Grand Ole Opry 7/7 & 7/8- Mid Year Update

Who else finds it hard to believe that the year is half over? Time never stops, whether it is in Canton, Nashville, or at the Grand Ole Opry. As I have done the past few years, I thought it was time to do a mid-year update. 

Looking at Grand Ole Opry members, and their appearances through July 2nd, Riders In The Sky are the leaders, appearing 41 times so far in 2023. They are closely followed by Jeannie Seely, who continues to build upon her record for most Opry appearances in the history of the show, making 39 appearances thus far. 

The rest of the Top 10: 
John Conlee: 21
Mandy Barnett: 19
Don Schlitz: 18
Bill Anderson: 17
Rhonda Vincent: 16
Vince Gill: 15
Connie Smith: 15
Dailey & Vincent: 14

Really nice to see Vince on that list as it has been a while. The Opry is a much better place when Vince is appearing. 

Among others who have made over 10 appearances, that list includes Mark Wills, Ricky Skaggs, Gary Mule Deer, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers and Mike Snider. 

There are still a few Opry members who have not appeared thus far in 2023: 
Clint Black
Luke Combs
Diamond Rio
Emmylou Harris
Alan Jackson
Alison Krauss
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Travis Tritt
Keith Urban
(I did not include Eddie Montgomery on the list as he is scheduled for next week, and I only included active touring members). 

Sadly, the Opry has lost three members thus far this year: Ray Pillow, Jesse McReynolds and Bobby Osborne, while we still await the induction of Jon Pardi. 

Overall, I think it has been a pretty good year for the Opry and we have seen a number of members up their appearances. It is especially nice to see some of the Opry's newest members making semi-regular appearances. 

Now taking a look at the Grand Ole Opry shows for this weekend, I am happy to say that Vince Gill is once again on the schedule. While the past weeks have seen Vince appearing on both the Friday and Saturday night shows, this weekend will find Vince appearing only on the Friday Night Opry. 

Joining Vince will be Mike Snider, The Isaacs, The Whites and, making just his second appearance of the year, the legendary Gene Watson. 

Gene will also be appearing on Saturday night, where he will be joined by Jeannie Seely, Bill Anderson, Connie Smith and Dailey & Vincent. 

Jake Hoot and John Morgan are guesting on Friday night, joined by very frequent Opry guest, and Nashville star, Charles Esten. I do believe he is up to over 160 appearances on the Opry. 

Saturday night has comedian Dusty Slay, Mae Estes and Tyler Farr on the schedule. 

Friday July 7
7:00: Jake Hoot, Mike Snider, John Morgan, The Isaacs
Intermission
8:15: The Whites, Charles Esten, Gene Watson, Vince Gill

Saturday July 8
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Mae Estes, Bill Anderson, Tyler Farr
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith, Opry Square Dancers, Dusty Slay, Gene Watson, Dailey & Vincent

Opry Live on Circle TV will be re-airing the 50th Opry anniversary show for Barbara Mandrell that took place last July. 

As summer continues, so does the Sunday Night Opry, and here is the lineup for that show.

Sunday July 9
7:00: Rhonda Vincent, Dee White, Jessica Willis Fisher
Intermission
8:15: Mandy Barnett, Dylan Marlowe, William Lee Golden & The Goldens, The Cleverlys

Only three members on the schedule for Sunday (yes, I am counting William Lee). 

Now from 45 years ago, Saturday July 8, 1978: 

1st show
6:30: Lonzo and Oscar (host): Lorrie Morgan
6:45: Ernest Tubb (host): Wilma Lee Cooper, Bill Carlisle
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Justin Tubb, Billy Grammer, Marion Worth
7:30: Roy Acuff (host): Stu Phillips, Willis Brothers, Crook Brothers
8:00: Bill Monroe (host): Charlie Walker, Charlie Louvin, Del Wood
8:30: Hank Snow (host): The 4 Guys, Jeanne Pruett, Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Ernest Tubb (host): Lonzo and Oscar, Billy Grammer, Bill Carlisle, Tom T Hall
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Willis Brothers, Justin Tubb
10:15: Roy Acuff (host): Wilma Lee Cooper, Brother Oswald
10:30: Charlie Walker (host): Stu Phillips, Del Wood
10:45: Bill Monroe (host): Lorrie Morgan, Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Marion Worth, Fruit Jar Drinkers, The 4 Guys, Kirk McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host): Charlie Louvin and Brenda Clark, Jeanne Pruett

(Ok, here we go: On the first show, Jack Greene was scheduled to host the opening segment, with Jeannie Seely also scheduled. Both cancelled, thus Lonzo and Oscar, who were scheduled for the 8:00 segment was moved up to host. Skeeter Davis was scheduled for the 7:00 segment but cancelled. Marion Worth, who was originally scheduled for the 7:30 segment was moved up to cover Skeeter in the 7:00 portion, and Charlie Louvin, who was originally scheduled during the 8:30 segment was moved up to the 8:00 segment to replace Lonzo and Oscar. 

Greene, Seely and Davis were all scheduled on the late show also, and all three cancelled. They were replaced on the 9:30 segment by Tom T Hall). 

Mother Maybelle Carter and the Carter Sisters joined the Grand Ole Opry in May 1950. As time went on, As time went on, they were given less favorable spots on the Opry, often reduced to just one appearance later in the night. Much like Sam and Kirk McGee, and a few of the other old-timers, Mother Maybelle made her displeasure known. As the 1960s progressed, June and the sisters were on the Opry less and less as they were spending more time on the road as part of Johnny Cash's show. The time finally came when the decision was made to leave the Opry. 

Their final night as members was on Saturday July 8, 1967. Here is the running order for the second half of the show that night: 

9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): Down At The Pawn Shop
Willis Brothers: Somebody Knows My Dog
Carter Family w/June Carter: Bye, Bye
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Devil's Dream
Hank Snow: Faded Petal From A Beautiful Rose
Bobby Bare: The Streets of Baltimore
Maybelle Carter: Wildwood Flower
Hank Snow: I've Been Everywhere

10:00: Schick
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Charlie Louvin: I Forgot To Cry
Cousin Jody: On Top of Old Smokey
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

10:15: Pure
Lester Flatt (host): White House Blues
Lonzo and Oscar: New River Train #2
Stu Phillips: (?)
Bob Luman: Memphis

10:30: Buckley's
Jim Ed Brown (host): I'd Walk A Country Mile
Skeeter Davis: The End of The World
Jim Ed Brown: Pop A Top

10:45: Newport
Bobby Lord (host): Take The Bucket To The Well
Crook Brothers: Sally Anna
Ray Pillow: Thank You Ma'am
Bobby Lord: Out Behind The Barn

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Hula Love
Billy Grammer: I've Seen That Look On Me A Thousand Times
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Soldiers Joy
Hank Snow: Black Diamond
The 4 Guys: Shenandoah
Sam McGee: Wheels
Billy Grammer: Wabash Cannonball
Hank Snow: I'm Moving On 

11:30: Lava
Marty Robbins (host): Devil Woman
Margie Bowes: Man Around The House
Justin Tubb: You Never Lose Your Mind
Del Wood: 12th Street Rag
Marty Robbins: Begging To You
Don Winters: Chime Bells
Justin Tubb: Take A Letter Miss Gray
Marty Robbins: Don't Worry/Bouquet of Roses/I Could Never Be Ashamed of You/Take These Chains From My Heart/Lovesick Blues/El Pason/Singing The Blues

(For those wondering, it was just Lester on that segment, as Earl cancelled). 

It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that Maybelle and the Carters finished up on a segment hosted by Hank Snow. Hank's wife, Min, was a dear friend of Maybelle Carter, and the two families lived very close to each other in Madison. 

While Maybelle, June and the Carter Sisters would no longer be members of the Opry, they would show up on appearances by Johnny Cash, as Johnny returned to make guest appearances on the show. 

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.