Grand Ole Opry 7/25 & 7/26

We have come upon the last weekend in July. Many of the Opry's members are off on the road, appearing at fairs, music festivals, arenas and stadiums. However, there are some who are not out on the road and several of them will be appearing on the Grand Ole Opry this weekend. 

Taking a look at the Friday Night Opry, members John Conlee, Charlie McCoy and Rhonda Vincent are on the schedule, while on Saturday night, four different Opry members will be appearing: T. Graham Brown, Riders In The Sky, Don Schlitz and Connie Smith. Finally, in what will be the final Sunday Night Opry until October, T. Graham Brown and Riders In The Sky are back to make it a two-show weekend. 

There is a lot of variety in those who will be making guest appearances this weekend. Veteran country music artist Darryl Worley is set for Friday, along with Opry NextStage artist Avery Anna, Neon Union and making his Opry debut, Gary Nicholson. 

There is another Opry debut on Saturday night with Callum Kerr scheduled. He will be joined by Mae Estes, Brennley Brown and comedian Brian Bates. Finally, Sunday night is very interesting in the collection of artists listed: formerly of Highway 101, Paulette Carlson is scheduled, as is husband/wife bluegrass artists Darin & Brooke Aldridge. Bryce Leatherwood, Wendy Moten and Restless Road will be making appearances, and finally, gospel music legend Russ Taff finishes out the lineup. 

Friday July 25
7:00: Rhonda Vincent, Gary Nicholson, Neon Union, Darryl Worley
Intermission
8:20: John Conlee, Ryan Larkins, Avery Anna, Charlie McCoy

Saturday July 26
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, T. Graham Brown, Brennley Brown, Callum Kerr, Don Schlitz
Intermission
8:20: Connie Smith, Opry Square Dancers, Brian Bates, Mae Estes, Riders In The Sky

Sunday July 27
7:00: T. Graham Brown, Darin & Brooke Aldridge, Restless Road, Russ Taff
Intermission
8:20: Paulette Carlson Bryce Leatherwood, Wendy Moten, Riders In The Sky

As mentioned, there are two Opry debuts this weekend, Gary Nicholson and Callum Kerr. Gary Nicholson is a singer/songwriter who has written or co-written over 700 songs. Among those songs are "One More Last Chance" by Vince Gill, "The Trouble with the Truth," recorded by Patty Loveless, and Don Williams' "That's the Thing About Love." His songs have also been recorded by Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks, Ringo Starr and Waylon Jennings, among others. In addition to his songwriting credits, he is a Grammy-winning producer, having helmed five albums for Delbert McClinton, earning two Grammy Awards along the way. He is a proud inductee of both the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Regarding his Opry debut, he said “It is a great thrill and honor to make my debut appearance on the Opry. I have performed numerous times through the years as a sideman for various artists, but it is so special to perform my songs under my own name. I never dreamed when I moved to Nashville in 1980 that I would someday have this opportunity, being mostly behind the scenes as a songwriter, sideman, and producer. I am very thankful that the Opry is recognizing songwriters.”

Callum Kerr's debut EP, Roots Under Me, is set to release on July 25. The EP showcases his rich songwriting and an ability to fuse twangy country with broad folk rock influences. His background is a compelling mixture of Scottish heritage and Texas upbringing, now centered in Nashville. 

As Opry 100 continues, for this week I am going to go back in Opry history and compare lineups from the weekend of July 25 & 26 through the years. I find it interesting to see how the lineups and the number of artists per show has changed in the past 30 years. 

Friday July 25, 1986
1st show
6:30: Del Reeves (host): Wilma Lee Cooper, Roy Drusky, Jeanne Pruett, David Houston
7:00: Bill Anderson (host): Mel McDaniel, Skeeter Davis, The 4 Guys
7:30: Roy Acuff (host): Charlie Walker, Minnie Pearl
8:00: Bill Monroe (host): Jean Shepard, George Hamilton IV, Billy Walker
8:30: Jack Greene (host): Jimmy C Newman, Gene Watson

2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson (host): The 4 Guys, Jeannie Seely, Mel McDaniel
10:00: Roy Acuff (host): Charlie Louvin, Lorrie Morgan, Ray Pillow, Justin Tubb
10:30: Bill Monroe (host): Skeeter Davis, The Carlisles, Gene Watson
11:00: Jimmy C Newman (host): Jean Shepard, Charlie Walker, David Houston
11:30: Billy Walker (host): George Hamilton IV, Jack Greene

Saturday July 26
1st show
6:30: Bill Anderson (host): The 4 Guys
6:45: Charlie Walker (host): Lorrie Morgan
7:00: George Hamilton IV (host): Jean Shepard, Justin Tubb, Charlie Louvin
7:30: Roy Acuff (host): Jeanne Pruett, Teddy Wilburn, Roy Drusky, The Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:00: Ray Pillow (host): Wilma Lee Cooper, Vic Willis Trio, Sylvia
8:30: Jimmy C Newman (host): Jeannie Seely, David Houston, Del Wood, The Carlisles

2nd show
9:30: George Hamilton IV (host): Stu Phillips, Lorrie Morgan, Charlie Louvin, 
10:00: Ray Pillow (host): Sylvia
10:15: Roy Acuff (host): Jean Shepard
10:30: Charlie Walker (host): Teddy Wilburn
10:45: Roy Drusky (host): Jeanne Pruett, The Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Jimmy C Newman (host): Wilma Lee Cooper, Vic Willis Trio, Justin Tubb
11:30: The 4 Guys (host): Jeannie Seely, David Houston, The Carlisles


Friday July 25, 1997
1st show
6:30: Del Reeves (host): Skeeter Davis, Bill Carlisle, Jean Shepard, Ray Pillow
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Oswald & Charlie, Jack Greene, Jeanne Pruett, Jimmy C Newman
7:30: Grandpa Jones (host): Wilma Lee Cooper, Stu Phillips, Jeannie Seely, Charlie Walker
8:00: Bill Anderson (host): Jan Howard, The 4 Guys, Connie Smith
8:30: Mike Snider (host): Martina McBride, The Whites

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Charlie Louvin, Jimmy C Newman, Martina McBride
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host): Del Reeves, Jeanne Pruett, Jack Greene, The Whites
10:30: Bill Anderson (host): Jean Shepard, Stonewall Jackson, Ray Pillow, Jan Howard
11:00: Mike Snider (host): Connie Smith, Stu Phillips, Jeannie Seely
11:30: Johnny Russell (host): Charlie Walker, Justin Tubb

Saturday July 26, 1997
1st show
6:30: Grandpa Jones (host): Jean Shepard
6:45: Jack Greene (host): Bill Carlisle
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Oswald & Charlie, Jimmy C Newman, Jeanne Pruett, Wilma Lee Cooper
7:30: World Vision Youth Ambassadors, Skeeter Davis, The 4 Guys, Charlie Walker, Mila Mason
8:00: Bill Anderson (host): Jan Howard, Charlie Louvin, Johnny Russell, Melvin Sloan Dancers, Opry Square Dance Band
8:30: Mike Snider (host): The Whites, The Stevens Sisters, Jeannie Seely

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Jeanne Pruett, Ray Pillow, Charlie Louvin, Darrell McCall
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host): Jan Howard
10:15: Bill Anderson (host): Jean Shepard
10:30: Jimmy C Newman (host): The Stevens Sisters
10:45: Mike Snider (host): Melvin Sloan Dancers, Opry Square Dance Band
11:00: Jack Greene (host): Del Reeves, The 4 Guys
11:30: Johnny Russell (host): Jeannie Seely, The Whites

Friday July 25, 2003: 
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host): The Whites, George Hamilton IV, Billy Currington
8:00: John Conlee (host): Jan Howard, Trent Summar & The New Row Mob, Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host): Jean Shepard, Bering Strait
9:00: Bill Anderson (host): Osborne Brothers, T. Graham Brown
9:30: Mike Snider (host): Josh Turner, T. Graham Brown

Saturday July 26, 2003
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host): Connie Smith, Jim Ed Brown
7:00: Bill Anderson (host): Rachel Proctor, Martina McBride, Earle Scruggs
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Jimmy C Newman, Osborne Brothers, Jean Shepard, Hal Ketchum, Opry Square Dance Band, Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host): Jack Greene, Holly Dunn, T. Graham Brown

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host): T. Graham Brown, Connie Smith
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Jimmy C Newman, Jeannie Seely, Hal Ketchum, Earl Scruggs
10:30: Jean Shepard (host): Charlie Walker, Martina McBride, Opry Square Dance Band, Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host): Osborne Brothers, Rachel Proctor
11:30: George Hamilton IV (host): Holly Dunn, Jack Greene

Friday July 25, 2008
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host): Jimmy C Newman: Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
8:30: Jim Ed Brown (host): Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys, Jean Shepard, The Time Jumpers
9:00: Ricky Skaggs (host): The Whites, Rebecca Lynn Howard
9:30: Marty Stuart (host): Connie Smith, Gene Watson

Saturday July 26, 2008
1st show
7:00: Jimmy C Newman (host): Connie Smith, Jennifer Hanson
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press, Suzy Bogguss
8:00: Jean Shepard (host): Jan Howard, The Isaacs, Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jim Ed Brown (host): The Whites, The Time Jumpers

2nd show
9:30: Jimmy C Newman (host): Connie Smith, Jennifer Hanson
10:00: Jeannie Seely (host): Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X Press, Suzy Bogguss
10:30: Jean Shepard (host): Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys, The Isaacs, Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jim Ed Brown (host): The Whites, The Time Jumpers 

Friday July 25, 2014
1st show
7:00: John Conlee, The Gibson Brothers
7:30: Lennon & Maisy, The Whites
8:00: Henry Cho, The Band Perry
8:30: Carrie Underwood

2nd show
9:30: John Conlee, The Gibson Brothers
10:00: Lennon & Maisy, The Whites
10:30: Henry Cho, The Band Perry
11:00: Carrie Underwood

Saturday July 26, 2014
7:00: John Conlee (host): Greg Bates
7:30: The Whites (host): T. Bubba Bechtol, Fiddlin' Carson Peters Band
Intermission
8:15: George Hamilton IV (host): Jean Shepard, Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Connie Smith (host): Jesse McReynolds, Casey James

Yes, definitely some changes in those lineups and I might add, not all for the good. 

As always, thanks for checking out the Grand Ole Opry this weekend and thanks for reading and commenting.