The last weekend of June is upon us and with that comes news that Grand Ole Opry member Dolly Parton is headed to Las Vegas:
Dolly Parton is headed to the Las Vegas Strip with a brand-new limited-run engagement at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Dolly: Live in Las Vegas will feature six performances running from December 4 through 13, 2025 during National Finals Rodeo.
"To say I’m excited would be an understatement," Dolly said. "I haven’t worked Vegas in years, and I’ve always loved singing there. I’m looking so forward to the shows in The Colosseum at Caesars and I hope you are as well. See you there!"
Dolly: Live In Las Vegas is a hit-driven concert event bringing Dolly back to Vegas for her first extended run in 32 years. Weaving together seven decades of classic hits and fan favorites including "9 to 5," "Jolene," "I Will Always Love You," "Coat Of Many Colors," and many more, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see one of the world's most beloved entertainers at the peak of her success.
I will say that I felt it was just a matter of time before Dolly headed back out to do some shows and Las Vegas seemed to be a logical destination. Over the past several years, Dolly had cut back on her personal appearances in order to stay close to home, and with her husband Carl, who had been in declining health. Dolly has several projects in the works including the new hotel and museum in Nashville. It will be interesting to see if further shows, including a Grand Ole Opry appearance during the Opry's 100th year, will be added to her schedule.
Oh, by the way, tickets have gone on sale for this event and looking at the secondary ticket sites, I see tickets on StubHub listed in the thousands, including two prime tickets for one of the shows listed at over $20,000, fees included. I think I will take a pass.
Now taking a look at the Grand Ole Opry this weekend, there are three shows on the schedule, including a Sunday Night Opry.
Starting with the Friday Night Opry, Grand Ole Opry members Charlie McCoy, Riders In The Sky and Gene Watson are listed on the schedule. A group from my neck of the woods, The Shootouts, head up the non-members scheduled to appear. For those who haven't heard the new album, I highly recommend you take a listen. It is a great one as the future continues to be bright for this group. Rounding out the Friday lineup are Jimmy Fortune, Wyatt Ellis, Alexandra Kay, and making her Opry debut, Coco Jones.
Taking a look at Saturday night, three different Opry members will be appearing: Mandy Barnett, John Conlee and Don Schlitz. Wendy Moten, who is currently on tour with Vince Gill, will be taking advantage of the break in his tour by appearing on the Opry on Saturday, along with comedian Jeff Allen, Wood Box Heroes and a great singer/songwriter, Erin Enderlin.
Finally, the Sunday Night Opry is back on the schedule and this week will feature Opry members Mandy Barnett, T. Graham Brown and Riders In The Sky. Joining that group will be comedian Brian Bates, The Steeldrivers, Eric Paslay, Jake Hoot and Twitty & Lynn.
Friday June 27
7:00: Gene Watson, Wyatt Ellis, Coco Jones, Charlie McCoy
Intermission
8:20: Jimmy Fortune, Alexandra Kay, The Shootouts, Riders In The Sky
Saturday June 28
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mandy Barnett, John Conlee, Erin Enderlin, Wood Box Heroes
Intermission
8:20: Wendy Moten, Opry Square Dancers, Jeff Allen, Don Schlitz
Sunday June 29
7:00: T. Graham Brown, Jake Hoot, Twitty & Lynn, The Steeldrivers
Intermission
8:20: Mandy Barnett, Brian Bates, Eric Paslay, Rides In The Sky
Coco Jones, who is making her Opry debut on Friday night, is a singer/songwriter and a Nashville native. She began recording at the age of 9 and was called to acting—first as a recurring guest on Disney’s musical sketch comedy, So Random!, and in 2012, as the golden-voiced love interest in the network’s TV movie, Let It Shine. Since then, she’s showcased her formidable acting skills playing Hilary Banks in Peacock’s Fresh Prince reboot, Bel-Air and Netflix’s Vampires vs. the Bronx.
She signed with High Standardz/Def Jam in 2022 and released the EP What I Didn’t Tell You with the lead single “ICU,” which has been certified platinum. She’s been nominated for an impressive seven Grammy Awards—including the coveted Best New Artist accolade— and won in 2024 for Best R&B Performance “ICU.” The song was lauded by fans and critics alike and peaked at #1 on the Billboard R&B Airplay chart, leading to Best New Artist wins at the BET Awards, The Soul Train Awards and NAACP Image Awards.
With the release of 2x GRAMMY nominated song “Here We Go (Uh Oh),” as well as “You,” and “On Sight,” this next chapter finds the multihyphenate singer/songwriter and actress embarking on her debut album and stepping into an era of empowerment and connection.
This week the Opry 100 spotlight shines on George Morgan as it was 50 years ago, Saturday June 28, 1975, that George made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.
George Morgan is remembered as one of the pioneers of country music, who brought a smooth and sophisticated style to the genre. He influenced many singers who came after him, such as Jim Reeves, Ray Price, Eddy Arnold, and Glen Campbell. He left behind a musical legacy that spans generations and genres. He is still regarded as one of the best country singers of all time. According to the Country Music Hall of Fame, “George Morgan’s voice was one of the purest and most expressive in country music history."
In 1948, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry and recorded the song "Candy Kisses," which was a number one hit for three weeks on the Country Music Billboard charts in 1949. His other Country Music Billboard hits included "Almost," which reached #2; "I'm in Love Again," which reached #3; and "Room Full of Roses," "You're the Only Good Thing," and "Please Don't Let Me Love You," which all reached #4. Reaching #25 on the Top 100 Hits, "Room Full of Roses" crossed over from the country to the popular music audience. George who is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, was the last person to sing on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium before the Grand Ole Opry moved to its new location in 1974.
When George came to the Grand Ole Opry in 1948, he was considered as the replacement for Eddy Arnold, who had recently left the show. Not only was George one of the Opry's great stars, but he was also known as a practical joker. Backstage at the Opry, George would post the "Ugly List." From Jeanne Pruett: "George would post his Ugly List every Friday night at the Opry. And before the show was over it was a gathering place for all of the backstage people. We'd all gang around the bulletin board to see who was on George's Ugly List. It was a place of honor because George only put people on there that he really cared about."
On May 26, 1975, George suffered a heart attack while installing a television antenna on the roof of his Madison home. He recovered enough to return to the Opry in June, where on June 28, his friends celebrated his 51st birthday on stage. Nobody knew it at the time, but that night would be George's final night at the Opry. Shortly after, he learned that he needed open heart surgery and entered Baptist Hospital in early July. However, complications set in and with his family at his side, he passed away on July 7.
From Vic Willis: "After George died, we kept putting up the Ugly List every week, in his memory, you know. And we kept putting names on it the way George used to do." Over time, the tradition of the list faded away.
Now here is the running order from that night 50 years ago, June 28, 1975, George Morgan's 51st birthday and his final night on the Grand Ole Opry:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): Big Midnight Special
Leona Williams: I Can't Help It
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Hallelujah; We Shall Rise/There's A Big Wheel
6:45: Rudy's
Wilburn Brothers (host): Roll Muddy River
Connie Smith: I've Got My Baby On My Mind
The 4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On
Wilburn Brothers: Someone Before Me
7:00: Shoney's
Charlie Louvin (host): Will You Visit Me On Sundays
Skeeter Davis: Wishful Thinking
Narvel Felts: Reconsider Me
Stu Stevens: Five & Dimers
Charlie Louvin: See The Big Man Cry
Skeeter Davis: Midnight Blue
Narvel Felts: Drift Away
7:30: Standard Candy
Billy Grammer (host): Gotta Travel On
Jan Howard: Evil On Your Mind
Johnny Carver: Tie A Yellow Ribbon
Crook Brothers & The Tennessee Travelers: Liberty
Billy Grammer: Family Man
Jan Howard: You Don't Know Me
Billy Grammer: Just A Closer Walk With Thee
Johnny Carver: Country Lullaby
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Cottonfields/Night Train To Memphis
Jeanne Pruett: Hold To My Unchanging Love/Love Me/You Don't Need To Move A Mountain/Satin Sheets
Kenny Price: Walking On New Grass
Del Wood: Cajun Stripper
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
Jeanne Pruett: The Poor Man's Woman
Kenny Price: Birds & Children Fly Away
Roy Acuff: I Saw The Light
8:30: Stephens
George Morgan (host): Before You
Willis Brothers: Cimarron
Joe Douglas: Before The Next Teardrop Falls
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
George Morgan: From This Moment On
Lorrie Morgan: Smile For Me
Joe Douglas: Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Wilburn Brothers (host): It Looks Like The Sun's Gonna Shine
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
Connie Smith: Dallas
Stu Stevens: Five & Dimers
Connie Smith: Down In The Valley
Wilburn Brothers: God Bless America Again
10:00: Fender
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): Poor Ellen Smith
Skeeter Davis: If You Love Me Let Me Know/Midnight Blue
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Will The Circle Be Unbroken
10:15: Union 76
Charlie Louvin (host): When You Have To Fly Alone
Leona Williams: I Can't Help It
Narvel Felts: Reconsider Me
Charlie Louvin: When I Stop Dreaming
10:30: Trailblazer
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jan Howard: You'll Never Know
Del Wood: The Entertainer
Roy Acuff: Carry Me Back To The Mountains
10:45: Beechnut
Billy Grammer (host): Family Man
Johnny Carver: Tie A Yellow Ribbon
Crook Brothers & The Tennessee Travelers: Sally Goodin
Billy Grammer: How Great Thou Art
11:00: Coca Cola
George Morgan (host): You Turn Me On
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Marcelle Dotty: Saturday Night Special
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Gray Eagle
Jeanne Pruett: The Poor Man's Woman
Sam McGee: Weary, Weary Blues
George Morgan: The Last Letter
11:30: Elm Hill
The 4 Guys (host): Down By The Lazy River
Kenny Price: She's Got That Lazy Look/Sheriff Of Boone County
Duke Of Paducah: The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise
Joe Douglas: Linda On My Mind
The 4 Guys: Catfish John
Here's a final story regarding George Morgan, courtesy from the Tennessean:
Minutes before banker Clarence Reynolds was rushed to emergency open heart surgery five weeks ago, he looked into the eyes of an old friend who came with others to wish him well. "Boys, enjoy your life while you can," he told country music entertainer George Morgan. "You never know...."
Three weeks later, Reynolds was enjoying an excellent recovery from the operation when Morgan dedicated that last song he would ever sing on the Grand Ole Opry to his sick friend. "He never told anyone during that show that he was going to have open heart surgery, too," Reynolds remembered yesterday. Morgan died July 7, five days after his operation.
"I have the Chairman of the Board, as I call Him-my God in Heaven-to thank for being alive," Reynolds said. "And I know a lot of prayers went up for George Morgan too. But God just needed a voice like George Morgan's in Heaven. I really believe that."
"I called George the night before his operation, and he accused me of upstaging him" Reynolds said. '"You stole the show' he said. He asked if I was going to come to his grand opening, since he came to mine. But I told him I couldn't make it. Then he said, 'Clarence, you pray for me."'
Like so many others, George Morgan's legacy at the Opry has largely faded away and he is more known as Lorrie Morgan's father rather than the great country music singer that he was. She doesn't sing it often but when Lorrie sings "Candy Kisses" on the Opry, it always brings a smile to my face.
That takes care of it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.
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