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.
It’s always a good weekend for me when Mark and Vince are both on together. I honestly truly believe that Mark is the most underrated vocalist in country music today. He was on Ronnie Milsap’s podcast recently and even made the statement that I have kind of alluded to without really knowing how to say it. He got his first Record deal at about 20 years old and so he literally still sounded like a child on most of the big number one records. He had major hits that most of my generation knows, but he is better today, by 1,000,000 miles, then he was when he had his radio success and he does things that I don’t know if people who cannot sing fully can appreciate. Like I don’t know how people process music if they don’t sing. But, he is just almost always note for note absolutely perfect. And Vince is Vince. I think as his touring slows down we will see him more and more. 10 years from now I won’t be terribly shocked if we see him Every couple of weeks and he makes dozens of appearance as a year. He’s pretty much already making dozens I believe as I think Byron said that last year was the most he has ever appeared in one year? All that say it will be a good weekend. Ez
ReplyDeleteAgree EZ. Love Vince. Love Mark Wills. Back in the mid-90’s he was scheduled for the 3d day of a musical festival and it was not automatically cancelled when the heavy rains came before time for the show. He put on an impromptu show for those of us who showed up anyway, thankfully it was in a large tent. Years later we mentioned it to him and he definitely remembered that show. Great guy!
DeleteIt's been a while back that Vince asked Mark to sing a song on the 'Opry that was not one of Mark's hits.
DeleteI was AMAZED at how well Mark can sing songs beyond his best sellers. I mean, I agree with Ez. Mark is really good!
Mandy Barnett has been added on to Friday night and Rob Brydon has been added on Saturday night.
ReplyDeleteBill Cody is back on Coffee, Country, and Cody after a seven and a half week absence (or so).
ReplyDeleteGood to hear his voice on WSM again!
I just wrote this whole reply to Nat and now I have no idea where it went. 😂 oh well. Any idea why Bill has been gone? I wondered why he had nothing to do with the 100 celebration. Ez
ReplyDeleteBill had some pretty serious medical issues going on and spent a number of weeks in the hospital.
DeleteWhat an awesome lineup from 1962 with huge hits being sung. Most awesome.
ReplyDeleteNittannee73
That Katelyn girl, was one of the most hilarious acts we’ve seen in a long time like, she was funnier than the comedians! Ez
ReplyDeleteFor years, the Grand Ole Opry did not publish their lineups in advance. You either had to wait until the Friday Tennessean or Banner was published, or if you went to the ticket office, they would have the lineups taped to the window of the trailer. Then later, they added a recording that you could call and receive the lineup.
ReplyDeleteMoving into more recent times, the Opry would post the lineup on their website, or you could even call and speak to a real person at the ticket office, and if they were not too busy, you could receive the lineup.
Now, while the Opry will post on the website the pictures of the artists who are "scheduled to appear", they will no longer post the show schedule, or what is called the running order, because as how it was explained to me, the show schedule is always subject to change. If you are in Nashville and go to the ticket office, by Wednesday or Thursday, they will have it for you.
Last night was a perfect example of why they do not post a show schedule ahead of time. Connie Smith was scheduled but cancelled. Mandy Barnett was pictured on the website as "scheduled to appear" but it would appear that she was never on the actual schedule. Gene Watson was moved up to take Connie's spot, while Don Schlitz was added to replace Connie.
I have been fortunate that I continue to receive the show schedules and will continue to post them. Just always remember, as the Opry reminds me, the schedules are subject to change.
I've tried to be as positive as I can if I post at all anymore or I keep my mouth shut. I have to say I am disappointed that in that list of history notes that we can mention the visit of a Rock star but can't mention the death of a 49 year member at the same time Joe Diffie passed. And I don't want to hear that nobody knows who Jan Howard is. She was dedicated member and should have been noted. It would have fit, "we lost two dedicated Opry members back to back". But we have put our diversity on display and instead mention the Rock legend who contributed nothing to the Opry.
ReplyDeleteI've used my quota of complaints for the month. Old habits die hard.
Jim