Grand Ole Opry 2/9 & 2/10

It's Super Bowl Weekend!!! Although my Cleveland Browns did not make it to the big game this year (in fact, they have never made it to the big game), it should still be a good one. Grand Ole Opry member Reba McEntire will be singing the national anthem prior to the game, while Usher will be the star of the halftime show. An interesting fact about Usher is that he is a minority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

While Reba will not be at the Opry this weekend, Opry members Old Crow Medicine Show will be, and they are scheduled to close out the show both Friday and Saturday night. Joining the group on Friday night will be members Riders In The Sky and Connie Smith. Also scheduled on Friday night is John Conlee, who will be recognized upon his 43rd anniversary as an Opry member. John joined by cast on February 7, 1981. 

In addition to Old Crow Medicine Show on Saturday night, Jeannie Seely, Mandy Barnett and Don Schlitz are also on the schedule. 

Maddie & Tae will make it three weekends in a row as the duo is on the schedule for Friday night. Also appearing will be Carlos DeFord Bailey, the grandson of DeFord Bailey. Rounding out the list is Spencer Crandall and making their Opry debut, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band. 

The War and Treaty are on the list for Saturday night, along with Sam Williams, Carter Faith and making their Opry debut, The Dead South.

Friday February 9
7:00: Riders In The Sky, Spencer Crandall, John Conlee, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith, Maddie & Tae, Carlos DeFord Bailey, Old Crow Medicine Show

Saturday February 10
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Carter Faith, Sam Williams, The Dead South
Intermission
8:15: Mandy Barnett, Don Schlitz, Opry Square Dancers, The War and Treaty, Old Crow Medicine Show

As mentioned, two acts will be making their Opry debuts this weekend: Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band on Friday night and The Dead South on Saturday. 

Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band is based in Northern California and has opened for prestigious bands, including Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives and David Grisman Bluegrass Experience. The band has played at venues such as IBMA’s World of Bluegrass Festival, CBA’s Father's Day Bluegrass Festival, Strawberry Music Festival, SF’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Delfest, and Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. Internationally, the band toured in Japan in 2023 and in 2022, headlined at Bluegrass in La Roche, France. In 2019, they toured throughout Finland, culminating at Kaustinen Folk Music Festival. In 2018, the band was featured on a TEDTalk by Nashville-based singer/songwriter Phoebe Hunt. 

Founded in 2016 as a Duo band, brothers Miles and Teo Quale formed the bluegrass band in 2017 and since then, they have continued to make waves in the world of bluegrass and acoustic music.

The Dead South is from the Canadian prairies and is a four-piece acoustic set that specializes in three-part harmonies. The group plays a little bit of everything: progressive bluegrass, alternative Americana, country, folk and western. 

Continuing the look back to 50 years ago, here is the running order from Saturday February 9, 1974, as the countdown to the new Grand Ole Opry House continues: 

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Charlie Louvin (host): Let Her Go; God Bless Her
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
Jimmy C Newman: Potato Song
Charlie Louvin: Did You Ever

6:45: Rudy's
Billy Walker (host): I've Changed My Mind
Stonewall Jackson: Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Billy Walker: How Great Thou Art

7:00: Rudy's
Jack Greene (host): Take Me Home Country Roads
Jeannie Seely: Can I Sleep In Your Arms Tonight Mister
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Little Darling Pal of Mine
Jim and Jesse: Diesel On My Tail
Ernie Ashworth: Honky Tonk Hardwood Floors
Jack Greene: It's Time To Cross That Bridge
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: Coming Down From God
Jack Greene and Jeannie Seely: If It Ain't Love (Leave It Alone)

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Wilburn Brothers: The City's Going Country
Grandpa and Ramona Jones: Nashville On My Mind
Bill Carlisle: Same Ol' Tale That The Crow Told Me
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Black Mountain Rag
Wilburn Brothers: Arkansas
Grandpa Jones: Ol' Rattler

8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): Salty Dog Blues
Barbara Mandell: Burning The Midnight Oil
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Lester Flatt and Marty Stuart: The Bluebirds Singing For Me
Charlie Walker: Wanting My Woman Again
Archie Campbell: Making Friends
Lester Flatt: Rawhide

8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): Hello Love
The 4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On
Stu Phillips: There Must Be Another Way To Say Goodbye
Marion Worth: Paper Roses
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Sally Goodin
The 4 Guys: Catfish John
Stu Phillips: Pride
Hank Snow: I'm Moving On

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Wilburn Brothers (host): Roll Muddy River
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
Billy Walker: I've Changed My Mind
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Billy Walker: You Have Me A Mountain
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya
Jeanne Pruett: Hold To My Unchanging Love

10:00: Fender
Stonewall Jackson (host): Don't Be Angry
Charlie Louvin: You're My Wife; She's My Woman
Jim and Jesse: Freight Train
Ernie Ashworth: Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Cottonfields/Night Train To Memphis
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
Jeannie Seely: Don't Touch Me
Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper: I'm Going Home On The Morning Train

10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Black Smoke's A Rising
Grandpa and Ramona Jones: Mt. Laurel
Bill Carlisle: A Dollar Ain't A Dollar Anymore
Nashville Grass: Fall Is A Lonesome Time For Me

10:45: Beechnut
Archie Campbell (host): Make Friends
Charlie Walker: Wanting My Woman Again
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Mississippi Sawyer
Tommy Jones: Orange Blossom Special

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Snowbird
The 4 Guys: Down By The Lazy River
Marion Worth: Delta Dawn
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
The 4 Guys: Hello Walls/Big Bad John/Wings of A Dove
Sam McGee: Farewell Blues/Alabama Jubilee/Just Because
Hank Snow: Paper Roses

11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): I Couldn't Believe It Was True
Stu Phillips: There Must Be Another Way To Say Goodbye
Barbara Mandrell and Ronnie Shaw: I Love You; I Love You; I Love You
Barbara Mandrell: Baptism of Jesse Taylor
Marty Robbins: Don't Worry/Love Me/I'm Wanting To/Big Boss Man/Letters Have No Arms/Singing The Blues

(George Morgan was scheduled for both shows but cancelled). 

Finally, as mentioned, John Conlee will be recognized upon his 43rd anniversary as an Opry member on Friday night. John joined the Opry on Saturday February 7, 1981. Here is the running order from that night: 

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Ernie Ashworth: Mind Your Own Business
Stonewall Jackson: Ol' Chunk of Coal

6:45: Rudy's
Charlie Walker (host): Crazy Arms
Justin Tubb: What's Wrong with The Way That We're Doing It Now
Bill Carlisle: Knothole
Charlie Walker: Don't Play Me No Songs About Texas

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Jimmy Dickens: Take An Old Cold Tater
John Conlee: She Can't Say That Anymore/What I Had with You/Rose Colored Glasses
Connie Smith: When God Dips His Love In My Heart
Porter Wagoner: What I've Always Wanted/On A Highway Headed South

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jean Shepard: Slipping Away
Jim & Jesse: Truck Stops & Pretty Girls
Vic Willis Trio: Last Cheater's Waltz
Crook Brothers & The Tennessee Travelers: Durang's Hornpipe
Roy Acuff: That's The Man I'm Looking For

8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): I Love You Drops
Skeeter Davis: The Rose
Wilburn Brothers: Making Plans
Ray Pillow: Countryfied
Lonzo & Oscar: Green, Green Grass of Home
Bill Anderson: Mr. Peepers

8:30: Acme
Hank Snow (host): Storms Never Last
The 4 Guys: Fire
Charlie Louvin: Mama's Angels
Roy Drusky: Don't It Make You Want To Go Home
Stu Phillips: I Will
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Bailey
Hank Snow & Kelly Foxton: Check

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner, The 4 Guys, Jimmy Dickens, Billy Grammer, David Houston, Two's Company
10:00: Jack Greene, John Conlee
10:15: Roy Acuff, Jan Howard, Bill Carlisle, Carolee Singers
10:30: Bill Anderson, Jean Shepard, Jim & Jesse
10:45: Charlie Louvin, Connie Smith, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
11:00: Hank Snow, Skeeter Davis, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Stu Phillips, Kirk McGee, Kelly Foxton
11:30: Roy Drusky, Lonzo & Oscar, Ray Pillow, Opry Staff Band

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