Grand Ole Opry 11/29 & 11/30

The Oak Ridge Boys have been spending 2024 on what was originally going to be a farewell tour. However, plans have changed, and they now are planning on extending their touring into 2025 with no specific ending date in sight. The group has included several Grand Ole Opry appearances as part of their tour and on the Friday Night Opry, the boys will be back for another appearance. 

Joining the Oak Ridge Boys on Friday night are Grand Ole Opry members Jeannie Seely and T. Graham Brown.

Guesting on Friday night will be Wyatt Ellis, one of the most watched musicians in bluegrass music, Lisa Layne, who has appeared on the Opry previous, most notably with Gene Watson, Chris Lane and comedian Anjelah Johnson-Reyes. 

Now taking a look at Saturday night, only two Opry members are listed on the schedule: Dailey & Vincent and Don Schlitz. 

Steve Earle heads up the list of non-members on the Saturday night schedule, joined by bluegrass group Special Consensus, Opry NextStage artist Jackson Dean, Megan Patrick and Colin Stough. 

(Official lineup will be posted as soon as it is available)

From 50 years ago, Saturday November 30, 1974: 

1st show
6:30: Osborne Brothers (host): Ernie Ashworth
6:45: Bill Monroe (host): The 4 Guys, Del Wood
7:00: Roy Acuff (host): Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper, Charlie Walker, Lonzo & Oscar
7:30: Ernest Tubb (host): Jan Howard, Bill Carlisle, Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:00: Lester Flatt (host): Grandpa Jones, Willis Brothers, Marion Worth, Tim Smith, Ramona Jones
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Justin Tubb, Stu Phillips, Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Bill Monroe (host): Willis Brothers, Jan Howard, Ernie Ashworth
10:00: Ernest Tubb (host): Osborne Brothers, Del Wood
10:15: Roy Acuff (host): Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper
10:30: Lester Flatt (host): Grandpa & Ramona Jones, Justin Tubb, Curly Seckler, Marty Stuart
10:45: Charlie Walker (host): Bill Carlisle, Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Marion Worth, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Sam McGee
11:30: The 4 Guys (host): Stu Phillips, Louie Roberts, Ronnie Robbins

Tim McGraw is not an Opry member, but over the years, he has made a handful of appearances on the Grand Ole Opry. The future Hall of Fame member made his Opry debut on Saturday November 30, 2002. Here is the running order from that night 22 years ago: 

1st show
6:30: Tennessee Pride
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take An Old Cold Tater
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/Statue Of A Fool 
Jimmy Dickens: Mountain Dew

7:00: Gutter Guard/Standard Candy
Brad Paisley: Wrapped Around
Pinmonkey: Barbed Wire & Roses/I Drove All Night
Brad Paisley: Jingle Bells/Silent Night/I Wished You'd Stay
Tim McGraw: Sing Me Home/Don't Take The Girl/Unwound
T. Graham Brown: I Tell It Like It Used To Be/Turn The Wind Into Water/Darlene
Brad Paisley: I'm Gonna Miss Her

8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Why Don't You Haul Off & Love Me
Jeannie Seely: Winter Wonderland
Doyle Dykes: Wabash Cannonball/Oh Holy Night
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Cherokee Shuffle
Porter Wagoner: The Carroll County Accident

8:30: Physicians Mutual
Bill Anderson (host): Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain
Mountain Heart: A Road I've Not Been Down/Real Time
Bill Anderson: Christmas In Your Arms

2nd show
9:30: Tootsie's
Jimmy Dickens (host): Sleepin' At The Foot Of The Bed
Jack Greene: Try A Little Kindness/Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me
T. Graham Brown: I Tell It Like It Used To Be/Turn The Wine Into Water
Jimmy Dickens: We Could

10:00: Lincoln Mercury/Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Osborne Brothers: Lonesome Feeling/Rocky Top
Tim McGraw: Sing Me Home/Don't Take The Girl/Unwound/Everywhere

10:30: online.com/Wildhorse Saloon
Jimmy C Newman (host): Allons Ah Lafayette
Jan Howard: I'll Be Home For Christmas
Doyle Dykes: Wabash Cannonball/Oh Holy Night
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Snowflake Reel

11:00: Coca Cola
Bill Anderson (host): Liar's 1; Believes O
Charlie Louvin: Think I'll Go Somewhere & Cry Myself To Sleep
Vince Gill: Look At Us
Pinmonkey: Barbed Wire & Roses/I Drove All Night
Bill Anderson: A Lot Of Things Different

11:30: Tootsie's
Jeannie Seely (host): Anytime
Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away/Charlie's Shoes
Mountain Heart: The Grand Tour/Lee Highway Blues
Jeannie Seely: Today I Started Loving You Again

(Loretta Lynn was scheduled for both shows but cancelled. She was replaced by T. Graham Brown. Brad Paisley appeared only on the first show and Vince Gill only on the late show). 

Looking at November 30th through the years: 

1931: Grand Ole Opry member Teddy Wilburn was born. Along with his brother Doyle, The Wilburns were longtime members of the Grand Ole Opry. After Doyle's death, Teddy remained an Opry member until his death in 2008. There are those, me included, who believe that the Wilburn Brothers deserve to be in the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

1940: According to various reports, Minnie Pearl made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Minnie, who was an Opry member for over 50 years, would go on to become one of the most beloved members in the history of the Opry. 

1993: Opry member David Houston passed away at the age of 57. David, who had one of the biggest hits in the history of country music, "Almost Persuaded," came to the Opry in 1972. In addition to his solo work, David recorded and toured with Tammy Wynette and Barbara Mandrell. 

1995: Martina McBride became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Martina joined during a CBS television special celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Opry. Martina had made her Opry debut on May 23, 1992, and this year will be her 29th as an Opry member. 

There you have it for this week. As always, I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend and thanks for reading and commenting.