May Opry Highlights

 Welcome to the month of May, the month where many of us see spring at the beginning of the month and summer by the end. As usual, May is a busy month at the Grand Ole Opry and here are the important and historical events that have taken place during the month involving the Opry or its members:

May 1, 1894: One of the Opry's original members, Sam McGee was born. Sam first appeared on the WSM Barn Dance in 1926. Over the years, Sam would appear with his brother Kirk, and as part of the Dixieliners and Fruit Jar Drinkers. Sam passed away in August 1975, following a tractor accident on his farm near Nashville.

May 12, 1901: The Duke of Paducah, Benjamin Francis Ford, was born in DeSoto, Missouri. This fine comedian joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry in 1942 and remained a member of the Opry until 1959. Even though he gave up his Opry membership to move on to other opportunities, the Duke would continue to return for guest appearances, especially during the Opry's annual reunion shows. Benjamin Ford passed away in 1986, the same year that he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

May 30, 1909: Lewis Crook, a member of the Crook Brothers, was born. While not an original member of the group, he performed with Herman Crook and the others, primarily backing up the square dancers. After Herman passed away, Lewis continued on at the Opry as part of the newly named Opry Square Dance Band. Lewis, who was a part of the Opry for over 60 years, passed away in 1997.

May 17, 1912: Grand Ole Opry and WSM announcer Grant Turner was born. Grant joined the staff of WSM on D-Day, June 6, 1944. While the Opry has had many legendary announcers over the years, Grant is considered the Opry's best, so much so that he was called "The Dean of the Opry's Announcers." Grant remained an Opry announcer until his death on October 19, 1991, just hours after finishing his work on the Friday Night Opry. Grant, who is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, was with WSM for 47 years.

May 30, 1912: Alcyone Bate Beasley was born. Alcyone was there when it all started in November 1925, performing with her father's group, Dr. Humphrey Bate and His Possum Hunters. After his death in 1936, Alcyone worked to keep the Possum Hunters together, but it was a struggle as the Opry moved to a more professional and modern sound. By the 1960s, the Possum Hunters had been merged with the Crook Brothers. In the 1970s, after over 45 years on the Opry, Alcyone went into semi-retirement, after which she became a fixture at the Opry's annual reunion shows. She passed away in October 1982.

May 9, 1914: The legendary Singing Ranger, Hank Snow was born in Liverpool, Nova Scotia. Hank joined the Grand Ole Opry in January 1950 and would remain one of the Opry's biggest stars until his death in December 1999, just weeks short of his 50th anniversary as an Opry member. In 1979, Hank was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Hank last appeared on the Opry in 1996 and passed away in December 1999 after a period of declining health. 

May 1, 1926: Uncle Dave Macon joined the cast of the WSM Barn Dance. Uncle Dave was considered the first professional musician to join the cast of the Barn Dance, and he would remain with the show until his death in March 1952. Uncle Dave was a popular Opry member, who always considered himself just a plain old country boy. In 1966, he was one of the early members to be elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

May 8, 1926: Obed Pickard, the first singing star of the Grand Ole Opry, made his debut on the WSM radio show. Certainly, one of the forgotten names in the history of the Opry. 

May 7, 1927: Fiddler Paul Warmack made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, months before he introduced his group The Gully Jumpers to the show. The Gully Jumpers would spend the next several decades as the Opry as part of the rotation of the string bands. 

May 1, 1928: Former Grand Ole Opry member, James Hugh Loden was born. Better known as Sonny James, the Southern Gentleman, he was an Opry member for a few years in the 1960s. A true country legend, Sonny is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

May 26, 1934: Fiddler Theron Hale made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, where he had performed regularly for eight years. As with so many of the Opry's early members, he didn't stay too long. 

May 25, 1936: Grand Ole Opry member Tom T Hall was born. Much like Abe Lincoln. Tom T was born in a log cabin in Kentucky. A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, Tom T originally joined the Opry on January 1, 1971. He left the Opry in 1974, after the show moved to the new Grand Ole Opry House at Opryland. In 1980, he returned as an Opry member and until the early 1990s, appeared on the Opry often. Sadly, Tom T Hall passed in 2021 shortly after passing the 50-year mark as an Opry member. 

May 30, 1936: The blackface comedy duo Lasses & Honey marked their final Grand Ole Opry appearance The duo had been a part of the Opry for a couple of years. 

May 31, 1938: Donald Lytle was born in Greenfield, Ohio. Early in his career, he decided upon the name Johnny Paycheck and spent the early part of his career as a band member for Ray Price, Porter Wagoner, George Jones and Faron Young. Once he became a star in his own right, Johnny became one of the first to be considered a country "outlaw." He experienced some pretty serious issues in his life and spent some time in prison. However, in 1997, thanks to some help from his friend Johnny Russell, he was asked to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Sadly, just a few years after becoming an Opry member, his health declined, and his performing career ended. Johnny passed away in February 2003. There are some who believe that Johnny deserves a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

May 6, 1939: Obed Pickard and The Pickard Family performed on the Grand Ole Opry for the final time at Nashville's Dixie Tabernacle. 

May 2, 1948: Grand Ole Opry member Larry Gatlin was born. Along with his brothers Steve and Rudy, Larry joined the cast of the Opry on Christmas Day 1976. In recent years, Larry has been performing pretty regularly at the Opry and has become the primary host of Opry Country Classics, which takes place during the Spring and Fall months. Who else finds it hard to believe that Larry will be 76 this year? 

May 29, 1950: Mother Maybelle Carter and the Carter Sisters, which consisted of Anita, Helen and June, became members of the Grand Ole Opry. When the Carters joined the cast, they also brought along Chet Atkins as their guitar player. For Chet, it was a return to the show as he had originally appeared on the show in the 1940s with Red Foley. While the Carter Sisters would come and go, Mother Maybelle remained with the Opry until the late 1960s. Later in her career, and similar to the experience of other veteran Opry members such as Sam and Kirk McGee, she would complain to the Opry's management about her poorly timed spots and a general lack of respect. When she finally did decide to leave the Opry, it was to become a permanent member of Johnny Cash's Road show.

May 16, 1953: Jimmy Dean made his Grand Ole Opry debut, introduced that night by Opry member Carl Smith. While never becoming an Opry member, Jimmy would make occasional Opry appearances throughout his career, including on the night that Jimmy Dickens was honored on his 50th anniversary as an Opry member.

May 23, 1953: Singing "Mexican Joe" future Grand Ole Opry member Jim Reeves made his Opry debut.

May 1, 1954: Comedian Andy Griffith made his Grand Ole Opry debut. While he was not a regular on the Opry, he would make a few appearances over the years and was always well received. 

May 21, 1955: While several dates are listed, it would appear that this was the date that Opry member Webb Pierce quit the Opry. He was an Opry member for just three years, but over that time he realized pretty fast how much money he was losing by not being out on the road on Saturday nights. In addition to his Hall of Fame career, Webb was also involved in the music publishing business. Even though Webb gave up his Opry membership, he would continue to make guest appearances on the show up until he passed away.

May 11, 1957: Don and Phil, the Everly Brothers, made their first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. They, along with a few others, were brought in as part of a youth movement in an attempt to capture the younger crowd who were not coming to the Opry. They were with the Opry for only a year before moving on. In 2001, they were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

May 18, 1957: Just weeks after the Everly Brothers, Rusty and Doug Kershaw made their Opry debut. While the Everly Brothers left fairly soon after joining, the Kershaw boys would stay around for a few years.

May 28, 1957: The Louvin Brothers formally resign from the Grand Ole Opry to join The Wheeling Jamboree in West Virginia. When they discover they won't receive as much pay as they expected at The Jamboree, they decide several weeks later to return to the Opry. They really didn't miss anytime as the decision to return was pretty quick. 

May 20, 1958: Don Gibson became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. A fantastic songwriter, Don was an Opry member until December 1964, when he was fired from the cast for not making the required number of Opry appearances. Several years later, Don rejoined the Opry after the attendance requirements were lowered. Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001, Don remained an Opry member until his death in 2003 after a period of declining health.

May 4, 1959: Grand Ole Opry member Randy Travis was born in Marshville, North Carolina. Randy joined the cast of the Opry in December 1986. Due to some serious health issues, including a stroke, Randy is no longer able to perform, however he does come around and visits the Opry on occasion.

May 1, 1960: The WLS National Barn Dance, one of the Opry's early competitors, came to an end as WLS in Chicago changed formats. The Barn Dance originally started on April 19, 1924, a year prior to the start of the Opry.

May 27, 1961: Future Grand Ole Opry member Marion Worth made her first guest appearance on the Opry. Marion would join the Opry cast a year later. Marion, who passed away in 1999, was really underrated as a singer and after leaving the Opry, she spent some time performing in Las Vegas. Also on this night, Ernie Ashworth made his Opry debut. Much like Marion, Ernie would join the Opry several years later. 

May 9, 1964: Future Grand Ole Opry member Jeanne Pruett made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Jeanne would join the Opry in 1973, the last singing member of the cast to join the show while the Opry was still at the Ryman Auditorium. 

May 13, 1966: Colonel Sanders made a guest appearance on the Friday Night Opry, where he promised a free chicken dinner to the first 1,000 people who would write to him in care of WSM Radio. There was no further report as to how many took him up on his offer. 

May 28, 1966: Jeannie Seely made her Grand Ole Opry debut. Jeannie would make several more appearances over the next year and in September 1967, would become a member of the Opry. Over the course of her career, Jeannie has appeared on the Opry over 5,000 times, more than any other artist. This year will mark her 58th year as a member, and she remains one of the most loyal and popular members of the Opry's cast. 

May 13, 1967: Merle Haggard made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Merle came to the Opry a few times, the last being in October 2015, when he made a surprise appearance on the show in what turned out to be one of his final performances. 

May 8, 1968: Grand Ole Opry founder George D. Hay passed away at his home in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He started the WSM Barn Dance in November 1925, several months after joining WSM as the Radio Director. After he started the show, he would frequently clash with WSM management, particularly Harry and David Stone, over the direction of the show. He wanted to keep the Opry "close to the ground" while the Stone's saw the value of the Opry to National Life and WSM and wanted the show to take a more professional approach. Over the years, Hay would suffer periods of ill health and by the time he retired from WSM, he was primarily an announcer with little creative control regarding the show. On Saturday May 11, the  first Opry show following his death, Grant Turner paid tribute to him, saying, "He called himself the Solemn Old Judge. If he was solemn, it was only in the face of those who thought to change or corrupt the purity of the barn dance ballads he sought to preserve. We, the performers and friends of the Grand Ole Opry, salute the memory of one whose influence is felt on the stage of the Opry tonight-the Solemn Old Judge, George D. Hay."

May 10, 1969: Stonewall Jackson rejoined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. Stonewall was another of the ones who were fired in December 1964 for failing to fulfill the Opry's attendance requirements. Stonewall originally joined the cast in November 1956. His last Opry appearance was in November 2016 when he was recognized upon his 60th anniversary from when he first joined the Opry. In his later years, Stonewall battled a series of health issues, passing away in December 2021 at the age of 89. 

May 17, 1969: Tammy Wynette became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Sadly, her time as an Opry member would be short and within a few years, she would leave the Opry's cast. To put it simply, she came to the Opry with George Jones and left with George Jones. 

May 16, 1970: In one of those special Opry moments, baseball Hall of Fame member Dizzy Dean made a guest appearance on the Opry. Dizzy was a great fan of country music and was known to belt out his version of the Wabash Cannonball while broadcasting a game. Dizzy and Roy Acuff were friends, and it was Dizzy who gave Roy the nickname of "The King of Country Music." 

May 1, 1971: Tex Summey, known professionally as Cousin Jody, made his final appearance as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He originally came to the Opry in 1937 with Roy Acuff and later performed with Pee Wee King and his Golden West Cowboys. Later in his career, he appeared with Lonzo & Oscar, in addition to his solo performances. While not always remembered, Cousin Jody was Roy Acuff's original dobro player, replaced by Brother Oswald when he left Roy's group. Most remember Cousin Jody for his comedy, but he was a very good musician. 

May 13, 1972: Eight years after an impromptu debut as a guest of The Wilburn Brothers, Gene Watson performed "Danny Boy" and "I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love with You)" during his first scheduled appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. It would take while, but Gene would eventually become a member of the Opry, joining the cast in February 2020.

May 8, 1976: After an absence of several years, George Hamilton IV rejoined the Opry's cast. George originally joined the Opry in February 1960. He left the show, however, as he moved from Nashville back to North Carolina and was doing a lot of touring. After coming back, George stayed with the Opry until his death in September 2014. George is another of those artists who I believe were very underrated during their careers. 

May 21, 1976: Following in the tradition of non-country artists appearing on the Opry, Carol Lawrence and Anson Williams each made an appearance on that evening's Friday Night Opry. Yes, people forget, but non-country acts appearing on the Opry is nothing new. 

May 21, 1977: Former Grand Ole Opry member Don Everly made a guest appearance on the Opry, along with Tennessee Ernie Ford. While Ernie Ford was never an Opry member, he did make several Opry appearances over the years. 

May 22, 1977: In honor of Victoria Day, a national holiday in Canada, the Opry held a special matinee show dedicated to the fans of the Opry from the country up North. By the way, there have been three Grand Ole Opry members that have called Canada home: Hank Snow, Stu Phillips and Terri Clark.

May 11, 1979: Lester Flatt passed away in Nashville at the age of 64. Lester had been in declining health for a number of years. Lester first came to the Opry as a member of Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys, later joining with Earl Scruggs to form Flatt & Scruggs. After splitting with Earl, Lester continued as an Opry member, sticking to traditional bluegrass and traditionally hosting the segment hosted by Martha White.

May 15, 1982: Ricky Skaggs became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be his 42nd year as an Opry member. Ricky always dreamed of becoming an Opry member and he has always taken his Opry membership seriously. As Ricky said, "I don't ever, ever want to get to the point where I don't come and play the Opry, while I feel like I'm too good to play the Opry. Mr. Acuff said that I would do that. He said you'll get so big you'll do like all the rest of them. And I said, you don't know me. You just watch and see; I'm not made that way. I didn't join the Opry for that." After that, whenever Ricky played the Opry, he would always make it a point to find Roy and tell him that he was indeed there. And yes, there have been a few bumps in the road, but overall, Ricky has been good for the Opry.

May 26, 1984: Onie Wheeler, a member of Roy Acuff's Smoky Mountain Boys, died of a heart attack while performing on the Grand Ole Gospel radio program that followed the Friday Night Opry.

May 8, 1985: Amid reports the Grand Ole Opry is planning to trim its roster, Porter Wagoner rallied members in a meeting to assure them the Opry was behind them. Attendees include Roy Acuff, Jack Greene, Jan Howard, Connie Smith, Jeannie Seely and Billy Walker. While those were not among the names being mentioned, Porter was trying to lead the cast in fighting back on the proposed cuts. 

May 18, 1985: U.S. vice president George Bush made an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. spending some time visiting with Roy Acuff. 

May 3, 1986: Barbara Mandrell returned to the Opry for the first time following her near fatal car accident. While her appearances were fewer as her career progressed, Barbara has always expressed a great love of the Opry and its members.

May 4, 1991: Travis Tritt made his first guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Less than a year later, in February 1992, Travis would become an Opry member. Sadly, Travis is another of those who rarely appear on the Opry. 

May 23, 1992: Martina McBride made her Grand Ole Opry debut. Much like Travis, Martina would soon become an Opry member. 

May 1, 1993: Charley Pride became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.  Charley first appeared as a guest on the Opry in the late 1960s. Over the following years, Charley was asked numerous times if he was interested in becoming a member of the Opry, but he always declined due to his heavy touring schedule and the fact that he seldom came to Nashville. In 1993, he finally felt that the time was right, and he joined the cast. Sadly, Charley passed away in 2020 from complications due to Covid. 

May 11, 1996: Steve Wariner became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Steve first came to the Opry as a member of Dottie West's band, before branching out with his own career. This will be Steve's 28th year as a member of the Opry's cast. I have had to the opportunity to meet Steve while at the Opry and found him friendly and delightful to talk to.

May 3, 1997: The Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree celebrated its 50th anniversary with a show that took place on Broadway Avenue in Nashville. It was a wonderful night and star studded as many came out that night to show their support for the Midnight Jamboree. 2022 would mark the 75th anniversary of the Midnight Jamboree. After a period of decline, which included the closing of the Ernest Tubb Record Shop, the Jamboree is now replaying classic shows from their past and seems to be, except for special occasions, taping any new shows. 

May 17, 1997: Former Grand Ole Opry member Tammy Wynette made her final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Tammy had been a member of the Opry in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when she was married to George Jones.

May 31, 1997: Lee Ann Womack made her first guest appearance on the Opry. While never becoming an Opry member, Lee Ann would make guest appearances on the show.

May 9, 1998: Grand Ole Opry member Teddy Wilburn made his final appearance on the Opry. Teddy and his brother Doyle, along with other family members, had first appeared on the Opry in 1940 before being forced to leave the show due to child labor laws. In the 1950s, they returned to the Opry as members, with Teddy and Doyle performing as a duo until Doyle's death from cancer in 1982. Teddy continued as a solo member of the Opry, although over time he would reduce his appearances. Health issues forced Teddy to retire from performing and he passed away in November 2003. 20 years. Where does the time go? 

May 15, 1998: Grand Ole Opry member Johnny Paycheck made his final appearance on the Opry. Health issues forced Johnny to retire from performing.

May 21, 1999: Little Big Town made a guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. It was also the first public appearance for Little Big Town who would eventually become members of the Opry. 

May 29, 1999: Future Grand Ole Opry member Brad Paisley made his Opry debut. Brad came to Nashville and the Opry via the Wheeling Jamboree. After numerous guest appearances, Brad would eventually become an Opry member. 

May 6, 2000: The legendary Patti Page made a guest appearance on the Opry. Patti, who was best known for the hit song "Tennessee Waltz" was described at one time by Vince Gill as his mothers' favorite singer. 

May 5, 2001: Blake Shelton made his debut as a guest artist on the Grand Ole Opry. Over the next decade, Blake would continue to appear once in a while on the Opry, eventually joining the cast in the fall of 2010. Since joining the cast, Blake's appearances have been few and far between. 

May 17, 2003: 

May 21, 2006: Grand Ole Opry member Billy Walker, along with his wife Bettie and two members of his band, were killed in a traffic accident on their way back to Nashville after an appearance in Alabama. Billy had joined the Opry in 1960. Such a tragic end to a great career. 

May 19, 2007: Porter Wagoner celebrated his 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He was joined that night by Dolly Parton, Patty Loveless, Marty Stuart and Buck Trent. Marty hosted the televised segment, and it marked the final time that Porter and Dolly shared the stage together. Dolly sang a very emotional "I Will Always Love You," which she wrote dedicated to Porter and on that night, it brought tears to Porter's eyes. Porter, who was already in declining health, would pass away in October.

May 10, 2008: Carrie Underwood became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be her 16th year as an Opry member. On the night of her induction, Garth Brooks surprised Carrie and the Opry crowd by making a special appearance to induct Carrie. I know I have said it before, but Carrie takes her Opry membership seriously and even with her busy schedule, she has always managed to get in the 10 appearances each year asked of her.

May 26, 2009: Montgomery Gentry was invited by Charlie Daniels to join the Grand Ole Opry. After accepting the offer, the duo sang their hit "One In Every Crowd."

May 30, 2009: Comedian, actor and banjo player Steve Martin made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry, leading an all-star band performing "Foggy Mountain Breakdown." If you have never seen or heard Steve play the banjo, he is fantastic and takes it very seriously.

May 1, 2010: The Grand Ole Opry House sustained major damage when the Cumberland River flooded during heavy rains that hit the Nashville area. The Opry House, Acuff Theater, Opry Museum and Opry Mills Mall all were closed due to the damage. The Acuff Theater was torn down, the Museum has never reopened, and it took the Mall years to get repaired. In the case of the Opry House, it took until September for the auditorium to be reopened. When it did, it was a star-studded Tuesday Night Opry with Bill Anderson hosting the opening segment. This was fitting as it was Bill that had hosted the final Saturday night segment the night prior to the flood. And even though the Opry House was closed due to the flood, the Opry did not miss one performance as the show relocated to various buildings around Nashville.

May 4, 2010: With the stage at the Grand Ole Opry House underwater, the Opry moved to War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville for the Tuesday Night Opry. The lineup included Chris Young, Marty Stuart, Suzy Bogguss and Jeannie Seely, whose home was also flooded.

May 14, 2010: In the wake of flooding at the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville's Two Rivers Baptist Church hosted the Opry for the first time in history. The lineup that night included Charlie Daniels, Lorrie Morgan, Jeannie Seely and Steve Wariner. While the Opry would eventually settle in at the Ryman Auditorium before returning to the Opry House later that year, the show would move around to various venues in Nashville during that summer. As a side not, with the Opry taking place in a church building, there were no square dancers. 

May 3, 2011: Alabama made a guest appearance on the Opry, 29 years after they first appeared on the Opry. They were joined on stage that night by Opry member Brad Paisley, and together they sang, "Old Alabama" and "Tennessee River." While never becoming an Opry member, Alabama would return several times to perform on the show.

May 10, 2012: Loretta Lynn brought out actress Zooey Deschanel to duet on "Coal Miner's Daughter" during the Grand Ole Opry. Zooey. For those who are not familiar with Zooey, she is a fine singer and a part of the duo She & Him. 

May 15, 2012: Ricky Skaggs celebrated 30 years as a Grand Ole Opry member. He sang "Me and God" with Josh Turner and "Amen" with Edens Edge. Skaggs also performs with Alison Krauss and The Whites.

May 18, 2013: Retired Grand Ole Opry member Barbara Mandrell made a surprise appearance at the Opry. She did not sing but came out on stage and waved to the audience.

May 20, 2014: The MusiCorps Wounded Warrior Band made its Grand Ole Opry debut, performing "Wagon Wheel" with Ricky Skaggs during a four-song set. The military-themed Opry installment also featured Lee Greenwood, John Conlee, Bill Anderson, Josh Turner and Darryl Worley.

May 30, 2015: Carly Pearce made her Grand Ole Opry debut. After becoming one of the Opry's more frequent guest artists, and seeing her career take great leaps, in 2021 Carly became a member of the Grand Ole Opry and has continued to make regular appearances since joining. 

May 4, 2018: Grand Ole Opry member Charley Pride was honored at the Opry upon his 25th anniversary as a member of the Opry.

May 11, 2018: Carrie Underwood celebrated her 10th anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member, performing "Cry Pretty," "Jesus, Take The Wheel" and "Temporary Home" on the show, where she's greeted by Randy Travis.

May 4, 2019: Randy Travis appeared at the Grand Ole Opry to celebrate his 60th birthday. Ricky Skaggs, Don Schlitz, Charles Esten and Josh Turner joined Randy that night. Randy joined songwriter Don Schlitz in singing "Forever and Ever, Amen" which was written by Don.

May 8, 2021: Steve Wariner was honored upon his 25th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. The evening was highlighted by a surprise appearance by Garth Brooks. Steve and Garth had collaborated together in the past and did so again that night. 

May 14, 2021: For the first time since the COVID-19 shutdown in March 2020, the Grand Ole Opry was held without a capacity restriction. Among the artists performing that night were Lorrie Morgan, the Oak Ridge Boys, Riders In The Sky and Charles Esten. It was also the Opry debut of Brittney Spencer. 

May 22, 2021: Leslie Jordan made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Appearing with Brothers Osborne, Leslie sang "Will The Circle Be Unbroken." His appearance was considered a smash. 

May 29, 2021: Former Grand Ole Opry member B.J. Thomas passed away after a short illness. B.J. was an Opry member in the early 80s. While he did give up his Opry membership shortly after joining, he did return for a few guest appearances on the show. 

May 14, 2022: Jamey Johnson became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Jamey had been asked by Bill Anderson during a March guest appearance to become a member, something that Jamey had talked about for years. 

May 3, 2024: T. Graham Brown is scheduled to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. T. Graham had been invited several months earlier by Vince Gill, who will also be on hand for the official induction. For T. Graham, it was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. 

May 21, 2024: Lainey Wilson was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Opry member Reba McEntire surprised Lainey with the invite during Lainey's appearance on The Voice. Her induction will take place in June. 

There you have it for May. Another busy month around the Opry.

Tuesday Night Opry 4/30 & Opry Country Classics 5/2

Here is the lineup for the Tuesday Night Opry: 

Tuesday April 30
7:00: Dailey & Vincent, Dillon James, Charlie McCoy, MacKenzie Porter
Intermission
8:15: Don Schlitz, Killer Beaz, Lauren Alaina, Ashley McBryde

A very solid lineup for the Tuesday night show. Nice to see Lauren Alaina and Ashley McBryde on the schedule. 

With the addition of Henry Cho and Gary Mule Deer as Opry members, we have seen a reduction in the number of appearances by non-member comedians. Killer Beaz is one of the few still making occasional appearances. 

It will be the Opry debut for Dillon James. Born and raised in Bakersfield, California, Dillon was influenced by the city’s unique blend of Rock n’ Roll and Country music from an early age, picking up a guitar for the first time at the age of 10. Dillon was first drawn to classic rock, though his tastes diversified to the likes of City And Colour, Glen Campbell, Jeff Buckley, George Strait and Bob Dylan.  Combined with inspiration from the local sounds of Merle Haggard and Buck Owens, Dillon developed the country-rock infused vocals and powerful story telling that would define his distinct sound. After winning several singer-songwriter competitions and a brief stint working as an actor in Los Angeles, Dillon entered a turbulent period of substance abuse and homelessness. During this painful time, he realized that if he could heal himself and achieve his lifelong dream of becoming a singer-songwriter, he could become a living testament to others as well. Dillon accomplished his goal and moved to Nashville to write and record music, including his debut track “Walking Man,” “My Shadow,” and more set to be released soon. In his own words, “human connection is the goal, music is just the vessel.” 

Opry Country Classics
Thursday May 2
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Dailey & Vincent
Also Appearing: Gatlin Brothers, Jeannie Seely, Avery Anna, Twitty & Lynn

Looking ahead to next week, Opry Country Classics will have a special show celebrating Johnny Paycheck, which will feature his son John Paycheck. 

Grand Ole Opry 4/26 & 4/27

A couple of items before getting into the Grand Ole Opry lineups for this weekend. First, tickets for all remaining Opry shows in 2024 are now on sale. This includes the Opry's 99th Birthday Weekend, which will take place on October 11 & 12, and Opry Country Christmas shows, which will begin on Sunday December 1 and last through the month. If I did my addition correctly, there will be 10 Christmas shows in all.

Over the past several years, the Opry Country Christmas shows have become some of my favorites with a regular cast of Opry members singing some of their Christmas favorites, along with special guests. I know it is only April, but each year I look forward to these holiday shows. 

On a second note, congratulations to Grand Ole Opry member Ranger Doug, of Riders In The Sky. Ranger Doug picked up the Wrangler Award for Best Original Western Music Composition last weekend at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 

The Idol of American Youth treated the hundreds of gala attendees with a solo rendition of his winning song, Shelter of the Wildwood, currently featured on Riders In The Sky's latest album, Throw a Saddle on a Star, which resides these days at #2 on the Western Music Chart.

“It was great,’ the Ranger reported upon returning to Harmony Ranch. “The best part was seeing (his wife) Desi just light up. She didn’t know it was such a big deal. Really fun.”

What’s ahead for the Ranger and Riders? “We’re hitting the road for the next few weeks. Texas, the great Northwest, California, Arizona, on and on.”

Will his award-winning tune be included on future Riders’ set lists?”

“You know it!”

Congratulations to Ranger Doug!!!

Now looking ahead to this weekend at the Grand Ole Opry and I suppose you could call this an in-between weekend. Last Saturday we had the induction of Scotty McCreery as an Opry member and next Friday we have the induction of T. Graham Brown. That doesn't mean that there are not good shows this weekend as both upcoming nights have very solid lineups. 

Grand Ole Opry member Ricky Skaggs returns, and he will be closing out both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. The only Opry member to join Ricky on Friday night will be Jeannie Seely, as she continues adding to her number of record-breaking Opry appearances. Besides Ricky, the Saturday schedule includes members Riders In The Sky, John Conlee, Mandy Barnett, The Isaacs and Connie Smith. 

The very talented Charlie Worsham is on the schedule for both nights. Also on the Friday is Tommy Emmanual, Mark & Maggie O'Connor, songwriter Sean Dietrich, Tierra Kennedy and making his Opry debut, John R. Miller. 

Besides Charlie, Kathy Mattea is back for another Opry appearance on Saturday night, along with Cris Jacobs, who will be making his Opry debut. 

Friday April 26
7:00: Jeannie Seely, Mark & Maggie O'Connor, Charlie Worsham, Tommy Emmauel
Intermission
8:15: John R. Miller, Tierra Kennedy, Sean Dietrich, Ricky Skaggs

Saturday April 27
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Riders In The Sky, John Conlee, Cris Jacobs, Mandy Barnett, The Isaacs
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith, Charlie Worsham, Kathy Mattea, Ricky Skaggs

John R. Miller is a singer/songwriter from West Virginia. His family was not musical — his father worked odd jobs and was a paramedic before he was born, while his mother was a nurse — but he was drawn to music at an early age' "Music was the first thing to turn my brain on. I'd sit by the stereo for hours with a blank audio cassette waiting to record songs I liked," he says. "I was into a lot of whatever was on the radio until I was in middle school and started finding out about punk music, which is what I gravitated toward and tried to play through high school." Not long after a short and aimless attempt at college, I was introduced to old time and traditional fiddle music, particularly around West Virginia, and my whole musical world started to open up." Around the same time, he discovered John Prine and says the music of Steve Earle sent him "down a rabbit hole." From there he found the 1970s Texas gods like Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, Jerry Jeff Walker, Billy Joe Shaver, and Blaze Foley, the swamp pop of Bobby Charles, and the Tulsa Sound of J.J. Cale, who is probably his biggest influence.

Cris Jacobs is an American singer-songwriter from Baltimore, Maryland, United States. A local fixture in Maryland music, Jacobs was called "The King of Baltimore Rock' n 'Roll" by Baltimore magazine. For Jacobs, the last several years have been hard––and transformative. With a vote of confidence from a legend, a no. 2 pencil and scratchpad, and his acoustic guitar, he went into his barn to write. He emerged with his finest album to date. Produced by Jerry Douglas, One of These Days is a stunning collection of storytelling and song, rooted in bluegrass, folk, and blues, but unencumbered by rules and expectations. The Infamous Stringdusters serve as the album’s rollicking house band, joined by friends including Billy Strings, Sam Bush, Lee Ann Womack, the McCrary Sisters, Lindsay Lou, and more. 

Continuing the look back 50 years ago, here is the running order from Saturday April 27, 1974, which included an appearance by Don Williams and Mel Tillis. 

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Justin Tubb (host): Ramblin' Man
Dickey Lee: Ashes Of Love
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203

6:45: Rudy's
Charlie Louvin (host): Lonesome Road Blues
Willis Brothers: Women's Liberation
Del Wood: Keep On The Firing Line
Charlie Louvin: It Almost Felt Like Love Again Today

7:00: Rudy's
Billy Walker (host): Cross The Brazos At Waco
Jan Howard: Banks Of The Ohio
Bill Carlisle: Have A Drink On Me
James Monroe: The Devil Who's Walking By Me
Billy Walker: How Far Our Love Goes
Jan Howard: Love Is Like A Spinning Wheel
Bill Carlisle: Worried Man Blues
Billy Walker: Charlie's Shoes

7:30: Standard Candy
Billy Grammer (host): Gotta Travel On
Mel Tillis: Sawmill
Clyde Moody: Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Crook Brothers & The Tennessee Travelers: Cotton Eyed Joe
Billy Grammer: Just A Closer Walk With Thee
Mel Tillis: Midnight, Me & The Blues
Clyde Moody: Shenandoah Valley Waltz
Billy Grammer: Under The Double Eagle

8:00: Martha White
Stu Phillips (host): Pride
Don Williams: The Shelter Of Your Eyes
Joe & Rose Lee Maphis: Hot Time In Nashville Tonight
Brother Oswald: Coming From The Ball
Stu Phillips: There Must Be Another Way To Say Goodbye
Don Williams: Amanda
Joe & Rose Lee Maphis: Fire On The Mountain
Stu Phillips: Welcome To My World

8:30: Stephens
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): I'm Going Home On The Morning Train
Melba Montgomery: No Charge
Hugh X Lewis: Wish Me A Rainbow
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: I Shall Not Be Moved
Melba Montgomery: The Crawdad Song

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Charlie Louvin (host): You're My Wife; She's My Woman
Willis Brothers: Bob
Mel Tillis: I Ain't Never
Charlie Louvin: Turn Around
Willis Brothers: Cool Water
Mel Tillis: Neon Rose
Charlie Louvin: It Almost Felt Like Love Again Today

10:00: Fender
Justin Tubb (host): Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
Jan Howard: Rock Me Back To Little Rock
Dickey Lee: Sparkling Brown Eyes
Justin Tubb: Loving Arms

10:15: Union 76
Billy Grammer (host): Wabash Cannonball
James Monroe: Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
Billy Grammer: Peace In The Valley

10:30: Trailblazer
Bill Carlisle (host): Too Old To Cut The Mustard
Del Wood: Leaning On The Everlasting Arm
Clyde Moody: Columbus Stockade Blues
Bill Carlisle: I've Waited Too Long/I'm Moving

10:45: Beechnut
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die
Brother Oswald: Black Smoke's A' Rising
Crook Brothers & The Tennessee Travelers: Chicken Reel
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Give Me The Roses While I Live

11:00: Coca Cola
Stu Phillips (host): Crystal Chandeliers
Don Williams: That A Way To Go
Joe & Rose Lee Maphis: Slipping Away
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Walking In My Sleep
Stu Phillips: The Great El Tigre
Don Williams: We Should Be Together
Sam McGee: Farewell Blues/Alabama Jubilee

11:30: Elm Hill
Billy Walker (host): I Changed My Mind
Melba Montgomery: No Charge
Hugh X Lewis: Wish Me A Rainbow
Billy Walker: How Far Our Love Goes
Melba Montgomery: Let's All Go Down To The River
Hugh X Lewis: Big Blue Diamonds
Billy Walker: Cattle Call 

A pretty slim night for Opry members with many of the big names missing. 

Finally, to finish it up for this week, here is the printed lineup from one of the Opry's earliest shows, April 27, 1935: (Yes, 89 years ago)

7:30: Jack and His Missouri Mountaineers
7:45: Delmore Brothers
8:00: Possum Hunters
8:10: Uncle Dave Macon
8:20: Gully Jumpers
8:30: Arthur Smith and Dixie Liners
8:42: Sarie and Sallie
8:47: Smilin' Jack and His Missouri Mountaineers
9:00: Lassus and Honey
9:15: Curt and His Guitar
9:30: Possum Hunters
9:40: Uncle Dave Macon
9:50: Smilin' Jack and His Missouri Mountaineers
10:00: Delmore Brothers
10:10: Arthur Smith and His Dixie Liners
10:20: Crook Brothers' Band
10:30: Fruit Jar Drinkers
10:35: Ard Sisters
10:40: Fruit Jar Drinkers
10:45: Robert Lunn
10:50: Crook Brothers' Band
11:00: Binkley Brothers' Band
11:10: Gully Jumpers
11:20: Delmore Brothers
11:30: Fruit Jar Drinkers
11:40: Ard Sisters
11:45: DeFord Bailey
11:50: Binkley Brothers' Band


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. Take care and stay safe. 

Tuesday Night Opry 4/23 & Opry Country Classics 4/25

This week the Grand Ole Opry is back to the normal weeknight schedule with the Tuesday Night Opry and Opry Country Classics on Thursday Night. 

Looking at Tuesday, it is a very solid lineup featuring six members of the Opry, along with Opry NextStage artist Anne Wilson. 

Tuesday Night Opry April 23
7:00: Dailey & Vincent, Craig Morgan, Henry Cho, Anne Wilson
Intermission
8:15: The Isaacs, Chris Janson, Dierks Bentley

Opry Country Classics will feature Marty Stuart as the Spotlight Artist. This will be Marty's first Opry appearance of 2024. Marty is definitely one of the hardest working artists in country music and seems to be constantly on the road. Hopefully he will be able to fit more Opry appearances into his schedule. 

Opry Country Classics
Thursday April 25
7:00
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Marty Stuart
Also Appearing: Gatlin Brothers, T. Graham Brown, Suzy Bogguss, Don Schlitz

Two great Opry shows this week. 

Grand Ole Opry 4/19 & 4/20

It's always a special night at the Grand Ole Opry when a new member is added, and this weekend will be no exception as Scotty McCreery will be formally inducted as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night. 

Scotty has certainly earned the opportunity to be an Opry member as he has appeared on the Opry since winning American Idol in 2011. In fact, Scotty, along with fellow contestant Lauren Alaina, both made their Opry debuts on June 10, 2011. Scotty's career took off after becoming the Idol winner. His debut album, Clear As Day, debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts in October 2011. He became the youngest man and first country music artist in history to have his first album debut atop the all-genre Billboard Top 200 albums chart.

Scotty won the New Artist of the Year Award at both the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards and the American Country Awards in 2011 and received the CMT Music Award for the USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year for “The Trouble with Girls” in 2012. That same year, his Christmas album, Christmas with Scotty McCreery, was released. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Holiday Albums chart and was quickly certified Gold.

Scotty released his third album, See You Tonight, in October 2013. Its title track became his first single to reach the top ten on Billboard's Country charts. Setting a new record in July 2017 with his single "Five More Minutes" he became the only country music artist in Country Aircheck/Media base history to chart a song without the backing of a record label; it topped Billboard in February 2018. His fourth album, Seasons Change, was released in March 2018 and became his fourth top 10 album in the United States. His fifth album, Same Truck, was released on September 17, 2021."You Time" was released on September 23, 2020, as the first single from that album and "Damn Strait" was released on October 18, 2021, as the second single.

Garth Brooks surprised Scotty with the Opry invite back in December and Josh Turner, who was one of Scotty's idols growing up will handle the induction on Saturday night, which will take place during the first show. When Scotty was on American Idol, Josh appeared during a hometown parade and concert in Garner, North Carolina and joined Scotty on stage to perform "Your Man" and "Long Black Train." Josh also made an appearance on Idol a few weeks later. 

Joining Scotty on Saturday night will be Opry members Craig Morgan, Jeannie Seely, Riders In The Sky, Charlie McCoy and Bill Anderson. Josh Turner is scheduled for only the first show. The only non-member on the schedule is the wonderful Sierra Hull. 

Saturday April 20
1st show
7:00
Opry Square Dancers
Craig Morgan
Jeannie Seely
Sierra Hull
Riders In The Sky
Charlie McCoy
Bill Anderson
Josh Turner
Scotty McCreery

2nd show
9:30
Opry Square Dancers
Craig Morgan
Bill Anderson
Charlie McCoy
Jeannie Seely
Sierra Hull
Riders In The Sky
Scotty McCreery

One last word regarding not only Scotty, but other Opry members. I have been reading some comments on social media this past week, specifically regarding Kelsea Ballerini, Sara Evans and Little Big Town, and the lack of Opry appearances. Other members have been targeted in the past, some justifiably so. I again want to point out, that it is my understanding from someone who is close to an actual Opry member, that when that individual joined, there was no required number of appearances for members to make. In fact, in the case with at least one Opry member, the subject never came up. I am sure that the expectation is different for each member and I am sure that discussions do take place behind the scenes. At one time Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood's names came up. I was told that, while Garth and Trisha do not appear on the Opry often, they both love and acknowledge being Opry members and if available, they will appear when asked on specific occasions. Garth being on the 5,000 Saturday night show in 2021 and appearing to invite Scotty are two examples of that. While it would be nice if some of the members appeared more often, let's appreciate each member for what they bring to the Opry when they do appear. Hopefully, and I am very sure of this, Scotty will definitely appreciate being an Opry member, as will T. Graham Brown when he is inducted in a few weeks. 

While Saturday night will be special, there is also a Friday Night Opry this week. Among those appearing are members John Conlee, Connie Smith, Gene Watson and Don Schlitz. 

Also on the schedule is Darin & Brooke Aldridge, who will be celebrating the release of their latest album, "Talk of the Town" on its actual release day! A very special surprise guest is also scheduled to join the award-winning duo. Rounding out the schedule is Blanco Brown, MaRynn Taylor and making his Opry debut, Josh Sundquist. 

Friday April 19
7:00: John Conlee, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Connie Smith, Blanco Brown
Intermission
8:15: Gene Watson, MaRynn Taylor, Josh Sundquist, Don Schlitz

Josh Sundquist is a bestselling author, comic, Paralympian and social media personality who has entertained audiences across the world. His comedy videos online have been viewed over one-billion million times and he has more than four-million followers. He’s been featured on BuzzFeed, CNN, People Magazine, The Today Show, USA Today and ESPN. Josh’s face was once printed on the back of Doritos bags nationwide (specifically, Spicy Nacho flavor) to highlight his work on behalf of amputees. He's the author of five books. He served as Executive Producer and writer of an Emmy award winning streaming series inspired by his childhood for Apple TV+.

The weekend of April 19 & 20, 1974 saw Grand Ole Opry member George Jones making his first appearances at the new Grand Ole Opry House. George was among those who missed opening night the previous month. 

Here is the line-up from 50 years ago, Friday April 19, 1974:

8:00: Stu Phillips (host): Barbara Mandrell, The Promenaders, Bashful Brother Oswald
8:30: George Jones (host): The Carlisles, Patsy Sledd, Harold Morrison
9:00: Charlie Walker (host): Jan Howard, Mel Street, The Promenaders
9:30: Billy Grammer (host): The Willis Brothers, Jim Mundy
10:00: The Osborne Brothers (host): Louie Roberts, Del Wood
10:30: Bill Monroe (host): Ray Pillow, Jim & Jesse

Now the running order for the following night, Saturday April 20: 

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Willis Brothers (host): Truck Stop
Mac Wiseman: Put My Little Shoes Away
Willis Brothers: Hillbilly Heaven

6:45: Rudy's
Jimmy C Newman (host): Jambalaya
Ernie Ashworth: Each Moment Spent With You
Del Wood: There's A Big Wheel
Jimmy C Newman: Back Pocket Money

7:00: Rudy's
Billy Grammer (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jan Howard: Bad Seed
Stu Phillips: There Must Be Another Way To Say Goodbye
Narvel Felts: Drift Away
Billy Grammer: Just A Closer Walk With Thee
Jan Howard: Love Is Like A Spinning Wheel
Stu Phillips: Great El Tigre

7:30: Standard Candy
Charlie Walker (host): Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Brother Oswald: Black Smoke's A 'Risin
Minnie Pearl: Jealous Hearted Me
Charlie Walker: The Precious Jewel
Crook Brothers & The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Black Mountain Rag
Brother Oswald: Willie, Don't You Ramble No More
Charlie Walker: My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You

8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): Orange Blossom Special
Lonzo & Oscar: The Crawdad Song
Marion Worth: You Win Again
Lester Flatt & Marty Stuart: The Bluebirds Sing For Me
Louie Roberts: Just A Little Lovin;/Anytime/Bouquet Of Roses/Cattle Call
Lonzo & Oscar: Out Of Hand
Kenny Ingram: Cumberland Gap

8:30: Stephens
George Jones (host): Ragged, But Right
Justin Tubb: Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
Patsy Sledd: Chip, Chip
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Soldier's Joy
George Jones: The Telephone Call
Harold Morrison: The Bicycle Song
Justin Tubb: As Long As There's A Sunday
George Jones: You Comb Her Hair
Patsy Sledd: Pass Me By
George Jones: White Lighting

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Charlie Walker (host): Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Minnie Pearl: Careless Love
Charlie Walker: Wanting My Woman Again
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
Brother Oswald: John Hardy
Charlie Walker: I Saw The Light

10:00: Fender
Jimmy C Newman (host): Diggy Liggy Lo
Jan Howard: When We Tried
Narvel Felts: When Your Good Love Was Mine
Jimmy C Newman: Potato Song

10:15: Union 76
Billy Grammer (host): Detroit City
Mac Wiseman: Keep On The Sunny Side
Billy Grammer: He Touched Me

10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Black Smoke's A' Risin
Lonzo & Oscar: Charming Betsy
Lester Flatt: Get In Line, Brother/Flint Hill Special

10:45: Beechnut
Justin Tubb (host): Lonesome 7-7203
Del Wood: Leaning On The Everlasting Arm
Crook Brothers & The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Mississippi Sawyer
Justin Tubb: Loving Arms

11:00: Coca Cola
George Jones (host): The Race Is On
Patsy Sledd: Chip, Chip
Harold Morrison: Ol' Slewfoot
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
George Jones: A Picture Of Me
Sam McGee: Wreck Of The Old 97
George Jones: She Thinks I Still Care/Lovebug

11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): Devil Woman
Marion Worth: Go On Home/Sleeping At The Foot Of The Bed
Louie Roberts: Ribbon Of Darkness/Tonight Carmen
Marty Robbins: Love Me/Don't Worry/Big Boss Man/I'm Wanting To/I Couldn't Believe It Was True/My Woman, My Woman, My Wife/El Paso/Singing The Blues

(Dottie West was scheduled for both shows but cancelled, while Stu Phillips was only scheduled for the first show). And for those wondering, Roy Acuff was in Taiwan). 

There was also a Saturday matinee show that weekend: 

3:00: Jimmy C Newman, Jan Howard
3:30: Lester Flatt, Ernie Ashworth
4:00: Charlie Walker, Lonzo & Oscar
4:30: Stu Phillips, Louie Roberts

There you have it for this week. Congratulations to Scotty McCreery upon becoming the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Hopefully, Scott will support the show and be making frequent Opry appearances. Take care and as always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend. 

Tuesday Night Opry 4/16 & Opry Country Classics 4/17

It's a pretty big Tuesday Night Opry this week as Opry member Kelsea Ballerini will be celebrating her 5th anniversary as an Opry member (just to clarify, it will be her 5th year as an Opry member, not her 5th Opry appearance). Kelsea is another of those members who just doesn't seem to be able to find the time to make many Opry appearances. Regardless, I am happy to see her on the schedule for Tuesday night. 

Also appearing will be one of the biggest stars in country music today: Jelly Roll. He has made a few Opry appearances over the last couple of years and has always appreciated being on the show. 

Joining those two will be Opry members Riders In The Sky, Rhonda Vincent, Gary Mule Deer and Terri Clark. Very frequent Opry guest Maggie Rose and making his Opry debut, Tyler Halverson round out the lineup. 

Tuesday Night Opry April 16
7:00
Rhonda Vincent
Tyler Halverson
Riders In The Sky
Maggie Rose

8:15
Terri Clark
Gary Mule Deer
Jelly Roll
Kelsea Ballerini

Tyler Halverson is from Canton, SD. He says he isn’t just any cowboy. He’s got the hat and the boots, but he also plays a mean guitar and writes an even meaner tune. He has no problem bouncing around the country chasing adventure and is telling his different kind of cowboy tale with his self-described “Western Amerijuana Music,” bridging honest storytelling with songcraft inspired by country powerhouses Garth Brooks, George Strait, and Hayes Carll as much as Boyz II Men, Taking Back Sunday, and The Used. He attended college at Belmont University and after graduation, he decided to hit the road and spent an extended run traveling around South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, all the while writing and playing his songs on social media. Halverson’s original approach caught fire with a string of independent releases including “Beer Garden Baby,” “Mac Miller,” and “Your Bar Now” (with Kylie Frey), amassing tens of millions of streams. Now, with new music still to come throughout the year, Tyler Halverson is eager to take the next step on what has already proven an amazing journey. 

There is a change this week with Opry Country Classics. Normally held on Thursday night, this week, thanks to a show featuring Andrew Schulz at the Opry House, Opry Country Classics moves to Wednesday night. 

Opry Country Classics
Wednesday April 17
7:00
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Rhonda Vincent
Also Appearing: The Gatlin Brothers, TG Sheppard, Tim Dugger, Don Schlitz

Grand Ole Opry 4/12 & 4/13

For the first time in 2024, Carrie Underwood is on the schedule at the Grand Ole Opry this weekend. She will be appearing on Saturday night, which will be a two-show night. I know it sounds like a broken record, but we really can't say enough about Carrie and her support of the Opry. 

Joining Carrie for both shows will be Opry members Gary Mule Deer and, making it two weekends in a row, Vince Gill. Also on the schedule is Hall of Fame member Connie Smith and Dailey & Vincent. 

Guesting will be Opry NextStage artist Nate Smith and making their Opry debut, Josiah & The Bonnevilles. 

While the focus will be on Saturday night, let's not forget the Friday Night Opry where Vince and Gary Mule will be making it a two-show weekend. Joining that duo will be Jeannie Seely, John Conlee and Bill Anderson. Guesting on Friday are Drew Parker, Marcus King and Ellie Holcomb. 

Friday April 12
7:00: Jeannie Seely, Drew Parker, John Conlee, Marcus King
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson, Ellie Holcomb, Gary Mule Deer, Vince Gill

Saturday April 13
1st show
7:00
Opry Square Dancers
Dailey & Vincent
Connie Smith
Josiah & The Bonnevilles
Gary Mule Deer
Vince Gill
Nate Smith
Carrie Underwood

2nd show
9:30
Opry Square Dancers
Dailey & Vincent
Connie Smith
Carrie Underwood
Josiah & The Bonnevilles
Nate Smith
Gary Mule Deer
Vince Gill

Three very nice shows again this weekend and nice to see five Opry members on each show. 

Josiah and the Bonnevilles, who are making their Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday night, is a musical project led by singer-songwriter Josiah Leming. Josiah was born in Morristown, Tennessee and as a child, Josiah was fascinated by music and began playing the piano and guitar at a young age.

Josiah's musical talents became evident to his family and friends, and he began performing as a teenager catching the attention of music industry professionals. In 2010, he formed Josiah and the Bonnevilles, which presented a unique blend of Folk, Americana, and Country that draws from his roots as a true Appalachian artist, embracing honesty and putting life's realities into his songwriting.

 In 2015, Josiah and the Bonnevilles released its debut album, On Trial. The album was praised for its raw, vulnerable lyrics and its combination of acoustic and electric instruments that underpinned the storytelling. The band went on tour in support of the album with the artist LP, performing at various venues across the United States and Europe. Since the release of On Trial, Josiah and the Bonnevilles have continued to make music and tour, gaining a devoted fan base along the way. Josiah remains grounded and focused on his music.

Now from 50 years ago, Saturday April 13, 1974: 

1st show
6:30: Stonewall Jackson (host): Willis Brothers
6:45: Charlie Louvin (host): Ernie Ashworth, Justin Tubb
7:00: Roy Acuff (host): Billy Walker, Minnie Pearl, Jim & Jesse, Wilma Lee Cooper
7:30: Tom T. Hall (host): David Houston, Osborne Brothers, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
8:00: Lester Flatt (host): Del Reeves, Jimmy C Newman, Kenny Ingram
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Jean Shepard, The 4 Guys, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Stu Phillips

2nd show
9:30: Tom T. Hall (host): Willis Brothers, Osborne Brothers, Justin Tubb, Ernie Ashworth
10:00: Billy Walker (host): Stonewall Jackson, Charlie Louvin
10:15: Roy Acuff (host): Wilma Lee Cooper, Stu Phillips
10:30: Lester Flatt (host): Del Reeves, Charlie Nixon
10:45: David Houston (host): Jim & Jesse, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Jimmy C Newman, The 4 Guys, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host): Jean Shepard, Ray Pillow

A couple of notes: Stoney Cooper was sick, thus Wilma Lee appeared as a solo act with their daughter Carol. Grandpa Jones was scheduled for both shows but cancelled, while Ray Pillow appeared on only the late show. He was scheduled for the first show but missed it.

Also, Tom T. Hall appeared on both shows. It had been reported in various places that Tom T., along with Bobby Bare, had quite the Opry when it moved from the Ryman to the new Grand Ole Opry House. While Bobby did quit, Tom T. did appear after the move with the show on this particular night. It would be his first and only Saturday night appearance at the Opry House before quitting the show. He would make a final Friday night appearance in June. 

When Tom T. left the Opry he wrote management a letter. Tom T wrote "In the letter I said that I was quitting because of the limited musical instrumentation allowed at the Opry. There were no drums allowed, with the exception of a snare, and there was just a small spinet piano on stage for our performances. A full set of drums and a grand piano were basic to the Nashville Sound that people were raving about for years. It had always bothered me a little that we couldn't use this sound in the Opry although entire recording careers featured it."

Tom T. wrote that he mailed the letter and more or less forgot about it and that he considered it a courtesy to tell them that he would not be back. He wrote that other performers who decided not to pick at the Opry anymore simply did not show up. It was that simple. What Tom T. did not count on was his letter being released to the press, who wrote that he quit the Opry "because I could not use strings or brass." Tom T. thought that was odd because at the time he didn't use strings or brass. He also noted that, while he did not release the letter to the media, someone did, implying it came from the Opry. He wrote that the papers never did print his letter, which he felt was done with courtesy and was very gentlemanly. He finished by writing "the music was not, of course, the real reason I quit the Opry. It was a combination of things that somehow did not fit into my view of what the Opry should be. On the one hand, it had become very modern in appearance, and on the other, it seemed stuck in another era. I never asked the Opry to change its policy for me. I didn't have any arguments with any of the Opry people. There were no debates, no meetings, and no exchange of mail. I have remained friends with all of the people who work in and operate the place."

As we all know, Ernest Tubb ran into Tom T. a few years later and told him he needed to come back to the Opry. He did. When he did return, he was a pretty good member until the 1990s when he decided that he had done all her could do there. 



Finally, April 13, 1985, was a very special night at the Grand Ole Opry as TNN (The Nashville Network), televised a portion of the Opry for the first time. The 7:00 and 7:30 segments of the Opry were televised that first week, with, of course, Roy Acuff hosting the first 30 minutes. Beginning the following week, only the 7:00 segment was televised, eventually switching to the 7:30 segment. 

Here is the running order from Saturday April 13, 1985: 

1st show
6:30: Bonanza
Stonewall Jackson (host): Muddy Water
Skeeter Davis: The End Of The World
Stonewall Jackson: The Rounder Called Cotton-Eyed Joe

6:45: Rudy's
Charlie Walker (host): Right Or Wrong
Wilma Lee Cooper: Bury Me Beneath The Willow
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Joe Edwards: Ida Red

7:00: Shoney's
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
The 4 Guys: Shenandoah
Connie Smith: Once A Day
Minnie Pearl: Comedy/Jealous Hearted Me
Roy Acuff: I Saw The Light

7:30: Standard Candy
Porter Wagoner (host): Y'all Come
Dottie West: Nothing Like A Woman To Take Another Woman Off Your Mind/A Lesson In Leavin'/Here Comes My Baby
Jack Greene: Looking Back Is Easier
Crook Brothers and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Eighth Of January
Porter Wagoner: Everything I've Always Wanted

8:00: Martha White
Bill Monroe (host): My Rose Of Old Kentucky/Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Ray Pillow: The Days When You Were Still In Love With Me
Jeannie Seely: (?)
Ed Bruce: When You Fall In Love, Everything's A Waltz/Giving Up Was Easy
Bill Monroe: Little Joe/Wheel Hoss

8:30: Music Valley Drive
Hank Snow (host): Forever +1; Forever +2
Jan Howard: Why Lady Why
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
George Hamilton IV: Forever Young
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Hank Snow: Nevertheless

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Dottie West: It's High Time/Blue Fiddle, Play The Blue Fiddle Waltz
The 4 Guys: Give Me Just One More Chance/So Near, Yet So Far Away
The Right Combination: Woke Up In Love
Porter Wagoner: Everything I've Always Wanted

10:00: Little Debbie
Charlie Walker (host): San Antonio Rose
Lorrie Morgan: Crazy
Charlie Walker: My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You

10:15: Sunbeam
Jack Greene (host): Walkin' On New Grass
Skeeter Davis: I Ain't Never
Jack Greene: Statue Of A Fool

10:30: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Sunshine Special
Wilma Lee Cooper: A Daisy A Day
Roy Acuff: That's The Man I'm Looking For/I'll Fly Away

10:45: Beechnut
Bill Monroe (host): The Old, Old House
Connie Smith: Walkin' After Midnight
Crook Brothers and The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sally Goodin
Blake Williams: Bluegrass Breakdown

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Down The Trail Of Aching Hearts
Jan Howard: My Babys Got Good Timin'
George Hamilton IV: Abilene
Ed Bruce: When You Fall In Love, Everything's A Waltz/Giving Up Was Easy
Hank Snow: There's A Fool Such As I

11:30: Quincy's
Osborne Brothers (host): Listening To The Rain
Ray Pillow: You're One Memory That I'd Like To Make Again
Jeannie Seely: Tell Me Again
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Osborne Brothers: Nobody's Darling But Mine/Katy Hill

Going back and watching some of those early TNN shows you will notice, at times, the lack of practice and timing. Numerous times, the segment before the televised one would run over and Keith Bilbrey would kill time, and then there were times when the televised segment would run over but would be cut off. And it was obvious that some were just not ready for television. It should also be noted that in the beginning, the televised segments would be only Opry members. Over time, that would change. 

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. It promises to be a good one. Take care and be safe. 

Mid-Week Opry Shows

It is another week and another change in the Grand Ole Opry's lineup of mid-week Opry shows. This week the Tuesday Night Opry returns with a special show, along with Opry Country Classics on Thursday night. Missing this week, and for the next several months, will be the Wednesday Night Opry, which will return in June. 

As mentioned, it will be a special Tuesday Night Opry as Belmont University will take over The Grand Ole Opry during “Belmont at the Opry,” taking place on April 9. The event will celebrate the 50th year of Belmont’s pioneering music business program.

“We are thrilled to team up with the Opry for this momentous occasion, celebrating 50 years of Music Business at Belmont,” says Brittany Schaffer, Dean of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business. “This program started as a partnership between Belmont and Music Row, and it is a joy to honor that legacy by highlighting the diverse accomplishments of our talented alumni on country music’s most famous stage.”

The lineup features some of Belmont’s most notable alumni. Country acts Trisha Yearwood, Tyler Hubbard and Hailey Whitters will take the stage. In addition, there will be a songwriter’s round featuring Ashley Gorley, Hillary Lindsey and Nicolle Galyon. 

Launched in 1973, Belmont’s music business program has created a legacy within the industry. With support from former University President Dr. Herbert Gabhart, program-founder and professor Bob Mulloy, industry executive Cecil Scaife and Mike Curb, the program has graduated more than 6,000 alumni throughout its 50 years. Specialized programs include audio engineering technology, songwriting, creative & entertainment industries, film and more, totaling 11 undergraduate and two graduate programs.

Here is the lineup for the Tuesday Night Opry: 

7:00
Belmont Bluegrass Ensemble
Ashley Cooke
Writers In The Round (Nicolle Gaylon, Ashley Gorley, Hillary Lindsay)
Trisha Yearwood

8:15
Hailey Whitters
Ian Munsick
Tyler Hubbard

Only one Opry member on the schedule, but it is a big one. 

Here is the lineup for Opry Country Classics on Thursday night: 

Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Sawyer Brown
Also Appearing: The Gatlin Brothers, Erin Enderlin, The Malpass Brothers, Charlie McCoy

Nice to see Charlie McCoy back on the Opry schedule after taking some time off. 

Grand Ole Opry 4/5 & 4/6

Some weekends are better than others at the Grand Ole Opry and this weekend is one of the better ones with two great shows on the schedule. 

Grand Ole Opry members Vince Gill and Old Crow Medicine Show are scheduled for both nights. After just a few appearances last year, it is nice to see Old Crow upping the number in 2025. These will be their 5th and 6th appearances of the year. And it is nice to see Vince taking advantage of a break in The Eagles schedule to come out. 

Joining them on the Friday Night Opry will be members Gene Watson, Riders In The Sky and Don Schlitz. The non-members on the schedule are Tenille Arts, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, and making his Opry debut, Landon Parker. 

Saturday night, in addition to Vince and Old Crow, the schedule includes members Ricky Skaggs, Bill Anderson and Jeannie Seely. Steve Earle, who lately has become a frequent guest on the Opry, will be appearing, along with Jimmy Fortune, and the wonderful Charley Crockett. 

Friday April 5
7:00: Riders In The Sky, Landon Parker, Gene Watson, Old Crow Medicine Show
Intermission
8:15: Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Don Schlitz, Tenille Arts, Vince Gill 

Saturday April 6
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Ricky Skaggs, Jeannie Seely, Steve Earle, Old Crow Medicine Show
Intermission
8:15: Jimmy Fortune, Bill Anderson, Opry Square Dancers, Charley Crockett, Vince Gill 

Again, and just my opinion, two very good shows this weekend. 

Landon Parker was surprised by Patrick Thomas with an invitation to play the Grand Ole Opry for the first time during the young singer’s recent appearance on Cumulus Media’s syndicated “PickleJar Up All Night,” which Thomas hosts.

Telling Thomas about a recent backstage tour he’d taken at the Grand Ole Opry House, Parker said: “I watched a video that’s 10-15 minutes long that shows the history of the Grand Ole Opry. At the very end of it, I almost cried. That’s such a dream for me to play on this stage and be associated with the legends that have played it through the years.”

“Well, what are you doing on April 5?” Thomas asked.

Parker, whose recent songs include “Goodbye You” and “Back at the Bar,” captioned an Instagram post sharing the news with a story about his youth. “I started out recording YouTube covers in my bedroom to playin’ countless shows in the bars…and now…I’m making my Grand Ole Opry debut on April 5!!!!” he wrote. “Thank you to God, my wife, my daughter, my family, my friends, my fans, and my team for believing in me every step of the way.”

Now from 50 years ago, Saturday April 6, 1974: 

1st show
6:30: Willis Brothers, Jan Howard, Ernie Ashworth
6:45: Billy Gramer, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Charlie Walker
7:00: Bill Carlise, Tommy Jones, Joe Douglas, Archie Campbell
7:30: Roy Acuff, Connie Smith, Del Wood, Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:00: Roy Drusky, Grandpa Jones, Jeanne Pruett, Stu Phillips
8:30: Stonewall Jackson, The 4 Guys, Lonzo & Oscar, Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Billy Grammer, Willis Brothers, Ernie Ashworth, Del Wood
10:00: Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Bill Carlisle, Lonzo & Oscar
10:15: Roy Acuff, Stonewall Jackson, Jan Howard
10:30: Charlie Walker, Grandpa & Ramona Jones, Byron McGregor
10:45: Archie Campbell, Phil Campbell, Connie Smith, Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Roy Drusky, The 4 Guys, Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins, Jeanne Pruett, Stu Phillips

Finally, going back to April 6, 1957, here is what the Opry running order was on that night, 67 years ago: 

7:30: Nabisco
Roy Acuff: It's Hard To Love
Justin Tubb: Pepper Hot Baby
Oswald: Southern Moon
Roy Acuff:  How Beautiful Heaven Must Be
Howdy Forrester: Forked Deer

7:45: American Ace
Old Hickory Singers: Theme
Faron Young: I'm Gonna Live Some Before I Die
Maybelle Carter: I Never Love But One
Benny Martin: Story Of My Life
Faron Young: Schrine of St. Cecelia
Fiddle Tune: Bill Cheatham

8:00: Martha White
Flatt & Scruggs: Shuck A Little Corn
Porter Wagoner: I Should Be With You
George Jones: Don't Stop The Music
June Carter & Smokey: Comedy
Flatt & Scruggs: Is There Room For Me
Jean Shepard: I'd Rather Die Young
Carlisles: Rough Stuff
Possum Hunters: Fire In The Mountain
Porter Wagoner: I'm Day Dreaming Tonight
Flatt & Scruggs: Down The Road

8:30: Prince Albert
Marty Robbins: Singing The Blues
Ray Price: Crazy Arms
Rod Brasfield: Comedy
Ray Price: I've Got A New Heartache
Fiddle Tune: Sally Goodin
Marty Robbins: Keep Deep In The Blues
Chet Atkins: Back Home In Indiana
Minnie Pearl: Comedy
Ray Price: Crazy Arms
Marty Robbins: Singing The Blues
Hal Cook: Presentation
Ray Price: Crazy Arms
Marty Robbins: Singing The Blues
Fiddle Tune: Soldier's Joy

9:00: Jefferson Island Salt
Old Hickory Singers: Theme
Ernest Tubb: TBA
Johnny & Jack: Oh, Baby Mine
Stringbean: Herro Mr. Banjo
Wilburn Brothers: I'm Setting You Free
Kitty Wells: Searching
Ernest Tubb: Don't Forbid Me
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Johnny & Jack: I Want To Be Loved
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Wilburn Brothers: Go Away With Me
Ernest Tubb: Daisy May

9:30: Stephens
Hank Snow: Calypso Sweetheart
Louvin Brothers: Don't Laugh
Hawkshaw Hawkins: Sunny Side Of The Mountain
Chet Atkins: Limehouse House
Wilma Lee & Stoney: Cheated Too
Hank Snow: Marriage And Divorce
Ladell Sisters: Alabama Jubilee
T. Texas Tyler: Deck Of Cards
Crook Brothers: Eighth Of January
Louvin Brothers: New Partner Waltz
Hank Snow: Put Me In My Trundle Bed

10:00: Wall-Rite
Roy Acuff: I Love Mountain Music
George Jones: Uh Uh No
Maybelle Carter: Gold Watch And Chain
Roy Acuff: I Saw The Light
Fiddle Tune: Money Musk

10:15: Delited
Carlisles: Theme
Ray Price: Wasted Words
Jean Shepard: If You Can Walk Away
Carlisles: Lil Liza Jane
Ray Price: You Done Me Wrong
Fiddle Tune: Grey Eagle

10:30: Hester Battery
Marty Robbins: I Can't Quit
Flatt & Scruggs: What's Good For You Should Be Alright For Me
Justin Tubb: I'm A Big Boy Now
Marty Robbins: Same Two Lips
Fiddle Tune: Old Joe Clark

10:45: De Con
Faron Young: Sweet Dreams
Wilma Lee & Stoney: Loving You
Crook Brothers: Tennessee Wagoner
Faron Young: Until I Met You
Fiddle Tune: Soldier's Joy

11:00: Coca Cola
Old Hickory Singers: Theme
Ernest Tubb: Will You Be Satisfied That Way
Johnny & Jack: A Pleasure Is Not A Habit In Mexico
Wilburn Brothers: Go Away With Me
June Carter & Smokey: Comedy
Ernest Tubb: God's Eyes
Kitty Wells: A Change Of Heart
Stonewall Jackson: Stop Your Naggin Hoss
Stringbean: Pretty Little Pink
Gully Jumper: New Five Cents
Johnny & Jack: All The Time
Ernest Tubb: Kansas City Kitty

11:30: Jamison Mattress
Old Hickory Singers: Theme
Hank Snow: Calypso Min From Juares
Louvin Brothers: You're Running Wild
T. Texas Tyler: Remember Me
Hank Snow: Rumba Boogie

11:45: Sustaining
Fiddle Tune: Back Up And Push
Porter Wagoner: I Guess I'm Crazy
Hawkshaw Hawkins: If It Ain't On The Menu
Sam and Kirk: The Wagon Is New
Benny Martin: Look What You Have Done To Me
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Ida Red
Porter Wagoner: Uncle Pen

I dare anyone to complain about the lineup that night!

It is interesting looking back at these much older shows. For example, Roy Acuff is opening the show. In his later years he was quoted as saying he didn't care what spots he appeared on as long as he wasn't opening or closing the show. Then you have Hank Snow, who by the 70s would be firmly entrenched hosting the 8:30 and 11:00 segments, however on this particular night was in the 9:30 and 11:30 spots. Hank would generally remain in that 9:30 slot on one show nights. Marty Robbins was not in the 11:30 slot as of yet, but Porter Wagoner, who had just become an Opry member in February, was hosting at 11:45. It would appear that as the Opry's newest member at the time, he might have been given the short end of the stick. 

Speaking of Hank Snow, I noticed that T. Texas Tyler was appearing on the Opry on that particular night, both in segments hosted by Hank. T. Texas was famous for his rendition of "Deck of Cards." Sadly, he had some personal problems that greatly affected his career. Hank was a friend and tried to help him out. For those interested in the entire story, in his autobiography, Hank wrote extensively about it. 

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. Take care and stay safe. 

Mid-Week Opry Shows

This week there will be no Tuesday Night Opry as the Black Crowes will be performing at the Grand Ole Opry House. While there will not be a Tuesday show, the Wednesday Night Opry and Opry Country Classics will have shows this week. 

Looking at the Wednesday Night Opry, Opry members Rhonda Vincent, Henry Cho and Don Schlitz are on the schedule. Guesting will be Darryl Worley, Dylan Marlowe, Erin Kinsey, Mason Ramsey and JigJam. 

Opry Country Classics on Thursday night will again be hosted by Larry Gatlin. The Spotlight Artist this week is Gene Watson.

Opry Country Classics
Thursday April 7
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Gene Watson

Also Appearing: The Gatlin Brothers, Sister Sadie, Jim Lauderdale, Craig Campbell 

April Opry Highlights

April showers bring May flowers!!! Welcome to Spring, when the trees begin to bloom, and everyone starts to get anxious to get their gardens in. Here in Ohio, it is still a bit early, but the warmer weather and later sunsets are a nice sign. As far as the Grand Ole Opry is concerned, here are the important dates in Opry history for the month of April.

April 19, 1924: The WLS "National Barn Dance" was aired for the first time in Chicago. The National Barn Dance was the first of what would be many weekly barn dance programs sponsored by various radio stations around the country. Among the performers who were part of the "National Barn Dance" were Lulu Belle & Scotty, Bradley Kincaid, Gene Autry and a host of others. The "National Barn Dance" lasted until 1960 when the station changed formats. As many know, especially my friends in the Chicago area, WLS stood for "World's Largest Store," which was Sears, who were the owners of the station.

April 17, 1926: Uncle Dave Macon became a regular member of the WSM Barn Dance, soon to be known as the Grand Ole Opry. At the age of 55, he was the first performer to join the show that had a national reputation and his hiring, in a way, would start the show on the path of becoming a group of professional entertainers instead of those, who as George D. Hay used to say, "came down from the hills for the weekend." Uncle Dave would remain a popular Opry member until his death on March 1, 1952, at the age of 81.

April 14, 1932: Grand Ole Opry member Loretta Lynn was born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky. Loretta joined the cast of the Opry in September. In September of 2022 Loretta celebrated her 60th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, becoming only the second female Opry member to reach that feat, following in the steps of Jean Shepard. After a period of failing health, Loretta passed away in October 2022. 

April 30, 1932: The Dixieliners, which consisted of Kirk and Sam McGee, along with Arthur Smith, made their first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. All three had been performing on the Opry for several years, but this was the first time that they teamed up as an organized group. Their popularity and reputation grew and within a short amount of time they had two ten-minute segments on the show. It began to end for the Dixieliners in 1938 as Arthur had a drinking problem and was suspended from the Opry. On January 14, 1939, the Dixieliners made their final Opry appearance, after which Arthur left the Opry, while Sam and Kirk would continue on for many years.

April 11, 1933: Grand Ole Opry member Roy Clark was born in Meherrin, Virginia. Roy, who joined the Grand Ole Opry in August 1987 was one of the more popular Opry members. In addition to being a member of the Grand Ole Opry, Roy was also a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and gained fame as the co-host of Hee Haw.

April 29, 1933: The Delmore Brothers, Rabon and Alton, made their first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. The brothers remained members of the Opry until 1938 when they left to pursue what they felt were better opportunities. Alton would later write an excellent book, "Truth is Stranger" in which he detailed their time at the Opry and the issues that they had with George D. Hay and Harry Stone. After leaving the Opry, the Delmore Brothers moved around the country and had shows at various radio stations until they played out the territory and moved on. They eventually ended up at WLW in Cincinnati, where they got together with Grandpa Jones and Merle Travis and recorded under the name "Browns Ferry Four." Each of these individuals would eventually be elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. September 11, 1938, was the final Opry show for the Delmore Brothers and they sang, "What Would You Give in Exchange for Your Soul."

April 1, 1934: Country Music Hall of Fame member, and former Opry member, Jim Ed Brown was born in Sparkman, Arkansas. Jim Ed was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for over 50 years, which included time with his sisters Bonnie and Maxine. Jim, Bonnie and Maxine are also members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

April 21, 1934: The blackface comedy duo Lasses & White made its Grand Ole Opry debut. The duo would remain a part of the Opry for several years. 

April 15, 1937: Bob Luman was born. Bob gained fame as a member of the Louisiana Hayride, and then came to Nashville, joining the Grand Ole Opry in 1965. When Bob joined the Opry, many felt that he had too much "rock-n-roll" in him, but he was a very popular member of the Opry and fans enjoyed his performances. Bob remained at the Opry until he passed away in December 1978.

April 29, 1939: The father-and-son duo Asher Sizemore & Little Jimmy performed on the Grand Ole Opry for the last time. Little Jimmy Sizemore was the youngest member in the history of the Grand Ole Opry, a fact that many have forgotten. 

April 26, 1941: Ernest Tubb recorded "Walking the Floor Over You" in Dallas, Texas. This recording was also the first to use an electric guitar. The success of this record, which would become Ernest's theme song, led him to Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry several years later.

April 14, 1945: Upon the death of President Franklin Roosevelt, a performance of taps was played from the stage of the Opry. This marked the first time that a trumpet was played during an Opry broadcast. Buddy Harroll, part of Pee Wee King's Golden West Cowboys was the performer, and while it was the right thing to do, George D. Hay was not thrilled. Also of note, while there was an Opry performance that night, it was not broadcast on WSM as the station was running NBC network programming commemorating the life and death of the President.

April 6, 1946: Roy Acuff quit the Opry in a salary dispute. At the time, he was the host of "The Prince Albert Show" segment of the Opry that was broadcast on the NBC radio network. He was making $15 per night at the Opry and asked for a raise to $100 per night. When WSM refused his demands, he left the show and went out to California for an extended tour. Over the years, Roy never talked much about the whole episode, but he knew that as the Opry's biggest star, he could make more money out on the road and have extra time to make movies. A year later, Roy would return to the Opry and when he did, he was paid more than union scale.

April 13, 1946: A week after Roy Acuff left, Red Foley became a member of the Grand Ole Opry and debuted as the new host of "The Prince Albert Show." There is a story behind this. After Roy quit, William Esty and Company, which was the advertising agency that represented R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, the makers of Prince Albert chewing tobacco, undertook a study to determine how best to replace Roy Acuff as the host of the program. Most listeners wanted the Opry to continue without any changes, but it was clear after all the questioning was done that a large portion of the Opry fans wanted more music and less talk, suggesting that a singer needed to be hired as the replacement. Esty checked all the available data, which included record sales, jukebox plays and radio favorites, and it all pointed to Red Foley. Red would later say, "I guess I was never more scared than that night I replaced Roy Acuff. The people thought I was a Chicago slicker who came to pass himself off as a country boy and bump Roy out of his job." While it is true that Red came to the Opry from WLS in Chicago, he was actually born in Kentucky and had a string of country hits. It is interesting to note that while Red became a member of the Opry, he only appeared on, and hosted, the Prince Albert segment of the show.

April 13, 1946: The same night that Red Foley came to the Opry, so did Chet Atkins, who was introduced that night by Red. Chet stayed at the Opry with Red for just six months, when he left in his own dispute with Esty. Chet would return later with the Maybelle Carter and the Carter Sisters, and he would continue to make guest appearances until his death. There was always discussion on whether Chet was an actual member of the Opry or not, but in checking the records, his name is listed. 

April 2, 1947: Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame member Emmylou Harris was born. Emmylou joined the cast of the Opry in January 1992, the last member of the cast to have been inducted by Roy Acuff. Sadly, Emmylou does not appear on the Opry as often as many of us would like. As someone who has listened to Emmylou for years, I find it hard to believe that this Hall of Fame member will be 77 this year. 

April 19, 1947: Roy Acuff returned to the Grand Ole Opry. Roy left the Opry a year earlier in what some said was due to a salary dispute. On the night he returned, Roy was a guest on the Prince Albert portion of the show. The following Saturday, he would take over as the host of the Royal Crown Cola portion of the Opry. 

April 26, 1947: Just over a year after leaving the Opry, Roy Acuff returned as host of the "Royal Crown Cola Show." There is a story that Ernest Tubb and Harry Stone went to see Roy, who was in a Nashville hospital, telling him that the Opry might go under if he didn't return. While there is no evidence that the Opry was about to go under, the words worked and Roy came back, this time to stay for good.

April 3, 1948: The Louisiana Hayride started on KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana. Over the next decade, the Hayride would become known as a farm club of the Opry, with many of the Hayride's biggest stars leaving Shreveport for Nashville. Among those were David Houston, Billy Walker, Webb Pierce, Jim Reeves, Faron Young, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. The Hayride was also where Elvis Presley got his start. While the Hayride was very successful with Horace Logan at the helm, the lack of a recording industry in Shreveport meant that the stars had to go elsewhere, including Nashville to record. Once there, the Opry grabbed many of them.

April 29, 1950: Future Grand Ole Opry member Carl Smith made his Opry debut. Carl would eventually join the Opry's cast and would remain an Opry member until leaving the show in 1956. Carl was also the first husband of June Carter. 

April 26, 1952: Martha Carson, the great gospel singer, joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. She came to the Opry on the strength of her hit "Satisfied." Martha remained a member of the Opry until 1957, at which time she took a leave of absence when her first child was born and to spend some time working in New York City. However, when it came time for her to return, the Opry would not hire her back. According to Martha, "I got a leave of absence from the Opry. I didn't quit and I wasn't fired. When I came back to Nashville, Opry manager Ott Devine said they had no openings. I never did go back. I never even got to be a guest." Obviously, a poor decision by Ott and the Opry's management. While Martha would claim that she never got to be a guest again on the Opry, that apparently was not true as I have several line-ups with Martha listed as performing. She was also known for appearing on the Midnite Jamboree in her later years. 

April 9, 1953: Grand Ole Opry member Hal Ketchum was born. Sadly, Hal experienced some serious health issues over the past decade and passed away in 2020. 

April 18, 1953: Red Foley made his final Grand Ole Opry appearance as the host of "The Prince Albert Show." Red made the decision to leave Nashville and go to the Ozark Jubilee, which was televised. Red had numerous personal issues when he was with the Opry and when he decided to leave, the Opry had no objections. While many wondered about Red when he first came to the Opry, he become one of the Opry's biggest stars and one of the more popular members. After he left, "The Prince Albert Show" no longer had a permanent host.

April 12, 1957: Grand Ole Opry member Vince Gill was born. Vince has been a loyal and vocal member of the Opry since 1991. While Vince has always supported the Opry, and has been very vocal in that support, the last several years saw his appearances drop as he was busy touring with his own show and as a member of The Eagles. Who else finds it hard to believe that Vince will be 67 this year? While it is difficult to say who the current face of the Opry is, I would have to think that Vince is pretty high on the list. 

April 4, 1959: Bill Anderson made his debut as a guest on the Grand Ole Opry. Several years later, in July 1961, Bill would become an Opry member. Currently, Bill is the senior member of the Opry's cast in term of years and has been an Opry member for over 62 years, the longest of any Opry member in the history of the show.  

April 30, 1960: The WLS "National Barn Dance" aired for the final time. At one time, the barn dance was considered a major competitor of the Opry, and while it lasted much longer than others, like those others, it could not sustain itself as musical tastes changed.

April 18, 1964: Future Opry member Del Reeves made his Opry debut. 

April 30, 1966: Ray Pillow became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. On the night he joined, it was Ernest Tubb that introduced Ray. Besides being a fine singer, Ray also was known on Music Row as an executive. Ray was an Opry member for over 57 years. After retiring several years ago, Ray passed away in 2023. 

April 22, 1967: The Four Guys became members of the Grand Ole Opry. They came to the Opry from the Wheeling, West Virginia area and spent 33 years as members of the Opry until they were fired in April 2000. The reason given for their termination was the fact that all four of the original members had left the group. For a number of years, they operated a very successful dinner theater in Nashville and were a popular cruise trip attraction. For those interested, Sam Wellington is the last of the original Four Guys still alive and he has released several books, including his latest, Grand Ole Nashville. 

April 6, 1968: Following the assassination of Dr. Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., the city of Nashville imposed a curfew that forced the Opry to cancel the live show for that night. WSM played a previously taped Opry appearance. After being notified that the show was going to be cancelled, Roy Acuff, Sam and Kirk McGee, along with a few others, put on a makeshift show at a nearby square dance hall that afternoon for Opry fans who came to town to attend the Opry. WSM and the Opry claims this was the only time that the Opry was ever cancelled, however when looking at the Opry's history, it was not the first.

April 6, 1968: On that same evening as the Opry was cancelled, Bud Wendall became the new general manager of the Grand Ole Opry. He replaced Ott Devine, who had been in charge of the Opry since 1959. The Bud Wendall era at the Opry would result in a lot of changes to the show. 

April 21, 1971: After taking a break to raise her children, Connie Smith returned as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Connie joined the Opry in 1965 and left the show in 1968 while she was having some issues in her personal life and felt she needed to give her attention to areas other than her music. 

April 12, 1972: The first "Fan Fair" was held in Nashville. It was so successful that it would become an annual event, eventually moving to June and the summer tourist season. Fan Fair was a chance for the fans to meet their favorite country music stars and the Opry was a big part of the event. It still takes place, although it is now called "CMA Music Fest."

April 27, 1972: Opryland opened for the first time. The park was an immediate hit and within several years, the Opry House would be completed, and the Opry would make the move. Opryland shut down at the end of 1997 and replaced by Opry Mills shopping center. Yes, while it may seem hard to believe, Opryland has been closed for over 20 years.

April 28, 1973: Conway Twitty performed on the Opry for the first time. While never becoming an Opry member, Conway had one of the great voices in the history of country music. With Conway being based in Nashville and having a number of business interests in the area, including "Twitty City" it is surprising that Conway did not appear on the Opry more often. 

April 13, 1974: Grand Ole Opry member Tom T. Hall appeared on the Grand Ole Opry for the final time as he resigned as an Opry member. Tom T. was not happy with the move from the Ryman Auditorium to the new Grand Ole Opry House. He would appear several times at the new building, then left. Tom T rejoined the Opry in 1980. In later interviews, Tom T. said that it was basically a mistake on his part leaving the Opry and he was happy that he had returned. 

April 5, 1975: After having been suspended from the Opry in December 1973, Skeeter Davis was welcomed back to the show. Several Opry members had gone to Bud Wendall, asking that she be allowed to return to the show. When Skeeter returned, she did apologize for those safety forces that she might have offended. I have the tape of the show from the night she was suspended and listening to it in 2024 it doesn't sound so bad, but then again, it was a different time in 1973. 

April 23, 1976: Don Williams was introduced as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Jeanne Pruett did the honors. As everyone knows, Don and the Opry experience didn't really work, and he left the show several years later. Even though he left the Opry as a member, he did return for a couple of guest appearances.

April 2, 1977: Vito Pellettieri worked his final show as the stage manager of the Grand Ole Opry. Several days later, he suffered a stroke and on April 14 he passed away at the age of 87. While very few people have heard of Vito, he was probably one of the most influential people in the history of the Opry, so much so that he was never really replaced when he passed away. Years after his death, one veteran Opry member said, "I miss Vito. You know, we don't have a marshal anymore. What we have out there is a piece of paper in a box, with a list of acts and when they're supposed to go on. But we don't have anybody encouraging us, goading us, giving us advice on how to do better. Nobody to jack us up." One of Vito's closest friends was Hank Snow and Hank wrote extensively about Vito in his autobiography, including the jokes they used to play on each other. Now for those who do not know, Vito was WSM's librarian and started as the Opry's stage manager in 1934. He was the one who set up the Opry on a schedule, with assigned times and slots for each performer. He broke the show into segments with sponsors. Before that, it had been a free-for-all, with the artists coming and going as they pleased. In 1959, Vito faced mandatory retirement at WSM. However, every one of the Opry's members signed a petition demanding that Vito be allowed to continue working at the Opry and that November at the annual disc jockey convention, Opry members staged a show in Vito's honor. By the way, Vito never drove or owned a car and took the bus to WSM and the Opry each day.

April 14, 1979: Longtime Grand Ole Opry sponsor W. E. Stephens sponsored their final segment on the Grand Ole Opry. Stephens was one of the Opry's longest running sponsors. For those who have never heard the Stephens jingle, check it out online. One of those fun little numbers. 

April 13, 1981: Guy Willis of the Willis Brothers died at the age of 65. The Willis Brothers consisted of Guy, Skeeter and Vic. They originally joined the Opry in 1946 but left in 1948 to go on the road with Eddy Arnold. They rejoined the Opry in 1960. Skeeter passed away in 1976, after which Guy and Vic continued on, until Guy retired from performing in 1979 due to illness.

April 25, 1981: Ricky Skaggs made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Ricky loved the Opry and made it well known that he wanted to become an Opry member. It didn't take long as Ricky would join the cast the following year. 

April 3, 1982: DeFord Bailey made his final appearance at the Grand Ole Opry. An early member of the show, DeFord had returned in the 1970s and made several appearances on the Opry's annual reunion shows. The firing of DeFord by George D. Hay is certainly one of the black marks in the history of the Opry. 

April 13, 1985: The Grand Ole Opry was broadcast for the first time on TNN. The original shows were a half hour in length, later expanding to an hour. In 2001 the broadcast moved to CMT and then later to GAC in 2003. The first televised show was a one-hour edition and featured Roy Acuff, as the host for the first half hour, with Connie Smith, Minnie Pearl and the Four Guys as guests. The 2nd half hour was hosted by Porter Wagoner and featured Dottie West, Jack Greene, the Crook Brothers and the Melvin Sloan Dancers. Those original TNN shows were not scripted for television and were nothing more than the radio show with a camera. As a result, the timing was sometimes a little bit off and the hosts forgot they were on television and would mention the names of the radio sponsors.

April 18, 1985: It was reported in the Nashville Banner that under a new two-year contract between the Grand Ole Opry and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (the union that represents Opry members and musicians), that at least 12 Grand Ole Opry members, all of them longtime show regulars, would be placed on "Senior Status," which essentially would remove them from the show. Among those listed as being phased out were Justin Tubb, Ernie Ashworth, Jean Shepard, Vic Willis, Charlie Louvin, Lonzo and Oscar, Teddy Wilburn, Del Wood, Stu Phillips and Billy Walker. As you would expect, several of those named were less than pleased and voiced their concern. At the time, a solo Opry performer was paid $156 per radio show and an additional $150 if they appeared on the TNN portion of the Opry. The performers who were to be cut would be limited to 14 shows per year. Looking back, many of those listed were not cut, nor put on "Senior Status," while others were. 

April 29. 1986: The Country Music Hall of Fame opened a new exhibit, "The Grand Ole Opry: The First 60 Years." Items on display include Minnie Pearl's first hat, Loretta Lynn's Road atlas, and a pair of Reba McEntire's boots.

April 22, 1989: Clint Black made his first appearance as a guest at the Grand Ole Opry. In 1991, Clint would become an Opry member and continues as an Opry member to this day. 

April 20, 1991: Emmylou Harris began a three-night run at the Ryman Auditorium, during which her recording of "At The Ryman" took place. It marked one of the first uses of the Ryman for a concert performance since the Opry had left in 1974. Due to the condition of the building, only a small portion of the seating was able to be used. Those shows with Emmylou helped to spark the idea of renovating and reopening the Ryman.

April 2, 1994: During the TNN telecast of the Opry, an all-star bluegrass jam took place that featured Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Roy Husky, Jr., Marty Stuart, Alison Krauss and Earl Scruggs. Vince said, "That's what this place is all about. Night that are like that."

April 12, 1997: Lewis Crook passed away in Nashville at the age of 87. The Crook Brothers joined the Opry on July 24, 1926, so it is safe to say that they were original members of the WSM Barn Dance. The Crook Brothers remained at the Opry until 1988, a total of 62 years. Lewis was not with the Crook Brothers when they originally began at the Opry, joining the group later in 1928. After Herman passed away and the Crook Brothers name was retired, Lewis would continue to play and make appearances with the Opry's Square Dance Band. When you add it all up and do the math, Lewis was at the Opry on and off for almost 69 years, longer than any other performer.

April 6, 1998: Former Grand Ole Opry member Tammy Wynette passed away in Nashville at the age of 55. She had been battling health issues for a number of years. Tammy joined the Opry in 1969 and remained for just a few years. Her time at the Opry coincided with her marriage to George Jones. 

April 4, 1998: Grand Ole Opry member Jerry Clower made his final appearances on the Opry. Jerry, who joined the cast in October 1973, appeared on both Saturday shows that weekend, along with the Friday Night Opry the night before. Jerry passed away in August 1998 due to complications from heart surgery. After Jerry became an Opry member, it took over 49 years until the Opry added another comedian. 

April 18, 1998: Diamond Rio became members of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be their 26th year as Opry members, and while overall they have been good Opry members, they also have been missing from the Opry for quite a while. I don't know what happened, but they need to get back. 

April 12, 1999: Lecil Martin, known better as Boxcar Willie, passed away in Branson, Missouri after an extended illness. He was 67. Boxcar joined the Opry in 1981 at the personal invitation of Roy Acuff, who was a real fan of Boxcar, so much so that when Boxcar was on the Opry, and Roy was there, he would come out and do his famous train whistle during the Wabash Cannonball.

April 5, 2000: The Grand Ole Opry fired The Four Guys. The group had been members of the Opry for 33 years. The reason given was that none of the original members were no longer part of the group. 

April 21, 2000: Craig Morgan made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Craig would make a number of guest appearances over the following years, eventually joining the cast at the invitation of John Conlee in October 2008. 

April 28, 2000: Future Grand Ole Opry members Rascal Flatts made their Opry debut. While the group said they were breaking up last year, and apparently have, the three individual members of the group are all still considered members of the Opry. 

April 13, 2002: Former Grand Ole Opry member Willie Nelson made a guest appearance on the Opry. After Willie left, he didn't come back often, but this was one of those nights. 

April 18, 2003: Future Grand Ole Opry member Dierks Bentley made his Grand Ole Opry debut. Dierks would join the Opry's cast in October 2005. 

April 17, 2004: The Judds made their first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. While never becoming Opry members, they would show up a time or two on the show.

April 30, 2004: The Grand Ole Opry took to the road and sponsored the "Grand Ole Opry American Road Show." The appearance took place in York, Pennsylvania and included Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, the Del McCoury Band and Rebecca Lynn Howard.

April 1, 2006: Eric Church made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry. Over the course of his career, Eric has made several appearances on the show. 

April 2, 2011: Comedian Henry Cho made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Henry could continue to appear on the Opry and in January 2023, he would be invited to become an Opry member. When he was inducted, he was the first comedian to join the Opry cast since Jerry Clower in 1973. 

April 10, 2012: Keith Urban was invited by Vince Gill to join the Grand Ole Opry during a benefit for the Country Music Hall of Fame at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. 

April 21, 2012: Keith Urban became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be his 12th year as an Opry member. Sorry to say that Keith hasn't been around much since joining the cast. In fact, he has been around very little. 

April 26, 2013: The Grand Ole Opry dedicated the shows that weekend to Opry member George Jones, who had passed away several days earlier. Those performing included Brad Paisley, Montgomery Gentry and John Conlee.

April 11, 2015: Long time Grand Ole Opry member Jim Ed Brown made his final Opry appearance. The newly elected member of the Country Music Hall of Fame had been an Opry member for just over 50 years.

April 15, 2016: Jimmy Wayne performed "Do You Believe Me Now" and "I Love You This Much" as he makes his 200th appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Jimmy would be one of those very frequent guest artists who performed on the Opry but was never asked to become a member. 

April 30, 2016: Ray Pillow was recognized upon is 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Opry general manager Pete Fisher presented Ray with a gold pocket watch.

April 7, 2018: Former Grand Ole Opry member Bobby Bare was reinstated as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Bobby, who originally joined the Opry in 1964, left the Opry in 1974, just after when the show moved from the Ryman Auditorium to the new Grand Ole Opry House. It has been a few years since Bobby has appeared on the Opry and hopefully, he is doing well. 

April 16, 2019: Kelsea Ballerini became the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Kelsea was invited to join the cast by Little Big Town during the Tuesday Night Opry on March 5. Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban also joined Kelsea on the Opry that night. 

April 28, 2023: Jon Pardi was invited to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. When inducted, which did not take place until October, he would become the first Opry member from California. 

April 20, 2024: Scotty McCreery is scheduled to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Opry member Josh Turner will do the honors. 

There you have it for this month and as usual, it was a busy one around the Opry.