Grand Ole Opry 1/10 & 1/11 (Update)

Update: Due to weather conditions in Nashville, the Friday Night Opry has been cancelled for tonight. 

Opry100 continues this weekend with two shows at the Ryman Auditorium as the Grand Ole Opry continues to pay tribute to one of its former homes. The shows this week look very, very good with a number of Grand Ole Opry members on the schedule. 

Taking a look at the Friday Night Opry, Grand Ole Opry members Kelsea Ballerini, Ashley McBryde, Steve Wariner, Riders In The Sky, John Conlee and Old Crow Medicine Show are all on the schedule. 

Old Crow Medicine Show is back on the schedule for Saturday night, joined one of the Opry's newest members, Lainey Wilson. Marty Stuart will be appearing, as will comedian Henry Cho, along with Mandy Barnett, and Mark Wills, who will be celebrating his 5th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Steve Earle, who is not an Opry member but has been a frequent guest on the show, is also on the schedule. 

Hayes Carll is the only non-member scheduled for the Friday Night Opry, while Drew Parker and Steve Earle, who is not an Opry member but recently has been a frequent guest on this show, is also on the schedule. Could there be a surprise on Saturday night? No, I do not have any insider knowledge, just putting that out there. 

Friday January 10
7:00: Riders In The Sky, John Conlee, Hayes Carll, Old Crow Medicine Show
Intermission
8:20: Ashley McBryde, Steve Wariner, Kelsea Ballerini

Saturday January 11
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mark Wills, Mandy Barnett, Steve Earle, Old Crow Medicine Show
Intermission
8:20: Drew Parker, Henry Cho, Marty Stuart, Lainey Wilson

Of note: Trace Adkins was originally listed but is now off the schedule. Also, the Nashville area is forecast to receive 2-5 inches of snow in the coming days. Hopefully that will not have a major effect on the lineup for this weekend. 

As the Grand Ole Opry celebrates its 100th anniversary, throughout the year I wanted to spotlight a few of the Grand Ole Opry members who have passed on. This week, the spotlight is on Mel McDaniel, who became a member of the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday January 11, 1986. 

 From the Nashville Tennessean, January 10, 1986:

Red hot Capital Records hit maker; Mel McDaniel becomes a cast member of the Grand Ole Opry tomorrow night. "Mel is one of today's most exciting artists" said Opry general Manager Hal Durham in announcing the news earlier this week. "He has an unlimited future as a performer and songwriter. We're very happy that Mel McDaniel has joined the Grand Ole Opry family." 

McDaniel's smash 1984 #1 hit "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On" was nominated as Single of the Year by the Country Music Association, and "Mellow Mel" snared a Horizon Award nomination because of the runaway success he's enjoyed lately. He rocked out on a remake of Chuck Berry's "Let It Roll" late last year. Another rousing up-tempo number, "Stand Up" started 1986 off right for McDaniel. 

The Oklahoma native has been known for releasing quality singles since he arrived on the Nashville country music scene in 1976, the year that "Have a Dream on Me" made the popularity charts. The first breakthrough came in 1981 when "Louisiana Saturday Night" and "Right in the Palm of Your Hand" became Mel McDaniel's first Top 10 hits. Besides being a fine song interpreter, McDaniel has a solid reputation as a writer. His self-composed 1978 hit "God Made Love" remains one of the most sensitive romantic ballads in the annals of modern Music Row songwriting. Perhaps most significant of McDaniel's songwriting efforts, in light of this weekend's honor, is "The Grandest Lady of Then All" a tribute song to country music's most lasting and loved institution. A hit for Conway Twitty in 1978, the number has since become something of a theme song at the Opry. 

Here is the posted lineup from Saturday January 11, 1986, the night Mel McDaniel became a member of the Grand Ole Opry: 

1st show
6:30: Bill Monroe (host): Charlie Louvin
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host): Jan Howard
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host): Lorrie Morgan, Jimmy C Newman, Mel McDaniel
7:30: Roy Acuff (host): Jim Ed Brown, Jack Greene, Connie Smith, Crook Brothers
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Jeanne Pruett, Tom T. Hall, Riders In The Sky
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Jean Shepard, The Whites, Boxcar Willie, Roy Drusky

2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson (host): Wilma Lee Cooper, Ray Pillow, Mel McDaniel, Jeannie Seely 
10:00: Bill Monroe (host): Stonewall Jackson, The Carlisles
10:15: Roy Acuff (host): Jimmy Dickens
10:30: Grandpa Jones (host): Tom T Hall
10:45: Porter Wagoner (host): Boxcar Willie, Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Jean Shepard, The Whites, Jim Ed Brown, Justin Tubb, Connie Smith
11:30: Jack Greene (host): Jeanne Pruett, Riders In The Sky, Johnny Russell 

Now the actual running order from the late show that night: 

9:30: Dollar General
Bill Anderson (host): Southern Fried
Ray Pillow: I Wonder Where You Are Tonight
Wilma Lee Cooper: Sweeter Than The Flowers
Mel McDaniel: Stand Up/Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On
Jeannie Seely: I'll Be Around When It's Over
Bill Anderson: Still

10:00: Little Debbie
Bill Monroe (host): Mary Jane, Won't You Be Mine
Stonewall Jackson: Muddy Water
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Bill Monroe: Kentucky Waltz

10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting In The Air
Jimmy Dickens: Take An Old Cold Tater/Out Behind The Barn
Howdy Forrester: Smokey Mountain Rag

10:30: Martha White
Grandpa Jones (host): No More Jesse James
Tom T. Hall: Ballad Of 40 Dollars/Me & Jesse
Grandpa & Ramona Jones: I Wonder Where My Darling Is Tonight

10:45: Heinz
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Boxcar Willie: Fireball Mail/Train Of Love/Walking Cane/Wreck Of The Old 97/I'm Moving On/Wabash Cannonball/Night Train To Memphis
Crook Brothers & The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Bill Cheatham
Porter Wagoner: Your Old Love Letters

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Hello Love
Jean Shepard: Slippin' Away
The Whites: Swing Down Chariot
Jim Ed Brown: Pop A Top
Justin Tubb: Sing Blue Eyed Elaine Again
Connie Smith: I've Got My Baby On My Mind
Hank Snow: Nevertheless

11:30: Quincy's
Jack Greene (host): (?)
Jeanne Pruett: Heart First
Riders In The Sky: Ride With The Wind
Johnny Russell: Green, Green Grass Of Home/No One Will Ever Know
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything

Mel McDaniel passed away on March 31, 2011, from lung cancer at the age of 68. His health had been in decline for several years prior to his death. He maintained his Opry membership until he passed. 

There you have it for this week as Orpy100 continues. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium this weekend.