Grand Ole Opry 12/6 & 12/7

Some breaking news from this past week involving Grand Ole Opry member Alison Krauss: 

Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas are set to hit the road for the first time in a decade.

The beloved bluegrass musicians announced the Arcadia 2025 Tour on Tuesday, Dec. 3, which will take them across the U.S. and Canada for 73 shows from April through September. The group, which has not toured together since 2015, is also set to release new music for the first time in 14 years.

“I’m so grateful to get to make music again with my comrades of 40 years,” singer Krauss, 53, said in a statement. “They’ve always accomplished incredible work individually and have been constantly traveling because of it. We’re very inspired to experience this new exciting chapter in the band’s history.”

The 27-time Grammy winner will be joined by Union Station members Ron Block on banjo, guitar and vocals, Barry Bales on bass and vocals, Russell Moore on vocals and guitar and Jerry Douglas on Dobro, lap steel and vocals.

As noted, Russell Moore, the leader of III Tyme Out, will be the main vocalist on this tour. He will take the place of Union Station member Dan Tyminski, who is busy with his own solo career. 

We all know that it has been years since Alison Krauss has appeared on the Grand Ole Opry. Hopefully, with her return to bluegrass and touring with Union Station, she will fit in an Opry appearance or two. With the Opry celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025, it would mark the perfect occasion for her to return. 

Moving on to this weekend at the Grand Ole Opry, Opry member Marty Stuart is back for both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. He will be joined both nights by his wife, and fellow Opry member, Connie Smith. 

Joining the pair on Friday night are Opry members John Conlee and T. Graham Brown. Non-members on the schedule include LOCASH, Joshua Ray Walker, and making her Opry debut, Summer Dean. 

In addition to Marty Stuart and Connie Smith, Saturday night's schedule includes members Bill Anderson, Riders In The Sky and Don Schlitz. Ryan Larkins, who made his Opry debut back in August, is scheduled as is Ryan and Rory. It will be the Opry debut for Ryan and Rory, who previously had performed on the Opry Plaza. 

Friday December 6
7:00: T. Graham Brown, Summer Dean, John Conlee, Joshua Ray Walker
Intermission
8:20: Connie Smith, LOCASH, Marty Stuart

Saturday December 7
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Riders In The Sky, Ryan and Rory, Connie Smith, Don Schlitz
Intermission
8:20: Bill Anderson, Opry Square Dancers, Ryan Larkins, Marty Stuart

Summer Dean is considered by most to be the reigning queen of Texas Country Music. The singer/songwriter is from Fort Worth and was recently named the Texas Country Music Awards Female Artist of the Year. Regarding her Opry debut, she said, “Like almost every country music artist, I can say, ‘This has been my dream since I was a little girl,’” Dean said. “I remember listing what I wanted to be when I grew up and it was — number one: Miss Texas, and number two: sing on the Grand Ole Opry. It’s been a goal on my vision board for years. The view of the iconic WSM mic stand from inside the wooden circle has been the home screen on my phone for more than five years.”

Ryan Follesé is a Nashville native, 2X PLATINUM #1 hit singer-songwriter and American Music Award winner. Rory John Zak, from Raleigh, North Carolina, is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter who has played over 300 shows per year since he was 17. The duo has opened for Sam Hunt and Jamey Johnson. In fact, it was Jamey who surprised Ryan and Rory several weeks back with an invitation to appear on the Opry. 

Now from 50 years ago, Saturday December 7, 1974. This particular night featured an appearance by George Jones and Tammy Wynette, along with Mel Tillis: 

1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Willis Brothers (host): Truck Stop
Justin Tubb: Sunshine Lady
Ernie Ashworth: Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor
Willis Brothers: Cool Water

6:45: Rudy's
George Morgan (host): In The Misty Moonlight
Marion Worth: Shake Me; I Rattle
Jim & Jesse: Love Is A Fading Rose
George Morgan: The Last Letter

7:00: Rudy's
Roy Drusky (host): Dixie Lily
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
Mel Tillis: Memory Maker
Roy Drusky: Don't It Make You Want To Go Home
Bill Carlisle: I've Waited Too Long
Mel Tillis: Midnight, Me & The Blues/Sawmill
Roy Drusky: One Day At A Time

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Old Time Sunshine Song
Stoney & Carolee Cooper: Nobody's Darling But Mine
Crook Brothers: Bill Cheatham
Howdy Forrester: Sally Goodin
Stoney & Carolee Cooper: Big Midnight Special
Roy Acuff: I Saw The Light

8:00: Martha White
George Jones (host) & Tammy Wynette: We Go Together/Take Me To Your World
The 4 Guys: What About Me
Lonzo & Oscar: Divorce #2
Patsy Sled: Chip; Chip
George Jones: The Door
George Jones & Tammy Wynette: The Jet Set
The 4 Guys: Country Lullaby
George Jones: White Lightening

8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): I Don't Hurt Anymore
Dottie West: Lay Back Lover
Stu Phillips: Let Me Love You All Over Again
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Walking In My Sleep
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Hank Snow: Tammy/You're Easy To Love

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
George Morgan (host): Release Me
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Lonzo & Oscar: Traces Of Life
George Morgan: You Turn Me On
Marion Worth: Shake Me; I Rattle
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
Lonzo & Oscar: The Crawdad Song

10:00: Fender
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jim & Jesse: Paradise/I Wish You Knew
Roy Acuff: Cabin In Gloryland

10:15: Union 76
Roy Drusky (host): A Satisfied Mind
Mel Tillis: I'll Come Back To You/Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town
Roy Drusky: Red, Red Wine

10:30: Trailblazer
George Jones (host) & Tammy Wynette: We're Gonna Hold On
Tammy Wynette: You're Good Girls Gonna Go Bad
Bill Carlisle: Same Old Tale That The Crow Told Me
George Jones: The Window Up Above
George Jones & Tammy Wynette: Let's All Go Down To The River

10:45: Beechnut
Stoney Cooper (host) & Carolee Cooper: Little Darling Pal Of Mine
The 4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On
Crook Brothers: Mississippi Sawyer
Carolee Cooper: Rocky Top

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Hello Love
Dottie West: Lay Back Lover
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Hank Snow: Black Diamond
Dottie West: The Bitter They Are, The Harder They Fall
Sam McGee: Columbus Stockade Blues
Hank Snow: On The Shores Of Old Mexico

11:30: Elm Hill
Justin Tubb (host): Ramblin' Man
Jeanne Pruett: Hold To My Unchanging Love/Love Me/You Don't Need To Move A Mountain/Satin Sheets/Welcome To The Sunshine
Stu Phillips: There Must Be Another Way To Say Goodbye
Ronnie Robbins: El Paso
Justin Tubb: Loving Arms

(Jean Shepard was scheduled for both shows but cancelled. Wilma Lee Cooper was sick and did not appear, while Skeeter Willis also did not appear)

Roy Acuff had left the Opry, with his final show taking place on April 6, 1946, with what has been reported as a pay dispute. Roy went out to California and make some personal appearances. A year later, in April 1947, Roy returned to Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry. During the year that Roy was gone, it was assumed that he did not make any Opry appearances. However, he did come back and one of those appearances took place on December 7, 1946. Here is the posted schedule from that night: 

8:00: Purina
Ernest Tubb: You Only Want Me When You Are Lonely
Eddy Arnold: I Talk To Myself About You
Rod Brasfield: Jokes
Uncle Dave Macon and Dorris: Rock About My Sarah Jane
Ernest Tubb: This Troubled Mind Of Mine
Jamup and Honey: Jokes
Eddy Arnold: Be Sure There's No Mistake
Jimmy and Leon: As Long As I Live
Crook Brothers: John Henry

8:30: Warren Paint & Color Co. 
Paul Howard: Oklahoma City
Lew Childre: They Took The Stars Out Of Heaven
Bill Monroe: I Traced Her Little Footprints In The Snow
Milton Estes: Long Lost John From Bowling Green
Clyde and Marie: No Children Allowed
Lew and String Beans: Rabbit In The Log
Clyde Moody: I Know What It Means To Be Lonesome
Possum Hunters: Pull Off Your Over Coat
Robert Lum: Grandfather's Clock
Bill Monroe: Florida Blues

9:00: Roy Crown
Golden West Cowboys: Orange Blossom Special
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Tennessee Wagoner
Cowboy Copas: Filipino Baby
Texas Ruby: Freight Train Blues
Curly Fox: Old Joe Clark
York Brothers: Like Can Never Be The Same
Annie Lou and Dannie: When I Was A Baby From The Mountains
Jimmy Walker: Oh Why
Bradley Kincaid: Rocking Alone
Shorty Boyd: Flower Of Texas

9:30: Prince Albert
Red Foley: Blues In My Mind
Oak Ridge Quartet: I's In His Care
Duke of Paducah: Jokes
Jennie Lee: I Don't Love Nobody
Red Foley: Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
Old Timers: In A Little Red School House
Minnie Pearl: Jokes
Grandpa Jones: Old Joe Clark
Red Foley: Lay Down Your Soul
Square Dance: Arkansas Traveler

10:00: Wall Rite
Earl and Bill: Carless Love
Bill and Lester: True Life Blues
Blue Grass Quartet: Where Could I Go
Lester Flatt: If I Should Wander Back To Night
Chubby: I'm Going Back To Old Kentucky

10:15: Weather House
Paul Howard: You Can't Break My Heart
Uncle Dave Macon and Dorris: I've Only Been Down To The Club
Clyde Moody: You Caused It All By Telling Lies
Lazy Jim Day: Singing The Blues
Possum Hunters: Take Your Foot Out Of The Mud
Paul Howard: White Cross On Oklahoma

10:30: Cherokee Mills
Roy Acuff: Unannounced
Curly Fox and Ruby: The Old Home
Roy Acuff: Unannounced
Bradley Kincaid: Goose Berry Pie
Oklahoma Wranglers: Rocky Mountain Express
Roy Acuff: Unannounced

10:45: Southern Agriculture
Golden West Cowboys: Filipino Baby
Roy Acuff: Unannounced
Lew Childre: John Henry
York Brothers: Rocky Mountain Lullaby
Roy Acuff: Unannounced
Crook Brothers: Sitting On Top Of The World

11:00: Eddy Arnold Song Book
Eddy Arnold: Too Far Apart
Lily Belle: Too Late To Worry Too Blue To Cry
Lonzo and Oscar: When The Sun Goes Down
Eddy Arnold: I Walk Alone

11:15: Ernest Tubb Song Book
Ernest Tubb: Our Last Goodbye
Dot and Smokey: I'll Come Back To You
Short Horns: I Wonder
Ernest Tubb: How Can I Be Sure

11:30: Sal Kill
Wally Fowler: Plowing In The New Ground
Tommy Tompson: Two Blue Eyes
Gully Jumpers: Sleepy Lou
Andrews Brothers: The Letter You Left Me Tied With Blue
Wally Fowler: I Got Faith

11:45: Michigan Bulb
Milton Estes: One Little Tear Drop Too Late
Robert Lunn: Riding To Glory
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Ragtime Annie
Kirk McGee: While I'm Away
Milton Estes: Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Dixie

Certainly, a much different Opry than we see today!!

Looking at December 7 through the years: 

1931: Bobby Osborne was born in Leslie County, Kentucky. Along with his brother Sonny, the Osborne Brothers joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1964. After Sonny retired, Bobby continued on as a solo act, until his death in 2023. 

1940: After making several guest appearances, Minnie Pearl was listed for the first time in the Opry program.

1957: The Dixie Tabernacle, one of the Opry's former homes, burnt down in a fire that destroyed the building. While the name sounds impressive, the building had benches for those attending to sit on and sawdust on the floor. 

1976: In an interview in the Nashville Banner, Roy Acuff stated that the Ryman Auditorium should be torn down in an effort to keep tourists away from the Lower Broadway area of downtown Nashville. That area of town had turned into a troubled spot in the 1970s. Thankfully, others had different ideas and the building was saved. 

1984: Roy Acuff returned to the Opry for the first time since summer. Heart related issues kept Roy from performing. 

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.