Grand Ole Opry 7/28 & 7/29

After the big celebration for Bill Anderson last weekend, this weekend promises to be a little bit quieter at the Grand Ole Opry as the Opry closes out the month of July.

Looking at what is on the schedule, the Friday Night Opry will feature Opry members Rhonda Vincent, Mike Snider, Charlie McCoy, and I am happy to see that Connie Smith is back on the schedule. Connie cancelled her last appearance and was not on the schedule for last weekend. 

Among those guesting on Friday will be comedian Brian Bates, Rhett Akins, Ben Fuller and Tiera Kennedy. 

Bill Anderson returns to the Opry stage on Saturday night, along with Jeannie Seely, who continues to add to her record-breaking number of Opry appearances. Mandy Barnett is also on the list, along with Craig Morgan, who will be closing out the show. 

Texas Hill, Tigirlily Gold and Erin Kinsey will round out the lineup. 

Friday July 28
7:00: Rhonda Vincent, Tiera Kennedy, Mike Snider, Rhett Akins
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith, Brian Bates, Ben Fuller, Charlie McCoy

Saturday July 29
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Texas Hill, Mandy Barnett, Tigirlily Gold
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson, Opry Square Dancers, Erin Kinsey, Craig Morgan

Saturday's Opry Live on Circle TV will feature a previously taped show that starred Lauren Alaina, Ben Rector and Scotty McCreery. 

Finally, this will be the last Sunday Night Opry for this current run of the show. Starting next week, the Thursday Night Opry returns. Here is the lineup for this week: 

Sunday July 30
7:00: Jeannie Seely, Ashley Ray, Louise Mandrell
Intermission
8:15: Brittney Spencer, The SteelDrivers, Michael Ray, EVERETTE

Now from 45 years ago, Saturday July 29, 1978: 

1st show
6:30: Charlie Louvin (host), Justin Tubb
6:45: Stonewall Jackson (host), Willis Brothers
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host), Skeeter Davis, Charlie Walker, Helen Cornelius
7:30: Roy Acuff (host), Lonzo and Oscar, Ron Sweet, Billy Grammer, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
8:00: Del Reeves (host), Jeanne Pruett, Ray Pillow, Bill Carlisle
8:30: Hank Snow (host), The 4 Guys, Louie Roberts, Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host), Lonzo and Oscar, Charlie Louvin, Wendy Holcombe, Helen Cornelius
10:00: Charlie Walker (host), Skeeter Davis
10:15: Roy Acuff (host), Stonewall Jackson, Brother Oswald
10:30: Billy Grammer (host), Wilma Lee Cooper
10:45: Ray Pillow (host), Justin Tubb, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
11:00: Hank Snow (host), The 4 Guys, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Kirk McGee
11:30: Del Reeves (host), Jeanne Pruett, Bill Carlisle

(Marion Worth was scheduled for both shows but cancelled)

Ray Price was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for a few years in the 1950s, before being fired as part of the "Purge of 64." While he never rejoined the Opry as a member, he did make appearances on the show after he left. One of those appearances took place on Saturday July 29, 1995. Also appearing with Ray that night was another member who was fired as part of the "Purge" and that was Don Gibson. Unlike Ray, Don did rejoin the Opry cast several years later. What is somewhat ironic is that Ray Price, who never rejoined, probably made more Opry appearances than Don Gibson, who did rejoin. 

Regardless, here is the running order from 28 years ago, Saturday July 29, 1995: 

1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Jimmy C Newman (host); Colinda
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya

6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Billy Walker (host); Word Games/Singing The Blues
Skeeter Davis: Lovesick Blues
Billy Walker: Lay It Down; Give It Up/Charlie's Shoes

7:00: Shoney's
Jack Greene (host): Good Time Chariot
Wilma Lee Cooper: Hallelujah, Praise The King
Hank Locklin: Send Me The Pillow You Dream On
Mike Snider: Soldier's Joy/Angeline The Baker/Old Molly Hare/Battle Cry of Freedom/Get Your Hand Off My Knee & Load The Cannon
Jack Greene: Satisfied

7:30: Standard Candy
Jimmy Dickens (host): May The Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose
Janie Fricke: Do Me with Love
Ray Price: Heartaches By The Numbers/For The Good Times
Don Gibson: I Can't Stop Loving You/Oh, Lonesome Me
Jimmy Dickens: Out Behind The Barn

8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Brother Oswald: Eunita
Charlie Louvin and Bob Bates: My Baby's Gone
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Snowflake Reel
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home

8:30: Kraft
Hank Snow (host): Geisha Girl
Stu Phillips: That's A Chance I'll Have To Take
Jan Howard: Take Me As I Am, Or Let Me Go
The Whites: Pins & Needles
Del Reeves: The Race Is On
Hank Snow: With This Ring I Thee Wed

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Y'all Come
Hank Locklin: Country Hall of Fame
Ray Pillow: I Just Can't Honky Tonk Your Memory Away
Charlie Walker: Smoke, Smoke, Smoke
Janie Fricke: Please Help Me I'm Falling/Do Me with Love
Porter Wagoner and Collen Walters: If Teardrops Were Pennies
Porter Wagoner: On A Highway Headed South

10:00: Goody's
Jimmy Dickens (host): Me & My Big Loud Mouth
Jan Howard: Lonely Street
Jimmy Dickens: We Could

10:15: Cooper's/Tennessee Pride
Jimmy C Newman (host): Allons ah Lafayette
Roy Drusky: Too Old To Die Young
Cajun Country: In The Cajon Mood
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band

10:30: Gruhn
Jack Greene (host): Walking On New Grass
Ray Price: San Antonio Rose/Night Life/It Should Be Easier Now

10:45: Fairfield
Jeanne Pruett (host): Temporarily Yours
Whitewater: Paradise
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Acorn Hill
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Filipino Rose
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain
Charlie Louvin and Bob Bates: I've Cheated On You
The Whites: Makin' Believe/Keep On The Sunny Side
Hank Snow: Linda Lou

11:30: Loreal
Mike Snider (host): What Child Is This
Del Reeves: This Must Be The Bottom/Bad News
Jeannie Seely: Burning That Old Memory/When He Leaves You
Mike Snider: Little Maggie

There you have it for this week, the final weekend in July. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.