early show? Hope they continue to air the complete *radio show* in the future and not just the overproduced newfangled acts they think we want to see.
DeleteIt's an exciting weekend ahead at the Grand Ole Opry with the highly anticipated return of Carrie Underwood. Fans are in for a treat as Carrie will be gracing the Opry stage not once, but twice, with two scheduled shows on Saturday night. Her appearances always create a buzz and add a special touch to the Opry experience.
ReplyDeleteWhat makes this occasion even more thrilling is that Opry Live on Circle TV will be broadcasting the shows in real-time. This live telecast, only the second of 2023 and the first since February, promises an unforgettable night of music and entertainment. Joining Carrie on the televised portion will be guest artists Michael Ray and Deana Carter, ensuring an exceptional lineup for viewers to enjoy.