Grand Ole Opry 9/15 & 9/16

It promises to be a special weekend at the Grand Ole Opry as on Saturday night Jeannie Seely will celebrate her 56th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. 

Jeannie has appeared on the Opry stage more than any other member in the history of the show. And not only is she celebrating year 56 as a member, but it is 56 consecutive years. Some members have come and gone, then have come back, but once Jeannie joined the cast on September 16, 1967, she never left. 

While Jeannie well be appearing on Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, Friday night looks great also as the schedule for that show features only members of the Grand Ole Opry, a rarity these days. Among those appearing will be Old Crow Medicine Show. Making just their third appearance of 2023, the group has not been around the Opry as often as they have been in the past. I enjoy their music and they are a lot of fun to watch. 

Also returning on Friday night is Gene Watson. Over the past several months, Gene has made a number of appearances on the Opry. In addition to Old Crow and Gene, there are three Hall of Famer's listed: Bill Anderson, Connie Smith and Don Schlitz. The Opry's newest member Gary Mule Deer will be appearing, as will Mark Wills, who will be opening the show. 

Mark Wills and Gary Mule Deer will be back on Saturday night, along with The Whites, Riders In The Sky, and, of course, Jeannie Seely. 

Sunday September 17 is the 100th birthday of the legendary Hank Williams. His grandson, Sam Williams is on the schedule for Saturday night. Perhaps he will honor his grandfather will a song or two. Also guesting will be NEEDTOBREATHE, and making his Grand Ole Opry debut, Logan Ledger. 

Friday September 15
7:00: Mark Wills, Gene Watson, Old Crow Medicine Show
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson, Gary Mule Deer, Connie Smith, Don Schlitz

Saturday September 16
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mark Wills, Jeannie Seely, Sam Williams
Intermission
8:15: The Whites, Opry Square Dancers, Gary Mule Deer, Logan Ledger, NEEDTOBREATHE

Now from 45 years ago, Saturday September 16, 1978: 

1st show
6:30: Stonewall Jackson (host); Justin Tubb
6:45: Wilburn Brothers (host); Wilma Lee Cooper, Billy Grammer
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Skeeter Davis, Vern Gosdin, Linda Carol Moore
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Minnie Pearl, Lazy B. Wranglers, Crook Brothers
8:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Ray Pillow, Stu Phillips, Bill Carlisle
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Roy Drusky, The 4 Guys, Marion Worth, Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Wilburn Brothers, Lazy B. Wranglers
10:00: Stonewall Jackson (host); Skeeter Davis, Justin Tubb
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Wilma Lee Cooper
10:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Billy Grammer, Roy Drusky
10:45: The 4 Guys (host); Vern Gosdin, Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Stu Phillips, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Kirk McGee
11:30: Ray Pillow (host); Mrion Worth, Bill Carlisle, Marshall Barnes

(Minnie Pearl only appeared on the early show)

Grand Ole Opry member Jeannie Seely has appeared on the Opry more than any other performer in the history of the show, over 5,000 times.  As mentioned, Jeannie joined the Opry's cast on Saturday September 16, 1967, and here is the running order from that night 56 years ago: 

6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Ernie Ashworth (host): A Week In The Country
Paul Moore: Cold, Cold Heart
Spider Wilson: Wildwood Flower
Ernie Ashworth: My Love For You

6:45: Rudy's
George Hamilton IV (host): Break My Mind
Jerri Lynn: Ain't Had No Lovin'
Jerry Whitehurst: Hey, Good Looking
George Hamilton IV: The Urge For Going

7:00: Luzianne
Bill Anderson (host): Get While The Getting's Good
The 4 Guys: Swing Down Chariot
Jimmy Gately: She Wants To Be Like You
Tammy Wynette: You Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad
Bill Anderson: No One's Gonna Hurt You Anymore
Duke of Paducah: Four Leaf Clover
The 4 Guys: Walking In The Sunshine
Bill Anderson: I Love You Drops

7:30: Standard Candy
Billy Grammer (host): Mabel, You Have Been A Friend To Me
Willis Brothers: A 6 Ft 2 By 4
Stringbean: Gonna Make Myself A Name
Margie Bowes: Man Around The House
Billy Grammer: The Real Thing
Harold Weakley: Since Never
Billy Grammer: Pennsylvania Polka
Willis Brothers: Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On

8:00: Martha White
Wilburn Brothers (host): It's Another World
Justin Tubb: As Long As There's A Sunday
Dottie West: Like A Fool
Crook Brothers: Sally Goodin
Wilburn Brothers: You're Standing In The Way
Pete Sayers: Little Darling Pal of Mine
Justin Tubb and Dottie West: Love Is No Excuse
Dottie West: Paper Mansions

8:30: Stephens
Roy Drusky (host): Rainbows & Roses
Grandpa Jones: Mountain Dew
Hugh X Lewis: You're So Cold I'm Turning Blue
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me
Roy Drusky: White Lightening Express
Opry Staff Band: Speeding West
Grandpa Jones: Everything I Had Going For Me Is Gone
Jeannie Seely: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me
Roy Drusky: Anymore

9:30: Kellogg's
Tex Ritter (host): Boll Weevil
Willis Brothers: Big Daddy's Alabamy Bound
Dottie West: Funny, Familiar Forgotten Feelings
Hank Williams, Jr.: There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight/Wedding Bells/Mansion On The Hill/Half As Much/Lovesick Blues
Tex Ritter: Working Man's Prayer
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham

10:00: Schick
Billy Grammer (host): Gotta Travel On
Stringbean: Gonna Make Myself A Name
Margie Bowes: Makin' Believe
Billy Grammer: Mabel, You Have Been A Friend To Me

10:15: Pure
Roy Drusky (host): Peel Me A Nanner
Grandpa Jones: Dear Old Sunny South By The Sea
George Hamilton IV: Break My Mind
Roy Drusky: New Lips

10:30: Buckley's
Ernie Ashworth (host): My Love For You
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Ernie Ashworth: Sad Face
Willis Brothers: Bob/God Walks These Hills with Me

10:45: Newport
Wilburn Brothers (host): Goody, Goody Gumdrop
Justin Tubb: Take A Letter Miss Gray
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Wilburn Brothers: Knoxville Girl

11:00: Coca Cola
Tex Ritter (host): Green Grow The Lilacs
The 4 Guys: Shenandoah
Jeannie Seely: I Fall To Pieces
Hank Williams, Jr: Long, Gone Lonesome Blues/Can't Take It No Longer/I'm In No Condition To Try To Love Again/I'm Nobody's Child
Tex Ritter: Just Beyond The Moon
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Gray Eagle
Jeannie Seely: Darling, Are You Ever Coming Home
Tex Ritter: I Dreamed of A Hillbilly Heaven

11:30: Lava
Bob Luman (host): Let's Think About Living
Osborne Brothers: Roll, Muddy River
Jerry Greene: Turn The World Around The Other Way
Tammy Wynette: I Don't Wanna Play House
Bob Luman: You Can Take The Boy From The Country
Harold Weakley: Since Never
Osborne Brothers: Making Plans
Bob Luman: Memphis


Finally, there are only a few former Grand Ole Opry members who are still living and active. One of those is Leroy Van Dyke, who joined the Opry on October 20, 1962. Before that, however, came his first appearance on the Opry, and that took place on Saturday September 16, 1961. Here is the lineup from that night: 

7:30: Pet Milk
Hawkshaw Hawkins (host): If It Ain't On The Menu
Willis Brothers: I Dreamed of A Hillbilly Heaven
George Hamilton IV: Three Steps To The Phone
Connie Hall: Fools Like Me
Hawkshaw Hawkins: You Know Me Much Too Well
Tommy Jackson: Snow Flake Reel
Justin Tubb: You Nearly Lose Your Mind
Willis Brothers: Pretty Diamonds
George Hamilton IV: To You & Yours
Hawkshaw Hawkins: I Don't Apologize

8:00: Martha White
Flatt & Scruggs (host): Salty Dog Blues
Cowboy Copas: Sunny Tennessee
Billy Grammer: It Takes You
June Carter: Comedy
Flatt & Scruggs: Go Home
Patsy Cline: I Fall To Pieces
Cousin Jake: Old McDonald Had A Farm
Crook Brothers: Instrumental
Flatt & Scruggs: Shuckin' The Corn

8:30: Faultless Starch
Hank Locklin (host): Let Me Be The One
Wilburn Brothers: Somebody's Back In Town
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Jordanaires: (?)
Hank Locklin: From Here To There To You
Grandpa Jones: (?)
Loretta Lynn: Darkest Day
Wilburn Brothers: No Legal Right
Hank Locklin: Happy Birthday To Me

9:00: Jefferson Island Salt
Porter Wagoner (host): Tell Her Lies & Feed Her Candy
Bobby Lord: Fascination
Glaser Brothers: Word's Come Easy
Margie Bowes: When Two Worlds Collide
Porter Wagoner: Everything She Touches Gets The Blues
Del Wood: Are You From Dixie
Roger Miller: (?)
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Fire On The Mountain
Glaser Brothers: Satisfied
Porter Wagoner: Uncle Pen

9:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): The Restless One
Roy Drusky: I Went Out of My Way
Leroy Van Dyke: (?)
Jan Howard: Let Me Know
Hank Snow: I Know
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Wreck On The Highway
James O' Gwynn: (?)
Stoney Cooper: Back Up & Push
Hank Snow: Begger To A King

10:00: Standard Oil 
Hawkshaw Hawkins (host): Put A Nickel In The Jukebox
Grandpa Jones: (?)
Justin Tubb: One For You, One For Me
Hawkshaw Hawkins: I'll Get Even with You

10:15: Rock City
Flatt & Scruggs (host): Crying My Heart Out Over You
George Hamilton IV: Before This Day Ends
Del Wood: 12th Street Rag
Flatt & Scruggs: Where Will I Shelter My Sheep

10:30: Jim Walter Homes
Billy Grammer (host): Bonaparte's Retreat
Archie Campbell: Sergeant York
Margie Bowes: Don't Turn On The Light
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On/Billy's Polka

10:45: De Con
Cowboy Copas (host): Alabam'
Patsy Cline: Bill Bailey
Glaser Brothers: I Wish I'd Never Seen Sunshine
Crook Brothers: Instrumental
Cowboy Copas: Signed, Sealed & Delivered

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Golden Rocket
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me I'm Falling
Wilburn Brothers: Blue, Blue Day
Jordanaires: (?)
Hank Snow: When My Blue Moon Turns To Gold Again
Willis Brothers: Ever Loving Dixieland
Hank Locklin: You're The Reason
Sam and Kirk McGee: Sugar Cane Time
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Hank Snow: Rumba Boogie

11:30: Black Draught
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper (host): Big Midnight Special
Roy Drusky: Three Hearts In A Tangle
Loretta Lynn: Honky Tonk Girl
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Heart Break Street
Stoney Cooper: Flop Eared Mule

11:45: National Life
Porter Wagoner (host): Sugarfoot Rag
Bobby Lord: Hawkeye
Roy Drusky: Anymore
Porter Wagoner: Your Old Love Letters

As was pretty typical during that period, Leroy Van Dyke, as a non-Opry member, received only one slot, with just one song that went unrecorded. And while Leroy would join the Opry the following year, he did not stay long as several years later, he was dismissed from the cast for failing to make the required number of yearly appearances. At age 93, Leroy is still actively touring and performing. 

That covers it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.