Grand Ole Opry Saturday December 23

There is only one Grand Ole Opry show on the schedule this weekend and that will be taking place on Saturday night as the Opry and its members get ready to enjoy Christmas and the upcoming holidays. 

The lineup includes Opry members Jeannie Seely, Dailey & Vincent, Don Schlitz, Riders In The Sky, and while The Isaacs will not be appearing as a group, Becky Isaacs will be making a solo appearance. 

Steve Earle heads up the guest list, joined by Jason Crabb and an artist known as Santa J. Claus, who is making his Grand Ole Opry debut. 

Saturday December 23
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Dailey & Vincent, Jeannie Seely, Riders In The Sky, Jason Crabb
Intermission
8:15: Becky Isaacs, Don Schlitz, Opry Square Dancers, Santa J. Claus, Steve Earle

From 45 years ago, Saturday December 23, 1978: 

1st show
6:00: Roy Drusky (host), David Houston, Wilma Lee Cooper, Ernie Ashworth, Jim and Jesse
6:30: Billy Walker (host), Jack Greene, Jeannie Seely
6:45: Bill Monroe (host), Billy Grammer, Skeeter Davis
7:00: Charlie Walker (host), Jean Shepard, Osborne Brothers, Justin Tubb, Vic Willis and Curtis Young
7:30: Roy Acuff (host), Stonewall Jackson, Ray Pillow, Jimmy Dickens, Crook Brothers, The Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:00: Ernest Tubb (host), Grandpa and Ramona Jones, Stu Phillips, Del Wood, Charlie Louvin, Lonzo
8:30: Hank Snow (host), Jeanne Pruett, The 4 Guys, Bill Carlisle, Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Bill Monroe (host), Roy Drusky, Wilma Lee Cooper, Billy Walker, Jim and Jesse, David Houston
10:00 Jack Greene (host), Jeannie Seely, Billy Grammer, Ernie Ashworth
10:15: Roy Acuff (host), Charlie Walker, Stonewall Jackson, Jimmy Dickens
10:30: Ernest Tubb (host), Osborne Brothers, Vic Willis and Curtis Young, Ray Pillow
10:45: Grandpa Jones (host), Jean Shepard, Justin Tubb, Crook Brothers, The Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Hank Snow (host), Charlie Louvin, Stu Phillips, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Lonzo, Del Wood, Kirk McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host), Jeanne Pruett, Bill Carlisle, The 4 Guys

(Porter Wagoner and Marion Worth were both scheduled and cancelled. For those keeping score at home, the late show did not end until a few minutes before 1:00am. Marty's final segment took just under one hour). 

That was the type of Christmas shows that the Opry used to put on. Most of the Opry's members would appear, exchanging gifts and catching up. 

Saturday December 23, 1967, was an important night at the Grand Ole Opry as Jack Greene became an Opry member. 

Here is the running order from that night 56 years ago: 

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Drusky (host): White Lightening Express
Jean Shepard: Happy Tracks
Willis Brothers: I'll Be Home for Christmas
Stu Phillips: Juanita Jones
Stringbean: Gonna Make Myself A Name
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Jeannie Seely: I'll Love You More
Grand Ole Opry Staff Band: Jingle Bell Rock
Roy Drusky: Weakness In A Man

8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Julie
Dottie West: Paper Mansions
Harold Weakley: Since Never
Osborne Brothers: Making Plans
Del Wood: Down At Papa Joe's
Crook Brothers: Bill Cheatham
George McCormick: The Branded Man
Mac Magaha and Buck Trent: Turkey In The Straw
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home/Dooley

8:30: Stephens
Bobby Lord (host): Hawkeye
George Hamilton IV: Early Morning Rain
Ernie Ashworth: At Ease Heart
Archie Campbell: The Cockfight
Margie Bowes: There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight
Grandpa Jones: That's All This World Needs
Hal Rugg: Steel Guitar Rag
Bobby Lord: Winter Wonderland

9:00: Luzianne
Ernest Tubb (host): Thanks A Lot
Bill Monroe: Christmas Time's A' Comin
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Loretta Lynn: What Kind of A Girl
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Devil's Dream
Ernest Tubb: Blue Christmas

9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): Reindeer Boogie
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Lonzo and Oscar: Jangle Bells
The 4 Guys: White Christmas
Del Reeves: A Dime At A Time
Cousin Jody: Mockingbird
Harold Weakley: Paint A Picture of My World
Hank Snow: Christmas Wants

10:00: Schick
Bobby Lord (host): Shadows On The Wall
Jean Shepard: Many Happy Hangovers To You
Stringbean: Run, Little Rabbit, Run
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips

10:15: Pure
Porter Wagoner (host)L Ole Slewfoot
Grandpa Jones: Jingle Bells
Del Wood: Down Yonder
Porter Wagoner: Woman Hungry
Mac Magaha and Buck Trent: Katy Hill

10:30: Buckley's
George Hamilton IV: Truck Driving Man
Dottie West: Like A Fool
Cousin Jody: Wabash Cannonball
George Hamilton IV: Abilene
Eugene Sloan: (?)

10:45: Kent
Ernest Tubb (host): In The Jailhouse Now
Margie Bowes: Enough To Make A Woman Lose Her Mind
Jack Greene: What Locks The Door
Crook Brothers: Sally Goodin

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Down The Trail of Aching Hearts
Skeeter Davis: Dear Heart
Del Reeves: Girl On The Billboard
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Soldier's Joy
Osborne Brothers: My Favorite Memory
Sam McGee: San Antonio Rose
Hank Snow: Christmas Roses
Chubby Wise: Lee Highway Blues

11:30: Lava
Marty Robbins (host): Tonight Carmen
Bill Monroe: Scotland
Bill Carlisle: What Kinda Deal Is This
Loretta Lynn: The Third Man
Lonzo and Oscar: A King Size Cola & A Moon Pie
Bobby Sykes: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Marty Robbins: Ribbon of Darkness/Begging To You/Singing The Blues/Lovesick Blues/El Paso

Jack Greene was born January 7, 1930, in Maryville, Tennessee. He took guitar lessons when he was eight years old, then added drumming to his abilities. Moving to Atlanta in the late 40s, he became part of the Cherokee Trio with Lem Bryant and Speedy Price. He then became a member of the Rhythm Ranch Boys and was a popular radio entertainer on Georgia Jubilee on WTJH. His career was interrupted for military service in Korea, but he returned to Atlanta and joined the Peachtree Cowboys. 

In 1962, he joined Ernest Tubb & the Texas Troubadours as a drummer and occasional vocalist. He was featured on Presents the Texas Troubadours, and his performance on "The Last Letter" led to solo recordings. Starting in 1965 with "Ever Since My Baby Went Away'" Greene had a succession of country hits, including number ones with "There Goes My Everything," "All The Time," "You Are My Treasure," "Until My Dreams Come True," and "Statue of a Fool." He did not leave Tubb’s band until 1967, and only then because Tubb tired of hearing calls for the drummer to sing.

In 1969, he had another hit with Hank Cochran's song "I Wish I Didn’t Have to Miss You,"’ on which he was partnered with Cochran’s wife, Jeannie Seely. She became part of his road show and they continued to record together. Capitalizing on the popularity of outlaw country, they changed the name of their band from the Jolly Greene Giants to the Renegades, but they stayed with middle-of-the-road country music. His his last chart entry was with "If It’s Love (Then Bet It All)" in 1984.

Once Jack joined the Opry, he remained a member until his death on March 14, 2013, after a period of declining health. There are those who say that Jack should be considered for the Country Music Hall of Fame. I don't disagree. 

There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night. 

Merry Christmas to all!!!!