April Opry Highlights

Opry100 continues into the month of April and here are the important and historical events that have taken place during the 4th month of the year: 

April 19, 1924: The WLS "National Barn Dance" was aired for the first time in Chicago. The National Barn Dance was the first of what would be many weekly barn dance programs sponsored by various radio stations around the country. Among the performers who were part of the "National Barn Dance" were Lulu Belle & Scotty, Bradley Kincaid, Gene Autry and a host of others. The "National Barn Dance" lasted until 1960 when the station changed formats. As many know, especially my friends in the Chicago area, WLS stood for "World's Largest Store," which was Sears, who were the owners of the station.

April 17, 1926: Uncle Dave Macon became a regular member of the WSM Barn Dance, soon to be known as the Grand Ole Opry. At the age of 55, he was the first performer to join the show that had a national reputation and his hiring, in a way, would start the show on the path of becoming a group of professional entertainers instead of those, who as George D. Hay used to say, "came down from the hills for the weekend." Uncle Dave would remain a popular Opry member until his death on March 1, 1952, at the age of 81.

April 14, 1932: Grand Ole Opry member Loretta Lynn was born in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky. Loretta joined the cast of the Opry in September. In September of 2022 Loretta celebrated her 60th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, becoming only the second female Opry member to reach that feat, following in the steps of Jean Shepard. After a period of failing health, Loretta passed away in October 2022. 

April 30, 1932: The Dixieliners, which consisted of Kirk and Sam McGee, along with Arthur Smith, made their first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. All three had been performing on the Opry for several years, but this was the first time that they teamed up as an organized group. Their popularity and reputation grew and within a short amount of time they had two ten-minute segments on the show. It began to end for the Dixieliners in 1938 as Arthur had a drinking problem and was suspended from the Opry. On January 14, 1939, the Dixieliners made their final Opry appearance, after which Arthur left the Opry, while Sam and Kirk would continue on for many years.

April 11, 1933: Grand Ole Opry member Roy Clark was born in Meherrin, Virginia. Roy, who joined the Grand Ole Opry in August 1987 was one of the more popular Opry members. In addition to being a member of the Grand Ole Opry, Roy was also a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and gained fame as the co-host of Hee Haw.

April 29, 1933: The Delmore Brothers, Rabon and Alton, made their first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. The brothers remained members of the Opry until 1938 when they left to pursue what they felt were better opportunities. Alton would later write an excellent book, "Truth is Stranger" in which he detailed their time at the Opry and the issues that they had with George D. Hay and Harry Stone. After leaving the Opry, the Delmore Brothers moved around the country and had shows at various radio stations until they played out the territory and moved on. They eventually ended up at WLW in Cincinnati, where they got together with Grandpa Jones and Merle Travis and recorded under the name "Browns Ferry Four." Each of these individuals would eventually be elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. September 11, 1938, was the final Opry show for the Delmore Brothers and they sang, "What Would You Give in Exchange for Your Soul."

April 1, 1934: Country Music Hall of Fame member, and former Opry member, Jim Ed Brown was born in Sparkman, Arkansas. Jim Ed was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for over 50 years, which included time with his sisters Bonnie and Maxine. Jim, Bonnie and Maxine are also members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

April 21, 1934: The blackface comedy duo Lasses & White made its Grand Ole Opry debut. The duo would remain a part of the Opry for several years. 

April 7, 1935: Grand Ole Opry member, and Country Music Hall of Fame member Bobby Bare was born. 

April 15, 1937: Bob Luman was born. Bob gained fame as a member of the Louisiana Hayride, and then came to Nashville, joining the Grand Ole Opry in 1965. When Bob joined the Opry, many felt that he had too much "rock-n-roll" in him, but he was a very popular member of the Opry and fans enjoyed his performances. Bob remained at the Opry until he passed away in December 1978.

April 29, 1939: The father-and-son duo Asher Sizemore & Little Jimmy performed on the Grand Ole Opry for the last time. Little Jimmy Sizemore was the youngest member in the history of the Grand Ole Opry, a fact that many have forgotten. 

April 26, 1941: Ernest Tubb recorded "Walking the Floor Over You" in Dallas, Texas. This recording was also the first to use an electric guitar. The success of this record, which would become Ernest's theme song, led him to Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry several years later.

April 14, 1945: Upon the death of President Franklin Roosevelt, a performance of taps was played from the stage of the Opry. This marked the first time that a trumpet was played during an Opry broadcast. Buddy Harroll, part of Pee Wee King's Golden West Cowboys was the performer, and while it was the right thing to do, George D. Hay was not thrilled. Also of note, while there was an Opry performance that night, it was not broadcast on WSM as the station was running NBC network programming commemorating the life and death of the President.

April 6, 1946: Roy Acuff quit the Opry in a salary dispute. At the time, he was the host of "The Prince Albert Show" segment of the Opry that was broadcast on the NBC radio network. He was making $15 per night at the Opry and asked for a raise to $100 per night. When WSM refused his demands, he left the show and went out to California for an extended tour. Over the years, Roy never talked much about the whole episode, but he knew that as the Opry's biggest star, he could make more money out on the road and have extra time to make movies. A year later, Roy would return to the Opry and when he did, he was paid more than union scale.

April 13, 1946: A week after Roy Acuff left, Red Foley became a member of the Grand Ole Opry and debuted as the new host of "The Prince Albert Show." There is a story behind this. After Roy quit, William Esty and Company, which was the advertising agency that represented R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, the makers of Prince Albert chewing tobacco, undertook a study to determine how best to replace Roy Acuff as the host of the program. Most listeners wanted the Opry to continue without any changes, but it was clear after all the questioning was done that a large portion of the Opry fans wanted more music and less talk, suggesting that a singer needed to be hired as the replacement. Esty checked all the available data, which included record sales, jukebox plays and radio favorites, and it all pointed to Red Foley. Red would later say, "I guess I was never more scared than that night I replaced Roy Acuff. The people thought I was a Chicago slicker who came to pass himself off as a country boy and bump Roy out of his job." While it is true that Red came to the Opry from WLS in Chicago, he was actually born in Kentucky and had a string of country hits. It is interesting to note that while Red became a member of the Opry, he only appeared on, and hosted, the Prince Albert segment of the show.

April 13, 1946: The same night that Red Foley came to the Opry, so did Chet Atkins, who was introduced that night by Red. Chet stayed at the Opry with Red for just six months, when he left in his own dispute with Esty. Chet would return later with the Maybelle Carter and the Carter Sisters, and he would continue to make guest appearances until his death. There was always discussion on whether Chet was an actual member of the Opry or not, but in checking the records, his name is listed. 

April 2, 1947: Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame member Emmylou Harris was born. Emmylou joined the cast of the Opry in January 1992, the last member of the cast to have been inducted by Roy Acuff. Sadly, Emmylou does not appear on the Opry as often as many of us would like. As someone who has listened to Emmylou for years, I find it hard to believe that this Hall of Fame member will be 77 this year. 

April 19, 1947: Roy Acuff returned to the Grand Ole Opry. Roy left the Opry a year earlier in what some said was due to a salary dispute. On the night he returned, Roy was a guest on the Prince Albert portion of the show. The following Saturday, he would take over as the host of the Royal Crown Cola portion of the Opry. 

April 26, 1947: Just over a year after leaving the Opry, Roy Acuff returned as host of the "Royal Crown Cola Show." There is a story that Ernest Tubb and Harry Stone went to see Roy, who was in a Nashville hospital, telling him that the Opry might go under if he didn't return. While there is no evidence that the Opry was about to go under, the words worked and Roy came back, this time to stay for good.

April 3, 1948: The Louisiana Hayride started on KWKH in Shreveport, Louisiana. Over the next decade, the Hayride would become known as a farm club of the Opry, with many of the Hayride's biggest stars leaving Shreveport for Nashville. Among those were David Houston, Billy Walker, Webb Pierce, Jim Reeves, Faron Young, Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. The Hayride was also where Elvis Presley got his start. While the Hayride was very successful with Horace Logan at the helm, the lack of a recording industry in Shreveport meant that the stars had to go elsewhere, including Nashville to record. Once there, the Opry grabbed many of them.

April 29, 1950: Future Grand Ole Opry member Carl Smith made his Opry debut. Carl would eventually join the Opry's cast and would remain an Opry member until leaving the show in 1956. Carl was also the first husband of June Carter. 

April 26, 1952: Martha Carson, the great gospel singer, joined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. She came to the Opry on the strength of her hit "Satisfied." Martha remained a member of the Opry until 1957, at which time she took a leave of absence when her first child was born and to spend some time working in New York City. However, when it came time for her to return, the Opry would not hire her back. According to Martha, "I got a leave of absence from the Opry. I didn't quit and I wasn't fired. When I came back to Nashville, Opry manager Ott Devine said they had no openings. I never did go back. I never even got to be a guest." Obviously, a poor decision by Ott and the Opry's management. While Martha would claim that she never got to be a guest again on the Opry, that apparently was not true as I have several line-ups with Martha listed as performing. She was also known for appearing on the Midnite Jamboree in her later years. 

April 9, 1953: Grand Ole Opry member Hal Ketchum was born. Sadly, Hal experienced some serious health issues over the past decade and passed away in 2020. 

April 18, 1953: Red Foley made his final Grand Ole Opry appearance as the host of "The Prince Albert Show." Red made the decision to leave Nashville and go to the Ozark Jubilee, which was televised. Red had numerous personal issues when he was with the Opry and when he decided to leave, the Opry had no objections. While many wondered about Red when he first came to the Opry, he become one of the Opry's biggest stars and one of the more popular members. After he left, "The Prince Albert Show" no longer had a permanent host.

April 12, 1957: Grand Ole Opry member Vince Gill was born. Vince has been a loyal and vocal member of the Opry since 1991. Over the past decade, Vince has become a strong supporter of the Opry and appears as often as his schedule allows. 

April 4, 1959: Bill Anderson made his debut as a guest on the Grand Ole Opry. Several years later, in July 1961, Bill would become an Opry member. Currently, Bill is the senior member of the Opry's cast in term of years and has been an Opry member for over 62 years, the longest of any Opry member in the history of the show.  

April 30, 1960: The WLS "National Barn Dance" aired for the final time. At one time, the barn dance was considered a major competitor of the Opry, and while it lasted much longer than others, like those others, it could not sustain itself as musical tastes changed.

April 18, 1964: Future Opry member Del Reeves made his Opry debut. 

April 30, 1966: Ray Pillow became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. On the night he joined, it was Ernest Tubb that introduced Ray. Besides being a fine singer, Ray also was known on Music Row as an executive. Ray was an Opry member for over 57 years. After retiring several years ago, Ray passed away in 2023. 

April 22, 1967: The Four Guys became members of the Grand Ole Opry. They came to the Opry from the Wheeling, West Virginia area and spent 33 years as members of the Opry until they were fired in April 2000. The reason given for their termination was the fact that all four of the original members had left the group. For a number of years, they operated a very successful dinner theater in Nashville and were a popular cruise trip attraction. For those interested, Sam Wellington is the last of the original Four Guys still alive and he has released several books, including his latest, Grand Ole Nashville. 

April 6, 1968: Following the assassination of Dr. Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., the city of Nashville imposed a curfew that forced the Opry to cancel the live show for that night. WSM played a previously taped Opry appearance. After being notified that the show was going to be cancelled, Roy Acuff, Sam and Kirk McGee, along with a few others, put on a makeshift show at a nearby square dance hall that afternoon for Opry fans who came to town to attend the Opry. WSM and the Opry claims this was the only time that the Opry was ever cancelled, however when looking at the Opry's history, it was not the first.

April 6, 1968: On that same evening as the Opry was cancelled, Bud Wendall became the new general manager of the Grand Ole Opry. He replaced Ott Devine, who had been in charge of the Opry since 1959. The Bud Wendall era at the Opry would result in a lot of changes to the show. 

April 21, 1971: After taking a break to raise her children, Connie Smith returned as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Connie joined the Opry in 1965 and left the show in 1968 while she was having some issues in her personal life and felt she needed to give her attention to areas other than her music. 

April 12, 1972: The first "Fan Fair" was held in Nashville. It was so successful that it would become an annual event, eventually moving to June and the summer tourist season. Fan Fair was a chance for the fans to meet their favorite country music stars and the Opry was a big part of the event. It still takes place, although it is now called "CMA Music Fest."

April 27, 1972: Opryland opened for the first time. The park was an immediate hit and within several years, the Opry House would be completed, and the Opry would make the move. Opryland shut down at the end of 1997 and replaced by Opry Mills shopping center. Yes, while it may seem hard to believe, Opryland has been closed for over 20 years.

April 28, 1973: Conway Twitty performed on the Opry for the first time. While never becoming an Opry member, Conway had one of the great voices in the history of country music. With Conway being based in Nashville and having a number of business interests in the area, including "Twitty City" it is surprising that Conway did not appear on the Opry more often. 

April 13, 1974: Grand Ole Opry member Tom T. Hall appeared on the Grand Ole Opry for the final time as he resigned as an Opry member. Tom T. was not happy with the move from the Ryman Auditorium to the new Grand Ole Opry House. He would appear several times at the new building, then left. Tom T rejoined the Opry in 1980. In later interviews, Tom T. said that it was basically a mistake on his part leaving the Opry and he was happy that he had returned. 

April 5, 1975: After having been suspended from the Opry in December 1973, Skeeter Davis was welcomed back to the show. Several Opry members had gone to Bud Wendall, asking that she be allowed to return to the show. When Skeeter returned, she did apologize for those safety forces that she might have offended. I have the tape of the show from the night she was suspended and listening to it in 2024 it doesn't sound so bad, but then again, it was a different time in 1973. 

April 23, 1976: Don Williams was introduced as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Jeanne Pruett did the honors. As everyone knows, Don and the Opry experience didn't really work, and he left the show several years later. Even though he left the Opry as a member, he did return for a couple of guest appearances.

April 2, 1977: Vito Pellettieri worked his final show as the stage manager of the Grand Ole Opry. Several days later, he suffered a stroke and on April 14 he passed away at the age of 87. While very few people have heard of Vito, he was probably one of the most influential people in the history of the Opry, so much so that he was never really replaced when he passed away. Years after his death, one veteran Opry member said, "I miss Vito. You know, we don't have a marshal anymore. What we have out there is a piece of paper in a box, with a list of acts and when they're supposed to go on. But we don't have anybody encouraging us, goading us, giving us advice on how to do better. Nobody to jack us up." One of Vito's closest friends was Hank Snow and Hank wrote extensively about Vito in his autobiography, including the jokes they used to play on each other. Now for those who do not know, Vito was WSM's librarian and started as the Opry's stage manager in 1934. He was the one who set up the Opry on a schedule, with assigned times and slots for each performer. He broke the show into segments with sponsors. Before that, it had been a free-for-all, with the artists coming and going as they pleased. In 1959, Vito faced mandatory retirement at WSM. However, every one of the Opry's members signed a petition demanding that Vito be allowed to continue working at the Opry and that November at the annual disc jockey convention, Opry members staged a show in Vito's honor. By the way, Vito never drove or owned a car and took the bus to WSM and the Opry each day.

April 14, 1979: Longtime Grand Ole Opry sponsor W. E. Stephens sponsored their final segment on the Grand Ole Opry. Stephens was one of the Opry's longest running sponsors. For those who have never heard the Stephens jingle, check it out online. One of those fun little numbers. 

April 13, 1981: Guy Willis of the Willis Brothers died at the age of 65. The Willis Brothers consisted of Guy, Skeeter and Vic. They originally joined the Opry in 1946 but left in 1948 to go on the road with Eddy Arnold. They rejoined the Opry in 1960. Skeeter passed away in 1976, after which Guy and Vic continued on, until Guy retired from performing in 1979 due to illness.

April 25, 1981: Ricky Skaggs made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Ricky loved the Opry and made it well known that he wanted to become an Opry member. It didn't take long as Ricky would join the cast the following year. 

April 3, 1982: DeFord Bailey made his final appearance at the Grand Ole Opry. An early member of the show, DeFord had returned in the 1970s and made several appearances on the Opry's annual reunion shows. The firing of DeFord by George D. Hay is certainly one of the black marks in the history of the Opry. 

April 13, 1985: The Grand Ole Opry was broadcast for the first time on TNN. The original shows were a half hour in length, later expanding to an hour. In 2001 the broadcast moved to CMT and then later to GAC in 2003. The first televised show was a one-hour edition and featured Roy Acuff, as the host for the first half hour, with Connie Smith, Minnie Pearl and the Four Guys as guests. The 2nd half hour was hosted by Porter Wagoner and featured Dottie West, Jack Greene, the Crook Brothers and the Melvin Sloan Dancers. Those original TNN shows were not scripted for television and were nothing more than the radio show with a camera. As a result, the timing was sometimes a little bit off and the hosts forgot they were on television and would mention the names of the radio sponsors.

April 18, 1985: It was reported in the Nashville Banner that under a new two-year contract between the Grand Ole Opry and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (the union that represents Opry members and musicians), that at least 12 Grand Ole Opry members, all of them longtime show regulars, would be placed on "Senior Status," which essentially would remove them from the show. Among those listed as being phased out were Justin Tubb, Ernie Ashworth, Jean Shepard, Vic Willis, Charlie Louvin, Lonzo and Oscar, Teddy Wilburn, Del Wood, Stu Phillips and Billy Walker. As you would expect, several of those named were less than pleased and voiced their concern. At the time, a solo Opry performer was paid $156 per radio show and an additional $150 if they appeared on the TNN portion of the Opry. The performers who were to be cut would be limited to 14 shows per year. Looking back, many of those listed were not cut, nor put on "Senior Status," while others were. 

April 29. 1986: The Country Music Hall of Fame opened a new exhibit, "The Grand Ole Opry: The First 60 Years." Items on display include Minnie Pearl's first hat, Loretta Lynn's Road atlas, and a pair of Reba McEntire's boots.

April 22, 1989: Clint Black made his first appearance as a guest at the Grand Ole Opry. In 1991, Clint would become an Opry member and continues as an Opry member to this day. 

April 20, 1991: Emmylou Harris began a three-night run at the Ryman Auditorium, during which her recording of "At The Ryman" took place. It marked one of the first uses of the Ryman for a concert performance since the Opry had left in 1974. Due to the condition of the building, only a small portion of the seating was able to be used. Those shows with Emmylou helped to spark the idea of renovating and reopening the Ryman.

April 2, 1994: During the TNN telecast of the Opry, an all-star bluegrass jam took place that featured Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Roy Husky, Jr., Marty Stuart, Alison Krauss and Earl Scruggs. Vince said, "That's what this place is all about. Night that are like that."

April 30, 1994: Mandy Barnett made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry. It would take many decades and hundreds of guest appearances, but Mandy would eventually become a member of the Opry cast. 

April 12, 1997: Lewis Crook passed away in Nashville at the age of 87. The Crook Brothers joined the Opry on July 24, 1926, so it is safe to say that they were original members of the WSM Barn Dance. The Crook Brothers remained at the Opry until 1988, a total of 62 years. Lewis was not with the Crook Brothers when they originally began at the Opry, joining the group later in 1928. After Herman passed away and the Crook Brothers name was retired, Lewis would continue to play and make appearances with the Opry's Square Dance Band. When you add it all up and do the math, Lewis was at the Opry on and off for almost 69 years, longer than any other performer.

April 6, 1998: Former Grand Ole Opry member Tammy Wynette passed away in Nashville at the age of 55. She had been battling health issues for a number of years. Tammy joined the Opry in 1969 and remained for just a few years. Her time at the Opry coincided with her marriage to George Jones. 

April 4, 1998: Grand Ole Opry member Jerry Clower made his final appearances on the Opry. Jerry, who joined the cast in October 1973, appeared on both Saturday shows that weekend, along with the Friday Night Opry the night before. Jerry passed away in August 1998 due to complications from heart surgery. After Jerry became an Opry member, it took over 49 years until the Opry added another comedian. 

April 18, 1998: Diamond Rio became members of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be their 27th year as Opry members, and while overall they have been good Opry members, they also have been missing from the Opry for quite a while. I don't know what happened, but they need to get back. 

April 12, 1999: Lecil Martin, known better as Boxcar Willie, passed away in Branson, Missouri after an extended illness. He was 67. Boxcar joined the Opry in 1981 at the personal invitation of Roy Acuff, who was a real fan of Boxcar, so much so that when Boxcar was on the Opry, and Roy was there, he would come out and do his famous train whistle during the Wabash Cannonball.

April 5, 2000: The Grand Ole Opry fired The Four Guys. The group had been members of the Opry for 33 years. The reason given was that none of the original members were no longer part of the group. 

April 21, 2000: Craig Morgan made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Craig would make a number of guest appearances over the following years, eventually joining the cast at the invitation of John Conlee in October 2008. 

April 28, 2000: Future Grand Ole Opry members Rascal Flatts made their Opry debut. While the group said they were breaking up last year, and apparently have, the three individual members of the group are all still considered members of the Opry. 

April 13, 2002: Former Grand Ole Opry member Willie Nelson made a guest appearance on the Opry. After Willie left, he didn't come back often, but this was one of those nights. 

April 18, 2003: Future Grand Ole Opry member Dierks Bentley made his Grand Ole Opry debut. Dierks would join the Opry's cast in October 2005. 

April 17, 2004: The Judds made their first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. While never becoming Opry members, they would show up a time or two on the show.

April 30, 2004: The Grand Ole Opry took to the road and sponsored the "Grand Ole Opry American Road Show." The appearance took place in York, Pennsylvania and included Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, the Del McCoury Band and Rebecca Lynn Howard.

April 1, 2006: Eric Church made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry. Over the course of his career, Eric has made several appearances on the show. 

April 2, 2011: Comedian Henry Cho made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Henry could continue to appear on the Opry and in January 2023, he would be invited to become an Opry member. When he was inducted, he was the first comedian to join the Opry cast since Jerry Clower in 1973. 

April 10, 2012: Keith Urban was invited by Vince Gill to join the Grand Ole Opry during a benefit for the Country Music Hall of Fame at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena. 

April 21, 2012: Keith Urban became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be his 12th year as an Opry member. Sorry to say that Keith hasn't been around much since joining the cast. In fact, he has been around very little. 

April 26, 2013: The Grand Ole Opry dedicated the shows that weekend to Opry member George Jones, who had passed away several days earlier. Those performing included Brad Paisley, Montgomery Gentry and John Conlee.

April 11, 2015: Long time Grand Ole Opry member Jim Ed Brown made his final Opry appearance. The newly elected member of the Country Music Hall of Fame had been an Opry member for just over 50 years.

April 15, 2016: Jimmy Wayne performed "Do You Believe Me Now" and "I Love You This Much" as he makes his 200th appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Jimmy would be one of those very frequent guest artists who performed on the Opry but was never asked to become a member. 

April 30, 2016: Ray Pillow was recognized upon is 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Opry general manager Pete Fisher presented Ray with a gold pocket watch.

April 7, 2018: Former Grand Ole Opry member Bobby Bare was reinstated as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Bobby, who originally joined the Opry in 1964, left the Opry in 1974, just after when the show moved from the Ryman Auditorium to the new Grand Ole Opry House. It has been a few years since Bobby has appeared on the Opry and hopefully, he is doing well. 

April 16, 2019: Kelsea Ballerini became the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Kelsea was invited to join the cast by Little Big Town during the Tuesday Night Opry on March 5. Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban also joined Kelsea on the Opry that night. 

April 28, 2023: Jon Pardi was invited to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. When inducted, which did not take place until October, he would become the first Opry member from California. 

April 20, 2024: Scotty McCreery became an official member of the Grand Ole Opry. Opry member Josh Turner did the honors. 

There you have it for this month and as usual, it was a busy one around the Opry.

Grand Ole Opry 3/28 & 3/29

Opry100 continues this weekend at the Grand Ole Opry and once again Vince Gill is scheduled for both nights. It is really nice to see Vince getting in as many Opry dates as possible, now that his work with The Eagles is finished and before his solo tour gets underway. 

Joining Vince on the Friday Night Opry are members John Conlee, Connie Smith, Mark Wills and the legendary Gene Watson. Opry NextStage artist Kaitlin Butts is on the schedule, as is Vincent Mason. 

Saturday night, in addition to Vince, Mark Wills is back to make it a two-night weekend for him, joined by the longest tenured member of the Opry, Bill Anderson and Don Schlitz. Steve Earle, who seems to be in the discussion when talking about possible future Opry members, is on the lineup card, along with Sam Williams, and making her Opry debut, singer/songwriter Laci Kaye Booth. 

Friday March 28
7:00: Mark Wills, Connie Smith, Vincent Mason, Gene Watson
Intermission
8:20: John Conlee, Kaitlin Butts, Vince Gill

Saturday March 29
7:00: Opry Square Dancer, Mark Wills, Bill Anderson, Laci Kaye Booth, Don Schlitz
Intermission
8:20: Sam Williams, Opry Square Dancers, Steve Earle, Vince Gill 

(Lineups subject to change)

Laci Kaye Booth, who is making her Opry debut on Saturday night, learned of the milestone news on Saturday, Feb. 22 during the final night of the first leg of Parker McCollum’s “What Kinda Man” arena tour. In the midst of McCollum’s set, he asked Booth to join him on stage and gave her the floor to showcase the clever tune “The Loneliest Girl In The World” off her latest album of the same name. What she didn’t expect was for her fellow Texan native to bestow this major surprise in front of the crowd at Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids, IA .“I’m so incredibly grateful and honored,” Laci Kaye Booth shared later. “I’ve waited six years in Nashville, and my whole life before that, for this very moment. I can’t believe it’s here. What a beautiful experience, made even more special by one of my favorite artists and Texans, Parker McCollum.”

As the Grand Ole Opry celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025, I continue my look back at former Grand Ole Opry members and this week the spotlight is on Texas Ruby, who passed away on March 29, 1963. 

Ruby Agnes Owens was born in Decatur, Texas on June 4, 1909. Before meeting her future husband Curly Fox, Texas Ruby, who was the younger sister of Tex Owens, worked on the Grand Ole Opry with Zeke Clements. Ruby met Curly Fox in Fort Worth, Texas a by 1936 the duo had joined the Opry where they remained until 1938, when they moved on to the Boone County Jamboree in Cincinnati. By 1944, they were back on the Opry, where they remained until 1948. 

After living the Opry a second time, they were a popular touring act with a wide following. They worked in television in New York and Houston before returning to Nashville and the Opry for a third time in 1962. 

Texas Ruby died in a trailer fire while Curly was playing the Friday Night Frolics at WSM. 

Here is the article from the Tennessean: 

Investigators today said a lighted cigarette apparently touched off the Friday night fire that claimed the life of Mrs. Ruby Fox, noted country music singer. Deputy State Fire Marshall John Knowles said it is his opinion that the former Grand Ole Opry star fell asleep on a couch in her rented trailer house while she was smoking. 

Mrs. Fox was the wife of world champion fiddle player Curly Fox, who was appearing on Friday Night Frolics on WSM Radio at the time the blaze broke out in the trailer, parked in the White's Creek area on Old Hickory Boulevard. Knowles said he had been told Mrs. Fox "Had fallen asleep before while smoking." The fire marshal said an examination of the gutted trailer disclosed that the 9:30 p.m. blaze "was not caused by electrical wiring or gas." Mrs. Fox died of carbon monoxide poisoning according to the county medical examiner.

Mrs. Fox and her husband worked as a team and were among the "old pros' as far as Opry entertainers go. She performed in the 1930s and 1940s with the Opry and attempted a comeback last summer. However, the couple had not worked regularly with the Opry in several years. They left Nashville. 

As usual with Grand Ole Opry dates, there are a few discrepancies. One source state that Curly Fox and Texas Ruby first performed on the Opry on January 1, 1938. Other states that they became Opry regulars on September 24, 1932. There is agreement that that they left the Opry several times and joined again in 1962. Curly Fox, who continued for a time on the Opry, passed away in November 1995. 

One of the last appearances Texas Ruby made on the Grand Ole Opry was during the Opry's 37th birthday show that took place on Saturday November 10, 1962. Here is the running order from that night:

6:30: 
Willis Brothers (host): Big Daddy
Sonny James: Young Love
Carl Butler: Honky Tonkitas
Cousin Jody: Television Set
Merle Kilgore: Something Going On
Skeeter Willis: Sally Goodin
Melba Montgomery: Happy You; Lonely Me
Billy Deaton: (?)
Willis Brothers: Everlovin' Dixieland

7:00: Delited
Ray Price (host): Pride
Bill Carlisle: It Takes All Kinds
Billy Walker: Charlie's Shoes
Curly Fox: The Old Gray Mule
Ferlin Husky: It Was You
Stringbean: Barnyard Banjo Picking
Texas Ruby: California Blues
Ray Price: Walking Slow

7:30: Pet Milk
Jim Reeves (host): I'm Gonna Change Everything
Glaser Brothers: I'm Losing Again
Hawkshaw Hawkins: Silver Threads & Golden Needles
Jimmy Dean: (?)
Jim Reeves: Pride Goes For A Fall
Jean Shepard: One Less Heartache
George Hamilton IV: If You Don't Know
Blue Boys: Wheels
Jim Reeves: Stand At Your Window

8:00: Martha White
Flatt & Scruggs (host): The Ballad Of Jed Clampett
Cowboy Copas: Alabam
Jimmy Newman: Bayou Talk
Del Wood: China Town
Flatt & Scruggs: Coal Loading Johnny
Skeeter Davis: The End Of The World
Justin Tubb: (?)
Crook Brothers: Lafayette
Flatt & Scruggs: Shucking The Corn

8:30: Bass Homes
Porter Wagoner (host) (?)
Hank Locklin: Send Me The Pillow You Dream On
Roy Drusky: Second Hand Rose
Archie Campbell: Comedy
Jordanaires: (?)
Patsy Cline: She's Got You
Leroy Van Dyke: Auctioneer
Porter Wagoner: (?)

9:00: Jefferson Island Salt
Ernest Tubb (host): I'm Looking High & Low For My Baby
Wilburn Brothers: Troubles Back In Town
Bill Monroe: Uncle Pen
Carter Family: The Sun's Gonna Shine In My Back Door Someday
Ernest Tubb: Rainbow At Midnight
Cousin Jody: Don't Make Love In A Buggy Cause Horses Carry Tales
Margie Bowes: I Really Don't Want To Know
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Katy Hill
Ernest Tubb: (?)

9:30: Stephens
Faron Young (host): Back Track
George Morgan: (?)
Carl Butler: Don't Let Me Cross Over
Louvin Brothers: Must You Throw Dirt In My Face
Bill Anderson: Mama Sang A Song
Loretta Lynn: Success
George Jones: (?)
Faron Young; Going Steady

10:00: Gates Rubber
Jim Reeves (host): Billy Bayou
Willis Brothers: Good Night Cincinnati; Good Morning Tennessee
Skeeter Davis: Something Precious
Jim Reeves: Adios Amigo
Blue Boys: Red River Rock

10:15: Corn Products
Ray Price (host): Crazy Arms
Stringbean: Pretty Polly
Bill Carlisle: Hand Me Down My Walking Shoes
Del Wood: Sheik Of Araby
Ray Price: You Done Me Wrong

10:30: Harvey's
Marty Robbins (host): (?)
Flatt & Scruggs: The Ballad Of Jed Clampett
Billy Walker: Willie The Weeper
Marty Robbins: (?)

10:45: De Con
Ferlin Husky (host): Wings Of A Dove
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me I'm Falling
Glaser Brothers: Let Me Down Easy
Crook Brothers: Soldier's Joy
Simon Crum: (?)

11:00: Coca Cola
Hawkshaw Hawkins (host): Darkness On The Face Of The Earth
Porter Wagoner: (?)
Louvin Brothers: (?)
Patsy Cline: Heartaches
Jordanaires: (?)
Jean Shepard: 2 Shadows; 2 Voices; 2 Faces
George Hamilton IV: China Doll
Sam & Kirk McGee: Columbus Stockade Blues
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cacklin Hen
Hawkshaw Hawkins: Twenty Miles From Shore

11:30: SSS Tonic
George Morgan (host): Candy Kisses
Bill Monroe: Blue Moon Of Kentucky
Jimmy Newman: I May Fall Again
Wilburn Brothers: Oh, Mona
Roy Drusky: It Worries Me
Margie Bowes: Judge Not
Cowboy Copas: Alabam
Bill Anderson: Po' Folks
George Morgan: Almost

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. 

Mid-Week Opry Shows 3/25, 3/26 & 3/27

Opry100 continues on with a full schedule of mid-week shows beginning with the Tuesday Night Opry, this week featuring Grand Ole Opry members Terri Clark, Riders In The Sky and Gary Mule Deer. Country Music Hall of Fame member Jimmy Fortune is on the schedule, as is Ryan Hurd, Louise Mandrell, Sister Sadie and Kasey Tyndall. 

The Wednesday Night Opry features Opry members T. Graham Brown, Rhonda Vincent and Henry Cho, along with someone who should be an Opry member, Kathy Mattea. Also on the schedule is Opry NextStage act Chapel Hart, Brad Tursi, Paul McDonald and making his Opry debut, Maddox Batson.

Finally, Opry Country Classics returns on Thursday night with Larry Gatlin as the host and with Opry member Lorrie Morgan as the Spotlight Artist. Rounding out that lineup are Opry member Mandy Barnett, Linda Davis, Mae Estes, and of course, Steve and Rudy Gatlin. 

Maddox Batson, who is debuting on Wednesday night, is a 15-year-old from the Nashville area. He has released seven songs on TikTok and has 3.3 million followers. This month he releases his first EP "First Dance" and later this year he will be the opening act for several Lainey Wilson shows. 

Grand Ole Opry 3/21 & 3/22/Random Thoughts

So what did everyone think of the Grand Ole Opry's 100th live celebration from Wednesday night? It was quite an evening for sure and will be remembered for a long time. 

Now for my own random thoughts on the show, which I did attend: 

When all was said and done, by my count, 54 of the Opry's 76 members took part in the show in one way or another. Some were live in the Opry House, others were taped at the Ryman, while several others did taped introductions to certain segments. 

The 22 who were missing: Jeannie Pruett, Riders In The sky, Lorrie Morgan, Ricky Van Shelton, Patty Loveless, Mike Snider, Emmylou Harris, Martina McBride, Steve Wariner, Pam Tillis, Josh Turner, Craig Morgan, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Little Big Town, Chris Young, Chris Janson, Bobby Bare, Gene Watson, Lauren Alaina, Charlie McCoy and Jon Pardi. 

Of those 22, Darius was finishing up a tour overseas, as was Jon Pardi. Gene Watson was scheduled but after the storms in Texas, he wrote that he wasn't up to appearing. Patty Loveless was originally scheduled, from what I was told, to sing with Vince on "Go Rest High" however she stayed home with her husband who is not well. Lauren Alaina is in the final stages of her pregnancy, while Jeannie Seely, who did appear on video, was at home continuing to mend. As to the others, I have no explanation. 

It was wonderful to see Stu Phillips attending. He sat in the section in front of us and he looked well. That was Stu's first return to the Opry since his 50th Opry anniversary in 2017. 

In addition to Alison Krauss making a return to the Opry House, Diamond Rio was also there. Much like Alison, Diamond Rio has not appeared on the Opry since before 2020. While the group only took part in the final song, hopefully they will return to the Opry soon. 

Speaking of returning Opry members, it was a joy to see Ronnie Milsap attending. 

While the show took place at the Grand Ole Opry House, this was an NBC network show. Usually, we see these anniversary shows later in the year, but I think one of the reasons for the earlier show date was to continue to build the excitement for the Opry's 100th year. 

The true Opry 100th anniversary is Friday November 28, and there will be a spectacular Opry show that night that will truly represent the Opry's 100th year. 

Jelly Roll was scheduled to appear but cancelled due to illness. 

I know not everyone is a Post Malone fan, but he stepped in and did "Jackson" with Ashley McBryde and it was good. 

No, there were no new Opry invitations given out on Wednesday night. 

It was nice that when an Opry member appeared, they were identified as such and, in most cases, how long they have been a member. 

To me, there were a couple of highlights. The top one was Carrie Underwood honoring Randy Travis. A very emotional moment. 

I didn't realize until later that with the show running a little long, the finale of "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" did not air on national TV. Fortunately, the Opry and others have posted video of that moment. 

No cameras or video was allowed in the Opry House for the show but when the show ended, the cast stayed on stage and pictures were allowed at that time. 

Low point of the show, and not really a low point, was to me, Eric Church. I just felt that the song didn't belong there and it seemed to take a little of the energy out of the Opry House. Again, just my opinion.

Reba was great, but more so was Alan Jackson. With his various health issues, he can still bring it and the audience gave him a great ovation. 

Even though the Opry House was full, the show was not sold out. 

Blake was a good host. 

It was nice to see Travis Tritt back at the Opry House. 

During the commercial breaks, inside the house videos of Opry members performing on the Opry was shown. Among those were Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, John Conlee, Oak Ridge Boys, Connie Smith, Jimmy Dickens, Bill Monroe, Porter Wagoner, Bill Anderson and Connie Smith. I might be missing one or two. 

Among the former Opry members honored were Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride, Joe Diffie, along with a gospel and bluegrass segment. Again, wonderfully done. 

I wish during the gospel segment that they would have included The Isaacs and the Oak Ridge Boys.

I wish during the bluegrass segment that they would have included Rhonda Vincent and Dailey & Vincent. 

The memorial moment with Vince, Sonja and Ricky singing "Go Rest High" was good. I wish they would have pictured a few more past members. 

You might notice that I did not mention Garth as of yet. Ok, I just did. 

I could write more, but I will leave it at that. Overall, and I know we can pick at it, I thought it was a really good show. And so did the majority of those attending. 

Now moving on to this weekend at the Grand Ole Opry and the schedules for Friday and Saturday night. Opry members Vince Gill, comedian Gary Mule Deer and Don Schlitz are scheduled for both nights. On the Friday Night Opry, that trio will be joined by members John Conlee and Connie Smith, while Mandy Barnett is listed for Saturday night.  

Guesting on Friday night is the legendary guitarist Tommy Emmanuel, along with Adam Doleac and Lola Kirke. Very frequent Opry guest Charles Esten is on the schedule for Saturday night, along with Dillon Carmichael and Colt Graves, who will be making his Opry debut. Colt is the grandson of Bluegrass Hall of Fame member Josh Graves. While Josh is a bluegrass legend, Colt's music is a bit more modern: a fusion of folk, country and a blend of pop and hip-hop. 

Friday March 21
7:00: John Conlee, Lora Kirke, Connie Smith, Tommy Emmanuel
Intermission
8:20: Adam Doleac, Don Schlitz, Gary Mule Deer, Vince Gill

Saturday March 22
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mandy Barnett, Colt Graves, Charles Esten, Don Schlitz
Intermission
8:20: Dillon Carmichael, Gary Mule Deer, Vince Gill 

Continuing our look back at past Grand Ole Opry members, the spotlight this week shines on Marion Worth. 

Marion Worth was actually the stage name of Mary Ann Ward Wilson. She was born in Birmingham, Alabama on July 4, 1935. One of five children, she learned piano from her father but later turned to the guitar. She attended business college but went into medical training, intending to become a nurse. She and her sister won first place in a talent contest in their hometown, encouraging her to put her energies into show business. 

After working at WVOK in Birmingham, she landed a series of jobs, which eventually put her on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Marion was among the first country music performers to appear on the stage of Carnegie Hall. According to Jean Shepard, "She was a Patti Page of the country music industry. She had a soft melodic voice that was so sweet and so good." Jean continued, "She came along not too long after me and Kitty Wells and Rose Maddox. She came out about the same time as Jan Howard and Wanda Jackson and helped pave the way for some of these other youngsters."

Marion first reached the national country charts in 1959 with "Are You Willing, Willie?" which peaked at No. 12 in Billboard Magazine. She added four more Top 20 singles in the next four years, including two Top 10 releases, "That's My Kind of Love" and "I Think I Know." She also recorded "Slipping Around," a 1964 duet with George Morgan. She was perhaps most famous for " Shake Me I Rattle," which crossed over onto the pop charts, reaching #42 in 1963.

Now, taking a look back 45 years ago, Saturday March 22, 1980, and the final appearance by Marion Worth on the Grand Ole Opry: 

1st show
6:00: Vietti
Charlie Louvin (host): Will You Visit Me On Sundays
Skeeter Davis: The End Of The World
Lonzo & Oscar: Rocky Top
Billy Grammer: Indian Love Call
Paul Howard: Stay A Little Longer
Charlie Louvin: Apartment No. 9

6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Roy Drusky (host): Second Hand Rose
Vic Willis: Faded Love/Maiden's Prayer
Del Wood: Down Yonder
Roy Drusky: Strangers

6:45: Justin Tubb (host): You Nearly Lose Your Mind
Jim & Jesse: Let Me Whisper
Justin Tubb: What's Wrong With The Way That We're Doing It Now

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Ole Slewfoot
Connie Smith: When I Need Jesus, He's There
Wilburn Brothers: It Looks Like The Sun's Gonna Shine
Zeke Clements: Just A Little Lovin'/Why Should I Cry Over You/Smoke On The Water
Porter Wagoner: I've Enjoyed As Much Of This As I Can Stand/Everything I've Always Wanted/Tennessee Saturday Night

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Bald Knob, Arkansas
Wilma Lee Cooper: Poor Ellen Smith
Sid Harkreader: Sally Goodin/Amazing Grace
Alcyone Beasley: Silver Threads Among The Gold/Little Shoes
Crook Brothers & The Tennessee Travelers: Lafayette
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away

8:00: Martha White
Bill Monroe (host): Mule Skinner Blues
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry/Washed My Hands In Muddy Water
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down/Don't Play Me No Songs About Texas
Bill Carlisle: Shanghai Rooster
Bill Monroe: Just A Little Talk With Jesus

8:30: Acme
Hank Snow (host): Hello Love
The 4 Guys: Hangin' On
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
Curly Fox: The Old Gray Mule/Mockingbird
Duke of Paducah: Comedy
Hank Snow & Kelly Foxton: Stop Me From Loving You

2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Porter Wagoner (host): Sugarfoot Rag
Charlie Louvin: Who's Gonna Love Me Now
Lonzo & Oscar: Fox On The Run
Billy Grammer: Am I Blue
Skeeter Davis: It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels
Porter Wagoner: A Satisfied Mind/I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name/Your Old Love Letters

10:00: Little Debbie
Jim & Jesse (host): Sleepy Eyed John
Vic Willis: Beer Barrel Polka
Del Wood: Keep On The Firing Line
Jim & Jesse: Paradise

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Justin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203
Roy Drusky: Welcome Home
Roy Acuff: Lord, Don't Give Up On Me

10:30: Trailblazer
Bill Monroe (host): It's Mighty Dark For Me To Travel
Connie Smith: Sing, Sing, Sing
Wilma Lee Cooper: The Legend Of The Dogwood Tree
Bill Monroe: My Sweet Blue-Eyed Darling

10:45: Beechnut
Wilburn Brothers (host): Release Me
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Crook Brothers & The Tennessee Travelers: Gray Eagle
Wilburn Brothers: The Light House/God Bless America Again

11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): There's A Food Such As I
Bill Carlisle: Same Old Tale That The Crow Told Me
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Duke of Paducah: Comedy
Kirk McGee: Railroad Blues
Hank Snow & Kelly Foxton: Hasn't It Been Good Together

11:30: Budweiser
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
The 4 Guys: Let Your Love Flow/Daddy's Little Cowboy
Marion Worth: Someone Is Looking For Someone Like You
Curly Fox: Alabama Jubilee
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walkin'/Waterloo

Marion Worth left the Opry due to her deteriorating health. After she left, she continued to make occasional appearances, with several taking place in Las Vegas. She passed away in a Nashville hospital on December 17, 1999. Cause of death was emphysema. 

While she never became a "big" star in country music, she was well liked and well received as an Opry member. Personally, when listening to the old Opry tapes that I have, I always thought she had a wonderful voice. 

In addition to the night being Marion Worth's final Opry appearance, it was also the Opry's annual Reunion Show, also known as Old-Timer's Night. As you can see from the lineup, there were not as many retired Opry members as in past years. 

One final note: While the program listed the square dancers as The Tennessee Travelers, it was actually the first night that Melvin Sloan took over, as Ralph Sloan had passed away 10 days earlier. In future programs, the square dancers would be listed as the Melvin Sloan Dancers. 

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

Opry 100: A Live Celebration

A lot of special events will be taking place at the Grand Ole Opry in 2025 as part of the Opry's 100 celebration. One of those events will be taking place on Wednesday March 19 as Blake Shelton will be hosting a star-studded celebration of 100 years of the Grand Ole Opry. The show will air live on NBC/Peacock. 

According to the latest information that I have, close to 60 Grand Ole Opry members have committed to appearing on the Wednesday night show, in some fashion. 

While not all of the names have been publicly announced, here is the latest list of names that have been posted on the Opry website: 

Trace Adkins
Dierks Bentley
Clint Black
Garth Brooks
Steven Curtis Chapman
Terri Clark
Vince Gill
Alan Jackson
Jamey Johnson
Alison Krauss & Union Station
Ashley McBryde
Reba McEntire
Carly Pearce
Blake Shelton
Ricky Skaggs
Marty Stuart
Randy Travis
Travis Tritt
Carrie Underwood
Trisha Yearwood

In addition, the following Opry members are listed as making a "special appearance":

Lauren Alaina
Bill Anderson
Sara Evans
Chris Janson
Dustin Lynch
Scotty McCreery
Jeannie Seely

Non-members listed include: 

Yolanda Adams
Eric Church
Jelly Roll
Amy Grant
Post Malone
The War and Treaty

In addition, Brad Paisley, Luke Combs, Kelsea Ballerini, Keith Urban and Lainey Wilson will also be appearing on the special, although those performances were taped earlier at the Ryman Auditorium. In addition to those names, Barbara Mandrell and Crystal Gayle were also reportedly part of the recent Ryman taping. (and no, I would not expect Barbara to do any singing). 

And before everyone gets all upset that many of the veterans that appear on the Opry on a regular basis will not be on this special, most will be in one form or another. 

As far as ticketing, many of us were led to believe that the show was sold-out within minutes of the tickets going on sale. However, over the past couple of weeks, additional tickets have been released and at last check, some were still available. Of course, that does not take into account the number of tickets that have been showing up on the resale sites, with most of those at exuberant prices. 

Will there be any surprises on Wednesday night? Who knows but either way, it will be an exciting show and I am fortunate enough to say that I will be there on Wednesday night to witness in person whatever takes place. 

The show takes place beginning at 8:00 EDT (7:00 CDT) and is set to run for 3 hours. Looking at the lineup, and taking into account the commercial breaks, it is going to be interesting to see how the network fits it all in. 

I know many will be watching what could turn out to be an historic evening. 

Grand Ole Opry 3/15

We are less than a week away from the big Opry 100: A Live Celebration. Between now and then we have the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night. And yes, there is only one show this weekend, the Saturday night show. 

Saturday night will feature Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame members Bill Anderson, Don Schlitz and Connie Smith, along with Opry member Mandy Barnett. Opry NextStage artist Connor Smith is also on the schedule, along with return appearances by Lily Rose and Wyatt Ellis. Irish Singer/Songwriter Niall McCabe will be making his Opry 100 debut this weekend and rounding out the lineup, in addition to the Opry Square Dancers, is the annual St. Patrick's Day appearance by the Nashville Irish Step Dancers. 

Niall McCabe, who is making his Opry debut on Saturday night, is a singer-songwriter from Clare Island, County Mayo, Ireland. He has captivated audiences with his unique fusion of Irish folk and Americana influences, establishing himself as a profound voice in modern folk music. Born into the rich musical traditions of Ireland, McCabe grew up surrounded by song and story, a foundation that has deeply informed his reflective, emotionally charged songwriting. His music explores themes of love, loss, and resilience, carried by a distinctive voice and guitar technique that draws listeners into intimate landscapes.

McCabe’s next album, scheduled for release in May 2025, marks a new chapter in his musical journey. Following in the footsteps of his acclaimed debut Rituals, this album promises a deepened exploration of personal and universal themes. In addition to his new album, Niall has been extensively touring, and will continue to do so in 2025, appearing with artists such as Loudon Wainwright III, Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas, just to name a few. McCabe is also set to appear on Irish folk legend Mary Black's tour across Ireland, bringing his sound to a wide and eager audience.

7:00: Nashville Irish Stepdancers, Mandy Barnett, Wyatt Ellis, Lily Rose, Bill Anderson
Intermission
8:20: Connie Smith, Niall McCabe, Connor Smith, Don Schlitz

Finally, a personal note: As everyone who reads this blog is aware, I do my best to post the running order of the Opry shows, especially the weekend shows. I know most of you appreciate that since the Opry no longer posts the order on their website. I have been fortunate over the years to be given the lineups, usually on Thursday. However, over the past several weeks, it has become more difficult to get those lineups. I don't think it is anything intentional, I just feel with staffing adjustments and the preparation of the Opry 100: Live Celebration show, that they have been very busy. And I am not one to pester them. Hopefully, it is just a short-term situation, and I will be able to post the running orders again soon. Thanks to all for your patience. 

This week the Spotlight is on Grand Ole Opry member Grandpa Jones, who on Saturday March 15, 1997, celebrated his 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry: 

Grandpa Jones is best remembered as an old-time country and gospel music singer banjo player who always wore his pants tucked inside his boots, whose animated performances were often characterized by his leg kicks and foot stomping, and as a charter cast member of the CBS television show "Hee Haw" that aired from 1969 to 1971 before a 20-year run in local syndication. Born Louis Marshall Jones, he spent his teenage years in Akron, Ohio, where he started singing country music songs on radio station WJW. In 1931 he joined the Pine Ridge String Band, which provided the musical accompaniment for the very popular Lum and Abner show. By 1935 his pursuit of a musical career took him to WBZ (AM) radio in Boston, Massachusetts, where he met musician/songwriter Bradley Kincaid, who gave him the nickname "Grandpa" because of his off-stage grumpiness at early-morning radio shows. The name stuck and he decided to create a stage persona based around it and started performing under the name, playing the guitar, yodeling, and singing mostly old-time ballads. In 1937 he met musician Cousin Emmy in West Virginia who taught him the art of the clawhammer style of banjo playing, which gave a rough backwoods flavor to his performances. In 1942 he joined radio station WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he met fellow Kentuckian and country musician Merle Travis. A year later they made their recording debuts together for Syd Nathan's upstart King Records and by 1944 he was making records under his own name and had his first hit with "It's Raining Here This Morning." Shortly afterward, he enlisted in the US Army and after his discharge in 1946, he went back to recording for King Records. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1946, and started performing on the Grand Ole Opry. Later that year he married Ramona Riggins who, as an accomplished performer herself, would also be a part of his performances. Some of his older famous songs that he recorded include "Eight More Miles to Louisville" (1946, which he wrote), "Old Rattler" (1947) and "Mountain Dew" (1947). In 1956 he signed with Decca Records and recorded 16 songs, including "The All-American Boy" (1959, which reached number 21 on the US Country charts), "T For Texas" (1962, which reached number 5 on the US Country charts), and "Night Train to Memphis" (1963). In 1969 he joined the television show "Hee Haw" where he played banjo by himself or with fellow banjo player Dave "Stringbean" Akeman and also provided slapstick comedy in skits, and joined cast mates Buck Owens, Roy Clark and Kenny Price in a gospel segment at the end of some shows. In 1978 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. His autobiography, "Everybody's Grandpa: Fifty Years Behind the Mike," was published in 1984.

It seems that everybody associated with the Opry has a Grandpa Jones' story. I will always remember meeting his at Opryland one year and he was nice enough to sign a birthday card for my wife. A card, by the way, that I still have. My other memory of Grandpa was his forgetfulness in remembering the names of some of the artists he introduced on the Opry. "Him & Him" was always one of my favorites. 

Grandpa Jones made his final Opry appearance on Saturday January 3, 1998. Immediately after leaving the stage after hosting a segment on the 2nd show that night, Grandpa had the first of what would become a series of strokes. He was immediately taken to a Nashville hospital and was later transferred to a care facility, where he passed away on February 19, 1998. 

Now going back 28 years ago to Saturday March 15, 1997, the night Grandpa Jones was honored upon his 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry: 

1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Jimmy C Newman (host): Colinda
Bill Carlisle: Rusty Old Halo
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya

6:45: Joggin' In A Jug
Jean Shepard (host): Second Fiddle
Skeeter Davis: The End Of The World
Jean Shepard & Skeeter Davis: Let's All Go Down To The River/I Saw The Light/May The Circle Be Unbroken/I'll Fly Away/Somebody Touched Me

7:00: Shoney's
Jimmy Dickens (host): May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose
Jeanne Pruett: A Poor Man's Woman
Jack Greene: I Love You Because
Osborne Brothers: Kentucky
Jeannie Seely: Bubbles In My Beer
Jimmy Dickens: We Could/Take An Old Cold Tater

7:30: Standard Candy
Grandpa Jones (host): Pliney Jane
Tommy Hunter: (?)/Man Of 87
Connie Smith: The Deepening Snow
Doyle Dykes: Celtic Cowboy
Grandpa Jones: Mountain Dew

8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): Did She Mention My Name
Alison Krauss: Looking In The Eyes Of Love/There's No Place To Hide
Charlie Louvin: Buried Alive
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sally Goodin
Bill Anderson: Still

8:30: Clifty Farms
Ricky Skaggs (host): That Midnight Train
Jan Howard: My Heart Skips A Beat
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain
The 4 Guys: I Know; I Know
The Whites: Blue Letters
Ricky Skaggs: Get Up John

2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Bill Anderson (host): Southern Fried
Tommy Hunter: Have I Told You Lately That I Love You/Man Of 87
Alison Krauss: I'm Just A Ghost In This House/The Road Is A Lover
Bill Anderson: Ride Off In The Sunset

10:00: Massy Ferguson
Grandpa Jones (host): How Many Biscuits Can You Eat
Brother Oswald: Tennessee Waltz
Grandpa Jones: Any Old Time

10:15: Fan Fare Cruise
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind The Barn
Jean Shepard: Waltz Of The Angels
Jimmy Dickens: Life Turned Her That Way

10:30: Purnell's
Jim Ed Brown (host): Pop A Top
Stonewall Jackson: Jesus Is My Lifeline
Jim Ed & Kim Ed Brown: Fools

10:45: White By MTD
Johnny Russell (host): Act Naturally
Wilma Lee Cooper: When My Time Comes To Go
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sail Away Ladies
Johnny Russell: There's A Fool Such As I

11:00: Coca Cola
Ricky Skaggs (host): If I Lose
Del Reeves: The Only Girl I Can't Forget
Connie Smith: Louisiana Man
The Whites: Pins & Needles
Mel McDaniel: Stand Up
Ricky Skaggs: Amanda Jewell

11:30: Loreal
Jeannie Seely (host): Burning That Old Memory
Ray Pillow: That Ain't No Way To Treat My Heart
Charlie Walker: My Life's Been A Pleasure
The 4 Guys: Cottonfields/Mariah/My Tennessee Mountain Hom
Jeannie Seely: Speaking Of The Devil/Too Far Gone

A very nice lineup that night!!

A few other significant events took place on March 15 through the years, and I wanted to highlight a couple: 

First, Friday March 15, 1974, marked the final Friday Night Opry at the Ryman Auditorium prior to the move, the following night, to the new Grand Ole Opry House. While copies of the program from that night have been available through the years, here is the actually running order of that Friday night show 51 years ago: 

7:00: Cracker Barrel
Roy Drusky (host): Alone With You
Del Reeves: Lay A Little Lovin On Me
Jan Howard: The One You Slip Around With
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Roy Drusky: Satisfied Mind
Del Reeves: Girl On The Billboard
Jan Howard: Rock Me Back To Little Rock
Charlie Walker: Wanting My Woman Again
Roy Drusky: Second Hand Rose

7:30: Varallo
Bill Anderson (host): If You Can Live With It
Bob Luman: Lonely Women Make Good Lovers
Jim & Jesse: Diesel On My Tail
Mary Lou Turner: Poor Sweet Baby
Bill Anderson: A World Of Make Believe
Bob Luman: When You Say Love
Jim & Jesse: Paradise
Bill Anderson: Po' Folks

8:00: Tennessee Pride/U.S. Borox
Archie Campbell (host): Make Friends
Bobby Bare: Ride Me Down Easy
Dottie West: Country Sunshine
Justin Tubb: Rambling Man
Phil Campbell: Valley Of The Never Do No Good
Bobby Bare & Bobby Bare, Jr.: Daddy, What If
Dottie West: Here Comes My Baby
Justin Tubb: Traveling Singing Man

8:30: Kroger
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jean Shepard: Second Fiddle
Stonewall Jackson: Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Minnie Pearl: Careless Love
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: There's A Big Wheel
Roy Acuff: Back In The Country
Jean Shepard: At The Time
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Roy Acuff: Cabin In Gloryland

9:00: Baltz/Schlitz
Wilburn Brothers (host): It's Another World
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Jeanne Pruett: You Don't Need To Move A Mountain
Del Wood: There's A Big Wheel
Wilburn Brothers: I'm Gonna Tie One On Tonight
Osborne Brothers: Ruby
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Del Wood: Down Yonder

9:30: Acme Boots/Beechnut
Jim Ed Brown (host): Pop A Top
Hank Locklin: Goodbye Dear Old Ryman
Grandpa Jones: Dooley
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Cates Sisters: Devil's Dream
Hank Locklin: Send Me The Pillow You Dream On
Grandpa Jones: Heading South With Nashville On My Mind
Bill Carlisle: Too Old To Cut The Mustard
Jim Ed Brown: Sometimes Sunshine

10:00: Cee Bee/Schlitz
Billy Walker (host): Sing Me A Love Song To Baby
Charlie Louvin: You're My Wife; She's My Woman
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
Stu Phillips: There Must Be Another Way To Say Goodbye
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain
Charlie Louvin: Little Reasons/Will You Visit Me On Sundays/What Are Those Things
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Billy Walker: Charlie's Shoes

10:30: Shoney's
George Morgan (host): Red Roses From The Blue Side Of Town
The 4 Guys: Let me Be There
Ray Pillow: Excuse Me
Lonzo & Oscar: A King Size Cola & A Moon Pie
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
The 4 Guys: Hello Walls/Big Bad John/Wings Of A Dove
Ray Pillow: Countryfied
Ernie Ashworth: Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor
George Morgan: Candy Kisses

After the Friday Night ended, Grand Ole Gospel, hosted by Rev. Jimmie Rodgers Snow, took place. The closing number, "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" included Hank Snow, Johnny & June Carter Cash, and The Carter Family, none of whom appeared on the Friday Night Opry. 

One final note from that night: Bobby Bare quit the Opry and did not continue as an Opry member when the Opry moved to the new Grand Ole Opry House. It took several decades, but eventually the Opry restored Bobby's membership. 

Finally, and to conclude, on Saturday March 15, 1975, the Grand Ole Opry celebrated its first anniversary at the new Grand Ole Opry House. However, it did not go as planned. 

From the Tennessean: 

A crowd of 5,500 to 6,000 country music fans filled Municipal Auditorium for a group of old timers, some who had been absent from the Grand Ole Opry for as long as 25 years, showing that they still have what it takes during the second annual Old Timers' Night and award show. 

The event was moved to the auditorium because the Opry House and Opryland U.S.A. was underwater from the flood. 

The King of Country Music, Roy Acuff, was the host for the first half of the hour-long special and opened the show. The first act Acuff introduced was his old friend and one-time traveling partner DeFord Bailey. "He could draw an audience when no one know Roy Acuff," the host said in his introduction of legendary harmonica player from the earliest days of the Opry. Bailey, who performed at the Opry on his 75th birthday in December 1974, played "Pan American Blues" and "Fox Chase," before closing with "John Henry." 

Next up was Alcyone Beasley, who Acuff introduced as Alcyone Bates, the daughter of Dr. Humphrey Bate who played country music on WSM even before the days of Judge George D. Hay. Beasley, who sang her first sol in 25 years the event, is the first woman to join the Opry. The country comedian and banjo player Whitey Ford, the Duke of Paducah, entertained with some jokes, then took a seat and picked up his four-string banjo and played a medley. The Crook Brothers, who were still active on the Opry after 50 years, performed what they are famous for: square dance music. 

Minnie Pearl was host of the second half of the show. Her first performer she introduced was Zeke Clements, "The Dixie Yodeler." Clements did a medley of his own songs, one that put him into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1971. He finished up with his biggest hit, "Just A Little Lovin' Will Go a Long Way."

Mother Maybelle Carter, a member of the Carter Family that was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1970, brought her legendary auto harp on stage and performed "Wildwood Flower." The Tennessee Sweethearts, Clyde and Marie Dilleha, performed one of their old favorites in honor of St. Patrick's Day, "Peggy O'Neal." 

Finishing up the show was Edna Wilson, better known to Opry fans as Sarie of the Sarie and Sally comedy team of the 1940s. Wilson, 79, who last inspired laughter from the Opry stage in 1950, shaded her eyes from the spotlight and greeted the audience with "Ooh, the sun's so bright a body can't hardly see no more." 

After DeFord Bailey's performance, WSM President Irving Waugh came on stage to recognize "seven distinguished persons who have contributed to the growth of the Grand Ole Opry." Winners of the second group of the George D. Hay Award were "The Sweetheart of the Opry," Minnie Pearl, "The great Texas Troubadour" Ernest Tubb, "the first Opry star from outside the U.S.," Hank Snow, "The Dixie Dewdrop," Uncle Dave Macon, "The great baggy-pants comedian who said, 'You should love your enemies because you made them,' " Rod Brasfield, "One of the greatest country writers of all time, "Hank Williams, and "For 20 years the general manager of WSM, the first person to recognize the commercial value of country music," Harry Stone. The award is named for "The Solemn Old Judge" who launched the WSM Barn Dance in 1925. 

That segment of the show took place during the 7:30 and 8:00 segments of the Opry. 

Now, here is the complete running order from the first show that historic night 50 years ago, Saturday March 15, 1975: 

1st show
6:00: Vietti
Charlie Walker (host): Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Jimmy Dickens: Sleepin' At The Foot Of The Bed
Marion Worth: Delta Dawn
Justin Tubb: Sunshine Lady
Charlie Walker: The Last Supper
Jimmy Dickens: Life Turned Her That Way
Marion Worth: Put Your Hand In The Hand
Charlie Walker: Odds & Ends

6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Jerry Clower (host): The Last Piece Of Chicken
The 4 Guys: Let Me Be There
Del Wood: Keep On The Firing Line
Jerry Clower: How I Backed Into Show Business

6:45: Rudy's
Charlie Louvin (host): See The Big Man Cry
Lonzo & Oscar: When I Stop Dreaming
Bill Carlisle: Have A Drink On Me
Charlie Louvin: I've Just Gotta Know

7:00: Rudy's
Ray Pillow (host): Countryfied
Jean Shepard: The Tips Of My Fingers
Stonewall Jackson: Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Billy Grammer: Just A Closer Walk With Thee
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Thank God I'm Free
Jean Shepard: Seven Lonely Days
Ray Pillow: The Simple Things In Life

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
DeFord Bailey: Pam American Blues/Fox Chase/John Henry
Alcyone Beasley: Siver Threads Among The Gold
Duke of Paducah: If You Knew Susie/Toot-Toot Tootsie/Baby Face
Crook Brothers & The Tennessee Travelers: Gray Eagle

8:00: Martha White
Minnie Pearl: (host)
Zeke Clements: Why Should I Cry Over You/Somebody's Been Beating My Time/Just A Little Lovin'
Maybelle Carter: Wildwood Flower
Tennessee Sweethearts: Peggy O'Neil
Sarie Wilson: Comedy
Stu Phillips: Have I Told You Lately That I Love You/You Win Again/Release Me

8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Jeanne Pruett: Just Like Your Daddy
Clyde Moody: I Know What It Means To Be Lonesome
Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
Hank Snow: Paper Roses

That takes care of this week. March 15 was certainly a historic night in the history of the Grand Ole Opry. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend. 

  

Mid-Week Opry Shows 3/11, 3/12 & 3/13

It is another full week of Opry shows, including a special Tuesday Night Opry that will be taking place at the Ryman Auditorium, The 2nd show that night will be taped to air as part of the Opry's network special on the following Wednesday night. 

The first hour, which is not being filmed, includes Grand Ole Opry members Riders In The Sky, Mandy Barnett and Rhonda Vincent. Eric Paslay rounds out that first hour. 

As noted, the second hour is being filmed and will be shown as part of the Opry 100: A Live Celebration, that takes place at the Grand Ole Opry House next Wednesday night. Those who will be appearing as part of that filming include Opry members Luke Combs, Brad Paisley, Kelsea Ballerini and Keith Urban

Tuesday March 11
7:00: Rhonda Vincent, Eric Paslay, Mandy Barnett, Riders In The Sky
Intermission
8:20: Luke Combs, Brad Paisley, Kelsea Ballerini, Keith Urban

(Since this is all part of a filming, expect some differences in the order of appearance. In addition, the 2nd hour of the show will NOT be aired on WSM) 

There are only two Opry members on the Wednesday night schedule: Don Schlitz and T. Graham Brown. There are a couple of Opry debuts: Christian music artist Megan Woods and the legendary Robert Earl Keen. Rounding at that night is Opry next stage artist Madeline Edwards, Tyler Farr, Bryce Leatherwood and that wonderful bluegrass act, The Kody Norris Show.

Finally, Opry Country Classis rounds out the week on Thursday night with host Larry Gatlin and Spotlight Artist Crystal Gayle. Also on that schedule are the Gatlin Brothers, Jake Worthington, Jamie O'Neal and The Swon Brothers. 

Opry Country Classics
Thursday March 13
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Crystal Gayle
Also Appearing: Gatlin Brothers, Jake Worthington, Jamie O'Neal, The Swon Brothers 

Another busy week for the Opry. 

Grand Ole Opry 3/7 & 3/8

Two weeks ago, we had the Opry debut of Ringo Starr. Last weekend, we had the unveiling of the new microphone stands. Let me just say, the new mic stands have a very clean and modern look. OPRY really stands out. I will admit that I miss the words "Grand Ole" on the stands and I do believe these are the first mic stands without those words. However, for marketing and promotional purposes, it seems that OPRY is the focus right now. I was surprised that I did not see 100 after Opry, as everything right now is focused on OPRY100. And yes, it was time for a change. 

Taking a look at the Grand Ole Opry shows for this weekend, members The Isaacs are back on the schedule for both Friday and Saturday night. Joining them on Friday night are Opry members Mandy Barnett, John Conlee, Riders In The Sky and Don Schlitz. Rounding out the schedule is Opry NextStage artist Niko Moon, along with Caylee Hammack. 

Along with The Isaacs, Country Music Hall of Fame member Connie Smith is back on the schedule for the second week in a row. It is certainly nice to see Connie back. Also scheduled are members Terri Clark and Dailey & Vincent. The very popular duo Maddie & Tae are back for their first appearance of 2025, along with Tyler Rich and Ingrid Andress. 

Friday March 7
7:00: Riders In The Sky, John Conlee, Caylee Hammack, Don Schlitz
Intermission
8:20: Mandy Barnett, Niko Moon, The Isaacs

Saturday March 8
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Dailey & Vincent, Connie Smith, Tyler Rich, Terri Clark
Intermission
8:20: Ingrid Andress, Maddie & Tae, The Isaacs

Continuing a look at pass Grand Ole Opry members, this week the spotlight is on Hank Locklin, who passed away on March 8, 2009: 

First, the press release when Hank joined the Grand Ole Opry in November 1960: 

Hank Locklin has joined WSM's Grand Ole Opry and makes his debut tomorrow night (8:30). Locklin, whose RCA-Victor disc of "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" was a recent best seller, becomes the 46th Country Music artist to attain star status with the Saturday night program, now in its 35th year. Locklin will continue to make his home in Milton, Fla. and commute weekly to Nashville, according to Opry manager Ott Devine. 

And from his obituary: 

International country music legend and Grand Ole Opry star Hank Locklin, who soared to stardom with the mega country/pop hit Please Help Me I'm Falling and wrote the country classic Send Me The Pillow You Dream On passed away on Sunday March 8th. He was 91 years old.

Locklin had been a Brewton, Alabama resident since 1984 and was well known among the locals as a friend and were never a stranger after meeting the cordial performer.

One of country's greatest tenors, Locklin scored one of the biggest hits of the music's golden era with "Please Help Me, I'm Falling," which spent a remarkable 14 weeks at No. 1 and 30 weeks in the Top 10 in 1960. With that hit came membership into the Opry, an honor he maintained for the rest of his life. Locklin's other big hits included Geisha Girl, Let Me Be The One, Country Hall of Fame and Danny Boy. For nearly two decades Locklin recorded for RCA Records (1955-1974). Locklin helped usher in the famous 1950s-60s Nashville Sound, which also featured the likes of fellow performers Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline and The Browns. His legacy grew overseas helping to spread country music popularity to Japan, Germany and especially to Ireland, where fans took to his clear, crisp tenor voice and claimed Locklin as an adopted son.

He was born Lawrence Hankins Locklin in the piney northwest Florida community of McLellan. In later years, after gaining international popularity, he was nicknamed the Mayor of McLellan by television/radio personality Ralph Emery. The name stuck as Locklin maintained residence there on his 350-plus acre Singing L Ranch until moving to Brewton 25 years ago.

While he was born into a family that reared doctors and educators, Locklin discovered very early he was to be a performer. Hank was picking guitar for amateur contests in nearby Milton, Florida, by age 10. In his teens he was a featured performer on Pensacola radio station WCOA. For the next several years, he played with a variety of groups through the South and worked at various jobs in Florida, including farmer, ribbon mill hanker, and shipyard worker.

After World War II ended, his career started taking off, and he appeared on Shreveport's Louisiana Hayride and the Big D Jamboree in Dallas, Texas. He recorded briefly for Decca, and after meeting producer Bill McCall, Hank recorded for McCall's Four Star Records for five years. Hank scored his first Top 10 song in 1949 with "The Same Sweet Girls." Four years later, he had a No. 1 with "Let Me Be the One," and a recording contract with RCA Victor followed.

The next year started a string of hit singles, with "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On," which he wrote, "It's a Little More Like Heaven," "Geisha Girl," "Fraulein," "Why, Baby Why," and "Blue Grass Skirt." In 1960, the remarkable success of "Please Help Me, I'm Falling"—the song not only dominated the country chart that year, but crossed over into the Top 10 pop charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom—earned him membership in the Grand Ole Opry. It also introduced the slip-note piano style to country music through legendary pianist Floyd Cramer and was a major factor in creating the "Nashville Sound." Locklin remembers, "Chet played me the demo and Don Robertson (one of the co-writers) was playing that slip-note on the piano…I told Chet if we could get Cramer to copy that style, we'd have us a hit, and we did." The slip-note piano style was synonymous with Hank's recordings from20that point forward and considered his signature sound.

Many hits followed throughout the '60s, including "We're Gonna Go Fishin'," "Happy Birthday To Me," "Happy Journey," "Followed Closely by My Teardrops," "The Country Hall of Fame," "Danny Boy" and "Where The Blue Of The Night, Meets The Gold Of The Day." During this time, Hank pioneered the creation of concept albums in country music with releases such as Foreign Love and Irish Songs, Country Style. Hank is also credited with taking country music to unprecedented heights of popularity with International audiences throughout the 50's, 60's and 70's. In all, Hank has sold more than 15 million albums and received numerous industry awards from The Grand Ole Opry, BMI, ASCAP, Cashbox, Billboard and NARAS.

Long a favorite with Opry audiences, Hank returned to the studio in 2001 to record Generations in Song. Featuring long-time colleagues such as Dolly Parton and Jeannie Seely, newer friends and admirers like Vince Gill (who cites Hank as an influence) and Jett Williams. Recently, Hank recorded his 65th album, a gospel album, with an award winning cast of artists such as The Oak Ridge Boys, The Jordanaires, Gold City and Jeff & Sheri Easter.

Locklin is survived by his loving wife of thirty-nine years, Anita Locklin, his children Margaret Kent, Maurice Locklin, Beth Padgett, Nina Hendricks, Amy Alford, and Hank Adam Locklin, along with his beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Locklin was a member of Red Rock Lodge F. & A.M. in Munson, Florida, The Scottish Rite Bodies of Nashville, Tennessee and Hadji Shrine Temple in Pensacola, Florida.

In his later years at the Opry, Hank would usually be joined by his son Hank Adam Locklin, who himself had a fine voice. And speaking of voices, nobody could sing "Danny Boy" any better than Hank. 

Hank Locklin made his final Opry appearance on September 8, 2007. 

Back in the 60s and 70s, Hank would host Opry segments on a semi-regular basis. On of those nights was 50 years ago, on Saturday March 8, 1975. Here is the running order from the 2nd show that night: 

9:30: Kellogg's
Bill Monroe (host)
Stu Phillips: Loving You, Still Loving You
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Bill Monroe: Uncle Pen

10:00: Fender
Hank Locklin (host): The Sweetest Mistake I've Ever Made
Dottie West: Last Time I Saw Him
Ernie Ashworth: The High Cost Of Living
Hank Locklin: Send Me The Pillow You Dream On

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Old Time Sunshine Song
Charlie Walker: The Last Supper
Marion Worth: Go On Home
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

10:30: Trailblazer
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): Little Darling Pal Of Mine
Louie Roberts: Make The World Go Away
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Did You Think To Pray

10:45: Beechnut
The 4 Guys (host): Down By The Lazy River
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On
Crook Brothers: Black Mountain Rag
The 4 Guys: Let Me Be There

11:00: Coca Cola
Roy Drusky (host): Dixie Lily
Justin Tubb: As Long As There's A Sunday
Marilyn Sellars: He's Everywhere
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Roy Drusky: Knee Deep In Loving You
Justin Tubb: Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
Sam McGee: Farewell Blues/Alabama Jubilee/Just Because

11:30: Elm Hill
Jimmy C Newman (host): Jambalaya
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets/Just Like Your Daddy
Ronnie Robbins: If You Love Me, Let Me Know
Ronnie Robbins & Jeanne Pruett: Love Me
Jimmy C Newman: Thoroughbred Loser

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. 

Mid -Week Opry Shows 3/4, 3/5 & 3/6

The Grand Ole Opry is back to a full schedule of mid-week shows as in addition to the Tuesday and Wednesday Night Opry shows, Opry Country Classics is on the schedule for the first time in 2025. 

Looking first at the Tuesday Night Opry, Grand Ole Opry member Steve Wariner is on the schedule, along with members John Conlee, Dailey & Vincent and Jeannie Seely. Maryann Taylor is back for an appearance, along with Kip Moore, Mitchell Tenpenny, and making her Opry debut, Danae Hayes.

Tuesday March 4
7:00: Jeannie Seely, Marynn Taylor, John Conlee, Kip Moore
Intermission
8:20: Steve Wariner, Danae Hayes, Mitchell Tenpenny, Dailey & Vincent

The Wednesday Night Opry features the first 2025 appearance by Opry member Lady A, along with a special appearance by Randy Travis. Rhonda Vincent and T. Graham Brown are also on the schedule, joined by a couple of veteran artists: Clay Walker and Collin Raye. Rounding out that schedule is James Dupre. 

Wednesday March 5
7:00: T. Graham Brown, James Dupre, Lady A
Intermission
8:20: Jade Eagleson, Collin Raye, Rhonda Vincent, Clay Walker, Special Appearance by Randy Travis

Regarding the special appearance by Randy Travis, this was posted on his Facebook page: Randy Travis is thrilled to return to the Grand Ole Opry on March 5 for an exciting #Opry100 appearance and a special announcement LIVE from the stage! Join us on March 5 to celebrate the anniversary of Randy's iconic debut and be the first to hear this exciting news. 🌟 Don’t miss out - grab your tickets now at Opry.com and be part of this unforgettable moment!

For those interested, here is the lineup from Friday March 7, 1986, the night Randy Travis made his Opry debut: 

7:30: Grandpa Jones (host): The 4 Guys, Ray Pillow, Skeeter Davis, Justin Tubb
8:00: Jimmy Dickens (host): Jean Shepard, Riders In The Sky, Randy Travis
8:30: Roy Acuff (host): Connie Smith, Minnie Pearl
9:00: Hank Snow (host): Stonewall Jackson, Jeannie Seely, Charlie Louvin
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host): Jeanne Pruett, The Whites, Jack Greene
10:00: Jimmy C Newman (host): Lorrie Morgan, Boxcar Willie, The Carlisles
10:30: Bill Anderson (host): Jan Howard, Charlie Walker, David Houston

You have to love those Friday Night Opry shows back in the 80s and 90s. A lot of entertainment in those 3/12 hours.

Finally, Opry Country Classics is back with Larry Gatlin again returning as the host of the show. The legendary Moe Bandy is on the schedule, along with Opry members the Gatlin Brothers, Dailey & Vincent, Mandy Barnett and Pam Tillis. 

Thursday March 6
7:00
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Pam Tillis
Also Appearing: Gatlin Brothers, Moe Bandy, Mandy Barnett, Dailey & Vincent

Some really nice shows this week. Nice to see the classics show back on the schedule as those have traditionally been some of the best shows. Enjoy. 

March Opry Highlights

As Opry 100 continues, and the Grand Ole Opry celebrates its legacy in its 100th year, here are the highlights that have taken place in the month of March over those past 100: 

March 24, 1928: Kitty Cora Cline became the first female solo artist to appear on the Grand Ole Opry. Kitty was at the Opry until March 31, 1934, when she decided to quit. The story goes that on that particular evening, she was on her way to the Opry and witnessed a serious car accident that bothered her so much that she refused to travel by car again. Thus, she quit performing.

March 31, 1928: Fiddler Ed Poplin made his Grand Ole Opry debut. A few weeks later, he had organized a band and became an Opry regular. 

March 31, 1934: Robert Lunn made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. After joining the Opry, he stayed until retiring in 1958. Robert, who was known for his sense of humor, spent some time working and touring with Roy Acuff. Robert Lunn passed away in 1966 after suffering a heart attack.

March 5, 1938: After an absence attributed to heath reasons, Opry founder George D. Hay returned to the Opry, more in a position as an announcer rather than the final authority figure at the Opry. While George D. Hay is credited with being the founder of the Grand Ole Opry, his influence and authority over the show declined as the years went by. 

March 16, 1946: Future Grand Ole Opry member Grandpa Jones made his first appearance on the Opry, appearing as a member of Pee Wee King's band.

March 1, 1952: Uncle Dave Macon, one of the Opry's earliest stars, made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Uncle Dave was one of the Opry's originals and was one of the first professional musicians to join the cast. Two weeks later, on March 22, Uncle Dave, who was one of the early members to have been elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, passed away at the age of 82. Those who knew Dave wrote that he was quite a character. 

March 21, 1953: Bill Carlisle and the Carlisles made their first guest appearance at the Grand Ole Opry. Once Bill joined the Opry, he stayed until his death and almost made it 50 years at the Opry. 

March 27, 1954: Opera singer Helen Traubel made a guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. I only mention this because, even in years past, the Opry would invite non-country performers to appear on the show. 

March 1, 1958: After criticizing the management of WSM radio, Marty Robbins was fired as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Opry management quickly realized their mistake and Marty was hired back before the end of the week. 

March 2, 1963: Opry members Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins made their final appearances on the Grand Ole Opry. Several days later, the duo would pass away when the plane they were riding in crashed on the way back to Nashville. Copas, Hawkins, along with Opry member Patsy Cline and pilot Randy Hughes were returning after performing on a benefit show in Kansas City.

March 9, 1963: The Grand Ole Opry observed a moment of silence to honor Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Randy Hughes. Also honored was Jack Anglin of Johnny & Jack, who also passed away the previous week, in his case the result of injuries from an auto accident. In the tribute read by Opry manager Ott Devine, he said, "All of their friends standing with me tonight on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium know that it is impossible to put our thoughts, or feelings, our love for Patsy, Hank, Cope, Jack and Randy. And so, we ask for a moment of silent prayer in tribute to them."

March 29, 1963: Texas Ruby Owens died in a fire at her home. Along with her husband Curly Fox, she came to the Opry in the 1940s. After Ruby's death, Curly remained at the Opry as a solo act. It is safe to say that March 1963 was not the best of months for the Opry. Perhaps, its most tragic month. 

March 2, 1964: Jim & Jesse McReynolds were invited to become members of the Grand Ole Opry. Later that week, they made their first appearance as Opry members. Jim & Jesse were very popular members of the Opry and along with their group the Virginia Boys, continued as members of the Opry until the death of Jim in December 2002. After Jim's death, Jesse has continued on at the Opry as his health permitted.  After a period of declining health, Jesse McReynolds passed away in June 2023. He had been an Opry member for just over 59 years. 

March 7, 1964: Ernie Ashworth, along with Jim & Jesse, made his first appearance as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Ernie, who was famous for his hit song, "Talk Back Trembling Lips" and for his colorful suit with flaming lips on it, remained an Opry member until his death on March 2, 2009. Not only was Ernie a fine country singer, but he was also a good businessman who owned several radio stations. 

March 28, 1964: Connie Smith made her first appearance as a guest on the Grand Ole Opry. Connie appeared at the invitation of Bill Anderson. Later that evening, Connie stopped by at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop and the Midnight Jamboree. A year later, in 1965, Connie became an Opry member and later this year, she will celebrate her 60th anniversary of her Opry membership. 

March 13, 1965: Johnny Cash made an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. A former member of the cast, Johnny would make infrequent appearances over the years. This was one of those nights. 

March 20, 1965: The always zany and funny Roger Miller made a guest appearance on the Opry. Over the course of his career, Roger would make a few more. 

March 9, 1968: Irene Ryan, who played the part of Granny on the very popular show, "The Beverly Hillbillies," made a guest appearance on the Opry. I am sure many remember the episode where Flatt & Scruggs appeared on the show. A classic. 

March 15, 1968: The Byrds, featuring Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman, made an appearance on the Friday Night Opry. They sang "Sing Me Back Home" and "Hickory Wind." The Byrds always considered it an honor to perform on the Opry and this appearance ended up being their only one. It was later reported that a few of the Opry's members were not thrilled over their appearance and the audience response was much the same. While Gram would never appear again on the Opry, Chris Hillman would return several times. 

March 28, 1970: Grand Ole Opry member Marty Robbins returned to the Opry for the first time since suffering a heart attack in January. As usual, he returned as the host of the 11:30 segment. Reporter Jerry Thompson, who was there that evening, wrote, "The sound from the jam-packed crowd was deafening. They couldn't hear the words to the songs that familiar figure behind the Opry mic was crooning, but there was no mistake. Marty Robbins was back where he belonged. Midway through the show, Robbins sat at the piano and told the audience, 'I had so many things I was going to say tonight. I want to thank all of my friends for their concern, and I want to thank God for letting me be there. Now, I can't think of anything else to say, so I guess I'll have to sing for you.' And sing he did until 12:27 a.m. when the curtain closed amidst repeated shouts of 'more, more, more.'" This was one night that Ernest Tubb did not complain about the Midnight Jamboree starting late.

March 27, 1971: Jan Howard became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Jan had been appearing on the Opry for several years before becoming an Opry member, and in fact, Opry member Bud Wendall had thought she was already a member. A popular duet partner of Bill Anderson's, once Jan became an official member, she fully supported the Opry and appeared on a regular basis. Jan passed away in March 2020, shortly after her 49th anniversary as an Opry member. 

March 31, 1973: George Jones rejoined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. George originally joined the Opry in 1956. However, over the course of his career, he would come and go several times. Not that it mattered a whole lot as George rarely appeared on the show. This was also the night, as some have reported, that Tammy Wynette became a member of the Opry. Her stay would not last long, in fact her Opry days as a member pretty much ended when she divorced George. 

March 9, 1974: The Grand Ole Opry had its final Saturday night show at the Ryman Auditorium. The Opry, which had been at the Ryman since 1943, was scheduled to move to the new Grand Ole Opry House the following weekend. It was a very emotional night as Minnie Pearl, among others, had trouble controlling their emotions at leaving the longtime home of the Opry. 

March 15, 1974: The Grand Ole Opry conducted its final Friday Night Opry at the Ryman Auditorium. While the previous Saturday night was the final Grand Ole Opry show, this being the final show made for a very emotional night, so much so that both Bill Anderson and Charlie Walker forgot the words to their songs. The final segment this night was hosted by George Morgan, who concluded the show with his hit "Candy Kisses." This was also the final night that Bobby Bare was a member of the Grand Ole Opry as he left the Opry's cast when the show moved to the new Grand Ole Opry House. It took many years, but Bobby would rejoin the Opry in 2018. After the Opry ended, Reverend Jimmie Snow hosted the final Grand Ole Gospel from the Ryman with guests Hank Snow, Johnny Cash, June Carter Cash, and the Carter Family, none of whom actually appeared on the Opry that night. The show concluded with the singing of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" and as soon as they were finished, the signs were taken down and many of the items were immediately transferred to the new Opry House. After the Opry left, the Ryman stayed empty for many years, with the inside of the building looking exactly as the Opry left it when they moved in 1974. Thanks to a renovation of the Ryman Auditorium, the Opry returned in January 1999, and would continue to offer winter Opry shows for the next several decades. 

March 16, 1974: With President Richard Nixon in attendance, the Grand Ole Opry had its first performance at the new Grand Ole Opry House. When President Nixon made his appearance, he became the first President to visit and perform on the Opry. As yes, he did perform, playing several songs on the piano. There was much discussion on who would be the first Opry member to perform on the show, and with the decision made to go in alphabetical order, Roy Acuff took the honors, followed by Bill Anderson. With pretty much every Opry member in attendance, both shows that night ran well past the allotted time. The Grand Ole Opry House was the first building built specifically for the Opry, and despite damage from the flood in 2010, the building has held up well and has now been the Opry's home for 50 years. 

March 30, 1974: The Earl Scruggs Revue made their final appearance as members of the Grand Ole Opry. When Flatt & Scruggs broke up, both Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs maintained their Opry membership. While Lester enjoyed playing the Opry on a regular basis, Earl had a more progressive sound and enjoyed playing before different audiences. While he gave up his Opry membership, Earl would continue to come back and perform on the show. It has been written that later in his life, Earl asked to rejoin the Opry, along with Kitty Wells, but the request was denied. 

March 14, 1975: One year after the Opry House opened, the Cumberland River overflowed its banks, causing a flood that forced the Opry to move the shows that weekend to the Municipal Auditorium in downtown Nashville. It was also the weekend of the 1st anniversary of the Opry House, so the timing wasn't the best. At first, many thought the Opry would return to the Ryman for the weekend, but it was determined that the old building was in no shape to host a live show. Unlike the flood of 2010 which caused extensive damage to the Opry House, the 1975 flood just affected the parking lots and the surrounding area.

March 4, 1978: For the first time in the history of the Grand Ole Opry, an entire show was televised. PBS had approached Opry officials to see if there was any interest in televising the show as part of the annual fundraising drive that PBS conducts. The Opry agreed and it was considered such a great success that PBS would continue to televise an Opry show for the next three years. The Opry did agree to a few changes, including all references to their commercial sponsors, which included covering the sponsor's signs that appeared on the Opry stage and backdrop. (However, in looking at video from those nights, Martha White's sign appears to show through rather well and Roy Acuff did get in a few Martha White plugs). What made those nights so special, besides the quality of the line-ups, was the fact that the Opry did not change the show at all. The format remained the same, although several of the members dressed up a bit more than usual. These shows also gave people across the country who had never attended an Opry show, a chance to see the entire Opry as it happened.

March 10, 1979: James Brown appeared on the Grand Ole Opry. He appeared at the invitation of Porter Wagoner, who thought it would be a great idea. It was a tough night at the Opry as several of the Opry's members did not agree with Porter and decided not to appear that night. James was on stage for almost 20 minutes and would later say that he enjoyed performing on the show.

March 23, 1979: Lester Flatt returned to the Opry for the first time since the previous November. A brain hemorrhage kept Lester away. Sadly, Lester would battle heart and health issues for the last few years of his life. 

March 12, 1980: Ralph Sloan passed away. Ralph and the Tennessee Travelers had been at the Opry since 1952. Upon his death, brother Melvin took over the square dance group.

March 22, 1980: Opry member Marion Worth made her final appearance on the Opry. Marion joined the Opry in 1965 and while she didn't have a spectacular career in country music, she was a fairly popular member of the show. After leaving the Opry, Marion did a few shows in Las Vegas, then eventually retired. Marion passed away in December 1999. Listening to some of the old Opry tapes that I have, Marion had a nice voice and appeared to have been well received by the Opry audience. 

March 22, 1980: On the same date as the final appearance of Opry member Marion Worth, Melvin Sloan officially took over as the leader of the Tennessee Travelers following the death several weeks earlier of his brother Ralph. With the change, the group became known as the Melvin Sloan Dancers.

March 28, 1980: Tom T Hall rejoined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. Tom, who joined the Opry's cast in 1971, left the Opry shortly after the Opry moved from the Ryman Auditorium to the new Grand Ole Opry House.  It was reported that Ernest Tubb ran into Tom T in the parking lot after a show at the Opry House and told him he needed to get back to the Opry. He did and for most of the 1980s, was a regular performer on the show. Tom T, who was an Opry member for just over 50 years, passed away in 2021. 

March 1, 1982: Roy Acuff was honored with a two-hour special that was televised on ABC. An all-star cast of performers and entertainers honored Roy, including President Ronald Reagan, Vice-President George Bush, Minnie Pearl, Tom T. Hall, Bill Anderson, Chet Atkins, Charlie Daniels and Gene Autry.

March 5, 1983: Grand Old Opry announcer and WSM personality Chuck Morgan announced on the Opry for the final time. Chuck left the Opry and Nashville to begin work for the Texas Rangers, a position he still holds today. 

March 7, 1983: TNN, The Nashville Network, made its debut. This network would later become the television home of the Grand Ole Opry as a half hour of the show was televised live each Saturday night.

March 3, 1984: The Whites, consisting of Buck, Sharon and Cheryl, became members of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be their 41st year as Opry members. Sadly, Buck White, the leader of the family, passed away last month after a period of declining health. 

March 7, 1986: Randy Travis made his first guest appearance on the Opry. He was introduced by Jimmy Dickens and sang, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry." That evening, Randy was asked if her would like to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Later that year, in December, Randy would become an Opry member.

March 3, 1990: Alan Jackson made his debut on the Opry. Although his appearances would be few and far between, Alan would become a member of the Opry's cast. 

March 4, 1996: Grand Ole Opry legend Minnie Pearl passed away from complications after suffering a series of strokes. Minnie had been a Grand Ole Opry member for over 50 years and was perhaps the most loved member of the Opry.

March 9, 1996: Minnie Pearl was remembered at the Opry on the first Saturday night following her death. Wilma Lee Cooper, Jean Shepard, Jeanne Pruett, Skeeter Davis, Connie Smith and Jeannie Seely sang, "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" which was Minnie's favorite song.

March 15, 1996: Grand Ole Opry member Bill Monroe, an Opry member since 1939, made his final appearance on the Friday Night Opry. The following morning, Bill was admitted to Baptist Hospital after suffering a stroke.

March 16, 1996: Grand Ole Opry member Don Gibson made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Don had originally joined the Opry's cast in the late 1950s and was fired in December 1964 for failing to meet the Opry's attendance requirements. He rejoined the cast years later, yet upon his return, he rarely appeared on the show. In fact, Don rarely performed anywhere. Don, who was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001, passed away in November 2003.

March 15, 1997: The Grand Ole Opry honored Grandpa Jones' 50th anniversary as a member of the Opry. As part of the show, the Opry unveiled a portrait of Grandpa that was to hang in the lobby at the Grand Ole Opry House. His picture joined a series of others that honored Roy Acuff, Hank Snow, Ernest Tubb, Jim Reeves and others. Sadly, after the 2010 flood, the pictures were removed. 

March 14, 1998: Diamond Rio was invited to become the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry. The accepted and officially became Opry members the following month.

March 13, 1999: Trisha Yearwood became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Trisha had been invited in January by Ricky Skaggs to join the cast. This will be her 26th year as an Opry member, and it has been nice to see Trisha making a few Opry appearances in the past year. 

March 3, 2000: Future Grand Ole Opry members Montgomery Gentry made their Opry debut. 

March 17, 2000: Frequent Opry guest, and Sirius XM host, Elizabeth Cook made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Since her Opry debut, it has been reported that Elizabeth has made more guest appearances on the Opry than any other current non-member, over 400 and counting. 

March 22, 2001: Opry member Johnny Russell was honored at a special benefit show at the Opry House. The show was held to raise funds for Johnny to help cover his mounting medical bills. Among those attending were Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Oak Ridge Boys, Ricky Skaggs and Ralph Emery. Johnny was one of the best loved members of the Opry and it was sad for all that Johnny had to turn for help from others during his final years. On a personal note, and not taking anything away from any of the other Opry members, I always found George Hamilton IV and Johnny Russell among the nicest. 

March 7, 2003: Long time Grand Ole Opry member Bill Carlisle made his final Grand Ole Opry appearance. A few days after this show, Bill suffered a stroke. Bill joined the Opry in November 1953 and 49 years later, Bill was appearing on the Opry most every weekend. The stroke ended Bill's performing career and he passed away on March 17.

March 22, 2003: Jimmy Wayne made his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. While never becoming an Opry member, Jimmy would be a regular guest on the Opry over the next decade. 

March 15, 2008: Randy Travis surprised Carrie Underwood during a guest appearance on the Opry and invited Carrie to become the Opry's newest member. Several months later in May, Carrie was officially inducted into the Opry's cast.

March 21, 2008: Grand Ole Opry member Charlie Walker made his final appearance at the Opry. Charlie had joined the cast in 1967. Charlie would pass away later that year from cancer. In addition to being a member of the Opry's cast, Charlie was also a member of the Country Disc Jockey Hall of Fame.

March 2, 2009: Opry legend Ernie Ashworth passed away. Ernie had been an Opry member for 45 years. When every he appeared on the Opry, you could count on Ernie to wear the suit with the colorful lips on it. 

March 8, 2009: Grand Ole Opry member Hank Locklin passed away at the age of 91. Hank joined the Opry in 1960 and at the time of his death, was the Opry's oldest member. "Send Me The Pillow You Dream On" was one of Hank's classic numbers, as was his rendition of "Danny Boy" which he did every St. Patrick's Day. Several years ago, Hank was the subject of a PBS show, which was very well done, and hopefully many of you had the chance to see it. 

March 26, 2009: Opry Country Classics is added to the Opry schedule of shows. The series of Thursday night shows would continue each spring and fall, often hosted by Opry member Larry Gatlin. 

March 27, 2009: Former WSM personality and Grand Ole Opry manager Hal Durham passed away.  He served as manager of the Grand Ole Opry from 1978-1993, a period that saw the additions of Garth Brooks, Randy Travis, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Reba McEntire and Alan Jackson to the Opry's cast. Sadly, this was the period of time at the Opry when Hal made the decision to accept new members without getting a commitment in regard to the number of appearances that were to be made. 

March 1, 2011: It was announced that Grand Ole Opry members Reba McEntire and Jean Shepard had been elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. For Jean, it was the culmination of a long career in country music.

March 2, 2012: Future Grand Ole Opry member Dustin Lynch made his first guest appearance on at the Grand Ole Opry. Dustin would join the Opry's cast in 2018. I will say that Dustin's Opry membership was somewhat of a surprise, but he has done well in honoring his Opry commitment. 

March 6, 2012: Opry members Connie Smith and Garth Brooks were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Garth's election was no surprise, while for Connie, it was somewhat surprising. 

March 24, 2012: Carol Lee Cooper. the leader of the Carol Lee Singers, announced her retirement. Carol Lee originally came to the Opry with her parents, Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper in 1957. Her retirement was the result of some voice and vocal issues that she had been experiencing. Not much has been heard regarding Carol Lee since her retirement. 

March 28, 2012: Former Grand Ole Opry member, and Country Music Hall of Fame member, Earl Scruggs passed away. 

March 5, 2013: The Grand Ole Opry honored Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins on the 50th anniversary of the plane crash that took their lives, along with pilot Randy Hughes. Among those taking part in the tribute were Jean Shepard, Terri Clark, Mandy Barnett, John Conlee and Chuck Mead.

March 14, 2013: Opry member Jack Greene passed away after a long illness. Jack, who was formally a member of Ernest Tubb's Texas Troubadours, joined the Opry in December 1967. Jack always did a great job singing "There Goes My Everything" and "Statue of a Fool." Even in his later years, Jack never lost his great voice.

March 15, 2014: The Grand Ole Opry marked the 40th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry House with two special shows that featured Blake Shelton, Old Crow Medicine Show, Josh Turner, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Jimmy Dickens and Miranda Lambert. I was at the Opry that night and both shows were wonderful. 

March 6, 2017: It was announced that Sally Williams was promoted to the position of Senior Vice President of Programming & Artists Relations for Opry Entertainment and General Manager of the Grand Ole Opry. She previously had been the General Manager of the Ryman Auditorium. While there was great excitement for Sally coming to the Opry, her time there did not last long. 

March 11, 2017: Dailey & Vincent became the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry. The bluegrass duo had been extended an invitation by Marty Stuart in December, upon their 100th guest appearance on the show. This will be their 8th year as Opry members. 

March 20, 2018: Chris Janson became the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Chris had made over 100 guest appearances on the show and had always said that his dream was to someday become a member of the Opry's cast. For Chris, this will be his 7th year as an Opry member. 

March 1, 2019: The Whites were honored upon their 35th anniversary as members of the Grand Ole Opry. Ricky Skaggs and Opry general manager Sally Williams joined in the salute.

March 2, 2019: Grand Ole Opry member Jesse McReynolds was recognized upon his 55th anniversary as an Opry member. Jesse, along with his brother Jim, joined the Opry's cast on March 2, 1964. While his brother passed away in 2002, Jesse continued as a solo member. Old Crow Medicine Show joined in the salute to Jesse.

March 5, 2019: The Grand Ole Opry invited Kelsea Ballerini to become a member of the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. Little Big Town offered the invite. Her formal induction would take place the following month.

March 12, 2019: Trisha Yearwood celebrated her 20th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Emmylou Harris, Ricky Skaggs and of course, Garth Brooks, joined in the celebration. 

March 7, 2020: Grand Ole Opry member Jesse McReynolds made his final appearance on the Opry. This was also the final Saturday night that the Opry had a live audience until October, due to the Covid restrictions. 

March 13, 2020: With the Covid pandemic beginning to grip the country, and many sporting events and concerts cancelled, the Grand Ole Opry announced that the shows would continue on Saturday nights, with limited artists and no audiences. These one-hour shows would be televised on Circle TV. 

March 14, 2020: The Grand Ole Opry was performed without an audience and the show was televised on the Circle network. This lineup that night featured Opry members Connie Smith, Bill Anderson and Jeannie Seely, along with Sam Williams, Mandy Barnett and Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper. 

March 29, 2020: Grand Ole Opry member Jan Howard passed away after a short period of declining health. Jan had been an Opry member for 49 years and was considered one of the "Grand Ladies of the Grand Ole Opry." 

March 30, 2020: Grand Ole Opry member Joe Diffie passed away after a short battle with Covid. Joe had joined the Opry in November 1993 and while he didn't make a lot of Opry appearances, you could count on Joe being at the Opry several times each year. He was always popular with the fans. 

March 19, 2022: During a guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, Bill Anderson surprised Jamey Johnson with an invitation to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Jamey had made it known for several years that he would really like to become a member. His induction would take place later in the summer. 

March 10, 2023: Gary Mule Deer was inducted as the Opry's newest member. Gary Mule, along with Henry Cho, became the first comedians to join the Opry cast since Jerry Clower in 1973. 

March 26, 2023: Grand Ole Opry member Ray Pillow passed away. Ray, who was an Opry member for over 50 years, was retired and had not appeared on the Opry in several years. 

March 2, 2024: The Whites celebrated their 40th anniversary as members of the Grand Ole Opry. It would also mark the final Opry appearance of Buck White.

March 13, 2024: Trisha Yearwood celebrated her 25th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Joining Trisha were Opry members Terri Clark and Pam Tillis, along with Suzy Bogguss.

March 16, 2024: The Grand Ole Opry celebrated its 50th anniversary at the Grand Ole Opry House. It was a star-studded night with a show that featured only members of the Opry, 13 in all. Mandy Barnett led the cast in singing "Wabash Cannonball" to open the show. 

March 19, 2025: Opry 100: A Celebration, aired live on NBC TV. The three-hour special was hosted by Blake Shelton and featured over 50 Grand Ole Opry members.