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.