Grand Ole Opry 3/29 & 3/30-Updated

Dan Rogers has been in the news lately and I thought I would share this article from Billboard from last week for those who might have missed it. It includes some interesting comments about the plans for the 100th anniversary of the Opry in 2025: 

As the Grand Ole Opry approaches its 100th anniversary, vp/executive producer Dan Rogers will take on expanded duties in his new role as senior vp/executive producer of the esteemed institution. The 26-year Opry veteran will continue to oversee all aspects of the more than 225 shows at the Opry each year. "I really do take it as a pat on the back for what our entire team has been able to accomplish and what we're in the middle of," the self-effacing executive tells Billboard of his promotion, which is effective immediately "But there's still so much I want to be a part of with the Opry before it's my time to let somebody else take the reins."

When Rogers took the reins as vp/executive producer in 2019, he couldn't have imagined the challenges ahead. "The COVID pandemic hit seven or eight months into me being in this position. I was really thankful that I wasn't new to the Opry when that hit," says Rogers, who started at the Opry as an intern in 1998 and has held positions in artist relations, communication, marketing, production and tours. 

"We just assumed the flood of 2010 would be the most devastating thing and the most challenging time in our careers," Rogers says, referencing the historic flood that devastated Nashville as the Cumberland River rose over its banks and filled the Grand Ole Opry House with 10 feet of water. "But it was truly the uncertainty and just the sadness of COVID that made it so difficult for us."

Nevertheless, the Grand Ole Opry continued, and artists performed 29 Saturday nights without a live audience during the COVID pandemic, never missing a performance. Fans all over the world continued to enjoy the nearly 100-year-old show as they tuned in to the Opry Live broadcast and livestream.  

Under Rogers' leadership, the Opry welcomes a wide range of performers - both newcomers and established superstars, as well as acts who fall outside of country. For example, "American Pie" singer Don McLean made his Opry debut Mar. 9. 

"Mr. Rogers, or Opry Dan, as we still lovingly call him, is so effective simply because he absolutely loves the Opry and everyone connected with it. It is his passion, and it shows," says Jeannie Seely, a 58-year member of the Opry, who was Rogers first assignment as an intern, when he was charged with taking her and her dog, Shadpoke, to the welcome center to greet fans. "Dan is the perfect choice for this important position. He understands the broad spectrum of the Opry. He has the pulse of what's happening in the music industry today and how it pertains to the Opry. At the same time, because of his lifelong love for this institution, he knows the history and the legendary artists who have created it. His mix of the two provides a show that can only be found at the Grand Ole Opry. The future of this country music treasure is safe in his hands." 

Trisha Yearwood, who celebrated her 25th anniversary as an Opry member on Mar. 13, agrees. "Dan has always understood the family that the Opry is, and he does everything with a smile. He even brings homemade apple pie backstage! I'm so happy to see him move up in our Opry family."

Since Rogers took the helm as executive producer in 2019, 15 artists have been inducted as Grand Ole Opry members, and T. Graham Brown and Scotty McCreery will be inducted this spring. Last year set a record for Opry debuts, as 131 artists performed on the famed stage for the first time. During the past two years, there have been more than 200 debuts. "If you made me pick a favorite debut, it would probably be Leslie Jordan because that man brought so much love into this Opry House when he walked in," Rogers recalls of the late actor/singer. "He had so much respect for this place and was determined to have the night of his life from the minute he walked in."

During his tenure, the Xenia, Ill., native has executive produced Dolly Parton's 50th Opry anniversary special, Grand Ole Opry: 95 Years of Great Country Music and Christmas at the Opry, which all aired on NBC; as well as the Opry's 5,000th Saturday night broadcast on Oct. 30, 2022, and the 50th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry House, which took place the weekend of Mar. 16. 

"We went into the night, and I said to our programming staff, ‘One thing we should try to accomplish tonight is all of us should take time to enjoy the show, have fun and tell these artists we love them because this feels like a monumental show,'" he says of the 50th anniversary of the Opry House moving to its current building in 1974. "I loved just standing on the side of the stage and watching people from Bill Anderson, who has been here and served the Opry longer than any member in history, to relatively new Opry members all just enjoying being here and feeling like they were at home."

Rogers' duties include serving as executive producer for the weekly Opry Live broadcast and live stream. He will add new executive producer roles on upcoming international and domestic broadcasts, especially those related to the Grand Ole Opry's 100th year on the air in 2025. 

There's palpable excitement in Rogers' voice when he talks about celebrating the Opry's 100th anniversary. "Our goal would be to do up to 240 Opry performances next year, the network television specials and a couple of monumental shows, probably outside of Nashville," he says. "We're taking the Opry to some unexpected places in addition to really having a show almost any time a Nashvillian wants to come see us or anyone is coming from around the world. If you spend two nights in Nashville, [we're] pretty sure at least one of those nights we'll be staging the Grand Ole Opry for you."

Though the Grand Ole Opry's actual centennial is in November 2025, the festivities will begin long before. "We'll begin celebrating about this time next year and will continue basically as long as people will let us," Rogers says with a laugh. "There are so many artists we want to showcase and partners we want to partner with, it really will take several months for us to accomplish all that we want to accomplish, but we also want to give people plenty of opportunities to come see us if you are a spring traveler or summer traveler, fall, winter or what have you."

Rogers says there are plans for special exhibits and specific tours celebrating the Opry's 100th, which he expects will draw more than 250,000 visitors. "You will also know that it's a really, really special year when you walk through either on a tour or as an artist walking through on a show night," he says.

There are also plans for shows that will honor Grand Ole Opry legends who have died such as Roy Acuff and Minnie Pearl. 

Rogers quarterbacks a staff that includes the Opry's programming and artist relations team's associate producers Nicole Judd and Gina Keltner, as well as artist relations and programming strategy director Jordan Pettit. 

After all these years, Rogers says he still gets a thrill on show nights. "My favorite thing is walking to the side of the stage and watching the curtain go up and seeing 4,400 people out there and knowing for some of them it's a bucket list moment," he says. "There's probably some little kid from southern Illinois who had never dreamed that they would be where I am and there are probably lots of Trisha Yearwoods, Lainey Wilsons and John Pardis out there, just taking it all in and thinking, ‘I'm going to be on that stage someday.'"

It certainly looks like Dan and his team have big plans for the 100th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry in 2025. 

Now moving ahead to this weekend at the Opry, the Friday Night Opry has four members on the schedule: Connie Smith, Riders In The Sky, Mark Wills and Dailey & Vincent. Riders In The Sky are back on Saturday night, along with Jeannie Seely and Don Schlitz. Additionally, in what seems to be an Easter tradition, Rhonda and Darrin Vincent are on the schedule, appearing with members of their family. 

Rounding out the Friday night lineup will be Clay Walker, Zach Top, Steven Curtis Chapman and Meg McRee. On Saturday night, Michael Ray, Kylie Frey and Billy Pilgrim, who will be making their Opry debut, are on the schedule. 

Friday March 29
7:00: Mark Wills, Connie Smith, Zach Top, Dailey & Vincent
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky, Meg McRee, Steven Curtis Chapman, Clay Walker

Saturday March 30
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Riders In The Sky, Jeannie Seely, Billy Pilgrim, Rhonda & Darin Vincent & Family
Intermission
8:15: Kylie Frey, John Berry, Opry Square Dancers, Michael Ray, Lee Greenwood

As mentioned, Folk rock duo Billy Pilgrim, comprised of Andrew Hyra and Kristian Bush, will be making their Opry debut on Saturday night, part of celebrating its 34th anniversary in 2024.

“Debuting Billy Pilgrim at the Opry is a thrill I can’t wait to share — not only with my singing partner, Andrew, but also with fans everywhere,” said Bush, who has also played the Opry with his other duo Sugarland and as a solo artist. “The Opry family has been so welcoming to every creative version of me through the years that I wanted to share where it all started, Billy Pilgrim. I can’t wait to hear our harmonies bounce off the wood and spiral around the room.” The Opry debut announcement comes on the heels of a New York Times feature dedicated to the decades-long popularity of Billy Pilgrim’s signature hit, “Insomniac.” The story dubbed “Insomniac” a “melancholy, guitar-driven love song” and noted its “wailing Hammond organ” and musical interlude that extends into a jam.

While Billy Pilgrim went on hiatus in 2001, Bush and Hyra reunited in 2015 and have resumed playing shows as Billy Pilgrim. The pair recently announced back-to-back May shows at Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta – and both sold out immediately. “Andrew and I are excited to be playing shows this year, and what better place to start than the stage that started it all, Eddie’s Attic,” Bush said. “I always learn every time we take the stage together how sacred and beautiful music can be when it is approached with wild abandon, respect and a pile of courage. That is the thrill of playing with Andrew, and I can’t wait to do it again.”

Now, here is the running order from 50 years ago, Saturday March 30, 1974. This was the 3rd Saturday night at the Grand Ole Opry House and was also the final night that Earl Scruggs appeared as a member of the Opry. 

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Charlie Walker (host): Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Ernie Ashworth: Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down

6:45: Rudy's
Willis Brothers (host): Truck Stop
Justin Tubb: Looking Back To See
Willis Brothers: Buying Popcorn

7:00: Rudy's
Archie Campbell (host): (?)
Bob Luman: Lonely Women Make Good Lovers
Tommy Jones: Dixie Hummingbird
Bob Luman: When You Say Love
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Tommy Jones: Orange Blossom Special
Archie Campbell: Make Friends

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: I'm Going Home On The Morning Train
Lonzo & Oscar: Moving On #2
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Lost Indian
Roy Acuff: Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
Carol Lee Cooper: Making Plans
Roy Acuff: I Saw The Light

8:00: Martha White
Billy Walker (host): I Changed My Mind
Grandpa Jones: Are You From Dixie
Earl Scruggs Revue: Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Connie Smith: Dallas
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain
Grandpa Jones: Just Plain Folks
Earl Scruggs Revue: I Shall Be Released

8:30: Stephens
Billy Grammer (host): Detroit City
Stu Phillips: Great El Tigre
The 4 Guys: Don't It Make You Want To Go Home
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
Johnny Russell: Red Necks, White Sox & Blue Ribbon Beer
Stu Phillips: That's The Chance I'll Have To Take
Billy Grammer: What A Friend

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Charlie Walker (host)L Wanting My Woman Again
Willis Brothers: Cool Water
Connie Smith: Amazing Grace
Ernie Ashworth: Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor
Charlie Walker: Jambalaya
Connie Smith: Louisiana Man
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips

10:00: Fender
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): Doin' My Time
Bob Luman: Today I Started Loving You Again
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Coming Down From God

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Back In The Country
Justin Tubb: Loving Arms
Roy Acuff: Carry Me Back To The Mountains

10:30: Trailblazer
Stu Phillips (host): There Must Be Another Way To Say Goodbye
Grandpa Jones: Banjo Sam/Mountain Dew
Stu Phillips: For The Good Times

10:45: Beechnut
Billy Grammer (host): Lonesome Road Blues
Lonzo & Oscar: Rocky Top
Crook Brothers and The Tennessee Travelers: Sally Goodin
Billy Grammer: Just A Closer Walk with Thee

11:00: Coca Cola
Billy Walker (host): Sing Me A Love Song To Baby
Earl Scruggs Revue: Carolina Boogie
Tommy Jones: Alabama Jubilee
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Earl Scruggs Revue: T For Texas
Sam McGee: Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away

11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): Devil Woman
The 4 Guys: Hello Walls/Big Bad John/Wings of A Dove
Johnny Russell: Red Necks, White Socks & Blue Ribbon Beer
Ronnie Robbins: Am I Good Enough To Be Your Man/Mama Tried
Marty Robbins: Don't Worry/Love Me/Big Boss Man/I'm Wanting To/El Paso/Singing The Blues

(Archie Campbell was scheduled for both shows by only appeared on the early show)

After the breakup of Flatt & Scruggs, each carried on as individual members of the Grand Ole Opry, with Lester continuing with the more traditional bluegrass sound, while Earl and his sons went with a more progressive sound. While Lester remained an Opry member until his death, Earl left after the opening of the new Opry House. It should be noted that while he was no longer a member, Earl would make a few occasional appearances over the years. There has been at least one report in which he asked to rejoin the Opry during his later years but was denied. 

During their time on the Opry, the Earl Scruggs Revue consisted of Earl and his sons, Randy and Gary and Joey Maphis. Others who made appearances included another son, Steve, and Vassar Clements. Membership would change over time. The group made a number of albums and made numerous appearances at folk festivals and on college campuses. The revue lasted until 1982, after which Earl returned to doing solo work or doing collaborations with other artists. Some have said that one of Earl's greatest contributions was his influence in the making of the album "Will The Circle Be Unbroken." Many of the artists who appeared on that album, including Roy Acuff and Maybelle Carter, were there thanks to the influence of Earl. 

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.