Grand Ole Opry 6/6 & 6/7

Starting off this week with news from the Grand Ole Opry and Carrie Underwood, as noted in the press release: 

NASHVILLE, TN – June 3, 2025 – 17-year Opry member Carrie Underwood gave her fans a sneak peek of the custom rhinestone-themed Opry 100 mic stand during a performance at her official fan club party at the Grand Ole Opry House on Tuesday afternoon, where she was also celebrating the 2-year anniversary of her SiriusXM channel, CARRIE’S COUNTRY.

 Later that evening, Underwood revealed the specially designed Opry mic stand during her performances in both sold-out Opry shows. The stand was commissioned exclusively for the Opry’s 100th year, featuring sparkling rhinestones inspired by and marking the Opry’s ‘rhinestone milestone.’  It will be used for special performances throughout the Opry’s centennial celebration.

 During the two-show Tuesday night Opry kicking off CMA FEST, Underwood also surprised the audience by joining Ben Fuller during his set for their duet of “If It Was Up To Me.”

 The 8-time GRAMMY® winner was inducted into the Opry family on May 10, 2008.

NOTE: Starting Thursday through Sunday this week, the Opry 100 Rhinestone mic stand will be at the Grand Ole Opry booth at CMA Fest in downtown Nashville. The Opry booth is in “Fan Alley” close to 1st Ave & Broadway. Fans can stop by and get a 360 “glam cam” photo moment with the specially designed Opry 100 rhinestone mic stand. 

The Grand Ole Opry continues to promote Opry 100 with specially designed items and memorabilia and this mic stand, along with the one revealed by Carly Pearce dedicated to Dolly Parton are two examples of the promotion and marketing of Opry 100. 

Moving ahead to this weekend at the Opry, there are three shows this weekend: the Friday Night Opry along with Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, along with a special Opry At The Ryman Matinee on Saturday afternoon. Even with most of the CMA Fest activity taking place downtown, there are still solid lineups taking place at the Opry. 

The Friday Night Opry features Opry members Mark Wills, Charlie McCoy, Connie Smith, Don Schlitz and Old Crow Medicine Show. Mark Wills and Old Crow Medicine Show are back on Saturday night, joined by members Mandy Barnett, Bill Anderson and Craig Morgan. 

Exile, who have been guesting on the Opry for decades and are celebrating their 50th year as a group, will be appearing on Friday night, along with Crissy Metz. Saturday night has Cam on the schedule along with John Foster, who will be making his Opry debut. 

Friday June 6
7:00: Mark Wills, Charlie McCoy, Crissy Metz, Exile
Intermission
8:20: Connie Smith, Don Schlitz, Old Crow Medicine Show

Saturday June 7
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mandy Barnett, Bill Anderson, Cam, Mark Wills
Intermission
8:30: John Foster, Opry Square Dancers, Craig Morgan, Old Crow Medicine Show

Nice to see Connie back on the schedule after missing last weekend. It is also nice to see that the majority of artists appearing on each show are Opry members. 

John Foster, who is making his Opry debut on Saturday night, is certainly fostering his country music career after coming in second in American Idol Season 23. After landing a performance with “That’s What I Love About Sunday” singer Craig Morgan, he had this to say: “Tonight I had the pleasure of singing with Grand Ole Opry member Craig Morgan, and I’m incredibly honored to announce that I will make my Opry debut on Saturday, June 7th!” 

The rising star added that when he first visited the Opry, he teared up, so overwhelmed with joy was he. “As an amateur country music historian, there is no more significant place to my passion (country music) than the Grand Ole Opry,” he said. “This has been my #1 dream ever since I started music, and now, because of your support, my dream will come true! I will never be able to express my gratitude! Glory be to God!”

It sounds like John Foster gets it when it comes to country music and the Grand Ole Opry. 

As I wrote, there will also be an Opry matinee at the Ryman Auditorium on Saturday afternoon. Here is the lineup for that show:

Saturday June 7
2:00: Dailey & Vincent, Jake Hoot, Mandy Barnett, John Berry
Intermission
3:15: T. Graham Brown, Don Schlitz, Lorrie Morgan

(As of Wednesday evening, Lorrie Morgan is still listed on the schedule. However, John Conlee and Chapel Hart have been removed). 

As Opry100 continues, this week I go back to Friday June 7, 1991, as that was the night Alan Jackson became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. 

From The Tennessean: 

Alan Jackson, who once brought the Grand Ole Opry cast their fan letters, becomes the newest member of the famed country music community Friday night. During the past 18 months, the tall Georgia-born singer has scaled the heights of the country music industry with hits such as Here in the Real World, Chasing That Neon Rainbow and Don't Rock the Jukebox. 

But not too long ago, he was working a day job in the mail room of The Nashville Network, just a stone's throw from the Opry's back door. "I used to deliver the mail over to the Opry," Jackson said on Thursday. 

Reared as a mechanic's son in Newnan, Georgia, Jackson didn't exactly grow up on the Opry but has tuned into the country music radio show regularly since moving to Nashville in the mid-'80s. 

Jackson's formal induction as an Opry member comes on the 7:30 p.m. segment of Friday's show. He's made guest appearances since his country chart success and could have used his TNN connections to get on even earlier. "I had the inside track-singers can get on the Opry if they know someone who's hosting one of the segments," Jackson said. "I never did push trying to do that until I had a reason-until someone wanted to hear me." 

Opry stars Randy Travis and Roy Acuff are scheduled to introduce Jackson for his induction into the show's cast. 

Here is the posted lineup from 34 years ago, Friday June 7, 1991, the night Alan Jackson became a member of the Grand Ole Opry: 

1st show
6:30: Jack Greene, Wilma Lee Cooper, Roy Drusky, Jean Shepard, Jimmy C Newman
7:00: Porter Wagoner, Riders In The Sky, Skeeter Davis, Del Reeves, Ray Pillow
7:30: Roy Acuff, Randy Travis, Alan Jackson
8:00: Grandpa Jones, The 4 Guys, Charlie Walker, The Whites
8:30: Hank Snow, Bill Anderson, Jeannie Seely, Connie Smith

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner, Jan Howard, The Carlisles, Alan Jackson
10:00: Roy Acuff, Jack Greene, Jean Shepard
10:30: Grandpa Jones, David Houston, Del Reeves, Jimmy C Newman, Connie Smith
11:00: Hank Snow, The 4 Guys, Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider
11:30: Charlie Walker, Ray Pillow, The Whites, Johnny Russell 

As we all know, Alan joined the Opry during the period when there were basically no requirements for these new Opry members to appear. He was part of that group that included Garth Brooks, Travis Tritt, Clint Black and Vince Gill. Of those, only Vince stayed true to his Opry membership. 

Alan, who is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, is now at the stage of his career where he has reduced his appearances and has been concentrating on recovering from health issues. It was nice to see him at the Opry House in March as part of the Opry 100 Celebration. 

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.