Dolly Parton has finally spoken about Elle King's Grand Ole Opry performance at her birthday tribute show, and she isn't fresh out of forgiveness.
The queen of country music asked folks to forgive and forget during an interview with "Extra" that aired over the weekend. Parton addressed King's performance and showed why so many people are endeared by the blonde bombshell from Tennessee.
What did Dolly Parton say about Elle King's Grand Ole Opry performance?
“Elle is really a great artist,” Parton said during the interview. “She’s a great girl, and she’s been going through hard things lately. She just had a little too much to drink, so let’s just forgive that and forget it and move on, ‘cause she felt worse than anyone ever could,” Parton said.
There you have it. If Dolly is willing to forgive, we all should.
Moving on, the Grand Ole Opry has posted the lineups for the shows this upcoming weekend. The weekend will feature the usual Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry.
On the Friday Night Opry, Opry members Connie Smith, Mark Wills and Riders In The Sky are on the schedule.
It's always a pleasure to see Kathy Mattea on the schedule. Kathy is one of the ones on my list that I feel should have been an Opry member years ago. I don't know if it will ever happen for her or not, but I would really love to see her someday join the cast. Also appearing will be Country Music Hall of Fame member Dean Dillon, along with Chase Matthew, Mitchell Tenpenny and making her Opry debut, Lola Kirke.
Mark Wills will be making it a two-show weekend as he will be back on Saturday night, along with Bill Anderson, John Conlee, Gary Mule Deer, and adding to her record number of Opry appearances, Jeannie Seely.
Deana Carter leads the list of non-members, appearing along with Jake Worthington and Camille Parker, who will be making her Opry debut.
Friday February 16
7:00: Mark Wills, Connie Smith, Lola Kirke, Chase Matthew
Intermission
8:15: Dean Dillon, Kathy Mattea, Mitchell Tenpenny, Riders In The Sky
Saturday February 17
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mark Wills, Jeannie Seely, Camille Parker, John Conlee
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson, Jake Worthington, Opry Square Dancers, Gary Mule Deer, Deana Carter
As mentioned, Lola Kirke will be making her Opry debut on Friday night. Here is the press release announcing her debut:
November 27, 2023 – Lola Kirke will make her Grand Ole Opry debut on February 16th, and she received a hell of a gift to mark the occasion. Rosanne Cash extended the offer to Kirke to make her Opry debut and gifted her one of June Carter Cash’s dresses for Kirke to wear during her debut. Kirke’s Opry debut comes on the same day she will release her new EP Country Curious, which was produced by Elle King and features contributions from First Aid Kit and Rosanne Cash. Kirke also recently took The New Yorker to a line dancing class in NYC as they learned a new line dance to Country Curious standout “He Says Y’All,” a “Talk of the Town” piece about the night is in the current issue.
“I have no problem dying so long as it happens after February 16th,” says Kirke of her Opry debut.
Country Curious showcases a young woman finding her musical footing in a thrilling way. In addition to collaborations with King, Cash and First Aid Kit on Country Curious, Kirke got to write songs with some of Nashville’s finest songwriters, including Aaron Ratiere (Miranda Lambert, Midland), Jon Decious (Ashley McBryde), Mary Kutter (Bailey Zimmerman, Nate Smith) and Jason Nix (Lainey Wilson). Kirke has lived in Nashville since 2020 and has made it her goal to immerse herself in the city’s world-renowned songwriting community and continue to refine her craft.
“What I’ve long loved about Country is the room it gives for women to be extremely dynamic and have that heart and that toughness and the ability to be domestic and wild,” Kirke says. “There’s also a space for men to cry. I’ve never heard so many references to men crying as I have in Country music. Those contradictions are so interesting to me.”
Kirke will tour in support of Country Curious, including an appearance at Stagecoach in April.
Here is the article regarding Camille Parker and her Opry debut on Saturday night:
Camille Parker had an onstage moment that she'll never forget while performing at Whiskey Jam, the long-running, weekly Nashville staple showcasing live music. Madeline Edwards surprised Parker with a very special invitation: to make her Grand Ole Opry debut.
"Camille is one of the hardest workers I know. She's one of the most determined people I know, and as two people that chose to leave everything and chase a dream and move to Nashville, you're one of my closest friends," Edwards said. Then, Edwards encouraged cheers from the crowd as she made the official invitation to Parker, saying, "You are about to make your Grand Ole Opry debut!"
Parker was visibly shocked and overwhelmed with joy following the ask, jumping up and down and hugging Edwards while exiting the stage. On Instagram, the Opry left her a very special comment, "See you soon, @iamcamilleparker!"
It is the first time in over 900 Whiskey Jam shows that an Opry debut has been made during the show. Whiskey Jam founder Ward Guenther grabbed the microphone to address the cheering crowd saying, "She is for real! That is the first time that's ever happened on the Whiskey Jam stage and I'm so glad it's for you, Camille!"
Parker's latest release, EP After The Whiskey Pt. 1, is out now. No word yet on her Opry debut date, but it will undoubtedly be an incredibly special night when she steps into that iconic circle for the first time.
I noticed that both of these Opry debut invitations were presented to Kirke and Camille by non-Opry members. I just found that interesting. I also noticed the Kirke's new EP was produced by Elle King.
As the countdown continues to the 50th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry House, here is the lineup from 50 years ago, Saturday February 16, 1974:
1st show
6:30: Stonewall Jackson (host): Del Wood, Ernie Ashworth
6:45: Bill Monroe (host): Billy Grammer, Jim and Jesse
7:00: Roy Acuff (host): Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper, Minnie Pearl, Bill Carlisle
7:30: Bill Anderson (host): Bob Luman, Willis Brothers, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
8:00: Lester Flatt (host): Grandpa and Ramona Jones, George Morgan, Stu Phillips, Marty Stuart
8:30: Hank Snow (host): David Houston, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Justin Tubb
2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson (host): Willis Brothers, Jim and Jesse, Ernie Ashworth, Jimmy Gatley
10:00: Bill Monroe (host): Bob Luman, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper
10:15: Stonewall Jackson (host): Ray Pillow, Del Wood
10:30: Lester Flatt (host): Grandpa Jones, Bill Carlisle, Paul Warren
10:45: Roy Acuff (host): Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Stu Phillips, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam McGee
11:30: George Morgan (host): David Houston, Shoji Tabuchi, Justin Tubb, Roy Wiggins
(Marion Worth cancelled for both shows, while Billy Grammer only appeared on the early show and Ray Pillow on the late show).
To finish it up, on Saturday February 17, 2001, Brad Paisley became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Brad, who had been appearing on the Opry numerous times as a guest, was invited in December 2000 by Jimmy Dickens and Jeannie Seely. I have to say, that among the many disappointments among Opry members, Brad appears pretty close to the top of the list. As with most of the up-and-coming stars of that period, when he joined Brad professed his love of the Opry and said he would be there. He also said the same thing after the death of Jimmy Dickens. However, his actions speak otherwise. Over the past decade, Brad has made very few Opry appearances.
Here is the running order from 23 years ago, the night Brad Paisley became a member of the Grand Ole Opry:
1st show
6:30: online.com/Apple Barn
Porter Wagoner (host): Fireball Mail/Night Train To Memphis
Connie Smith: Satisfied
Bill Carlisle: Gone Home
Don Edwards: Saddle Tramp/I'm Kin To The Wind
Porter Wagoner: Brewster's Farm
7:00: Shoney's/Standard Candy
Steve Wariner (host): Burning The Roadhouse Down
BR5-49: The Price of Love
Mel McDaniel: Louisiana Saturday Night
The Whites: Keep On The Sunny Side
Elizabeth Cook: I'm Not Lisa
Trisha Yearwood: The Perfect Love/How Do I Live
Steve Wariner: I Just Do
Brad Paisley: Two People Fall In Love/Me Neither
8:00: Martha White
Jeannie Seely (host): Anytime
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
Del Reeves: Bells of Southern Bell
Billy Walker: A Million & One
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Bill Cheatham
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me
8:30: Physicians Mutual
John Conlee (host): She Can't Say That Anymore
Lee Ann Womack: I Hope You Dance/Somebody's Knocking
Vince Gill: Love Wants A Second Chance/Forever in Mind
John Conlee: Rose Colored Glasses
2nd show
9:30: online.com
Porter Wagoner (host): Howdy Neighbor Howdy
Lee Ann Womack: Never Again, Again/Ashes By Now
Vince Gill: Love Wants A Second Chance/When I Call Your Name
Porter Wagoner: Misery Loves Company
10:00: Lincoln Mercury/Management & Storage
Jeannie Seely (host): You Don't Need Me but You Will
Billy Walker: Faded Lights & Lonesome People/You Gave Me A Mountain
BR5-49: Georgia On A Fast Train
John Shepard: If You Got The Time; We've Got The Beer/Ghost From The Opry
Jeannie Seely: Leaving & Saying Goodbye
10:30: Folex/Joggin In A Jug
John Conlee (host): Domestic Life
Mel McDaniel: Louisiana Saturday Night/Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On
Elizabeth Cook: Blue Moon of Kentucky
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Tennessee Wagoner
John Conlee: The Backside of 30/Rose Colored Glasses
11:00: Coca Cola
Steve Wariner (host): Burning The Roadhouse Down
Trisha Yearwood: Living On The Wrong Side of Memphis/Down On My Knees/She's In Love with The Boy
Brad Paisley: The Streets of Bakersfield/Two People Fell In Love
Steve Wariner and Brad Paisley: Nothing but The Taillights
11:30: Pigeon Forge
Charlie Walker (host): Cherokee Maiden
Connie Smith: Ain't Had No Lovin'/You've Got Me Right Where You Want Me
Don Edwards: The Master's Call/The Ghost Train
Charlie Walker: Smoke; Smoke; Smoke
Well, I don't think anyone complained about the lineup that night. A very solid show.
Congratulations to Brad Paisley upon his Opry anniversary and hopefully we will see Brad back at the Opry soon.
That covers it for this week. Thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.
How is it even possible that somebody offers an invitation to join a group they do not even belong to themselves ?
ReplyDeleteThe 'Opry continues to dishonor their own members.
Especially their faithful ones.
I completely disagree with your assessment that it is inappropriate for one artist who has guested on the Opry to share with another artist (with Opry management's blesssing, of course) that their dream of making an Opry debut is going to come true. I've seen numerous Opry members also share this special news with young artists, but if one of those youngsters has great respect for an artist or is a close friend of his or hers who is not an Opry member, why on earth would we be such sticks in the mud as to say, "Oh, no! We don't do it that way." Instead, can we not simply be pleased that Opry management decided it was time to extend an opportunity for an artist to make a debut and every once in a while the perfect artist-- Opry member or not-- shares that special moment with the artist getting the good debut news? It sure feels to me like a pretty nice means of ensuring a memorable moment for an artist who just might over time become an Opry member himself or herself.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe something like this happening every once in a while is disrespectful of Opry members in the least. Instead, it shows great respect for the Opry on the part of the person set to make a debut and the artist going out of their way to make the invitation.
Just my opinion, but sometimes I feel like some of us here won't be satisfied without being teleported to 1975 or so for an Opry show that nostalgia just might have made stronger than it actually was. I believe it when I say the good times aren't really over for good.
My 76th birthday is in 7 days, that may help explain my attitude.
DeleteGood thoughtful comments on the 'Opry invitation.
I personally would feel very awkward offering an invitation to join an organization that I am not part of myself. And, if I were a member, it would not sit well with me.
I did indeed like the 'Opry better in 1975. Look above, shows lasted 2 1/2 hours with 24 to 27 individual acts. Music moved quickly. Now we have 7 or 8 acts, lots of inane gabbing between sets, with an intermission to sell refreshments. Usually only 3 or 4 'Opry members on the show. Way less time spent playing music, and lots of that music not even close to traditional country music.
Will admit, there are still plenty of great 'Opry' moments now and then, and at times the magic is there for the 'Opry. I still listen, but am less willing to purchase tickets until I see who is going to be appearing on an individual show.
Now get off my lawn whipper-snapper! :)
Respectfully, I do want to make sure you understand they are just being invited to perform on the Opry, not join it as a member. I agree it would be awkward if a non member was asked to invite another artist to become a member. That should never happen, and I doubt it will.
DeleteI hope you have a great birthday.
At some point--I think during Pete Fisher's tenure--the Opry began doing public invitations to become members. I don't remember them before that. I think it has led to some lovely moments (I think of Charlie Daniels losing it on stage, for example, when Martina McBride asked him).
DeleteOh, you mean like THIS.
DeleteRosanne Cash extended the offer to Kirke to make her Opry DEBUT.
Madeline Edwards surprised Parker with a very special invitation: to make her Grand Ole Opry DEBUT.
I noticed that both of these Opry DEBUT invitations were presented to Kirke and Camille by non-Opry members.
Best I can figure, the world DEBUT only appeared 14 times in Byron's announcement.
A mind is a terrible thing to lose! :)
I wonder how long it will be before Beyonce gets to realize her dream of walking in the Circle? Mike Terry might have teased us tonight.
ReplyDeleteJim
If Beyonce wants to sing country music, I'm for her being in the circle. That said, I'd be much happier if Brad Paisley wanted to be in the circle.
Delete