It will be a special weekend at the Grand Ole Opry as the 100th birthday celebration month continues with Kathy Mattea being inducted as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night.
Kathy Mattea was born in Cross Lane, W.V. She received classical voice training in junior high but also took up guitar when she discovered folk music. In 1976, while in college at West Virginia University, she joined the bluegrass band Pennsboro and two years later dropped out of school to move to Nashville.
In 1983 she landed a deal with Mercury on the strength of her demo tape. Her self-titled debut was released in 1984, and the follow-up, From My Heart, appeared the next year. None of the singles from either record managed to reach the Top 20. However, her third effort, 1986's folky Walk the Way the Wind Blows, proved to be her critical and commercial breakthrough. Her cover of Nanci Griffith's "Love at the Five and Dime" was her first Top 5 hit, and the record produced three other Top 10 hits. Her 1987 album Untasted Honey offered two No. 1 country hits, "Goin' Gone" and her signature song, "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses." The latter won the 1988 Country Music Association's (CMA) Single of the Year Award.
Kathy's 1989 album Willow in the Wind brought two more No. 1 hits, "Come from the Heart" and "Burnin' Old Memories," as well as "She Came from Fort Worth." She won a Grammy for another of the album's tracks, "Where've You Been," and also captured the CMA's female vocalist trophies in 1989 and 1990.
Seeking to keep her music fresh by returning to its roots, Kathy made several trips to Scotland in the early '90s, studying the links between country music and traditional Scottish folk. Her own music kept getting "rootsier" and more eclectic throughout the '90s.
Kathy's new direction couldn't have taken her further from her old way of doing things. Where once she was pitched songs by Music Row writers, now she collects the generations-old and new but old-in-soul tunes that move her at folk gatherings and rounds out her repertoire through extensive research.
Never one to tread water creatively, she's made her gracefully daring leap into the roots-honoring traditional folk world with the albums Calling Me Home and Coal. "To be a complete novice at something after you've been singing for three or four decades, to feel that humility of 'I don't even know if I'm going to be able to pull this off again,' it's a great gift," she shares. "A lot of times people go through their whole lives and never get to that place.
Kathy has been a frequent guest on the Grand Ole Opry. "When you play the Opry, you're entering history, right there. There's a wonderful sense of community – family really – that's inter-generational. From the welcoming presence of a long timer stepping into the dressing room saying, 'Glad to have you back!' to the spontaneous backstage jam sessions, to catching up with old friends, there's just no place like it."
Joining Kathy on Saturday night will be Charlie McCoy, who was the Opry member that surprised Kathy with her invitation to become an Opry member. Also on the schedule are members Bill Anderson, Don Schlitz, Terri Clark and Connie Smith. In fact, the only non-member on Saturday night is her friend Suzy Bogguss, who in my opinion is another of those who should be considered for Opry membership.
While I know that the focus will be on Saturday night, there is a very nice Friday Night Opry on the schedule. Opry members Rhonda Vincent, John Conlee and Riders In The Sky are on the schedule.
The number 10 will have some significance for one group on the Friday schedule, as not only is Friday the 10th of October, but it will also be the 10th anniversary for The Shootouts, and it will be their 10th appearance on the Opry. Good things are happening for this group from my neck of the woods, as their latest album Switchback has charted on the Americana charts and is up for a Grammy nomination. Also to add, The Shootouts were honored by Cleveland Magazine as the "Best Americana Band" by the editors of Cleveland Magazine for their "Best of Cleveland 2025" issue.
Rounding out the Friday schedule are Caylee Hammack, Jullian Jacqueline, Kasey Tyndall and Shinedown, who will be making their Opry debut.
Kathy Mattea made her Grand Ole Opry debut on August 12, 1988. Sharing a memory, here is the posted lineup from that Friday night 37 years ago:
1st show
6:30: Bill Monroe (host): Del Wood, Roy Drusky, Jan Howard, Ray Pillow
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Jeannie Seely, Jimmy C Newman, Justin Tubb, Billy Walker
7:30: Roy Acuff (host): Connie Smith, Charlie Walker, Minnie Pearl
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host): Kathy Mattea, Jim & Jesse
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Jean Shepard, Charlie Louvin, Carlisles
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host): The 4 Guys, Jimmy C Newman, Kathy Mattea
10:00: Roy Acuff (host): Lorrie Morgan, Ray Pillow, Jan Howard
10:30: Bill Monroe (host): Billy Walker, Jeannie Seely, Charlie Louvin
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Connie Smith, Jim & Jesse, Charlie Walker
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host): Jean Shepard, Carlisles
Finally, as the Opry rolls through its 100th birthday celebration, October 11, 1986, was the date that the Opry celebrated is 61st birthday. Here is the running order from that Saturday night:
6:30: Bonanza
Jim Ed Brown (host): Looking Back To See
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Osborne Brothers: Once More
Jim Ed Brown: Send Me The Pillow You Dream On
6:45: Rudy's
Charlie Walker (host): The Mean Woman With The Green Eyes
The 4 Guys: The Grandest Lady of Them All
Charlie Walker & Joe Edwards: Ida Red
7:00: Shoney's
Tom T. Hall (host): The Year That Clayton Delaney Died
David Houston: No One Will Ever Know/Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
Hank Locklin: Danny Boy
Ed Bruce: The Streets of Laredo/You're The Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had
Tom T. Hall: Old Dogs, Children & Watermelon Wine
7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Connie Smith: Hold Me Back
Crook Brothers & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: (?)
Minnie Pearl: Comedy
Roy Acuff: Meeting In The Air
8:00: Martha White
Bill Monroe (host): Molly & Tenbrooks
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
Jean Shepard: Second Fiddle
Riders In The Sky: Teardrops In My Heart/Cool Water
Bill Monroe: Lord, Protect My Soul
8:30: Music Valley
Hank Snow (host): Forever & One Day
Lorrie Morgan: Do I Love You
Billy Walker: Am I Blue
Del Wood: 12th Street Rag
Stu Phillips: The Great El Tigra
Hank Snow: Nevertheless/Nova Scotia
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Bill Monroe (host): Uncle Pen
The 4 Guys: Fox On The Run
Jeannie Seely: All I Need To Know
Tom T. Hall: P.S. I Love You/I'm Not That Good At Goodbyes
Bill Monroe: The Boat Of Love
10:00: Little Debbie
Stonewall Jackson (host): Don't Be Angry
Jan Howard: You Don't Know Me
Bill Carlisle: Leave That Liar Alone
Stonewall Jackson: Ol' Chunk Of Coal
10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting In The Air
Charlie Louvin: I Can't Help It/Mansion On The Hill
Roy Thackerson: Orange Blossom Special/Ragtime Annie
Roy Acuff & Grand Ole Opry Cast: Happy Birthday, Grand Ole Opry
10:30: Pet Milk
Jim Ed Brown (host): Everyday People
Ed Bruce: Nights Are The Loneliest Part Of The Day
Jim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells
10:45: Heil Quaker
Billy Walker (host): Word Games
The Whites: Blue Letters
Crook Brothers & The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Bill Cheatham
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain/Charlie's Shoes
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Right Or Wrong
Jean Shepard: Slipping Away
Justin Tubb: Thanks Troubadour, Thanks
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me, I'm Falling
Connie Smith: Hold Me Back
David Houston: Living In A House Full Of Love
Hank Snow: It Kinda Reminds Me Of Me/Nova Scotia
11:30: Quincy's
Jack Greene (host): Midnight Tennessee Woman
Lorrie Morgan: Unchained Melody
Roy Drusky: Mississippi
Riders In The Sky: How The Yodel Was Born
Johnny Russell: No One Will Ever Know
(For those keeping track at home, the late show did not end until 12:35)
Finishing up this post with some Vince Gill news:
Vince Gill has signed a lifetime record deal with MCA, cementing decades of partnership and collaboration. As part of this agreement, Vince will release an EP featuring new music every month for the next year, giving fans a consistent stream of original material from one of country music’s most celebrated voices.
Titled ’50 Years From Home,’ the series will showcase Vince’s artistry through a combination of new music and carefully selected catalog tracks that complement each EP’s theme. The first EP is set for release on October 17 and will include the recently 2x Platinum-certified classic, “Go Rest High On That Mountain.”
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.
Didn't get to hear all of it, but I heard a great interview with Kathy this morning on WSM.
ReplyDeleteShe is certainly a very nice person who seems to be thrilled that she will become a member of the 'Opry.
For anyone who didn’t listen Friday night Carrie Underwood introduced Shinedown on there Opry Debut. A nice surprise. Countryart
ReplyDeleteNot only was Kathy Mattea inducted tonight as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry, Suzy Bogguss was invited by Kathy to become a member of the Opry. Another great pick by Dan and another well deserved invite to an artist who has supported the Opry for years.
ReplyDelete(Byron)
In her first official act as an Opry member Kathy Mattea invited Suzy Bogguss to be the Next Member . Long overdue. Countryart
ReplyDeleteI had the thought that Kathy Mattea might get to invite Suzy Bogguss tonight, but I decided it was wishful thinking and too far out there. I'm really happy it happened!
ReplyDeleteJ in OK
Saw it on Instagram this morning.
ReplyDeleteWho says grown men can't cry?
Bring on the women. They show up !
So happy to see some of the faithful people who have shown up literally hundreds of times FINALLY be asked to join.
Almost ridiculous it has taken so long for so many of them.
Great to have Kathy and Suzy join.
ReplyDeleteHindsight site is always 20/20. Having said that, I can't help but think that over the past 20 or so years if the Opry had asked people like Kathy, Suzy, T, and Gene to be members, we might not have the Opry we have today. Maybe they would not have to depend on all genres of music to build a show each week. Instead, most of the time they picked the folks with most name recognition as a publicity move and most of them have not shown up. Bless Carrie for being the biggest exception to that.
Now, we've turned a corner onto a one way street where the Opry, as I have said before, is like Opryland used to be billed, the home of America's music. Not the home of country music. All you have to do is listen to the response to the artist that now appear, often before they ever walk on stage. The crowd knows more about the non country acts that appear than the country acts.
As I always say, as much as I struggle with what the Opry has become which is my own problem, I'm thankful there is still a place for Bill, Connie, Ricky, Rhonda, Gene, Riders and others to perform and be heard around the world each week.
Jim
Knightsville, IN (Remebering Fred in Bismark!)
Woody Woodward
ReplyDeleteIt tells you everything you need to know about Kathy Mattea that on "her night" she agreed to shine the spotlight on her dear friend Suzy. I'm not sure this would happen in a lot of other industries. Just speaks volumes about Kathy's character. Two outstanding new members.
ReplyDeleteGreat point. I've always liked Kathy, but my appreciation for her jumped a few more levels after that.
DeleteJ in OK
It is pretty obvious to most of us that artist such as T. Graham Brown, Gene Watson, Rhonda Vincent, Kathy Mattea and now, Suzy Bogguss, should have been Opry members decades ago. Looking back, there was just no excuse for going years, as happened in the Pete Fisher era, without adding a new member.
ReplyDeleteDan has done a nice job catching up with these veteran artists, as well as adding current and relevant Opry members. I am not sure how many more Dan might have on his list, but I just have a feeling there are a few more. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
As someone who met Kathy backstage at the Opry one night, she is genuine and the "real deal" as they say. Very happy for her and equally happy for Suzy.
Dan Rogers is doing a great job of both repairing the damage Pete Fisher did and taking the Opry forward. Yes, the show has changed with and through time. That's inevitable. We don't have to like a lot of the changes. But it's the Opry, and he's being true to its character.
DeleteByron, I'd say they might have been listening to you on Suzy!
Dan Rogers has done great with picking new members. I agree with the comment about Kathy's character, that she would agree to invite Suzy on her induction night. I don't think many would do that.
ReplyDeleteI think, based on what I have heard Kathy say on WSM, she and Suzy have an incredibly close friendship. So it doesn't surprise me she would be happy to share the spotlight with her close friend.
ReplyDeleteAgree on Kathy's character and I'm guessing Suzy is much the same.
ReplyDeleteWe've discussed here before that some artist have been asked over the years and said no at the time out of respect knowing they could not commit because of the their career. Still, they had asked enough surely some would have accepted.
Count our blessings for what we have and be thankful for Dan Rogers.
Jim
Congrats to Kathy and now Suzy, both exceptional artists who will be outstanding Opry members as they have been guests in the past. (Anonymous in PA)
ReplyDelete