Grand Ole Opry 6/9 & 6/10

As CMA Festival week finishes up in Nashville, the Grand Ole Opry continues to join in on the festivities this weekend, as in addition to the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, there will also be a special Opry Country Classics show at the Ryman Auditorium on Saturday afternoon. 

Starting off with the Friday Night Opry, Grand Ole Opry member Vince Gill is on the schedule. In addition to Vince, Opry member Trace Adkins is back for his second Opry show of the year, along with comedian Gary Mule Deer. Also on the list are Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider, Riders In The Sky and John Conlee. 

Michael Ray, one of the Opry's more frequent guests is back at the Opry on Friday night and he is the only non-member on the schedule. 

Vince Gill and Gary Mule Deer are back on Saturday night, along with members Bill Anderson, Connie Smith and Mark Wills. 

After an impressive Grand Ole Opry debut back in March, Sean Dietrich is returning for his second Opry appearance on Saturday. Also guesting is Opry NextStage artist Hailey Whitters and Brett Young. 

Friday June 9
7:00: Riders In The Sky, Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider, Trace Adkins
Intermission
8:15: John Conlee, Gary Mule Deer, Michael Ray, Vince Gill

Saturday June 10
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mark Wills, Bill Anderson, Sean Deitrich, Brett Young
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith, Gary Mule Deer, Hailey Whitters, Vince Gill 

Now from 45 years ago, Saturday June 10, 1978: 

1st show
6:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Skeeter Davis; Charlie Walker
6:30: George Hamilton IV (host); Jeanne Pruett; Stu Phillips; Pete Sayers
6:45: Porter Wagoner (host); Wilburn Brothers; Marion Worth
7:00: Ernest Tubb (host); Dottie West; Charlie Louvin; Billy Grammer; Stonewall Jackson
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Minnie Pearl; Willis Brothers; Crook Brothers; Tennessee Travelers
8:00: Lester Flatt & The Nashville Grass; Grandpa and Romona Jones; Jack Greene; Jeannie Seely
8:30: Hank Snow (host); David Houston; Del Wood; Bill Carlisle; Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jeanne Pruett; Charlie Walker; George Hamilton IV; Stu Phillips; Marion Worth
10:00: Ernest Tubb (host); Skeeter Davis; Jimmy C Newman
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Minnie Pearl; Billy Grammer
10:30: Lester Flatt & The Nashville Grass; Dottie West; Wilburn Brothers; Stonewall Jackson
10:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Willis Brothers; Charlie Louvin; Crook Brothers; Tennessee Travelers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Jack Greene; Jeannie Seely; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Kirk McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); David Houston; Bill Carlisle; Del Wood

(Save to say that was a loaded lineup that night)

On Saturday night June 10, 2000, the Grand Ole Opry reveled a new barn backdrop. Here is how it was covered at the time: 

Don't worry, folks. They didn't burn the barn.

The Grand Ole Opry unveiled its new stage backdrop Saturday night (June 10) as the official opening of its event-rich 75th anniversary celebration. And to the relief of traditionalists, the set didn't resemble the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. Like preceding Opry stage sets, the new one features the outline of a pristine gambrel-roofed barn. Where the loft door would be in a real barn, there is a huge screen on which to project closeups of stage activity, as well as logos of the show's sponsors.

Designed by Emmy-winning Rene Lagler, the set's other additions include a white board "fence" that separates the Opry staff band from the performers and tall pointed screens at both sides of the stage to shield the audience from the masses of performers and fans who swarm around the edges of the back curtain.

The designer retained the rows of church benches that sit behind the band and face the audience. There is no mid-point opening in the new backdrop as there was in the one it replaced. Emblazoned across the barn are the words: "650 WSM Grand Ole Opry www.opry.com." (Since its founding in 1925, the Opry has been broadcast on radio station WSM, located at 650 on the AM dial.)

"It's certain to be a historic evening," Opry manager Pete Fisher promised before presenting the new set to the crowd of reporters and ticketholders. In describing the Opry's "family" qualities, Fisher spoke of such special "moments" as when Trisha Yearwood walked onstage unexpectedly to sing a duet with Garth Brooks and of the SHeDAISY sisters talking excitedly to their grandfather on their cell phone just seconds before they went on stage for their Opry debut.

But, Fisher continued, "Tonight is also about evolution, celebration and dedication. We're evolving. More and more new talent is discovering the Opry is a place they'd like to be . . . The new Opry set honors the past and serves as a symbol to our commitment to the future of the Opry."

Reciting the anniversary activities that lie ahead, Fisher called the Opry celebration "the world's biggest birthday party" and said that "Garth Brooks, Loretta Lynn, Vince Gill and Steve Wariner have already RSVPed." He said the celebration will proceed "well into 2001."

Fisher then traced the history of the Opry's stage sets, from depictions of log-cabin interiors to various scenes of rural imagery to the "familiar red barn [which] arrived on the scene in the 1960s." An updated "big red barn" set was installed in 1978, he noted, and remained the backdrop through the May 27 performance of this year. It will go on display at the new Country Music Hall of Fame when it opens next May.

When the curtain rose on the new set, the stage was packed with Opry members and guest artists. Among them was 88-year-old Bashful Brother Oswald (Beecher "Pete" Kirby), waving from his wheelchair. The former Smoky Mountain Boy came to the Opry in 1939 and performed in Roy Acuff's band until Acuff's death in 1992. He was made an Opry member in his own right in 1995 but has been prevented by illness from performing in recent years.

The assembled cast sang "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" before turning the stage over to Steve Wariner for the first official segment of the evening's show. His guests for historic occasion were Jim Ed Brown, BR5-49 and Chely Wright.

"We are not the owners of the Grand Ole Opry," said Gaylord Entertainment chief Terry London before the curtain went up on the new set. "We are caretakers of a treasure."

Here is the running order from that night 23 years ago, Saturday June 10, 2000: 

1st show
6:30: Online.com/Tex Mex
Steve Wariner (host): (?)
Jim Ed Brown: (?)
Steve Wariner: Holes In The Floor of Heaven

7:00: Shoney's
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleepin' At The Foot of The Bed
The Whites: Hangin' Around
Bill Carlisle: Too Old To Cut The Mustard
Pam Tillis: (?)/(?)
Jimmy Dickens: Mountain Dew

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Clark (host): Alabama Jubilee
Ronnie Milsap: Time, Love & Money/Snap Your Fingers
Alan Jackson: Chattahoochee/What Kind of Man, Jesus Said
Roy Clark: Thank God & Greyhound/Scotland/Under The Double Eagle

8:00: Martha White
Jeannie Seely (host): It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels
Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Holly Dunn: You Really Had Me Going
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Black Mountain Rag
Jeannie Seely: Together Again

8:30: Physicians Mutual
Charlie Walker (host): A Way To Free Myself
Wilma Lee Cooper: Loving You
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walkin'
Skeeter Davis: I Can Call Jesus Anytime
Rascal Flatts: Praying For Daylight/One Good Love
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down

2nd show
9:30: Opry Cruise
Steve Wariner (host): Make It Look Easy
Jim Ed Brown: The Old Lamplighter
Skeeter Davis: The End of The World
Pam Tillis: Don't Tell Me What To Do/More Than She Prayed For
Steve Wariner: Holes In The Floor of Heaven

10:00: Lincoln Mercury/Opryland Hotel
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind The Barn
Wilma Lee Cooper: A Beautiful Life
Del Reeves: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
Chely Wright: That's How I Knew It Was/That Makes It Hard To Be A Husband
Jimmy Dickens: I'd Rather Sleep In Peace Then Know Your Gone

10:30: Folex Carpet Spot Remover/Joggin' In A Jug
Roy Clark (host): Caravan
The Whites: Making Believe
Osborne Brothers: Sunny Side of The Mountain
Holly Dunn: There Goes My Heart Again
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Snowflake Reel
Roy Clark: Honeymoon Feeling

11:00: Coca Cola
Jeannie Seely (host): Pride
Billy Walker: Jesus Walks In
Jan Howard: Lord, I Hope This Day Is Good
Ronnie Milsap: Time, Love & Money/Snap Your Fingers
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me

11:30: Wildhorse Saloon
Johnny Russell (host): Red Necks, White Socks & Blue Ribbon Beer
Jimmy C Newman: Colinda
Ray Pillow: I'm Still Not Over Losing You
Charlie Walker: Smoke, Smoke, Smoke
Rascal Flatts: (?)

A wonderful show that took place during Fan Fair week. While some folks were not happy with the new barn backdrop, over time I think it worked out pretty well. While the barn would evolve over time, it would sustain itself until February 2023 when a new barn backdrop was revealed. 

Finally, as mentioned, there will be an Opry Country Classics show at the Ryman Auditorium on Saturday afternoon. The lineup: 

Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Jamey Johnson
Also Appearing: The Gatlin Brothers, Don Schlitz, John Berry, Shelly Fairchild

There you have it for this week. A great weekend of Opry shows to finish out CMA week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.