Early this week, there was the announcement and press release regarding A Grand Old Opry Christmas movie to be aired on the Hallmark Channel. Here is the press release:
STUDIO CITY, CA and NASHVILLE, TN – August 11, 2025 – Hallmark Channel, the perennial, undisputed #1 destination for holiday movie viewing and the Grand Ole Opry, the show that made country music famous, are setting the stage for a magical trip across time with A Grand Ole Opry Christmas, a new, original movie starring Nikki DeLoach (Curious Caterer Mysteries, Our Holiday Story) and Kristoffer Polaha (A Biltmore Christmas, The Christmas Quest), premiering this year during Hallmark Channel’s 16th annual Countdown to Christmas programming event. Production begins later this month at iconic locations including the Grand Ole Opry House. The movie will feature familiar faces from the Opry’s star-studded cast, with artists to be announced at a later date.
The network also announced that GRAMMY® Award-winning country music superstar and Opry member Brad Paisley will write original music for A Grand Ole Opry Christmas and will also perform. Additionally, Paisley will write and record the official anthem for the network’s 2025 Countdown to Christmas on-air campaign.
“As the Grand Ole Opry celebrates its 100th birthday this year, this is the perfect time for us to partner with this beloved, iconic American institution and create Christmas magic together,” remarked Darren Abbott, Chief Brand Officer, Hallmark. “Nikki and Kris are fan favorites and we know they will beautifully bring to life this emotional and heartfelt story that is sure to become an instant classic.”
“Our goal in this milestone year is to put the Opry, its artists and the rich songwriting traditions that have made country music a global sensation in front of more people than ever before,” said Colin Reed, Executive Chairman of Ryman Hospitality Properties, the Opry’s parent company. “Our partnership with Hallmark brings these elements to life this holiday season through a creative and uplifting take on a uniquely Nashville story.”
“Having the incredibly talented Brad Paisley write and perform original music for the movie is what Christmas dreams are made of,” Abbott continued. “And we’re equally excited to have him write and record an original song that will be the soundtrack of our on-air campaign throughout the season.”
“The Hallmark Channel to me is a major part of finding the joy and the spirit of the holidays,” said Paisley. “We turn it on and leave it on in our house like Christmas tree lights or decorations, it’s a major part of the atmosphere for us. I loved the challenge of creating that same magic with this music by letting it take you to the same place that these movies and this world Hallmark has built. Can’t wait for you to hear what all we’ve done. Also, knowing the Opry is the setting for one of these movies is very inspiring.”
Hallmark is launching an exclusive collection of Hallmark and Opry co-branded products including greeting cards, apparel, accessories, jewelry and gifts – the perfect way for fans to celebrate Christmas in country style. The collection will be available to shop later this year at Hallmark.com, Shop.Opry.com, The Opry Shops and at the Hallmark Christmas Experience in Kansas City.
ABOUT A GRAND OLE OPRY CHRISTMAS
Gentry Woods (DeLoach), daughter of late country music icon Jett Woods – half of the famed duo Winter and Woods – abandoned her dream of a songwriting career and distanced herself from her father’s legacy following his tragic car accident 30 years prior. When the Grand Ole Opry invites her to represent Jett at their centennial celebration at Christmas, she’s hesitant to return to the place steeped in bittersweet memories. Encouraged by her good friends, Gentry visits the Opry and, while seated in one of the vaunted venue’s oak church pews, is suddenly transported to 1995. Gentry’s lifelong friend Mac (Polaha) a country music talent manager, finds himself in 1995 as well. Thanks to some Christmas magic, Gentry gets precious time with her father, creative inspiration to finish the song she began decades earlier as a teen and learns surprising answers to questions about her father that have followed her for the last three decades.
It's nice to see Brad Paisley a part of this special. It would be even nicer to see Brad Paisley back at the Opry. So far during the Opry's 100th year, he has yet to appear.
Now moving ahead to this weekend at the Grand Ole Opry, the Friday Night Opry features Opry members Dailey & Vincent, John Conlee, Connie Smith and Charlie McCoy. Saturday night Bill Anderson returns, along with T. Graham Brown and Don Schlitz.
Runaway June is guesting on Friday, along with Peytan Porter, Noah Thompson and comedian Aaron Weber. Jordan Davis, Kylie Morgan, Monte Warden and Wyatt Ellis are scheduled on Saturday
Friday August 15
7:00: Dailey & Vincent, John Conlee, Connie Smith, Runaway June
Intermission
8:20: Peyton Porter, Aaron Weber, Noah Thompson, Charlie McCoy
Saturday August 16
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, T. Graham Brown, Bill Anderson, Jordan Davis
Intermission
8:20: Kylie Morgan, Opry Square Dancers, Monte Warden, Wyatt Ellis, Don Schlitz
Taking a look at the weekend of August 15 & 16, 1986, I thought for the mid-1980s, this was a pretty typical weekend at the Grand Ole Opry. The vast majority of the acts on both shows were Opry members. The non-members on the Friday Night Opry included Keith Whitley and Ronnie McDowell. The 7:00 segment on Saturday night was televised by TNN and featured a guest appearance by Jeannie C. Riley. Jeannie also appeared on the late show that night. The rest of the lineup consisted of Opry members that you would typically see on a Friday or Saturday night at the Opry.
First, here is the posted lineup from Friday August 15:
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host): The 4 Guys, Jeannie Pruett, Roy Drusky, Charlie Louvin
7:00: Bill Anderson (host): Ronnie McDowell, Jan Howard, Justin Tubb
7:30: Roy Acuff (host): Jimmy C Newman, Jean Shepard, Minnie Pearl
8:00: Bill Monroe (host): Connie Smith, Keith Whitley, Skeeter Davis
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Stonewall Jackson, Jeannie Seely, Charlie Walker
2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson (host): Jimmy C Newman, The Tennessee Flatfooters, Ronnie McDowell
10:00: Roy Acuff (host): Jimmy Dickens, Bill Carlisle, The 4 Guys
10:30: Bill Monroe (host): Jean Shepard, Ray Pillow
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Jeannie Seely, Stonewall Jackson, Connie Smith
11:30: Charlie Walker (host): Skeeter Davis, Keith Whitley
Now here is the running order from the following night:
Saturday August 16, 1986
1st show
6:30: Bonanza
Jimmy Dickens (host): Family Reunion
The 4 Guys: Shenandoah
Jimmy Dickens: I'm Just Blue Enough To Do Most Anything/Sleepin' At The Foot Of The Bed
6:45: Rudy's
Charlie Walker (host): The Mean Woman With The Blue Eyes
Skeeter Davis: I Ain't Never
Charlie Walker: One Step Away From Coming Home
Charlie Walker & Joe Edwards: Ida Red
7:00: Shoney's
Ricky Skaggs (host): Love's Gonna Get You Someday
Jim Ed Brown: When A Child Is Born
Jeannie C Riley: Cryin' My Heart Out Over You
Johnny Russell: Red Necks, White Socks & Blue Ribbon Beer
Ricky Skaggs: Cajun Moon/Honey Open That Door
7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Ray Pillow: 'Til The Best Comes Along
Charlie Louvin: He Can Be Found/When I Stop Dreaming
Connie Smith: Then & Only Then/Once A Day
Crook Brothers & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sally Goodin
8:00: Martha White
Del Reeves (host): Looking At The World Through A Windshield
Jean Shepard: Kentucky
Bill Carlisle: Same Old Tale That The Crow Told Me
Vic Willis Trio: Let It Be Me
Roy Drusky: Billy Bayou
Del Reeves: Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me
8:30: Music Valley Drive
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Stonewall Jackson; Why I'm Walkin'/Muddy Water
Jan Howard: Rocking With You
Hank Snow: Nevertheless
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Ricky Skaggs (host): Highway 40 Blues
Jeannie Seely: When You're Heart's Been Stepped On
Jim Ed Brown: Between A Hurt & A Heartache
The 4 Guys: Wings Of A Dove
Lorrie Morgan: Do I Love You
Ricky Skaggs: I'm Just A Country Boy
10:00: Little Debbie
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Jeannie C Riley: Love Is A Winding Road
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Low & Lonely
Jimmy Dickens: John Henry
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird
10:30: Pet Milk
Del Reeves (host): Dim Lights, Thick Smoke
Connie Smith: Louisiana Man
Del Reeves: Good Hearted Woman
10:45: Heil-Quaker
Ray Pillow (host): You're One Memory That I Would Like To Make Again
Jeanne Pruett: Back-To-Back
Crook Brothers & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sugar In The Goard
Ray Pillow: Drinking My Baby Goodbye
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Tangled Mind
The Carlisles: Oh, What A Party
Bill Carlisle: Worried Man Blues
Jean Shepard: A Stranger In My Place/Second Fiddle
Hank Snow: It Kinda Reminds Me Of Me
11:30: Quincy's
Roy Drusky (host): Tennessee Border
Jan Howard: I Don't Know A Thing About Love/Wayfaring Stranger
Johnny Russell: Kaw-Liga/No Relief In Sight
Roy Drusky: Where Could I Got But To The Lord
Bill Anderson, Bill Monroe, Jimmy C Newman and Justin Tubb only appeared on the Friday Night Opry. Charlie Walker, Skeeter Davis, Charlie Louvin and The Vic Willis Trio were only scheduled for the first show on Saturday night while Jeannie Seely and Lorrie Morgan were only on the 2nd show. Justin Tubb was also scheduled for the 2nd show but cancelled).
There you have it for this weekend at the Grand Ole Opry. As always, thanks for reading and commenting.
I love time travel. It’s my favorite trope in books. This movie is going to be cool. It would be cooler if they went back to like I don’t know, the 1980s or early 1990s earlier than 95. Or maybe even a little bit earlier. We could see archival footage of people like Roy Acuff. I don’t know. Just a thought. Do we have any idea when this movie is going to actually be on TV Byron? Ez
ReplyDeleteI agree. I would love to see archive footage of Roy Acuff from 1980 to his death in this. Miss the guy and his band.
DeleteI get behind in reading sometimes so I might have missed some comments here but if this has been said it is worth repeating.
ReplyDeleteWe who get to read and participate in the conversation here are truly blessed and owe a big thanks and much respect to Byron. It is truly an honor to be able to have our discussions and make comments on a site run by a man that the Opry and music community love and trust with Opry history. I mention this as I think about the fact that the theme the Opry used for Jeannie Seely's memorial is owed to the research and dedication of Byron. They would have never known how many shows Jeannie had done at the Opry had it not been for him. To be fare, I dare say that we owe Johnny Shealy in part as well for the notes he took all those years and the Hall of Fame for allowing Byron, because of his reputation, access to those notes. Byron, please correct me if I'm wrong about the Shealy notes.
Jim
I remember seeing Johnny Shealy at the Ernest Tubb Midnite Jamboree every Saturday night. Johnny had autism,but back in his day people really didn't know much about autism. Johnny would even pay people to listen and keep records of the Opry when he was out of town.
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