It's always a big weekend at the Grand Ole Opry when Opry member Carrie Underwood makes an appearance and this weekend will be no exception as there are two shows on the schedule for both Friday and Saturday night. It's been a few months since she has been on the Opry and it is definitely good to have her back.
Joining Carrie on both shows Friday night will be Opry members Mark Wills, Mandy Barnett and John Conlee. Guesting will be Sister Sadie, Tyler Braden and Anjelah Johnson-Reyes.
Friday September 12
1st show
7:00: Mark Wills, Tyler Braden, Mandy Barnett, John Conlee
8:00: Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, Sister Sadie, Carrie Underwood
2nd show
9:30: Mark Wills, Tyler Barden, Carrie Underwood
10:30: Mandy Barnett, John Conlee, Angelah Johnson-Reyes, Sister Sadie
Saturday night is a very strong show. In addition to Carrie Underwood, Mark Wills is back along with Connie Smith, Riders In The Sky and Don Schlitz. There are only two non-members that will be appearing, and they are a couple of good ones. John Foster, who has made a very strong impression since debuting on the Opry earlier this year, is on the schedule for both nights, as is former teen idol Shaun Cassidy. You might remember that Shawn made it his Opry debut last December and it went over so well, that he's back.
Saturday September 13
1st show
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mark Wills, Connie Smith, Riders In The Sky, Shaun Cassidy
8:00: John Foster, Don Schlitz, Carrie Underwood
2nd show
9:30: Opry Square Dancers, Mark Wills, Connie Smith, Carrie Underwood
10:30: Shaun Cassidy, Riders In The Sky, John Foster, Don Schlitz
It promises to be a great weekend at the Grand Ole Opry.
2025 is turning out to be a big year for Kenny Chesney as earlier this year he was announced as one of the newest inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. While not a member of the Grand Ole Opry, Kenny, earlier in his career, made several appearances at the Opry. One of those appearances took place 28 years ago, on Saturday September 13, 1997. Here is the running order from that night:
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Grandpa Jones (host): Going Down The Country
Bill Carlisle: Is Zat You Myrtle
Grandpa Jones: Gooseberry Pie
6:45: Joggin' In A Jug
Jimmy C Newman (host): Diggy Liggy Lo
Ray Pillow: Someone Had To Teach You
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya
Cajun Country: Cajun Stripper
7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Company's Coming
Jan Howard: My Heart Skips A Beat
Brother Oswald: What A Friend
Wylie & The Wild West: Jingle, Jangle, Jingle/Cattle Call
Porter Wagoner & Christie Lynn: If Teardrops Were Pennies
Porter Wagoner: Ole Slewfoot
7:30: Standard Candy
The 4 Guys (host): It's All Right
Kenny Chesney: She's Got It All/When I Close My Eyes
Jeannie Seely: One Step Away/Here Comes My Baby/Don't Touch Me
The 4 Guys: 'Til
8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): Southern Fried
Skeeter Davis: The End Of The World
The Whites: Doing It By The Book
Hank Locklin: Send Me The Pillow You Dream On
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sugar In The Goard
Bill Anderson: Still
8:30: Clifty Farm
Charlie Walker (host): Who'll Buy The Wine
Stu Phillips: Blue Canadian Rockies
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Russ & Becky Jeffers: He's Still In The Fire
Mike Snider: (?)
Charlie Walker: Smoke, Smoke, Smoke/My Wife's Been A Pleasure
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Sugarfoot Rag
Jan Howard: Heartaches By The Number
Justin Tubb: What's Wrong With The Way That We're Doing It Now
Kenny Chesney: The Way I Am/Me & You
Christie Lynn: Don't Stop For Nothing
Porter Wagoner: Freight Train Boogie
10:00: Massey Ferguson
Ray Pillow (host): Cinderella
Russ & Becky Jeffers: Headed South
Ray Pillow: 'Til The Best Comes Along
10:15: Banquet
Grandpa Jones (host): Fix Me A Pallet Down On The Floor
Skeeter Davis: I Can Call Jesus Anytime
Grandpa Jones: Any Old Time
10:30: Purnell's
Jimmy C Newman (host): Colinda
Jeanne Pruett: Temporarily Yours
Jimmy C Newman: Big Mamou
Kenny Sears: Orange Blossom Special
10:45: Quality Cert. Homes
Bill Anderson (host): I Get The Fever
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Cherokee Shuffle
Bill Anderson: This Is A Love Song
11:00: Coca Cola
The 4 Guys (host): Swing Down Chariot
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me I'm Falling
Mike Snider: Look What They've Done To The Dominica Hen
Wyle & The Wild West: Give Me A Pinto Pal/I Remember You
The 4 Guys: Wings Of A Dove
11:30: Opry Book
Jeannie Seely (host): Speaking Of The Devil
Stu Phillips: Dust In My Eyes
Charlie Walker: Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
The Whites: Pins & Needles/Keep On The Sunny Side
Jeannie Seely: I Can't Stop Loving You
Another act that was on the Opry that night was Russ & Becky Jeffers. For almost all of the years that Opryland was open, they were one of the featured acts. Occasionally, when there was a late cancellation at the Opry, they would be asked to fill in.
I found this recent interview that they did a couple of years ago (2023) and thought I would share it:
LEBANON, Tenn. (WTVF) — This past year marked 25 years since the closing of Opryland USA. It remains a major conversation among the many who loved the park. A crowd told us they just experienced a little taste of that place.
On an early afternoon at the Wilson County Tennessee State Fair, a headlining act was written on a chalkboard next to a stage. It was time to get mic checks for Russ and Becky Jeffers.
"The biggest challenge is to see if you can remember all the chords, the lyrics, the arrangements," Russ smiled. "We've been rehearsing, but yeah, senior citizenship is a challenge."
It was 1974 when Russ and Becky answered a newspaper ad seeking musicians to audition for Opryland USA. "They actually called Becky back 'cause she was young and cute, and I wasn't," Russ laughed. "When we came down to Nashville, they said, 'Since you're here too, we might just give you a job too.'"
Russ and Becky began performing 500 shows a year at a deeply special place.
"If you looked out in that audience and they were unfolding that map, looking for other things to do, you knew you were in trouble," Russ said. "That's when we brought on the dancing girls!""
"What brought it to life were the customers," Russ continued.
"You would look forward to seeing them, and it was family," Becky said. "We loved them, and they loved us."
In December 1997, Russ and Becky performed their final show as the park closed.
"It felt like a funeral, and indeed, it was," Becky said. "Opryland died that night."
More than 25 years after Opryland, people gathered at the Wilson County Tennessee State Fair who used to go see Opryland's Russ and Becky Jeffers.
"Glad to see 'em here tonight!" said one fan.
The bustling of the people, the sound of the rides, and Russ and Becky back on stage; just reminded a lot of the crowd of a special place and time.
"Yeah! Takes me back to Opryland!" a fan smiled. "They got it. They still got it!"
"It's a wonderful thing to see so many familiar faces that we've missed seeing for so many years," Becky said. "They came here to see Russ and Becky one more time. We're humbled and honored that they would come."
"It's been a wonderful, beautiful journey together," Russ said. "I'm grateful for that."
There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys Carrie Underwood and the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.
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