The Tuesday Night Opry is back again this week, along with a newly scheduled Wednesday Night Opry. Why two midweek shows? Because one of the biggest names in country music, and in my opinion a future Grand Ole Opry member, Jelly Roll is scheduled to appear on both nights.
In addition to Jelly Roll on Tuesday night, Grand Ole Opry members Mandy Barnett, Ashley McBryde and Pam Tillis are also on the schedule, along with Riley Green, and making his Opry debut, Redferrin.
Joining Jelly Roll on Wednesday night is Opry member T. Graham Brown, along with Ernest, Drew Baldridge, Mike James, and making his Opry debut, and singing his duet song with Jelly Roll, Brandon Lake.
From the press release:
Dove and GRAMMY-award-winning artist Brandon Lake is officially set to make his Grand Ole Opry debut on February 19, 2025.
This debut marks another milestone in Lake’s remarkable career as a songwriter, worship leader, and performer. Lake kicked off 2025 as part of the musical collective Sons of Sunday. He also released “Hard Fought Hallelujah" and debuted a second rendition of the song with country artist Jelly Roll. The two will perform the song together live at the Opry.
Tuesday February 18
7:00: Pam Tillis, Redferrin, Jelly Roll
Intermission
8:20: Mandy Barnett, Riley Green, Ashley McBryde
(As of Monday morning, the Wednesday Night Opry lineup has not been finalized)
Redferrin, who is making his Opry debut on Tuesday night, is a singer/songwriter from Tennessee, and records for Warner Music. In February 2024, he released his debut EP, Old No. 7, which featured seven songs, all co-written and co-produced by Redferrin. The EP produced over 240 million on-demand streams. His follow-up EP is due to be released as part of his Opry debut.
In 2024, Redferrin sold out nearly 30 of his 44 headlining shows, played 22 festivals including the UK’s Country-2-Country, Barefoot Country Music Festival, CMA Music Fest, Tailgates and Tallboys, Cavendish Beach Music Fest, Boots in the Park, and Boots and Hearts Festival to name a few. He shared the stage with legends like Niko Moon, Billy Currington, and Russell Dickerson, and in August 2024, he took his talent overseas with a UK tour, hitting cities like Glasgow, Manchester, Bristol, and London.
Named a 2024 Amazon Breakthrough Artist to Watch and part of the RIAA Class of 2024, Redferrin has already surpassed 375 million global streams, cementing his status as one of country music’s fastest-rising stars. In addition to his own songs, Redferrin’s songwriting credits can be found among other hit-making artists such as Florida Georgia Line’s “Lil Bit” featuring Nelly, “New Truck,” and Dean Brody & The Reklaws’ massive hit “Can’t Help Myself.”
Continuing with a look at Grand Ole Opry members from the past, it was on February 18, 1939, that the Andrews Brothers became regulars on the Grand Ole Opry.
James and Floyd Andrews were brought to the Opry by George D. Hay and Harry Stone, on the advice of promoter J. L. Frank, to replace the popular Delmore Brothers, who had left the Opry. The brothers were in their mid-20s. and came to Nashville from Alabama. They were taught music by their mother, who played the organ and had a solid grounding in church music. "Both boys knew hundreds of old-time songs, and expect to write songs while doing radio work," stated a press release of the time. Their first and only recording session was for ARC in Memphis in July 1939, and the songs from that session seem to be Delmore-styled: "Filling Station Blues," "Far Away from My Old Virginia Home," "Mother's Gone from the Cabin," "West Virginia Railroad Blues," "Mother Watch O'er and Guide Me," and others. With them on the recording session was the fiddle player Slim Smith, who had also recently joined the show.
Here is the Grand Ole Opry schedule from Saturday February 18, 1939:
8:00: Golden West Cowboys
8:15: Uncle Dave Macon
8:30: Roy Acuff
8:45: Sam and Kirk McGee
9:00: Jack and Missouri Mountaineers
9:15: DeFord Bailey
9:30: Asher and Little Jimmie
9:45: Golden West Cowboys
10:00: Possum Hunters
10:15: Tennessee Song Birds
10:30: Roy Acuff and His Boys
10:45: Andrews Brothers
11:00: Golden West Cowboys
11:15: Sam and Kirk McGee
11:30: Fruit Jar Drinkers
11:45: Gully Jumpers
The Andrews Brothers did not stay long on the Opry as it appears by the end of 1940, they had moved on, which was common at the time. There seems to be very little information as to what happened to the brothers.
I hope everyone enjoys these two mid-week shows.
I know it is not nice to comment on the appearance of others but damn this jelly roll character with all the face tattoos is making the Opry look more like a Ringling brothers side show than the institution we have loved for generations. They say change is good and inevitable but I simply cannot embrace or celebrate this.
ReplyDeleteI for one don't really care what he looks like, what bothers me is that he's a rapper performing on the stage that made Country Music famous he needs to go to Atlanta or wherever they make rap music and make a career for himself there
DeleteWe could choose to celebrate the fact that Jelly overcame a tough upbringing and a life involving drugs and crime. He had a dream and pulled himself up by his bootstraps to achieve it. He now serves as a role model to those struggling with drugs and recently visited Riverbend Prison to put on a special concert for the inmates. He is also extremely charitable to underprivileged kids in the community. We all must look for the good in everyone.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the second Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteAnd let's not forget, he fills the 'Opry house.
Nat. I could not agree more. Jelly Roll is a local kid who went down a terrible path, turned his life around and has invested so much of his life to working to make sure others don't go down the same bad path. Not only that, but he LOVES the Opry. Watch any of his Opry appearances and his love for the Opry is palpable. Particularly his (I believe) second appearance when he breaks down talking with Craig Morgan about what Craig's music has meant to him. We could survey history and see a number of Opry stars who didn't "look the part." Starting perhaps with Uncle Dave Macon. Jelly is a talented kid, loves the Opry, is wildly popular and constantly gives back to the community. Can't imagine there are a lot of other boxes he needs to check. I hope and expect an Opry invite soon.
ReplyDeleteSuits me Woody. :)
DeleteI think to cast Jelly Roll aside for past transgressions while embracing other music artists who've had checkered pasts such as Johnny Cash, George Jones, Merle Haggard just to name a very few is very prejudiced because Jelly Roll doesn't play music you like. He seemingly has turned his life around and should be celebrated for his current life instead of chastised for his past life. His music is as country as much of the current Top 40 is.
ReplyDeleteFor me, what matters most is whether the potential member "gets it." I think Jelly Roll does. Then again, I thought others who got it were Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt ....
ReplyDeleteI know Jelly Roll is not everybody’s cup of tea, but Byron is right. He’s one of the biggest artist in all of music. My generation on down, for example literally love him! And whether you like his music or not, his life story is incredibly inspiring. Ez
ReplyDelete