Grand Ole Opry 8/16 & 8/17

You have to admit that this past week was a special one at the Grand Ole Opry. Nice to see Luke Combs back on the Opry stage and hopefully he will be back soon. And what else can be said about Post Malone? He was outstanding, as were each of the others on the schedule. No matter what takes place on a given night, the Grand Ole Opry is special and is making history each show. 

Now moving on to this weekend, the Friday Night Opry has only two Opry members on the schedule: Don Schlitz and Riders In The Sky. Adam Wainwright is back for a repeat performance after his successful debut a few weeks back, as are Opry NextStage artists Restless Road. Po' Ramblin' Boys will be bringing the bluegrass sound, with Mickey Guyton and Monte Warden returning. Finally, Angie K will be making her Opry debut. 

On Saturday night, Opry members Mandy Barnett, John Conlee, Riders In The Sky, Gene Watson and Jeannie Seely are on the schedule. For those who might have missed it, Jeannie was recently hospitalized, which explains her absence from the Opry over the past several shows. The news of the hospitalization came via a statement. Jeannie checked into a Pennsylvanian hospital for symptoms of dehydration as well as acute diverticulitis. 

As Jeannie was quoted as saying, “It had not crossed my mind to visit a hospital on my trip home, but when it became necessary, it was yet another opportunity to experience Pennsylvania hospitality. I could not have received better care or more respect than I did at St. Clare Hospital in Pittsburgh, or the courtesy shown at Pittsburgh International Airport.”

Since her return to Nashville, she has been resting and improving. It will certainly be nice to have her back at the Opry this weekend. 

In addition to the Opry members listed, Charles Esten, with over 150 guest appearances on the Opry is scheduled, as are Opry NextStage artists Chapel Hart and Pure Prairie League. 

Friday August 16
7:00: Riders In The Sky, Restless Road, Angie K, Monte Warden
Intermission
8:15: Po' Ramblin' Boys, Adam Wainwright, Mickey Guyton, Don Schlitz

Saturday August 17
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Chapel Hart, John Conlee, Charles Esten
Intermission
8:15: Gene Watson, Mandy Barnett, Opry Square Dancers, Pure Prairie League, Riders In The Sky

Angie K, who is making her Opry debut on Friday night, was born in El Salvador and raised in Georgia, Angie K’s love for country music was nurtured from a young age. Her mother saved up to take her to the Grand Ole Opry, which has come full circle as she prepares to make her Grand Ole Opry debut this Friday, fulfilling a lifelong dream. She first turned heads in Nashville with a nod to her Latin roots when her first single, the bilingual “Real Talk,” catapulted her onto the country scene as a Highway Find on SiriusXM’s The Highway. The 2024 CMT Listen Up Artist just released a new track “Death of Me,” which follows another recent release “Red Dirt on Mars.” She has been in the studio working on new music with songwriter/producer Stephony Smith, and is represented by JR Schumann for management.

While Monte Warden has appeared on the Opry previously, he did release this statement regarding his Friday night appearance: 

36 years ago this month, I was blessed to pick The Grand Ole Opry for the very 1st time with The Wagoneers (I have been privileged to pick The Opry again in '04 and '11) - I am beyond blessed to have been invited to pick it again on Fri - as in THIS Fri! It's the 47th anniversary of ELVIS PRESLEY's passing and The Opry has asked if I would pay tribute to Elvis with 'That's Alright Mama' and 'Blue Moon of Kentucky', the only two songs Elvis EVER picked on The Opry and also do a song of my own. I am closing out my portion by doing 'Steadfast Love' from the new Monte Warden and The Dangerous Few album - it's a Gospel song Brandi and I wrote in the tradition of Elvis' Spirituals, particularly those he cut in the late 60s and early 70s....and...BROOKS WARDEN IS JOININ' ME ONSTAGE to sing the bass part!!! Friends...just...blessed. Can you imagine how impossible it's gonna be for Brandi to even almost hold it together while I sing a song SHE co-wrote...with Brooks singin'...ON...THE...OPRY?!? Whew....

From 50 years ago, Saturday August 17, 1974: 

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Willis Brothers (host): Truck Stop
Arlene Harden: Leave Me Alone
Willis Brothers: Hillbilly Heaven

6:45: Rudy's
Lonzo & Oscar (host): Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms
David Wilkins: Georgia Keeps Pulling On My Ring/Too Much Hold Bank
Lonzo & Oscar: Mountain Dew

7:00: Rudy's
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): Black Mountain Rag
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Del Wood: Leaning On The Everlasting Arms
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: The Birds Are Back
Bill Carlisle: Have A Drink On Me
Del Wood: Alabama Jubilee
Wilma Lee & Carolee Cooper: Give Me The Roses While I Live

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Back In The Country
Dolly Parton: Jolene
Louie Roberts: Peace In The Valley
Crook Brothers & Tennessee Travelers: Black Mountain Rag
Roy Acuff: Wabash Cannonball
Dolly Parton: Love Is Like A Butterfly
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away

8:00: Martha White
Billy Grammer (host): Bonaparte's Retreat
Jan Howard: Love Is Like A Spinning Wheel
Nat Stuckey: Don't Pay The Ransom
Billy Grammer: Under The Double Eagle
Jan Howard: God Bless America Again
Nat Stuckey: It Hurts To Know The Feeling's Gone
Billy Grammer: Let Me Call You Sweetheart

8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Marion Worth: You're The Reason I'm Living
Brian Shaw: The Devil Is A Woman
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Hank Snow: Paper Roses
Marion Worth: Kentucky Rose
Hank Snow: Hello Love

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Billy Grammer (host): Gotta Travel On
Willis Brothers: Bob
Jan Howard: Poison Red Berries
Billy Grammer: Birth Of The Blues
Willis Brothers: There Goes The Farm
Jan Howard: Seeing Is Believing
Billy Grammer: Just A Closer Walk With Thee

10:00: Fender
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): I'm Going Home On The Morning Train
Arlene Harden: Leave Me Alone
Del Wood: Beer Barrel Polka
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die

10:15: Union 76
Bill Carlisle (host): No Help Wanted
Nat Stuckey: Sweet Thang/It Hurts To Know The Feeling's Gone
Bill Carlisle: I'm Moving

10:30: Trailblazer
Roy Acuff (host): Old Sunshine Song
Dolly Parton: Love Is Like A Butterfly/I Will Always Love You
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

10:45: Beechnut
Lonzo & Oscar (host): Charming Betsy
David Wilkins: Too Much Holdback
Crook Brothers & The Tennessee Travelers: Ida Red
Lonzo & Oscar: From Your Shoulders To Mine

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Louie Roberts: Anytime/Bouquet Of Roses/Cattle Call
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Walking In My Sleep
Hank Snow: I Keep Dreaming Of You All The Time
Louie Roberts: Alola
Sam McGee: Freight Train/I Don't Love Nobody/Rubber Dolly
Hank Snow: That's You & Me

11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): Devil Woman
Marion Worth: You're The Reason I'm Living
Brian Shaw: Ohio, Why Did I Go
Ronnie Robbins: If You Love Me, Let Me Know
Marty Robbins: Love Me/Big Boss Man/I'm Wanting To/My Woman, My Woman, My Wife/El Paso

A couple of notes from that night: 

It was very rare that Lonzo & Oscar or Bill Carlisle hosted segments on the Opry. With the slim number of Opry members on the show, both acts were given the opportunity. 

Dolly Parton did both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry that weekend. She would make only one more Opry appearance in 1974, which would take place in October during the Opry's annual birthday celebration. 

While she was not scheduled that night, Minnie Pearl did the introduction when Wilma Lee & Stoney sang "Don't Let Your Sweet Love Die" on the second show. 

Finally, Brian Shaw was scheduled for both shows. Brian had a fairly short career in the 1970s in which he charted 6 hits on the country charts between 1973-1977. His biggest was "Here We Go Again" which reached #17. 

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.