Grand Ole Opry 2/7 & 2/8

I think I wrote it last week, but the quality of Grand Ole Opry shows in 2025 as the Opry celebrates Opry 100, has been very, very good. We are seeing a lot of Opry members returning, and in fact, the majority of the lineups have featured only Opry members. This weekend is no exception. 

Three Grand Ole Opry members will be appearing on both shows this weekend, led by Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill. Joining Vince on Friday and Saturday will be Old Crow Medicine Show and Mark Wills. 

John Conlee, Dailey & Vincent and T. Graham Brown are scheduled on Friday night, along with Carlos DeFord Bailey, and very frequent Opry guest Maggie Rose, who wrote the following on her social media pages: "Excited to debut “I Can’t Make You Love Me” with Vince Gill this Friday at the @opry!" Definitely looking forward to hearing this new song. 

Bill Anderson, Jeannie Seely and Don Schlitz are on Saturday's lineup, as is Steve Earle, who continues is string of Opry appearances. Rounding out the lineup is the very talented Wendy Moten. 

Friday February 7
7:00: Mark Wills, T. Graham Brown, Carlos DeFord Bailey, Old Crow Medicine Show
Intermission
8:20: John Conlee, Dailey & Vincent, Maggie Rose, Vince Gill. 

Saturday February 8
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mark Wills, Wendy Moten, Bill Anderson, Old Crow Medicine Show
Intermission
8:20: Jeannie Seely, Steve Earle, Opry Square Dancers, Don Schlitz, Vince Gill 

Very solid lineups both nights. 

Continuing the look back at past Grand Ole Opry members, it was on Saturday February 8, 1975, that Jimmy Dickens rejoined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. 

From the Nashville Tennessean (Feb. 9):

Little Jimmy Dickens was reunited with the Grand Ole Opry after 18 years Saturday night, appearing with Hank Snow and singing the Family Reunion. 

"I thought it was appropriate," Dickens said of his choice of the song. "It's hard to put in words and say how you feel about being back in the family. It's like coming back for the first time, it's been so long."

Dickens was introduced by Snow, his friend of many years, as "one of the greatest and finest performers every to appear on the Opry...Mr. Showman himself." He spoke of how Dickens had been missed in his absence. "You don't how much that means to me," Dickens responded. "My heart has always been right here with the Opry."

Dickens left the Opry in 1957, after nine years with the program, to travel with the Phillip Morris Road show. At that time, the Opry's sponsorship by the R. J. Reynolds Tabacco Co. prohibited any Opry member from traveling with a tour sponsored by a competitor. So Dickens and several other members left the radio show to travel with Morris for 18 months. "There were no hard feelings ever," Dickens said Saturday explaining that his road schedule and the demands of an Opry contract simply wouldn't fit together. 

During the long separation from the Opry, Dickens maintained a close association with his friends who were still a part of it and made many guest appearances. But it was not the same as being a regular. "I always missed it," Dickens said. "I always felt a part of the Opry in my heart, and I was delighted when they asked me to come back." The main reason he finally decided to return, Dickens said, was that his friends so often asked him to-friends like Roy Acuff, Ernest Tubb and Hank Snow. 

Snow, who whom Dickens shared a dressing room Saturday night, confirmed his interest in having his old friend come back. "We need more Jimmy Dickenses," he said. "It's like replacing the most important spoke in a wheel to have him back on the Opry. In my opinion, Jimmy is one of the greatest showmen of all time. He is a great artist, a good box office attraction, and he's a good person-and that's what it takes." 

The other circumstance making it possible for Dickens to return at this time involves recent changes in the demands of Opry contracts. Those changes, he said, allow him to continue his heavy road schedule and still make a lot of appearances on the Opry. His return does not mean, Dickens said emphatically, that he is slowing down. He has just returned from a series of shows in Alaska and the Pacific northwest and will leave tomorrow for a 17-day tour of Europe. Much of the summer is already accounted for, and he intends to make Opry appearances as often as possible. 

"Of course I miss my family, but I get restless when I'm not working," he smiled. 

Here is the running order from Saturday February 8, 1975, the night Jimmy Dickens returned as a member of the Grand Ole Opry: 

1st show
6:00: Vietti
David Houston (host): She's All Woman/Baby; Baby/Living In A House Full Of Love
Charlie Louvin: The High Cost Of Living
David Houston: Nashville
Charlie Louvin: When You Have To Fly Alone
Kenny Penny: Devil's Dream
David Houston: Almost Persuaded

6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Billy Walker (host): Smokey Places
Justin Tubb: Ramblin' Man
Jim & Jesse: Please Be My Love
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain

6:45: Rudy's
Jim Ed Brown (host): Don't Let Go
Billy Grammer: Wabash Cannonball/God Will Take Care Of You
Jim Ed Brown: Pop A Top

7:00: Rudy's
Bill Monroe (host): I Wonder Where You Are Tonight
Loretta Lynn: The Pill
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow
Jimmy C Newman: Big Mamou
Bill Monroe: Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Loretta Lynn; Coal Miner's Daughter
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Did You Think To Pray
Bill Monroe: Bluegrass Breakdown

7:30: Standard Candy
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Marion Worth: Sleeping At The Foot Of The Bed
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Barbara Lea: Ain't Love Grand
Crook Brothers & The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Black Mountain Rag
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass Of Home/Cold Hard Facts Of Life/Carroll County Accident

8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): I Wonder If You're Lonesome Too
Grandpa Jones: Ol' Rattler's Pup
Willis Brothers: Wild Side Of Love
Stu Phillips: Loving You; Still Loving You
Lester Flatt: Great Big Woman & A Little Bitty Bottle Of Wine
Grandpa & Ramona Jones: Fallen Leaves
Willis Brothers: Big Daddy
Lester Flatt: Foggy Mountain Breakdown

8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Jeanne Pruett: Just Like Your Daddy
Jimmy Dickens: Family Reunion
Bill Carlisle: Shanghai's Rooster
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
Jeanne Pruett: Hold To My Unchanging Love/Love Me/You Don't Need To Move A Mountain/Satin Sheets
Hank Snow: Indian Love Call

2nd show
Kellogg's
David Houston (host): Jambalaya
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Billy Walker: Cross The Brazos At Waco
Charlie Louvin: Mary Of The Wild Moor
David Houston: Good Things
Ernie Ashworth: The High Cost Of Living
David Houston: Almost Persuaded

10:00: Fender
Bill Monroe (host): Never Again Will I Knock On Your Door
Jimmy C Newman: Potato Song
Jim & Jesse: Paradise
Bill Monroe: Mule Skinner Blues

10:15: Union 76
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Loretta Lynn: The Pill
Billy Grammer: What A Friend
Porter Wagoner: Carolina Moonshiner
Mac McGaha: Orange Blossom Special

10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Little Maggie
Grandpa & Ramona Jones: Arkansas Traveler
Justin Tubb: Loving Arms
Lester Flatt: Let The Church Roll On

10:45: Beechnut
Jim Ed Brown (host): The Three Bells
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Thank God I Am Free
Crook Brothers & The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Ida Red
Jim Ed Brown: Southern Loving

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): You're Easy To Love
Jeanne Pruett: Just Like Your Daddy
Osborne Brothers: Ruby
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Jeanne Pruett: Welcome To The Sunshine
Sam McGee: Victor Rag
Hank Snow: My Mother

11:30: Elm Hill
Stu Phillips (host): Loving You; Still Loving You
Jimmy Dickens: I'm Little But I'm Loud/I Love Lucy Brown
Marion Worth: Delta Dawn
Bill Carlisle: Have A Drink On Me
Ronnie Robbins: Mama Tried; If You Love Me, Let Me Know
Stu Phillips: No One Knows

As everyone knows, once Jimmy Dickens returned, he never left, remaining an active member of the Opry until his death on January 2, 2015. And yes, we all miss Mr. Dickens. 

That wraps it up for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.