Here we go. This weekend the Grand Ole Opry will celebrate its 99th birthday with a weekend full of activities. Here is a brief rundown of what is planned:
Fri, Oct 11
▪️ Plaza Party with free live music starting at 5:30pm presented by Country Financial
▪️ Friday Night Opry show featuring Chapel Hart, Gretchen Wilson, Connie Smith, Rhonda Vincent & more!
▪️ Post-show 'Opryoke' with Chapel Hart, featuring karaoke, late night snacks, a photobooth, and commemorative poster
Sat, Oct 12
▪ Exclusive Tailgate Party with Rhett Akins in Studio A *with purchase of an Opry 99th Birthday Package that also includes a Saturday Opry show ticket, commemorative show poster, and a daytime backstage tour ticket
▪ Plaza Party with free live music and line dancing lessons starting at 12pm presented by Country Financial
▪TWO Saturday Night Opry shows (7pm and 9:30pm) featuring Rhett Akins, Riley Green, Crystal Gayle, Dailey & Vincent, Katharine McPhee & more!
Sun, Oct 13
▪ Opry Community Day 9am-4pm with FREE Opry House tours with a Tennessee ID, free live music in the Opry Plaza, family fun zone featuring a bouncy castle, yard games, caricature artist, dunk tank, vendors and more!
As you can see, there is a lot going on this weekend and for the 30th year in a row, I will be a part of all the festivities.
Looking in more detail at the Friday Night Opry, Opry members Rhonda Vincent and Connie Smith are on the schedule, as is John Conlee, Charlie McCoy and Don Schlitz. As noted above, Chapel Hart are on the schedule, along with Gretchen Wilson.
Saturday night will feature Opry members Dailey & Vincent, T Graham Brown, Riders In Tbe Sky, Jeannie Seely and Crystal Gayle. Rhett Akins will be appearing as will Riley Green and making her Opry debut, Katherine McPhee.
Friday October 11
7:00: Rhonda Vincent, John Conlee, Annie Bosko, Connie Smith
Intermission
8:15: Charlie McCoy, Don Schlitz, Chapel Hart, Gretchen Wilson
Saturday October 12
1st show
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Rhett Akins, Katherine McPhee, Riders In The Sky
8:00: T. Graham Brown, Crystal Gayle, Dailey & Vincent, Riley Green
2nd show
9:30: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Rhett Akins, Katherine McPhee, Riders In The Sky
10:30: Riley Green, Crystal Gayle, Dailey & Vincent, T. Graham Brown
Now from 50 years ago, Saturday October 12, 1974:
1st show
6:00: George Morgan (host): Marion Worth, Willis Brothers
6:30: Charlie Louvin (host): Jan Howard, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Diane McCall
6:45: Bill Monroe (host): The 4 Guys, Del Wood
7:00: Billy Grammer (host): Charlie Walker, Ray Pillow
7:30: Roy Acuff (host): Osborne Brothers, Bill Carlisle, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
8:00: Bill Anderson (host): Del Reeves, Mel Tillis, Mary Lou Turner
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Jeanne Pruett, Stu Phillips, Lonzo & Oscar, Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Bill Monroe (host): Willis Brothers, Del Reeves, Jan Howard, Charlie Louvin, Del Wood
10:00: Roy Acuff (host): George Morgan, Marion Worth
10:15: Bill Anderson (host): Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Mary Lou Turner
10:30: Ray Pillow (host): Mel Tillis
10:45: Charlie Walker (host): Billy Grammer, Bill Carlisle, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
11:00: Hank Snow (host): The 4 Guys, Osborne Brothers, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host): Jeanne Pruett, Lonzo & Oscar, Stu Phillips
(Stonewall Jackson was scheduled for both shows but cancelled)
On Saturday October 12, 1985, the Grand Ole Opry celebrated its 60th birthday. Here is the running order from that night 39 years ago:
1st show
6:30: Bonanza
Del Reeves (host): Two Dollars In The Jukebox/A Dime At A Time/Looking At The World Through A Windshield
The 4 Guys: Whiskey & Water
Del Reeves: Louisiana Legs
6:45: Rudy's
Jim Ed Brown (host): Southern Loving
John Conlee: The Old School
Jim Ed Brown: Morning
7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Larry Gatlin: Houston/Run Away; Go Home
Charley Pride: Lovesick Blues
Raymond & Leo Duffy: Somebody Touched Me
Grand Ole Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry
Porter Wagoner: Y'all Come
7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Monroe (host): It's Mighty Dark For Me To Travel
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
Jean Sheppard: Slippin' Away
The Whites: I Don't Wanna Get Over You
Jimmy C Newman: My Toot Toot
Crook Brothers & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sally Goodin
Bill Monroe: Just A Little Walk With Jesus
8:00: Martha White
Grandpa Jones (host): Baptism Of Jesse Taylor
Jeannie Seely: How Will I Stand The Pain Once You're Gone
Billy Walker: Coffee Brown Eyes
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Bill Carlisle: In The Pines
Grandpa Jones: The Sweet Sunny South
8:30: Music Valley Drive
Hank Snow (host): Snowbird
Roy Drusky: If The Whole World Stopped Loving
Wilma Lee Cooper: Honey In The Rock
George Hamilton IV: Forever Young
Hank Locklin: Send Me The Pillow You Dream On
Hank Snow: I Stepped Over The Line
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Bill Monroe (host): Uncle Pen
The 4 Guys: How Married Are You Mary Ann
Lorrie Morgan: Crazy
Ray Pillow: Dim Lights; Thick Smoke
Larry Gatlin: Run Away; Go Home
Bill Monroe: Wayfaring Stranger
10:00: Little Debbie
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Connie Smith: Did We Have To Come This Far To Say Goodbye
Charlie Louvin: Near The Cross
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walkin/Waterloo
10:15: Sunbeam
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
John Conlee: Rose Colored Glasses
Del Reeves: Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me
Grand Ole Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry
10:30: Martha White
Grandpa Jones (host): Nashville On My Mind
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells
Jean Shepard & Roy Drusky: Will There Be Sweethearts In Heaven
Grandpa Jones: I'll Meet You In The Morning
10:45: Beechnut
Jack Greene (host): Try A Little Kindness
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya
The Whites: The House Of Gold
Crook Brothers & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: (?)
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Why Do You Punish Me
Osborne Brothers: Old Flames
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Justin Tubb: Thanks Troubadour, Thanks
Charlie Pride: Now & Then/Kiss An Angel Good Morning
Raymond & Leo Duffy: Cryin' My Heart Out Over You
Hank Snow: Bluebird Island
11:30: Quincy's
George Hamilton IV (host): Abilene
Wilma Lee Cooper: Poor Ellen Smith
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me I'm Falling
Jeannie Seely: When Your Heart's Been Stepped On
Bill Carlisle: Is Zat You Myrtle
George Hamilton IV: The Way Old Friends Do
(The show that night lasted until just after 12:30. While Roy Acuff was not scheduled, due to his recovery from heart issues, he did appear on both shows when the Opry birthday cake was brought out).
On October 12, 2002, the Opry celebrated its 77th birthday. The lineups from that weekend:
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host): The Whites, Holly Dunn, Steve Wariner
7:00: Bill Anderson (host): Rebecca Lynn Howard, Martina McBride, Ralph Stanley
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Bill Carlisle, Connie Smith, Osborne Brothers, Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host): Billy Walker, T. Bubba Bechtol, Lorrie Morgan
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host): Jim Ed Brown, Osborne Brothers, Lorrie Morgan
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Billy Walker, Jack Greene, Ralph Stanley
10:30: Bill Anderson (host): Charlie Louvin, Martina McBride, Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Steve Wariner (host): Holly Dunn, T. Bubba Bechtol, Rebecca Lynn Howard
11:30: Jeannie Seely, Ernie Ashworth, Ray Pillow, Connie Smith
Finally, on October 12, 2019, the Grand Ole Opry honored Dolly Parton upon her 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
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 as the Opry celebrates its 99th birthday.
I miss the old Birthday weekend autograph parties and the 22 artist shows. We met so many of the greats. Like most things Birthday weekend is nothing special.
ReplyDeleteIf Dan Rogers reads this, and I think he does, I have a point to make, and it's important. The set of five members on Friday night and the set of six members Saturday night are entirely different--fine. But it strains credulity to think that all five on Friday are then busy Saturday, and all six who are on Saturday are busy Friday. Throw in some like Bill Anderson who are doing three Opry shows this month but aren't doing much touring, and I wonder why we can't have on more Opry members.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree. He ,Dan probably doesn't care.
DeleteI think he DOES care, but I wonder if there are constraints.
DeleteOutstanding Friday Night Opry (Eve) of the 99th Birthday Party for the Grand Ole Opry ... most excellent show and we had a "live wire Friday crowd" that came across my computer speakers loud and clear! Such fun!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you WSM and the Grand Ole Opry and Happy 99th Birthday!! Will be tuning in tomorrow night for the big birthday bash!!! :-)
(Jeanene)
I totally agree Jeanene, although I only heard about the last thirty minutes.
DeleteChapel Hart and Gretchen Wilson certainly entertained! I sure hope Chapel Hart keeps performing. I think they were pretty discouraged a while back. They've got the PEP! Country music and the 'Opry needs them.
It's amazing to me that they aren't signed to a record deal.
DeleteGood Sunday morning Nat,
DeleteI think so many get caught up in the whirlwind of this genre of music, thinking that they should be at the top of the heap and we all know that is not the case in many cases. Chapel Hart should concentrate on putting out better music each time they put out a record or album, I am looking forward to hearing something new from them and yes, I agree with you, I think as a trio, their voices are very good and yes, they are full of pep. The only country music that I listen to is after the Opry shows with Jeff Hoag, so for Riley Green to close out the 99th Birthday Bash show; for me, that honor should have gone to an Opry member; I think Jeannie Seely should have closed both shows out seeing she is the one Opry member with the most appearances that no one will ever come close to achieving ... ever. Maybe she prefers to be on stage early, who knows?
I enjoyed Gretchen Wilson when she was out on radio the first time; I'm glad she is back out there, she needs new music, she sang the same three songs she had out 20 years ago.
I remember Katherine McPhee from American Idol, she now has a pretty darned good voice ... but dance on Randy Hart's piano? Both thumbs down to that. And she kept interrupting questions that Mike Terry had for her and putting him off I could tell, blech.
So with #99 behind us, we'll look forward to #100 ... I hope the Opry will be able to get a good handful of their Opry members to sign up and show up. These members know when the Grand Ole Opry is going to hold their birthday shows, it would be great if they got a good bunch of them and some perform on the first show and the rest the second show so that both shows are different. I'm sure they will really throw a birthday party to end all birthday parties. It's not every day that a radio station turn 100, just like humans.
Have a good day Nat!
(Jeanene)
Was great to be back in the Opry House last night. Fabulous show with a very engaged crowd. Those listening at home may not have realized that Marty came out to play guitar on Connie's last two songs. He received some applause when he came out, but was not introduced. Looking forward to another great show tonight!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if Marty came out to accompany her on the backstage set she did after the show?
ReplyDeleteJim
Yes he did
DeleteWithin the next day or so, I will post, in addition to the mid-week Opry show lineups, my thoughts and observations in regard to the Opry shows this past weekend, the 99th birthday celebration. I will also add some details regarding the 100th anniversary.
ReplyDeleteI will say that all three shows this past weekend were sold out and I thought, were outstanding. While it was probably not everyone's cup of tea, I thought Katherine McPhee was one of the highlights of the show and her performance of "Redneck Woman" was great. And yes, including the dancing in the aisles and standing and laying on the piano. Certainly, an Opry first.
I will add more later.
(The above comment was from me. I don't know why I suddenly became anonymous.)
DeleteI'm ready for Chapel Hart to become the next members of the Opry. They bring so much energy to the show. The fact that they are genuinely country doesn't hurt.
ReplyDelete