I think we can all agree that last weekend was a special one at the Grand Ole Opry. Beginning on Friday night with the induction of Lainey Wilson as the newest member of the Opry, with Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks doing the honor. That was followed up on Saturday night with the 40th anniversary of Lorrie Morgan as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Lorrie looked and sounded great as Jeannie Seely was a surprise guest that introduced Lorrie and welcomed her to the "Veterans" club of Opry members.
While there are no special events taking place at the Opry this weekend, there are two very good shows on the schedule.
Looking at the Friday Night Opry, Marty Stuart returns for another Opry appearance. Joining Marty will be members Connie Smith, The Isaacs, Gary Mule Deer and Riders In The Sky. Wyatt Ellis, who made a very good impression on his last Opry appearance, will be guesting on Friday night, along with Alex Hall and, making their annual June appearance, the ACM Lifting Lives Campers. Always a highlight!!
Gary Mule Deer and The Isaacs return on Saturday night, where they will be joined by Mandy Barnett, Jeannie Seely and John Conlee. Guesting will be Gary Burr, Sam Palladio, formally from "Nashville" and making her Opry debut, Dasha.
Friday June 14
7:00: Riders In The Sky, Wyatt Ellis, Connie Smith, The Isaacs
Intermission
8:15: Alex Hall, Gary Mule Deer, ACM Lifting Lives Campers, Marty Stuart
Saturday June 15
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Sam Palladio, Gary Burr, Mandy Barnett
Intermission
8:15: John Conlee, Opry Square Dancers, Gary Mule Deer, Dasha, The Isaacs
As mentioned, singer/songwriter Dasha will be making her Opry debut on Saturday night. Being called a country/pop sensation, she is set to perform her smash single "Austin" as well as music from her 2024 album What Happens Now?
“I’ve been thinking about the moment that I might get my chance to step into the Opry circle since I came to Nashville for the first time when I was 13,” Dasha explains. “To be asked to be a small part of country music culture, where so many artists I look up to have stood, is such an honor.”
Beyond tallying over 10 billion views on TikTok, Dasha has quietly cemented herself as a force to be reckoned with in country music without comparison. “Austin” has vaulted to #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart and staked out a spot in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at #28. Meanwhile, she scaled the Billboard Emerging Artists Chart to #2 with What Happens Now? simultaneously peaking at #141 on the Billboard 200.
Now from 50 years ago, Saturday June 15, 1974:
1st show
6:30: Willis Brothers (host): Bob Luman
6:45: Wilburn Brothers (host): Jan Howard
7:00: Roy Acuff (host): Loretta Lynn, Del Wood, Kenny Starr
7:30: Bill Anderson (host): The 4 Guys, Lonzo & Oscar, Crook Brothers, Mary Lou Turner
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Dolly Parton, Grandpa Jones, Charlie McCoy
8:30: Roy Drusky (host): Jeanne Pruett, Bill Carlisle, Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson (host): Willis Brothers, Mary Lou Turner
10:00: The 4 Guys (host): Lonzo & Oscar
10:15: Roy Acuff (host): Loretta Lynn
10:30: Grandpa Jones (host): Jan Howard, Bill Carlisle
10:45: Porter Wagoner (host): Dolly Parton, Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Wilburn Brothers (host): Del Wood, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam McGee
11:30: Roy Drusky (host): Jeanne Pruett, Ronnie Robbins, Charlie McCoy
(Bob Luman appeared only on the early show).
Here is the actual running order from that night:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Willis Brothers (host): Give Me 40 Acres
Bob Luman: When You Say Love/Let Me Make The Bright Lights Shine
Willis Brothers: For The Good Times
6:45: Rudy's
Wilburn Brothers (host): Roll, Muddy River
Jan Howard: Love Is Like A Spinning Wheel/Loving Him For The Last Time
Wilburn Brothers: Someone Before Me
7:00: Rudy's
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Loretta Lynn: They Don't Make 'Em Like My Daddy Anymore
Del Wood: The Entertainer
Kenny Starr: The Highway Of Love
Roy Acuff: Back In The Country
Loretta Lynn: Love Is The Foundation/Coal Miner's Daughter
Del Wood: Beer Barrel Polka
7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Anderson (host): Bright Lights & Country Music
The 4 Guys: Hello Walls/Big Bad John/Wings Of A Dove
Lonzo & Oscar: Any Old Wind That Blows
Crook Brothers & The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Black Mountain Rag
Mary Lou Turner: All That Keeps Me Going
The 4 Guys: Top Of The World
Bill Anderson: Can I Come Home To You
8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Wake Up Jacob
Dolly Parton: Jolene
Grandpa Jones: Make Me A Pallet Down On The Floor
Charlie McCoy: T. D. Boogie Woogie
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton: Just Someone I Used To Know
Porter Wagoner: (?)
Grandpa & Ramona Jones: Orange Blossom Special
Dolly Parton: I Will Always Love You
8:30: Stephens
Roy Drusky (host): Alone With You
Jeanne Pruett: Hold To My Unchanging Love/Love Me/You Don't Need To Move A Mountain
Bill Carlisle: I'm Moving
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Soldier's Joy
Roy Drusky: A Satisfied Mind
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Weldon Myrick, Sonny Burnette & Hal Rugg: Steel Guitar Rag
Roy Drusky: One Day At A Time
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Bill Anderson (host): I Get The Fever
Willis Brothers: Cimarron
Mary Lou Turner: If You Love Me, Let Me Know
Bill Anderson: Can I Come Home To You
Willis Brothers: Ghost Riders In The Sky
Mary Lou Turner: All The Keeps Me Going
Bill Anderson: Golden Guitar
10:00: Fender
The 4 Guys (host): She's All I Got
Lonzo & Oscar: Charming Betsy
The 4 Guys: Fall Away
10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Old Time Sunshine Song
Loretta Lynn: They Don't Make 'Em Like My Daddy Anymore/One's On The Way
10:30: Trailblazer
Grandpa Jones (host): Old Blue
Jan Howard: Love Is Like A Spinning Wheel
Bill Carlisle: Have A Drink On Me
Grandpa Jones: Uncle Eph's Got The Coon
10:45: Beechnut
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Dolly Parton: I Will Always Love You
Crook Brothers & The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Bill Cheatham
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton: The Last Thing On My Mind
11:00: Coca Cola
Wilburn Brothers (host): It Looks Like The Sun's Gonna Shine
Del Wood: There's A Big Wheel
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Take Me Back To Tulsa
Wilburn Brothers: Knoxville Girl
Del Wood: Down Yonder
Sam McGee: Railroad Blues/Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
11:30: Elm Hill
Roy Drusky (host): Second Hand Rose
Jeanne Pruett: Hold To My Unchanging Love/Love Me/You Don't Need To Move A Mountain/Satin Sheets
Ronnie Robbins: Baby, Let The Music Play
Charlie McCoy: Today I Started Loving You Again/Orange Blossom Special
Roy Drusky: Don't It Make You Want To Go Home
And 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.
I am 81 years old and a 65 year listener to the Grand Ole Opry. WSM signal has faded here in Michigan and very little of the Opry is traditional country any more. I have long loved the Opry, but I feel the Opry doesn't want me anymore. Am I alone in my feelings ???? Dashmann -- Flushing, Michigan ---
ReplyDeleteDashmann, I certainly understand your frustration.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the 'Opry is owned by a LARGE corporation. They are selling LOTS of 'Opry tickets at very high prices. They literally have six or seven shows some weeks. It's hard to argue with their success when it comes to making money. And that's their only goal. Bean counters always win.
I can remember when the 'Opry was in some of their best years country music wise and they were lucky to have half full Ryman auditoriums for just a Friday and Saturday show. I even remember going to a great country music 'Opry show around Christmas time decades ago when I'm guessing there weren't 500 people there. Bill Anderson has been quoted as saying he was concerned that the 'Opry might not survive during that period.
Today's spending public is apparently very happy with what is being presented at the 'Opry. I'm 76 and I have to just enjoy the country music acts and suffer through the others.
I can live with good Gospel acts and good comedians. New no-talent acts with no personality are the ones that frost me personally.
I’m 38 and love the traditional Country and the legends. Johnny Wright said, “ the business will get away from the traditional style ,for a period of time, but it will always come back.” I don’t like alot of the artists that are on these days, but we still have some great ones on.
ReplyDeleteThe reason for the multiple Opry shows is the conventions that are happening in Nashville. You can listen and there’s nights you can tell the audience gets it and you can tell when it’s just people,in town, for the conventions & Opry tickets are just part of the deal.
I know a promoter that books traditional Country concerts and majority of his shows are sold out. I know a former promoter that couldn’t get a closet full for a show. With that I think the marketing team has a lot to do with the sold out Opry shows. Up until 1997 the Opry had Opryland that brought a lot of people in. After 1997 there wasn’t something bringing people in. Now Nashville is the “party bar city” & hosting many conventions. The management & marketing team have taken advantage of that & you’re getting sold out Opry shows again.