Grand Ole Opry 1/12 & 1/13

The Grand Ole Opry returns to the Ryman Auditorium this weekend for two shows on Friday night and one show on Saturday. If that isn't exciting enough, the Opry will welcome back Opry member Emmylou Harris for all three shows this weekend. Emmylou made no appearances on the Opry in 2023 and seeing her back during the second weekend in 2024 is nice to see.

In addition to Emmylou Harris, the Friday Night Opry includes Opry members Don Schlitz and Riders In The Sky. Joining Emmylou is her long-time friend and collaborator Rodney Crowell. Also guesting will be Opry regular Maggie Rose and Brothers Osborne. Rounding out the lineup, and making her Opry debut, will be Lucinda Williams. 

Emmylou will be back on Saturday night, joined by Opry members Jeannie Seely, Mark Wills, Mandy Barnett, John Conlee and Jamey Johnson. In fact, the only non-member scheduled is Charlie Worsham. 

Friday January 12
1st show
7:00: Riders In The Sky, Zach Top, Maggie Rose, Lucinda Williams
8:00: Don Schlitz, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Brothers Osborne

2nd show
9:30: Riders In The Sky, Zach Top, Lucinda Williams, Brothers Osborne
10:30: Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Maggie Rose, Don Schlitz

Saturday January 13
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mark Wills, Jeannie Seely, Charlie Worsham, Mandy Barnett
Intermission
8:15: John Conlee, Opry Square Dancers, Emmylou Harris & Gail Davies, Jamey Johnson

A really good lineup for both shows. 

At the age of 70, singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams has had an amazing career. Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Lucinda has been nominated for 17 Grammy Awards, winning three times. She has released over 15 albums, the latest being the June 2023 release of Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart. The critically acclaimed album received much praise, and she was featured on CBS Sunday Morning and the subject of major stories in Rolling Stone, Billboard, Paste, The FADER, SPIN and more. The Associated Press referred to the album as “another important chapter to one of the most important musical journeys of the last half-century.” Lucinda is an Americana Icon, and I am looking forward to hearing her on the Opry this weekend. 

Now from 50 years ago, Saturday January 12, 1974: 

1st show
6:00: Roy Drusky (host): Jim and Jesse, Ernie Ashworth, Del Wood
6:30: Billy Walker (host): Lonzo & Oscar, Ray Pillow
6:45: Bill Monroe (host): Billy Grammer, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper
7:00: Archie Campbell (host): Jack Greene, Jeannie Seely, Bob Luman, Stonewall Jackson, George Morgan, Tommy Jones
7:30: Roy Acuff (host): Osborne Brothers, Charlie Louvin and Diane McCall, Crook Brothers, Willis Brothers
8:00: Lester Flatt (host): Grandpa Jones, The 4 Guys, Charlie Walker, Justin Tubb
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Tom T. Hall, Dottie West, Bill Carlisle, Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Billy Walker (host): Willis Brothers, Bob Luman, Lonzo and Oscar, Ernie Ashworth, Del Wood
10:00: Archie Campbell (host): Phil Campbell, Osborne Brothers, Ray Pillow, Jim and Jesse, Tommy Jones
10:15: Roy Acuff (host): Jack Greene, Jeannie Seely, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper
10:30: Lester Flatt (host): Grandpa and Ramona Jones, Stonewall Jackson, Billy Grammer
10:45: Bill Monroe (host): George Morgan, The 4 Guys, Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Charlie Louvin, Bill Carlisle, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam McGee
11:30: Tom T. Hall (host): Dottie West, Charlie Walker, Justin Tubb

(David Houston was schedule for both shows but cancelled, while Roy Drusky was only scheduled to open the first show. As an added note, Justin Tubb closed out the second show as Tom T. Hall was the host of the Midnite Jamboree and left the Opry early to get down to the record shop). 

Finally, on Saturday January 13, 2001, future Grand Ole Opry members Old Crow Medicine Show made their debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Here is the running order from that night: 

1st show
6:30: WSM online.com
Jim Ed Brown (host): Looking Back to See
Connie Smith: I'll Come Running to You
Jan Howard: Ol, Lonesome Me
The Whites: Texas To A T/Doing It By the Book
Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius: Lyin ' In Love with You/I Don't Wanna Have to Marry You

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Brewster's Farm
Holly Dunn: You Really Had Me Going
Jim and Jesse: I Love Nobody But You
Clay Davidson: Unconditional/Sometimes
BR-549: I Told You No 1,000 Times

7:30: Standard Candy
Billy Walker (host): Sing Me A Love Song To Baby
Andy Griggs: Baby, You Made Me That Way/Ain't Done Nothing Wrong
Vince Gill: Give Me Just One More Last Chance/If You Ever Have Forever In Mind

8:00: Martha White
Marty Stuart (host): Streamlined Lover
Elizabeth Cook: Success
Wilma Lee Cooper: Shake My Mother's Hand For Me/A Beautiful Life
Old Crow Medicine Show: Tear It Down
Opry Sqaure Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Cherokee Shuffle
Rich Bennett: Journey Home
Marty Stuart: Martha White Theme Song

8:30: Physicians Mutual
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take an Old Cold Tater
Jean Shepard: Tennessee Waltz
Mike Snider: Instrumental Melody
Jack Greene: Statue of A Fool
Jimmy Dickens: Life Turned Her That Way

2nd show
9:30: WSM online.com
Porter Wagoner (host): Tell Her Lies & Feed Her Candy
Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius: I Don't Wanna Have To Marry You
Jean Shepard: A Phone Call Away
The Whites: Makin' Believe
Vince Gill: Look At Us/If You Ever Have Forever In Mind

10:00: Lincoln Mercury/Opry.com
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleepin' At The Foot of The Bed
Holly Dunn: Blue Rose of Texas
Wilma Lee Cooper: Big Midnight Special
Clay Davidson: Unconditional/Sometimes
Jimmy Dickens: We Could

10:30: Folex/Joggin' In A Jug
Marty Stuart (host): Mr. Engineer
Steve Earle: My Old Friend, The Blues
Elizabeth Cook: Success
Charlie Louvin: When I Stop Dreaming
Old Crow Medicine Show: Raise A Rookus Tonight/Roll Along Mule
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Black Mountain Rag
Steve Earle: Hillbilly Highway

11:00: Coca Cola
Jeannie Seely (host): Healing Hands of Time
Jimmy C Newman: Colinda
BR-549: Story Book Endings/Cherokee Boogie
Jeannie Seely: Make The World Go Away

11:30: Opry At The Ryman
Mike Snider (host): Going Across The Ocean
Charlie Walker: Who'll Buy The Wine
Ray Pillow: Too Many Memories
Andy Griggs: Where's The Train/Riding with You
Mike Snider: Instrumental Melody

(Connie Smith, Jan Howard, Jim and Jesse, Billy Walker and Jack Greene were only scheduled for the first show, while Jeannie Seely, Charlie Louvin, Jimmy C Newman, Ray Pillow and Charlie Walker were scheduled for just the late show. Bill Carlise and Stonewall Jackson cancelled). 

Old Crow Medicine Show would continue to make guest appearances on the Opry and eventually would become Opry members on September 17, 2013. 

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.