Grand Ole Opry 9/19 & 9/20

Carrie Underwood always brings something special when she appears on the Grand Ole Opry. Last weekend was no different as Carrie did her usual excellent job both nights. I know I, and others, have commented on Carrie's commitment to the Opry and she sets an example for others. But what is missed sometimes is the respect that Carrie has for the Opry and its history. If you haven't, I would suggest that you look and notice how she was dressed. No torn-up jeans, no skimpy top. She follows the example set by Loretta Lynn, wearing those wonderful, full-length dresses in a style much like Loretta did when she appeared on the Opry. People who attend the show appreciate that and yes, it is noticed. So thank you Carrie Underwood for not only appearing on the Opry but respecting the Opry. 

And for those who did not see, it has been announced that Carrie will be back on Friday and Saturday October 24 & 25, with 2 shows each night as the Opry will be closing out its 100th Birthday month. 

A note on Steve Earle: what a great night it was on Wednesday as Steve was inducted as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Emmylou Harris welcomed Steve to the family, and she, along with Marty Stuart, Connie Smith, Vince Gill and Don Schlitz were among the Opry members who joined Steve last night. Steve and Emmylou sang "Pilgrim," one of Steve's great songs, with the others joining in. Steve has had a long desire to be an Opry member and unlike some of the Opry's other members, I feel that we will be seeing Steve at the Opry. 

Now taking a look at the Grand Ole Opry this weekend, the Friday Night Opry has Opry members Don Schlitz, Mark Wills, Connie Smith, John Conlee and Riders In The Sky on the schedule. Looking at the Saturday night lineup, Martina McBride returns to the Opry for just the 2nd time in 2025. In addition to Martina, Mandy Barnett, Charlie McCoy, and making it a two-show weekend, Don Schlitz are on the lineup. (It should be noted that Vince Gill was listed on the original schedule, but the lineup that has been passed on to me does not have Vince listed).

Guesting on Friday night are Stephanie Urbina Jones, Josh Ross, and making their Opry debut, Train. I don't know about anyone else, but I am excited to hear Train on Friday night, and I am hoping that they sing "Meet Virginia." 

Rounding out the lineup on Saturday night Ingrid Andress, Tenille Arts and Payton Smith. 

Friday September 19

7:00: Mark Wills, Connie Smith, Josh Ross, Train
Intermission

8:20: John Conlee, Riders In The Sky, Stephanie Urbina Jones, Don Schlitz

Saturday September 20

7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mandy Barnett, Peyton Smith, Tenille Arts, Charlie McCoy

Intermission

8:20: Ingrid Andress, Opry Square Dancers, Martina McBride, Don Schlitz

Train, who is making their Opry debut on Friday night are from San Francisco. As of 2025, the band consists of Pat Monahan (lead vocals), Taylor Locke (guitar, vocals), Hector Maldonado (bass, vocals), Jerry Becker (keyboards, guitar), and Matt Musty (drums). 

With a lineup that included original members Monahan, Rob Hotchkiss, Jimmy Stafford, Scott Underwood, and Charlie Colin, the band achieved mainstream success with its debut album, Train. The album was released in 1998 with the hit "Meet Virginia". Train's 2001 album Drops of Jupiter contained the lead single—the RIAA 9× platinum-certified international hit "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)". The single won two Grammy Awards in 2002, and the album was certified double platinum. Train's third studio album, My Private Nation, released in 2003, was certified platinum in the United States with the hit "Calling All Angels". After the departures of Hotchkiss and Colin, the band released its fourth album, For Me, It's You, in 2006, with Brandon Bush (keyboards) and Johnny Colt (bass). 

In late 2009, Train regrouped as the trio of Monahan, Stafford, and Underwood to release the album Save Me, San Francisco, from which three singles—the RIAA 13× platinum-certified international hit "Hey, Soul Sister", "If It's Love" and "Marry Me"—reached numbers 3, 34, and 34, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was certified gold by both the RIAA and ARIA. In 2012, Train released California 37. The first single from the album, "Drive By", reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a Top 10 hit in the UK. This album was followed by Bulletproof Picasso (2014), Christmas in Tahoe (2015), Train Does Led Zeppelin II (2016), and A Girl, a Bottle, a Boat (2017). Train's most recent studio album, AM Gold, was released in 2022.

With Martina McBride scheduled on the Grand Ole Opry Saturday night, I thought it would be good to go back and look at the night when Martina made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry. It was 33 years ago, Saturday May 23, 1992, and here is the running order from that night: 

1st show

6:30: GHS Strings

Bill Monroe (host): I'm Going Back to Old Kentucky

Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets

Bill Monroe: Wicked Path of Sin

6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame

Jimmy Dickens (host): John Henry

Jan Howard: Evil On Your Mind

Jimmy Dickens: Life Turned Her That Way

7:00: Shoney's

Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South

Skeeter Davis: I Ain't Never

Jimmy C Newman: Cajun's Dream

Jack Greene: Letters Have No Arms

Wilma Lee Cooper: A Hero's Death

Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home

7:30: Standard Candy

Tom T. Hall (host): Faster Horses

The Whites: I Wonder Who's Holding My Baby Tonight

Stu Phillips: There Must Be Another Way to Say Goodbye

Martina McBride: The Time Has Come/A Woman Knows

Tom T. Hall: It's All In The Game/Me & Jesus

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball

Bill Anderson: Still

Bill Anderson & Roy Acuff: I Wonder if God Likes Country Music

Hank Locklin: My Turning Point in Life

Opry Square Dance Band & The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Forked Deer

8:30: Opryland

Hank Snow (host): Gonna Find Me A Bluebird

Osborne Brothers: My Favorite Memory

Jim Ed Brown: I Don't Want to Have to Marry You

The 4 Guys: Fanny May

Connie Smith: Then & Only Then

Hank Snow: A Faded Petal From A Beautiful Bouquet

2nd show

9:30: Dollar General

Porter Wagoner (host): Wake Up, Jacob

Billy Walker: A Million & One

David Houston: Almost Persuaded

Tom T. Hall: The Year That Clayton Delaney Died/Old Dogs, Children, & Watermelon Wine

Porter Wagoner: The Funky Grass Band

10:00: Little Debbie

Bill Monroe (host): The Old Tennessee River

Charlie Walker: Silver Dew on the Bluegrass Tonight

Roy Drusky: Go Bring My Children Home

Bill Monroe: A Voice From On High

10:15: Tennessee Pride/Sunbeam

Roy Acuff (host): Low & Lonely

Mike Snider: The Fur Coat

Dan Kelly: Sally Goodin

10:30: Pet Milk

Jimmy C Newman (host): Colinda

Ray Pillow: Someone Had to Teach You

Bill Carlisle: Elvira

Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya

10:45: BC Powder

Jimmy Dickens (host): Geraldine

Martina McBride: That's Me

Opry Square Dance Band & The Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Rachel

Jimmy Dickens: She Always Got What She Wanted

11:00: Coca Cola

Hank Snow (host): Between Fire & Water

Osborne Brothers: Head Over Heels In Love With You/High On A Hilltop

The Whites: Swing Down Chariot

Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/He Is My Everything

Hank Snow: The Next Voice You Hear

11:30: Creamette

Jim Ed Brown (host): Barroom Pals & Good Time Gals

Connie Smith: I Never Once Stopped Loving You

Hank Locklin: Send Me The Pillow You Dream On

The 4 Guys: Cottonfields/Maria

Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells/The Old Lamplighter/Pop A Top

It would take a few more years for Martina to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry and that took place on November 30, 1995, with Loretta Lynn doing the honors. 

Finishing up, there is an Opry show scheduled for Monday night that will feature Jelly Roll. Jelly will be playing two shows at the Opry to raise money to benefit the Nashville community and some charities that ring close to his heart, the Judge Dinkins Educational Center and the Buddy DeFord Charitable Fund.

Monday September 22
1st show

7:00: Priscilla Block, Graham Barham, Lanie Gardner

8:00: Marcus King, Bailey Zimmerman, Jelly Roll

2nd show

9:30: Priscilla Block, Graham Barham, Lanie Gardner

10:30: Marcus King, Bailey Zimmerman, Jelly Roll

Yes, there are no Grand Ole Opry members scheduled for this show. 

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.