Grand Ole Opry 9/5 & 9/6

Ketch Secor is well known as the co-founder and leader of Grand Ole Opry members Old Crow Medicine Show. While Ketch continues to tour, and appear on the Opry, with Old Crow, he has recently embarked on a solo career, which will include appearances on the Opry, along with a solo tour. Two of those Opry appearances will take place this weekend as Ketch is scheduled for both the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. 

Ketch, who co-wrote "Wagon Wheel" with Bob Dylan, has released his solo album: Story The Crow Told Me. The album was released in July to rave reviews. On the album, Ketch wrote or co-wrote each of the songs. Besides singing, he also plays fiddle, banjo, harmonica, bass, organ, and spoons. Among those assisting on the album are Molly Tuttle and Marty Stuart. There is a lot of variety on the album and if you are a fan, I highly recommend giving it a listen. 

As mentioned, Ketch is scheduled for both shows this weekend, as is Don Schlitz, In fact, Ketch and Don will be closing out both shows. 

Also on the schedule for Friday night is Connie Smith, while Bill Anderson returns on Saturday night. Both have missed their last scheduled appearances as it has been assumed that Connie was still recovering, while Bill had an accident at home that caused his cancellation. As Bill wrote in his monthly newsletter, he is fine and ready to go with a couple of Opry appearances scheduled this month. 

Regarding Connie, there has been no announcement as of yet of a rescheduled date for her 60th Opry anniversary show. Hopefully, something will be scheduled soon. One last word on Connie: while listening to the Opry on the night that she and Marty cancelled, it was mentioned that Connie was the longest serving female member, and if I heard it right, in the history of the Opry. I think it was supposed to have been said that she is the longest current female member of the Opry. Let's not forget Jean Shepard, who was an Opry member for 60 years and 10 months. Along with Jean, the only other female member of the Opry who reached 60 years was Loretta Lynn. I am not taking anything away from Connie. I just wanted to keep the facts straight. And if I misheard, my apologies. 

In addition to those mentioned, Opry members Riders In The Sky are scheduled for Friday night while Mandy Barnett and The Whites will appear on Saturday.  

Friday September 5

7:00: Riders In The Sky, Eric Paslay, Lanie Gardner, The Kody Norris Show

Intermission

8:20: Connie Smith, John Morgan, Ketch Secor, Don Schlitz

Saturday September 6

7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mandy Barnett, John Carter & Ana Cristina Cash, Bill Anderson, JigJam

Intermission

8:20: The Whites, Opry Square Dancers, Tigirlily Gold, Ketch Secor, Don Schlitz

One of the legendary members in the history of the Grand Ole Opry is Hank Snow. The "Singing Ranger" joined the Opry in January 1950. In fact, the night he became an Opry member was also the first night that he even appeared on the show. It was through the efforts of Ernest Tubb that brought Hank to the Opry, and Hank never forgot the kindness that Ernest showed him over the years. 

Once Hank had established himself on the Opry, he settled in to hosting the 8:30 and 11:00 segments on the Saturday night shows. It would be later, after he reduced his road dates, that Hank would become a regular on the Friday Night Opry. And it was on Friday September 6, 1996, that Hank Snow would make his final appearance on the Opry. 

Here is the posted lineup from that night: 

1st show
6:30: Grandpa Jones (host): Jeanne Pruett, Bill Carlisle, Del Reeves, The Whites
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Oswald & Charlie, Jan Howard, George Hamilton IV, Billy Walker
7:30: Mike Snider (host): Wilma Lee Cooper, Jimmy C Newman, Johnny Paycheck
8:00: John Conlee (host): Jean Shepard, Charlie Louvin, Osborne Brothers, Jeannie Seely
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Jack Greene, Charley Pride

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Wilma Lee Cooper, Billy Walker, Jeanne Pruett, Stu Phillips

10:00: Grandpa Jones (host): George Hamilton IV, Charlie Louvin, Osborne Brothers, The Whites
10:30: Mike Snider (host): Jean Shepard, Del Reeves, Charlie Walker, Stonewall Jackson
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Marty Stuart, Jimmy C Newman, Charley Pride
11:30: John Conlee (host): Jeannie Seely, Johnny Paycheck, Jack Greene

For most of 1996, Hank was in declining health and dealing with respiratory issues. There were weeks where he would be listed on the schedule but would cancel at the last minute. In fact, it was the previous Saturday night, August 31, that Hank made his return to the Opry for the first time that year. He appeared on both shows that night. He then was back the following Friday night, and as shown in the lineup, did both shows. But on the following night, he was listed on the schedule but cancelled. The following weekend, Hank was scheduled for both the Friday and Saturday night Opry shows, (September 12 &13), however he cancelled and that weekend would be the final time that Hank Snow's name would appear on an Opry schedule. 

Hank would live for several more years before passing away in December 1999, just weeks short of his 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. 

I had mentioned Hank Snow's connection to Ernest Tubb. It was 12 years earlier, September 6, 1984, that the great Ernest Tubb had passed away. Ernest came to the Opry in the early 1940s, and much like Hank, Ernest took his Opry membership very seriously. Even though Ernest was on the road for several hundred dates each year, he always fulfilled his Opry obligations. Ernest last appeared on the Opry several years before his death, on August 14, 1982. Here is the lineup from that night: 

1st show
6:30: The 4 Guys (host): Wilburn Brothers
6:45: Billy Grammer (host): Skeeter Davis
7:00: Ernest Tubb (host): Jean Shepard, Lonzo & Oscar, Jack Leonard
7:30: Billy Walker (host): Jeannie Seely, Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers, Bill Carlisle
8:00: Roy Acuff (host): Connie Smith, Charlie Walker, Roy Thackerson, Carolee Singers 
8:30: Bill Monroe (host): Roy Drusky, Del Wood, Vic Willis Trio, Fruit Jar Drinkers

2nd show
9:30: Ernest Tubb (host): Skeeter Davis, Wilburn Brothers
10:00: Bill Monroe (host): Connie Smith
10:15: Billy Grammer (host): Lonzo & Oscar
10:30: Roy Acuff (host): Roy Thackerson
10:45: Billy Walker (host): Jean Shepard, Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Roy Drusky (host): Jeannie Seely, Fruit Jar Drinkers, Kirk McGee, Bill Carlisle
11:30: The 4 Guys (host): Del Wood, Charlie Walker, Vic Willis Trio

How ironic that Hank Snow on not on the Opry the night of Ernest Tubb's final appearance. 

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.