Grand Ole Opry 10/6 & 10/7

Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry!!!! 

This weekend the Grand Ole Opry will celebrate its 98th anniversary, while also inducting Sara Evans as the newest member of the Opry's cast. The induction of Sara will take place on Saturday night as two shows are scheduled. 

Sara Evans is one of those artists who have appeared for years on the Opry, and who also made it known on occasion that her dream was to someday become an Opry member. Born and raised in Boonville, Missouri, she grew up listening –like much of her audience –to a mix of country, pop and rock on the radio. She began singing with the family band when she was five and made her first attempts at recording as a teenager, committing to a creative path with her move to Nashville in 1991. Smitten with country’s legacy, her version of Buck Owens’ “I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail” won the approval of songwriter Harlan Howard – a Country Music Hall of Fame member who authored Patsy Cline’s “I Fall To Pieces” and The Judds’ “Why Not Me”–and of George Jones, who personally invited her to open for him at the historic Ryman Auditorium on the strength of her first album. That project – "Three Chords and the Truth", produced by Dwight Yoakam’s then-guitarist, Pete Anderson –arrived in 1997 to critical acclaim. 

Her resume now includes 14 Top 20 country hits, ranging from her reassuring first #1 – “No Place That Far,” featuring background vocals by Vince Gill –to the neo-traditional “Suds In The Bucket” to the elegant, spiky pop feel of “Slow Me Down.” But Evans has been expansive in other parts of her public life, too. She’s advocated on behalf of the Red Cross; became an active contributor to the community in Birmingham, Alabama, where she’s lived with husband Jay Barker for nearly a decade; and established a lifestyle blog — A Real Fine Place — that captures her flare for fashion, beauty and cooking. 

Sara was surprised with an invitation to become an Opry member by Bill Anderson, who appeared on stage with her along with Opry members Carly Pearce and Lady A during a show in August at the Ryman Auditorium. As Sara said that night, "There is no way that I would say 'no,'" Evans added. "I've been waiting to be asked to join the Opry for a long time, and it's always been a dream of mine. I'm so honored that you're (Anderson) here to ask me that question. It means everything to me."

Speaking of Bill Anderson, he is scheduled to be on the Opry on Saturday night, along with Opry members Crystal Gayle, Don Schlitz, Charlie McCoy and Gary Mule Deer. While there has been speculation on who might be the member to formally induct Sara as the Opry's newest member, at this point it could very well be Bill or Crystal. 

While the induction of Sara will take place on Saturday night, the Grand Ole Opry birthday weekend will also include the Friday Night Opry. Opry members scheduled for that night include Ricky Skaggs, Chris Young, Connie Smith, Steve Wariner, Dailey & Vincent and Gary Mule Deer, who is making it a two-show weekend. 

Chapel Hart is scheduled to guest on Friday night, while "Nashville" star Charles Esten is on the list for Saturday. These are the only non-Opry members on the schedule. 

(As of late Wednesday night, I have not seen the official lineup posted)

Even with the induction of Sara Evans, Circle TV will not be showing the Opry live on Saturday as they will be replaying the November 2022 show that recognized Marty Stuart upon his 30th year as an Opry member. 

For those who are interested, I will be in Nashville for the birthday week. My streak will continue as this will be the 29th year in a row of attending the Opry's birthday weekend, and 34 out of 35 (missing only 1994 due to the birth of our youngest son. I think that is a valid excuse). 

From 45 years ago, Saturday October 7, 1978: 

1st show
6:30: Jimmy C Newman (host): Lonzo and Oscar
6:45: Bill Monroe (host): Skeeter Davis, Vic Willis
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Dottie West, Stu Phillips, Del Wood
7:30: Roy Acuff (host): Jeannie Seely, Billy Grammer, Karen Wheeler, Bill Carlisle, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Jim Ed Brown, Bob Luman
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Jan Howard, The 4 Guys, Justin Tubb, Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Bill Monroe (host): Skeeter Davis, Ron Sweet, Stu Phillips, Kenny Baker
10:00: Jimmy C Newman (host): Jeannie Seely, Bessyl Duhon
10:15: Roy Acuff (host): Dottie West, Vic Willis, Brother Oswald
10:30: Lester Flatt (host): Billy Grammer, Karen Wheeler, Tater Tate
10:45: Bob Luman (host): Del Wood, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Justin Tubb, Bill Carlisle, Jan Howard, Fruit Jar Drinkers
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host): The 4 Guys, Helen Cornelius

(No cancellations that night, however Porter Wagoner appeared only one the first show)

October 7, 1967, was a historic night at the Grand Ole Opry as Dolly Parton appeared on the show for the first time since her debut in 1959. Dolly had recently joined Porter Wagoner's show where she replaced the very popular Norma Jean. Her first appearance on Porter's TV show took place a month earlier, on September 5, while her first concert appearance with Porter took place a week later, on September 14. It has been written that during that concert, which took place in Lebanon, Virginia, Dolly was greeted with boos and chants for Norma Jean.

Here is the running order from 56 years ago, October 7, 1967:

6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Bill Carlisle (host)

6:45: Rudy's
Charlie Louvin (host)

7:00: Luzianne
Roy Acuff (host): Little Pal
Bob Luman: You Can Take The Boy From The Country
Barbara Allen: You Good Girl's Gonna Go Bad
Minnie Pearl: Jealous Hearted Me
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
Brother Oswald: Late Last Night When Willy Came Home
Bob Luman: Running Scared
Roy Acuff: Where Could I Go but To The Lord

7:30: Standard Candy
Bobby Lord (host): Take The Bucket To The Well
The 4 Guys: This Land Is Your Land
Stu Phillips: Little Old Wine Drinker Me
Del Wood: Waiting For The Robert E Lee
Bobby Lord: Shadows On The Wall
June Stearns: A River of Regret
The 4 Guys: The Man Who Never Returned 
Stu Phillips: Juanita Jones
Bobby Lord: When The Snow Falls

8:00: Martha White
Roy Drusky (host): Second Hand Rose
Dottie West: Like A Fool
George Hamilton IV: Truck Driving Man
Jim and Jesse: Diesel On My Tail
Roy Drusky: New Lips
Crook Brothers: Cotton-Eyed Joe
Dottie West: Paper Mansions
George Hamilton IV: Urge For Going
Roy Drusky: White Lightening Express

8:30: Stephens
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Del Reeves: One Dime At A Time
Roy Clark: Alabama Jubilee
Dolly Parton: Dumb Blonde
Porter Wagoner: Julie
Mel Tillis: If I Could Only Start Over
Mac Magaha: Yakety Axe
Del Reeves: Girl On The Billboard
Porter Wagoner: Cold Hard Facts of Live

9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Bill Carlisle: Take This Country Music & Shove It
Bobby Lord: One Day Down & Forever To Go
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Fire On The Mountain
Hank Snow: Bluebird Island
Bill Carlisle: Doctor R.D. 
Bobby Lord: Shadows On The Wall
Hank Snow: Back In Nova Scotia

10:00: Schick
Charlie Louvin (host): I Catch Myself Still Loving You
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby
Del Wood: Tiger Rag
Dottie West: What's Come Over My Baby
Charlie Louvin: The Only Way Out

10:15: Pure
Porter Wagoner (host): Dooley
Dolly Parton: Ode To Billy Joe
Harold Weakley: Since Never
Porter Wagoner: The Green, Green Grass of Home

10:30: Buckley's
Del Reeves (host): One Dime At A Time
Jim and Jesse: The Ballad of Thunder Road
Jimmy Wilson: Detour
Del Reeves: Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town

10:45: Newport
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
George Hamilton IV: Abilene
Crook Brothers: Old Joe Clark
Larry McNeely: Pony Express

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): The New Way of Life
Bob Luman: Memphis
Roy Clark: Kansas City Star
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Dance All Night
Hank Snow: Tangled Mind
Sam McGee: Nine Pound Hammer
Barbara Allen: You Ain't Woman Enough
Hank Snow: Traveling Blues

11:30: Lava
Marty Robbins (host): Devil Woman
The 4 Guys: Walking In The Sunshine
Stu Phillips: Ben Rote
Marty Robbins: Tonight Carmen
Don Winters: Jealous Heart
Jerry Greene: Turn The World Around The Other Way
Stu Phillips: Juanita Jones
Marty Robbins: Don't Worry/Begging To You/Singing The Blues

No, Dolly did not sing a duet with Porter that night. That would come later in November. 

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. Again, congratulations to Sara Evans.