There have been a handful of active Grand Ole Opry members who have not made any Opry appearances thus far in 2024. With the year winding down, there are not many opportunities left. After this weekend, there will be one less name on that list as Opry member Keith Urban returns to the Opry stage on Saturday night.
Even with the star power of Keith Urban, there is only one show on the schedule on Saturday. Joining Keith will be Country Music Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson, comedian Gary Mule Deer, the legendary Jeannie Seely and Opry NextStage artist Jameson Rodgers. Rounding out the lineup will be Mickey Guyton, Amanda Shires, and making his Opry debut, Caleb Caudle.
Gary Mule Deer will be making it a two-show weekend as he is also scheduled on the Friday Night Opry, joining Opry members John Conlee, Hall of Fame member Don Schlitz, and Crystal Gayle. Also on the schedule are Home Free, Sean Dietrich, Alexandra Kay, and an artist who has not appeared on the Opry in a while, Will Hoge.
Regarding his Grand Ole Opry debut, Caleb Caudle wrote the following on his Facebook page:
I’ve wanted to do this for as long as I’ve been playing music. When a dream this big comes true it allows you to dream bigger and for that I am grateful. My friend John Paul White will be joining me to sing harmony and my band The Sweet Critters will be backing me up. Thank you for all the support. Love y’all. 🖤
Friday November 22
7:00: John Conlee, Alexandra Kay, Home Free, Sean Dietrich
Intermission
8:20: Will Hoge, Gary Mule Deer, Crystal Gayle, Don Schlitz
Saturday November 23
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Jeannie Seely, Jameson Rodgers, Amanda Shires, Caleb Caudle w/John Paul White
Intermission
8:20: Bill Anderson, Gary Mule Deer, Mickey Guyton, Keith Urban
I am sure it has been noticed by all, but the Grand Ole Opry intermission is now 20 minutes, which started back in October. Just my opinion, but I think adding the extra five minutes gives those attending a little extra time to visit the Opry Shop, grab some more food & drink, and to visit the restrooms.
Now from 50 years ago, Saturday November 23, 1974:
1st show
6:30: Charlie Walker (host): Willis Brothers
6:45: The 4 Guys (host): Bill Carlisle, Ernie Ashworth
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host): Marion Worth, Lonzo & Oscar, Cates Sisters
7:30: Roy Acuff (host): Billy Grammer, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
8:00: Roy Drusky (host): Justin Tubb, Jim & Jesse, Bill Simpson
8:30: Jimmy C Newman (host): Jeanne Pruett, Stu Phillips, Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Charlie Walker (host): Willis Brothers, The 4 Guys, Ernie Ashworth
10:00: Jim Ed Brown (host): Bill Carlisle, Lonzo & Oscar
10:15: Roy Drusky (host): Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper
10:30: Roy Acuff (host): Marion Worth
10:45: Jimmy C Newman (host): Jim & Jesse, Crook Brothers, Tennessee Travelers
11:00: Billy Grammer (host): Connie Eaton, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Billy Grammer, Jr.
11:30: Stu Phillips (host): Jeanne Pruett
Trace Adkins became a member of the Grand Ole Opry on August 23, 2003. Earlier that year, Jimmy Dickens surprised Trace with the invitation to join and on the night of his induction, Ronnie Milsap did the honors. However, it was on November 23, 1996, that Trace made his debut as a guest on the Opry.
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Mike Snider (host): (?)
Skeeter Davis: Joy; Joy; Joy; Joy
Mike Snider: The Fur Coat
6:45: Jogging In A Jug
Grandpa Jones (host): Fix Me A Pallet Down On The Floor
Trace Adkins; Every Light In The House Is On
Grandpa Jones: Dark As A Dungeon
7:00: Shoney's
Ricky Skaggs (host): If I Lose
Bill Carlisle: Rusty Old Halo
Holly Dunn: Daddy's Hands
Jimmy C Newman: Cajun's Dream
Jeannie Seely: As Long As I Live/My Tears Don't Show
Ricky Skaggs: Rank Strangers
7:30: Standard Candy
Marty Stuart (host): You Can't Stop Love
Jean Shepard: Second Fiddle
Alison Krauss: But You Know I Love You
Travis Tritt: I'll Love You More Than You'll Ever Know/Where Corn Don't Grow
Marty Stuart & Travis Tritt: Honky Tonkin's What I Do Best
8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): Family Reunion
Darryl Singletary: An Amen Kind Of Love
Jeanne Pruett: Back-To-Back
Vince Gill: Go Rest High On That Mountain
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sail Away Ladies
Bill Anderson: Bright Lights & Country Music
8:30: Kraft
Jack Greene (host): Highway To The Sky
Del Reeves: There She Goes
Charlie Walker: Smoke; Smoke; Smoke
Riders In The Sky: Sioux City Sue/That Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine/Back On Those Texas Plains
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/He Is My Everything
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Ricky Skaggs (host): Little Maggie
Brother Oswald: Prairie Queen
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Travis Tritt: I'll Love You More Than You'll Ever Know/Where Corn Don't Grow
Ricky Skaggs: Get Up John
10:00: Massey Ferguson
Grandpa Jones (host): Apple Jack
Alison Krauss: In The Palm Of Your Hand
Grandpa Jones: Any Old Time
10:15: Opry Book
Jim Ed Brown (host): Southern Loving
Jean Shepard: Live & Let Live
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells
10:30: Purnell's
Bill Anderson (host): Before I Met You
Vince Gill: I've Been Hearing Things About You/Which Bridge To Cross, Which Bridge To Burn
10:45: Opry Cruise
Mike Snider (host): Short Little Lulu/Clinch Mountain Backstep/Mississippi Sawyer
The Whites: Blue Letters
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Acorn Hill
11:00: Coca Cola
Marty Stuart (host): Gonna Find Me A Country Girl
Darryl Singletary: A Cold Spell Moving In/ (?)
Holly Dunn: You Really Had Me Going
Trace Adkins: Every Light In The House Is On
Marty Stuart: Gonna Ride A Blue Train/Hillbilly Rock
11:30: Loreal
Johnny Russell (host): Folsom Prison Blues
Del Reeves: A Lover's Question
Jeannie Seely: As Long As I Live/My Tears Don't Show
Jimmy C Newman: Big Mamou/Cajun Stripper
Johnny Russell: Wabash Cannonball
I Don't Think Anyone could complain about the lineup that night. A really strong show that included two of the Opry's long-lost members: Travis Tritt and Alison Krauss.
From November 23 through the years:
1968: Tennessee native Dinah Shore made a surprise appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.
1992: Roy Acuff passed away in Nashville after a period of declining health. It is probably safe to say that Roy was the biggest member in the history of the Opry and helped to define the show for decades.
2000: Vince Gill and Dolly Parton hosted a CBS televised special celebrating the Opry's 75th anniversary.
2002: Jim McReynolds made his final appearance on the Opry. He would pass away a month later from cancer at the age of 75.
2020: Opry member Hal Ketchum passed away after a period of declining health.
Here is the running order from the November 23, 1968, show that featured an appearance by Dinah Shore:
7:30: Roy Drusky, Margie Bowes, Del Wood, Duke of Paducah
8:00: Roy Acuff, Skeeter Davis, The Homesteaders, Oswald, Howdy Forrester, Crook Brothers
8:30: Glaser Brothers, Archie Campbell, Lonzo & Oscar, Martha Carson
9:00: Del Reeves, Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Stu Phillips, Fruit Jar Drinkers
9:30: Hank Snow, Willis Brothers, Marion Worth, Harden Trio
10:00: Roy Drusky, Skeeter Davis, Del Wood
10:15: Roy Acuff, Margie Bowes, Martha Carson
10:30: Archie Campbell, Willis Brothers, Duke of Paducah
10:45: Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, The Homesteaders, Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow, Stu Phillips, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam McGee
11:30: Del Reeves, Dinah Shore, Marion Worth, Harden Trio
(Dinah sang one song: I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry)
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.
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