Starting out with some personal news. I know some of the readers follow me on Facebook, but for those who do not, I posted this message on Tuesday afternoon:
USA Today/The Tennessean is working on an Opry 100 documentary. Several weeks ago, I was contacted by Bryan West of the Tennessean, asking if I would be available for a video interview as part of this project. So on Monday, I was in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry House and was interviewed and filmed by Bryan for the documentary. I thought it went very well, and I am looking forward to when the documentary is finished and released, which should be sometime in the fall. Thanks to those who put my name out there to be a part of this project and thanks to Bryan for adjusting his scheduled to accommodate mine. When I can, I will share more details and updates.
I will add that I am very excited about this project as there are quite a few individuals involved, including members of the Grand Ole Opry. As to what the topics were that I spoke about, I'll let the documentary speak for itself when it comes out.
Now moving on to this week at the Grand Ole Opry, the weekend that follows the CMA Music Fest. It is also Father's Day weekend and to all of the Fathers, may it be a wonderful day for each of you.
Taking a look at the Friday Night Opry, Opry members Dailey & Vincent, Connie Smith, Gary Mule Deer and Riders In The Sky are on the schedule. Gary Mule Deer returns on Saturday night, joined this time by John Conlee, Mandy Barnett and Don Schlitz.
Looking at the non-members who are on the schedule for this weekend, Maggie Rose returns on Friday night, along with Gary Burr, Madeline Merlo and Phil Vassar. Saturday night, Kelsey Waldon is listed, as are Tim O-Brien & Jan Fabricius, and making his Opry debut, Aloe Blacc.
Friday June 13
7:00: Dailey & Vincent, Connie Smith, Gary Burr, Maggie Rose
Intermission
8:20: Phil Vassar, Gary Mule Deer, Madeline Merlo, Riders In The Sky
Saturday June 14
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, John Conlee, Kelsey Waldon, Gary Mule Deer, Tim O'Brien & Jan Fabricius
Intermission
8:20: Mandy Barnett, Opry Square Dancers, Aloe Blacc, Don Schlitz
(Lineups subject to change)
Alec Blacc, who is making his Opry debut on Saturday night, is a Grammy nominated singer and rapper who is known for having a smooth, soulful voice. He is scheduled to sing a three-song set, including “Daddy Told Me So,” a heartfelt track from his new album Stand Together (his first full collection of original songs in five years). The song is a beautiful nod to his late father, arriving just ahead of Father’s Day. It feels like a full-circle moment: Blacc honoring his dad on a stage that’s long been known for its deep emotional resonance. “Daddy Told Me So” stands out not only for its sonic warmth—drumline snares, bold horns… but for its message. It’s a track about legacy, lessons, and the kind of wisdom that lives on through love and lived experience.
Regarding his Opry debut, Alec said:
“It’s a tremendous honor to stand in the circle at the Grand Ole Opry,” he gushes. “The legacy of this stage is undeniable, and I’m proud to bring my voice and message to a space that celebrates storytelling in its purest form. To perform a song inspired by my father during Father’s Day weekend makes it all the more special.”
In the history of the Grand Ole Opry, a couple of events have taken place on June 14th through the years. First, it was on Saturday June 14, 1997, that Barbara Mandrell made her final performing appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.
At that point in her life, Barbara had made the decision to retire from performing and was going to concentrate on other aspects of the entertainment business. Unlike other artists who have gone on numerous farewell tours, Barbara's decision stuck. Since then, she has appeared several times at the Opry, generally to visit friends and on those occasions, being introduced to the audience. In 2022 she was recognized upon her 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and this past March she appeared on the Opry 100 Celebration show.
When Barbara made the decision to retire, she specifically asked Opry management if she could continue to be an Opry member. Up to that point, if a member retired, such as was the case with Lonzo & Oscar, Opry membership ended. In her case, management agreed with her request, and it set a trend for those who followed.
Here is the running order from June 14, 1997, Barbara Mandrell's final active Opry appearance:
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Jimmy C Newman (host): La Cajun Band
Wilma Lee Cooper: Poor Ellen Smith
Jimmy C Newman: Diggy Liggy Lo
Cajun Country: Cajun Stripper
6:45: Joggin' In A Jug
Grandpa Jones (host): Banjo Sam
Bill Carlisle: I've Waited Too Long
Grandpa Jones: Any Old Time
7:00: Shoney's
Bill Anderson (host): Get A Little Dirt On Your Hands
Jeanne Pruett: A Poor Man's Woman
The 4 Guys: Amazing Grace
Jeannie Seely: Speaking Of The Devil
The Whites: Hangin' Around
Bill Anderson: I Love You Drops
7:30: Standard Candy
Jimmy Dickens (host): Country Boy
Speer Family: After A While/I Want To Be Ready To Meet Him/
Barbara Mandrell: I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool/Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho
Barbara Mandrell & The Speer Family: The Dearest Friends I Ever Had
Jimmy Dickens: I Love Lucy Brown
8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Howdy Neighbor Howdy
Skeeter Davis: The End Of The World
Stonewall Jackson: Side-Steppin The Blues
Del Reeves: Two Dollars In The Jukebox/A Dime At A Time/Looking At The World Through A Windshield
Opry Square Dance Band w/Eddie Stubbs & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Wake Up Susan
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass Of Home
8:30: Clifty Farms
Mike Snider (host): (?)
Roy Drusky: Alone With You
Jean Shepard: Farewell Party
Charley Pride: Crystal Chandeliers/Kiss An Angel Good Morning
Mike Snider: Born To Shop
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Y'all Come
Speer Family: I Remember The Day/I'm Building A Bridge/Surely I Will/What A Day That Will Be/I'll Meet You In The Morning
Barbara Mandrell: Sleeping Single In A Double Bed/Night Life
Porter Wagoner: Freight Train Boogie
10:00: Massey Ferguson
Charley Pride (host): Crystal Chandeliers/Kiss An Angel Good Morning/Heartaches By The Numbers/Kawliga
10:15: White By MTD
Grandpa Jones (host): Apple Jack
Jean Shepard: Together Again
Grandpa Jones: Some Little Bug Is Gonna Find You Someday
10:30: Purnell
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind The Barn
The 4 Guys: How Married Are You Mary Ann
Jimmy Dickens: Another Bridge To Burn
10:45: Quality Certified Manufactured Homes
Mike Snider (host): Lonesome Road Blues
Opry Square Dance Band w/Eddie Stubbs & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Pretty Polly
Mike Snider: Foggy Mountain Breakdown
11:00: Coca Cola
Bill Anderson (host): Did She Mention My Name
Connie Smith: Once A Day
Stu Phillips: Heart Over Mind
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Bill Anderson: That's What Made Me Love You
11:30: Opry Book/Ryman
Johnny Russell (host): Good Hearted Woman
Charlie Nagatani: Eddie's Song
Del Reeves: Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me
Jeannie Seely: When He Leaves You
Johnny Paycheck: The Old Violin
Johnny Russell: Act Naturally
A couple of notes regarding that night: Charley Pride was the only artist scheduled for the 10:00 segment that night, a very rare occurrence at the Opry. Additionally, it was Roy Drusky's 38th anniversary as an Opry member. Finally, you may notice Johnny Paycheck listed on the last segment. He was not on the original Opry schedule that night but was invited on by Johnny Russell.
Moving ahead a few years, it was on Saturday June 14, 2003, that Jimmy Dickens appeared on stage with a stepladder to invite Trace Adkins to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
As reported by The Tennessean:
Big-voiced Trace Adkins was asked last night to become the next member of the Grand Ole Opry. Trace, known for up-tempo stomper This Ain't No Thinkin' Thing, appeared surprised by the announcement, which occurred during the Opry's televised portion. "I'm not worthy, but I'll take it," he told Country Music Television's Katie Cook. Trace will be officially inducted into the "Opry Family" on Aug. 23.
Here is the lineup from that night 22 years ago:
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens, Holly Dunn, Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys, Jack Greene
7:00: Ricky Skaggs, Dusty Drake, Trace Adkins, Jimmy C Newman
8:00: Porter Wagoner, George Hamilton IV, Mike Snider, Eddy Raven, Opry Square Dance Band
8:30: Bill Anderson, John Conlee, Elizabeth Cook, T. Graham Brown
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens, John Conlee, Dusty Drake
10:00: Porter Wagoner, Jimmy C Newman, Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys, Eddy Raven
10:30: Ricky Skaggs, Stonewall Jackson, Holly Dunn, Jack Greene, Opry Square Dance Band
11:00: Bill Anderson, Elizabeth Cook, Trace Adkins
11:30: Mike Snider, George Hamilton IV, Charlie Nagatani, T. Graham Brown
Overall, I would say that Trace has been a very popular member of the Grand Ole Opry and while he doesn't appear often, he appears enough for me to say that he is a loyal member of the cast.
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.
Byron, I seen on WSM’s Facebook page that Jeff Hoag is gone. I enjoyed listening to himon my 3x week trips to the Dairy Queen in the next town over. Do you know what happened?
ReplyDeleteNo. I saw the same post on WSM that you did. I have not seen anything further other than the comment from WSM that the nighttime show would with a different host.
DeleteI honestly liked Jeff when he took over more than Eddie Stubbs, which I thought would be an impossiblity.
ReplyDeleteI wrote an email to WSM a while back expressing my concern that Jeff Hoag might be on the way out. I was told very nicely and politely that my suspicions were unfounded. I became even more concerned lately when Jeff wasn't playing his kind of songs. I was unfortunately proven right.
I will follow Jeff wherever he goes on the radio, streaming, podcast, or whatever. I will NOT be going to bed with WSM featuring a canned playlist of multi-million selling songs, which will likely replace Jeff.
I knew WSM radio was starting to be in trouble when they got rid of their fabulous archives. Coffee, Country, and Cody are only on Circle television one hour now as that streaming adventure fades into oblivion. I worry greatly about the future of WSM radio as a country music venue.
I figured something was up lately when Jeff wasn’t having his usually different themes every night and not talking much during the broadcast. I have not listened to WSM since Jeff had been off the air. If anyone hears if Jeff has another show somewhere else please let us Jeff Hoag fans know l.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least two of us are unhappy Jeff is gone.
DeleteMisery loves company I guess. And like you, I'm not paying much attention to what comes on WSM after the 'Opry is over anymore.
Let us all know if you hear anything about Jeff's future plans.
First Eddie retires , now Jeff is gone. They were the only ones I listened too on WSM. Hopefully will find Jeff again somewhere.
DeleteJeff was great and hopefully it was his decision on leaving .For years I kept it on WSM, but the last few years I've only tuned in for Jeff and in & out for the Opry. There's three local radio stations in Middle Tennessee that plays traditional Country most of the time and I rather tune into to those stations instead of hearing the music that WSM plays during the day time.
Deletehttps://savingcountrymusic.com/beloved-country-dj-jeff-hoag-is-officially-out-at-wsm/comment-page-1/?unapproved=1670488&moderation-hash=2d02a951fd667c7c31176e9f5546c9da#comment-1670488
DeleteI think you have to cut and past the above to "read all about it."
Thanks for sharing this.
DeleteThe news came this morning that Joe Edwards has passed away. He was a member of the Grand Ole Opry Staff Band for over 48 years until his retirement. He was a wonderful man and a very talented fiddle player. One of a kind.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about Joe Edward’s . Prayers to Jan and the family. May his memory be for a blessing. Countryart
DeleteSeems like Joe always had a smile on his face. And his hair was always jet black just like Jim and Jesse kept theirs. Nat might be able to expand on this but for years Joe always came back to Indiana, Bloomfield near Bloomington I think, and participated in his hometown festival, he may have even been responsible for putting it on. Shamefully, I admit that I never made to one of them.
DeleteI think Joe was the last of the staff band I loved so much when my brother and I seriously started listening to the Opry every weekend in the early 80's. Did Joe actually retire or was he part of the purge of that band when they kicked Leon out and Porter and the Whites then continued to use him on the Opry stage with them. I seem to remember Jimmy Capps was about the only one left standing when that was over.
Jim
Sorry to see this news. I think he was part of the purge.
DeleteHe also played guitar for the Carlisles and Kirk McGee, and if you look up McGee, on one of the PBS Opry telecasts, Joe got the, um, full treatment.
Interesting that in his obit, it is listed that he retired from the Opry Staff Band, but yes, I do remember that he performed with The Whites afterwards.
DeleteI haven't looked it up, and I will, but is Glen Davis still alive? I just don't remember, and I should.
Glen Davis is the lone survivor yes
DeleteThanks for the comments and response. Glad to know Glen is still with us.
DeleteWe've talked about it before but it has not been mentioned here. In the 80's and up to his death, Roy Acuff would use Joe in place of Oswald when Os was absent. Made for a different sound but a throwback to the 60's when I think it was Jackie Phelps that would take a break on an electric guitar. Jackie was part of a Starday LP called Country Music Cannonball which was basically the Smoky Mountain Boys and girl who happened to be June Stearns at the time. It included Os, Howdy, Jimmie Riddle, Gene Martin, June and Jackie
Jim
Jeff was pretty much my last reason for listening to WSM. I work second shift and being in the eastern time zone I was able to catch the last two hours of his night shows. I also listened to his Sunday morning gospel program as often as possible. This is a tremendous loss. The next hundred years do not look very promising for the station and the Opry.
ReplyDeleteJoe has been in declining health for quite a while. He used to set up a booth at the Monroe County (Indiana) Fair and entertain with his wife Jan. Joe was always a nice man.
ReplyDeleteLocal DJ Sheila Stephen (who wrote "New Fool at an Old Game" for Reba) sang it with Joe playing when he was featured as the star on the ET Midnight Jamboree.
Jan made old-style country music outfits for both of them, and their show was "our kind of show."
His guitar playing was overlooked in my mind.
I will never understand how the 'Opry band is put together and why they fire people. I have to think that like Joe, they fired Danny Parks, who was the 'Opry band leader. Makes no sense. Fired Hoot Hester. The list is long.
Speaking up to say I disagree with the assessment that the next hundred years "do not look very promising" for the Opry. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and this is mine: Having read the recent book written to commemorate 100 years and listening to shows this year, i feel good about the future.
ReplyDeleteI think the 'Opry will be fine, as it has somehow become a place everybody wants to go to in their life, even if just once.
ReplyDeleteWSM is the entity that concerns me.