Grand Ole Opry 11/1 & 11/2

Friday will be a big night at the Grand Ole Opry House as Contemporary Christian music artist Steven Curtis Chapman will be inducted as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. 

Over the past week, there has been some comments regarding the number of Opry appearances by various Opry members. With the induction of a new Opry member, I thought it would be a good opportunity to visit some of those numbers, specifically those recently. 

I went back beginning with 2021, the year after Covid during which the Opry was on a very limited Saturday night schedule and added up the number of appearances by Opry members. In the case of the members who were added after 2021, I included their guest appearances that they made prior to their induction beginning in 2021. Here is the list of those with over 100 appearances (updated to October 23):

Jeannie Seely: 307
Riders In The Sky: 283
Connie Smith: 170
Mandy Barnett: 145
Don Schlitz: 142
John Conlee: 135
Rhonda Vincent: 131
Bill Anderson: 123
Gary Mule Deer: 120
Dailey & Vincent: 117
Gatlin Brothers: 106
Charlie McCoy: 104

Other notables: Mark Wills: 82, Vince Gill: 74, Ricky Skaggs: 69, The Isaacs: 68, Henry Cho: 66, Mike Snider: 51, T. Graham Brown: 48, Lauren Alaina: 47, Del McCoury: 40, Jamey Johnson: 37, Lorrie Morgan: 36, Gene Watson: 36, Carrie Underwood: 30, Chris Janson: 30, Crystal Gayle: 28, Steve Wariner: 25, Ashley McBryde: 23, Old Crow Medicine Show: 22, The Whites: 20. 

Everyone else was below 20. And for those wondering, Steven Curtis Chapman made 26. 

A couple of notations regarding this list: 
>Mike Snider has not appeared on the Opry in a year following his motorcycle accident and the death of his wife. 
>The Whites have made only one Opry appearance in 2024
>The vast majority of appearances by Vince Gill have taken place over the last couple of years as before that he had been touring heavily with The Eagles. 

Now moving ahead to this weekend:
When looking at the career of Steven Curtis Chapman there is not much to add, other than the basic statistics. With a staggering 50 No. 1 singles in his catalog he is the most awarded artist in Christian music history winning 59 GMA Dove Awards five GRAMMY Awards an American Music Award and selling more than 17 million albums with ten RIAA-Certified Gold or Platinum albums. And he has continued to add to that total. He has been making guest appearances on the Opry for decades and has truly earned his Opry membership. 

On the night Ricky Skaggs asked Steven to become an Opry member, Steven said “I am so honored and just so grateful. What an amazing family to be a part of. I feel like this is my family.”

Joining Steven on the Friday Night Opry will be Opry members Ricky Skaggs, Lady A and Carly Pearce. Guesting will be Colony House and Russell Dickerson. 

Looking at Saturday night, which is back to a one-show night, Opry members Bill Anderson, Riders In The Sky, and one of the Opry's newest members, Sara Evans is back for an appearance. Guesting are Brandy Clark & Shane McAnally, Larry Fleet and Sean McConnell. 

Friday November 1
7:00: Ricky Skaggs, Colony House, Steven Curtis Chapman
Intermission
8:15: Russell Dickerson, Carly Pearce, Lady A 

Saturday November 2
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Riders In The Sky, Sean McConnell, Connie Smith, Larry Fleet
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson, Opry Square Dancers, Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, Sara Evans

From 50 years ago, Saturday November 2, 1974:

1st show
6:30: Willis Brothers (host): Ray Pillow, Del Wood
6:45: Billy Grammer (host): Lonzo & Oscar, Ernie Ashworth
7:00: Archie Campbell (host): Connie Smith, Justin Tubb, Tommy Jones
7:30: Roy Drusky (host): Bill Carlisle, Stu Phillips, Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:00: Roy Acuff (host): Jeanne Pruett, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper
8:30: Charlie Walker (host): Jimmy C Newman, Harold Weakley, Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Roy Drusky (host): Willis Brothers, Del Wood, Lonzo & Oscar
10:00: Ray Pillow (host): Connie Smith, Ernie Ashworth
10:15: Roy Acuff (host): Billy Grammer, Justin Tubb
10:30: Archie Campbell (host): Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Bill Carlisle, Phil Campbell
10:30: Jimmy C Newman (host): Demetrius Trapp, Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Charlie Walker (host): Stu Phillips, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host): Jeanne Pruett, Ronnie Robbins

As has been previous written on this blog, the vast majority of the Grand Ole Opry's annual birthday celebrations have taken place during the month of October. However, that was not the case in 1963 as the Opry's 38th birthday celebration took place that year took place on Saturday November 2nd. Here is the running order from that night, 61 years ago: 

6:30: Rudy's
Jimmy C Newman (host): Big Mamou
Kitty Wells: Heartaches For A Keepsake
Johnny Wright: Oh, Baby Mine (I Get So Lonely)
Stringbean: There Will Be Moonshine In Them Old Kentucky Hills
Bobby Lord: Out Behind The Barn
Curly Fox: The Old Gray Mule
Kitty Wells: I Gave My Wedding Dress Away
Jimmy C Newman: D.J. For A Day

7:00: Delited
Porter Wagoner (host): I've Enjoyed As Much Of This As I Can Stand
Roy Drusky: Peel Me A Nanner
Carl Butler: Don't Let Me Cross Over
Melba Montgomery: What's Bad For You Is Good For Me
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Billy Walker: The Morning Paper
George Hamilton IV: Abilene
Porter Wagoner: In The Shadow Of The Wine

7:30: Kellogg's
George Morgan (host): Alright, I'll Sign The Papers
Marion Worth: (?)
Hank Locklin: Send Me The Pillow You Dream On
Willis Brothers: Private Lee
Bill Anderson: Still
Del Wood: Piano Roll Blues
Tex Ritter: Boll Weevil
Square Dancers: Soap Suds Over The Fence
George Morgan: One Dozen Roses

8:00: Martha White
Flatt & Scruggs (host): New York Town
Ferlin Husky: Gone
Loretta Lynn: Before I'm Over You
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Flatt & Scruggs: Mama Don't Allow It
Billy Grammer: (?)
Louvin Brothers: (?)
Crook Brothers: Lafayette
Flatt & Scruggs: Flint Hill Special

8:30: Stephens
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Bill Monroe: John Henry
Ray Price: San Antonio Rose
Minnie Pearl: Comedy
Sonny James: Going Through The Motions
Lonzo & Oscar: There's A Hole In The Bottom Of The Sea
Skeeter Davis: The End Of The World
Oswald: Roll On Buddy, Roll On
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away

9:00: Jefferson Island Salt
Ernest Tubb (host): Thanks A Lot
Wilburn Brothers: (?)
Johnny Cash: (?)
Stringbean: Pretty Polly
June Carter & The Carter Family: (?)
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Soldier's Joy
Margie Bowes: Our Things
Ernest Tubb: The Way You're Living

9:30: Pet Milk
Hank Snow (host): Ninety Miles An Hour
The Browns: The 3 Bells
Faron Young: Yellow Bandana
Jean Shepard: (?)
Porter Wagoner: Your Old Love Letters
Leroy Van Dyke: Happy To Be Unhappy
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: There's A Big Wheel
Stonewall Jackson: B.J. The D.J.
Hank Snow: Blue Roses

10:00: Gates Rubber
Billy Grammer (host): (?)
Bobby Lord: Life Can Have Meaning
Curly Fox: T Model & A Train
Billy Walker: Heart Be Careful
Billy Grammer: (?)

10:15: Luzianne
Roy Acuff (host): The Great Speckled Bird
Del Wood: Columbus Stockade Blues
Jimmy C Newman: D.J. For A Day
Roy Acuff: Wreck On The Highway
Howdy & Jimmy: Apple Blossom

10:30: Harvey's
Ferlin Husky (host): Wings Of A Dove
Louvin Brothers: (?)
Tex Ritter: (?)
Simon Crum: (?)

10:45: Ford
Faron Young (host) (?)
George Morgan: You're The Only Good Thing
Bill Anderson: 8 By 10
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
Faron Young: (?)

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): I've Been Everywhere
Skeeter Davis: Something Precious
Roy Drusky: Second Hand Rose
The Browns: Oh, No
Lonzo & Oscar: Hand Holding
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Gloryland March
Sam & Kirk McGee: Let's Meet By The Old Oaken Bucket
Fruit Jar Drinkers:  Love Somebody
Hank Snow: There's A Fool Such As I

11:30: SSS Tonic
Marty Robbins (host): Devil Woman
Bill Monroe: Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Hank Locklin: Flying South
Wilburn Brothers: (?)
Stonewall Jackson: Wild, Wild Wind
Margie Bowes: Judge Not
Sonny James: The Minute You're Gone
Marty Robbins: Don't Worry

That was one long show that night and based on the number of artists on the schedule, the backstage area of the Ryman Auditorium was very, very crowded. A heck of a busy night. 

If my memory is right, the only artists still living that appeared on that night are Melba Montgomery, Bill Anderson and Leroy Van Dyke. 

Also, from November 2nd through the years: 

1926: Charlie Walker was born. He joined the Opry in 1967 and would remain a member until his death in 2008. 

1948: Roy Acuff was defeated in his bid to become Governor of Tennessee. 

1968: George Jones made an appearance on the Opry. 

2007: Lady A made their debut on the Grand Ole Opry. In 2021 they would become Opry members. 

2021: Mandy Barnett became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. At the time of her induction, Mandy had made more guest appearances than any other non-Opry member. 

There you have it for this weekend. Thanks to all for reading and commenting and congratulations once again to Steven Curtis Chapman upon his induction as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.