Grand Ole Opry 7/12 & 7/13

As I am sure everyone is aware, Grand Ole Opry member Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys, passed away on Tuesday July 9, died from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), according to his representatives. For more than 50 years, Joe was the tenor voice of the group. Originally a Southern gospel quartet, the Oak Ridge Boys had 17 Billboard No. 1 country singles, as well as 17 more that made the country Top 10, after reinventing themselves as a country act in the early 1970s. The group, which has sold more than 41 million records worldwide, was formed in Oak Ridge, Tenn., in the early 1940s, and disbanded and reformed twice before its lineup stabilized in 1973. Earlier this year, Joe announced that he was retiring from the group due to a neuromuscular disorder.

On Saturday night, the Grand Ole Opry will dedicate the show in honor of Joe Bonsall, and I am sure there will be numerous mentions of Joe that night, along with some Oak Ridge Boys music. 

Moving ahead to this weekend, it seems like just when you are about to give up on an Opry member, they reappear on the schedule. That is the case this weekend as Grand Ole Opry member Martina McBride returns to the Opry stage on Friday night. This will be Martina's first Opry appearance since August 31, 2019, almost 5 years ago. Why she stopped appearing on the Opry we may never know, but regardless, it is good to see her back.

In addition to Martina, Grand Ole Opry members Vince Gill, Jon Pardi, Rhonda Vincent and John Conlee are listed on the schedule. Rounding out the show will be comedian Dusty Slay and Sister Hazel. As I wrote, a very good show. I think it is safe to say that Friday is a pretty loaded night, and I would expect that the Opry House will be sold-out. 

Vince Gill is back on Saturday night, joined by members Bill Anderson, Connie Smith, Don Schlitz and Jeannie Seely. Dusty Slay is back also, along with Drew Parker and making his Opry debut, Max McNown. 

Friday July 12
7:00: Rhonda Vincent, John Conlee, Sister Hazel, Martina McBride
Intermission
8:15: Vince Gill, Dusty Slay, Jon Pardi

Saturday July 13
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Drew Parker, Connie Smith, Don Schlitz
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson, Max McNown, Dusty Slay, Vince Gill

On Monday July 15, Bill Anderson will celebrate his 63rd anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. While there is no Opry show scheduled for Monday night, Bill is on the schedule for the Tuesday Night Opry the following night. I would expect either on Saturday, or on Tuesday, that Bill will be recognized upon being the only member in the history of the Opry to reach 63 years as a member. Congratulations to Bill. 

Max McNown, who is making his Opry debut on Saturday night, is from Oregon, after which he settled in Southern California. His debut EP A Lot More Free was released in August 2023. The title track emerged as a viral hit and garnered six million streams in just four months. Next came "Can’t Hide Light" in October and “Love I Got Left” in December—amassing over 22 million streams in his very first year of releasing music, all while bringing his debut album to life. That album, Wandering was recently released and based on the description, is a combination of folk and country. 

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

1st show
6:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Del Wood
6:45: Billy Grammer (host); Jean Shepard, Willis Brothers
7:00: Hank Locklin (host); Justin Tubb, Lonzo & Oscar
7:30: Roy Acuff (host); Dolly Parton, Bill Carlisle, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Stu Phillips, Karen Wheeler, Cates Sisters
8:30: Roy Drusky (host); Ray Pillow, Marion Worth, Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Billy Grammer (host); Willis Brothers, Jean Shepard, Justin Tubb
10:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Dolly Parton
10:15: Roy Acuff (host); Lonzo & Oscar, Brother Oswald
10:30: Hank Locklin (host); Jan Howard, Del Wood
10:45: Jim Ed Brown (host); Bill Carlisle, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
11:00: Roy Drusky (host); Karen Wheeler, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam McGee
11:30: Stu Phillips (host); Marion Worth, Ray Pillow

Charley Pride made his Grand Ole Opry debut in January 1967. It was a successful debut and while he would not become an Opry member until 1993, despite being asked several times to join, he would continue to make occasional guest appearances. On of those took place 56 years ago, Saturday July 13, 1968. Here is the running order from the second show that night: 

9:30: Kellogg's
Bob Luman (host: Folsom Prison Blues
Norma Jean: Heaven Help The Working Girl
The 4 Guys: Mariah
Claude Gray: Night Life
Bob Luman: Ain't Got Time To Be Unhappy
Norma Jean: You Changed Everything About Me But My Name
The 4 Guys: Shenandoah
Bob Luman: Memphis/Guitar Man

10:00: Fender
Glaser Brothers (host): Through The Eyes Of Love
Marion Worth: Walk Thru This World With Me
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
Glaser Brothers: Gone

10:15: Pure
Billy Grammer (host): Mabel
Dottie West: My Baby's Gone
Charley Pride: The Easy Part's Over Now
Billy Grammer: Power In The Blood

10:30: Buckley's
Roy Acuff (host): Just A Friend
Crook Brothers: Old Joe Clark
Ray Acuff: Waltz Of The Wind
Brother Oswald: Black Smoke's A' Rollin
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

10:45: Newport
Bobby Lord (host): Live Your Life Out Loud
Cousin Jody: Mockingbird
Arlene Harden: He's A Good Old Boy
Bobby Lord: Y'all Come

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Tangled Mind
Sam McGee: Steel Guitar Ray
Margie Bowes: Boll Weevil
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Walking In My Sleep
Hank Snow: It Kinda Reminds Me Of Me
Margie Bowes: Get Your Lie The Way You Want It
Buddy Spicher: Durhan's Hornpipe
Hank Snow: My Blue-Eyed Jane

11:30: Lava
Marty Robbins (host): Tonight Carmen
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Stringbean: Banjo Convention
Bobby Lewis: Love Me And Make It All Better
Don Winters: Sioux City Sue
Osborne Brothers: The Last Letter
Stringbean: Battle Of New Orleans
Marty Robbins: Devil Woman/Begging To You/Don't Worry/I Started Loving You Again/El Paso

Once again, there will be a Sunday Night Opry this weekend. Opry members Dailey & Vincent are once again back for the Sunday show, joined by Mandy Barnett, Charlie McCoy and Don Schlitz. Comedian Dusty Slay will make it a three-show weekend, and also appearing will be veteran singer Collin Raye, Todd Tilghman and making his Opry debut, will be Christian Singer/Songwriter Patrick Mayberry. 

Sunday July 14
7:00: Dailey & Vincent, Mandy Barnett, Patrick Mayberry, Charlie McCoy
Intermission
8:15: Todd Tilghman, Collin Raye, Dusty Slay, Don Schlitz

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.