It is going to be a busy and eventful week at the Grand Ole Opry as the Tuesday Night Opry will honor the Father of Bluegrass music Bill Monroe. Then on Wednesday night the Opry will welcome a new member as Steve Earle will officially join the cast of the Opry.
Bill Monroe will be honored in fine style on Tuesday night as Opry members Ricky Skaggs, Carly Pearce, Rhonda Vincent, Del McCoury and Riders In The Sky are on the schedule. Also appearing will be Wyatt Ellis, The Kentucky Headhunters and making their Opry debut, The Brothers Comatose. It is safe to say that a lot of bluegrass music is going to be played on the Opry that night, as well as it should be.
Tuesday September 16
7:00: Rhonda Vincent, Riders In The Sky, The Brothers Comatose, Del McCoury Band
Intermission
8:20: The Kentucky Headhunters, Wyatt Ellis, Carly Pearce, Ricky Skaggs
With the Grand Ole Opry celebrating its 100th year, many of us assumed that we would see a number of new members. Well, it took a while, specifically until September 17, for the Opry to welcome its first new member of 2025. Steve was invited to join the cast at the end of April, but due to scheduling, it took a while for the actual induction to take place. It's definitely a full lineup of Opry members who will be appearing on Steve's special night as Connie Smith, Marty Stuart, Don Schlitz, Vince Gill and making her first appearance of the year, Emmylou Harris.
Wednesday September 17
7:00: Connie Smith, Deana Carter, Marty Stuart, Steve Earle
Intermission
8:20: Don Schlitz, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill
Closing out the week on Thursday night will be Opry Country Classics. As usual Larry Gatlin will be the host, with the Gatlin Brothers also appearing. Rounding out that schedule are T. Graham Brown, Dailey & Vincent, John Berry, Victoria Shaw
Getting back to Steve Earle, while it seems that he has been making more Opry appearances over the past several years, he actually made his Opry debut 26 years ago on Saturday April 10, 1999. Here is the running order from that show:
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Jimmy C Newman (host): Good Deal, Lucille
Jim Ed Brown: Pop A Top
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya
Cajun Country: Cajun Stripper
6:45: National Corvette Museum
Billy Walker (host): Ol' Jesse's Just Been Robbin' My Train
Wilma Lee Cooper: Lovin' You
Billy Walker: Funny How Time Slips Away/Charlie's Shoes
7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Fireball Mail/Night Train to Memphis
Skeeter Davis: I Can Call Jesus Anytime
Bill Carlisle: Little Liza Jane
Stu Phillips: Blue Canadian Rockies
Steve Earle & The Del McCoury Band: Texas Eagle
Porter Wagoner: Where The Soul of Man Never Dies
7:30: Standard Candy
Jeannie Seely (host): Leaving & Saying Goodbye
Kelly Willis: I Have Not Forgotten You
John Berry: Your Love Amazes Me
Tracy Bryd: The Keeper of The Stars/Crazy Arms/The Other Woman/Whiskey River
Jeannie Seely: The Last Resort
8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): Southern Fried
The Whites: Blue Letters
Charlie Louvin: Think I'll Go Somewhere & Cry Myself to Sleep
Mike Snider: If My Nose Was Running Money
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Rachel
Bill Anderson: Still
8:30: Physicians Mutual
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take An Old Cold Tater
Jean Shepard: Half A Mind
The 4 Guys: Shenandoah
Stonewall Jackson: Smoke Along The Track
Charlie Walker: Smoke, Smoke, Smoke
Jimmy Dickens: We Could
2nd show
9:30: Blue-Green Vacation Resort
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
The Whites: Doing It By The Book
Tracy Bryd: She's All I Got/I've Got An Old Fashioned Love in My Heart/Holding Heaven
Porter Wagoner & The Carolee Singers: Rock of Ages
10:00: Lincoln Mercury
Bill Anderson (host): I Got the Fever
Wilma Lee Cooper: I Couldn't Care Less
Bill Anderson: Tips of My Fingers
10:15: Ray Stevens Show
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind the Barn
John Berry: She's Taking A Shine to Him/Blessed Assurance
Jimmy Dickens: I Leaned Over Backwards for You
10:30: Epiphone
Jimmy C Newman (host): La Cajun Band
Kelly Willis: I Have Not Forgotten You
Jimmy C Newman: Big Mamou
10:45: Joggin' In A Jug
Billy Walker (host): Word Games
Roy Drusky: Somewhere My Love
Opry Square Dance Band & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Bill Cheatham
Billy Walker: Charlie's Shoes
11:00: Coca Cola
Jim Ed Brown (host): Looking Back to See
Steve Earle & The Del McCoury Band: The Dust Bowl Blues
George Hamilton IV & V: 'Til I Can Gain Control Again
Jan Howard: My Heart Skips A Beat
Mike Snider: The Kansas City Kitty/Wheel Hoss
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells
11:30: General Jackson
Johnny Russell (host): In A Mansion Stands My Love
Charlie Louvin: Be A Life; Not A Judge
Jean Shepard: A Phone Call Away
Charlie Walker: A Way to Free Myself
The 4 Guys: Turn Your Radio On
Johnny Russell: Wabash Cannonball
When you read the biography of Steve Earle, as many have, some wonder how he could become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Let's face it: his past has been interesting and somewhat controversial. It is not the typical background that you would have expected from an Opry member. That may be, but what I do know is that he is an outstanding songwriter and has had an amazing career. He is well respected by his peers, and his songs have meaning. Others may disagree, but if the Opry is fine with Steve becoming a member, then so am I. I wish him continued success and, as with every new member, I hope he takes his Opry membership seriously.
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