Casey and I spent Christmas in North Carolina visiting our daughters and their families. As we were driving back home on Friday afternoon, we started talking about Stu Phillips and how in 2017, after celebrating his 50th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, he made the decision to retire. At that point, his voice was, to put it kindly, not what it once was. During the peak of his career, I always thought that Stu was one of the best ballad singers on the Opry, and also one of the most underrated members of the cast. Sadly, he did not have the chart success as some of the others.
But back to Stu and the decision he made to retire and the conversation I had with my wife. As artists age, some better than others, decisions have to be made. Do they continue on until the very end or knowing that their voices were not what they once were, is the decision made to retire and leave the audience with good memories.
When I think of the Opry members who carried it on to the very end, I think of Roy Acuff. Admittedly, in the last six months of his life, his health faded quickly, as did his voice. Quite honestly, during his final weeks, it was difficult to watch and listen to Roy. And I kept thinking, when is it enough? I absolutely understand that entertaining and being on the Opry was Roy's entire purpose and it would have been very difficult for him to leave. But at the same time, watching and hearing him was just as painful for us who loved Roy.
Roy was not the only one. Bill Monroe took it to the end. Ernest Tubb went as long as his voice held up. Ronnie Milsap was not as sharp in his later years. Same with Del Reeves, Teddy Wilburn and David Houston. Hank Snow continued until his health began to fail and while we all loved Jimmy Dickens, the final year or two came with a variety of health issues.
Then there are those, such as Stu Phillips, who realized that they no longer were at the top of their game, and made the decision to retire rather than continue performing. Bobby Lord, Ray Pillow, Jeanne Pruett, Barbara Mandrell, Tom T. Hall and Holly Dunn are among those that made that decision. And because of the decision those artists made, we are left with good memories of their performances.
This takes nothing away from any of those artists. Each made the decision based on what each of them felt was best for him or her.
Country artists are not the only ones who have faced that decision. When I think of those who have gone on way to long, Frankie Valli comes to mind. We have seen Frankie in concert numerous times and have always enjoyed his shows. Now at the age of 91 and seeing the reports of him lip syncing his songs, we would not pay to see him. We would rather be left with a good memory or what Frankie was versus what he is now. The same goes with many of the Opry's members.
Back in the 70s and 80s, when I began listening more closely to the Opry and attending more Opry shows, there was a group of members that maybe I didn't appreciate at the time as much as I should have. Stu is one of those. How I wish I had paid more attention to Stu, Ray Pillow, Ernie Ashworth, Billy Grammer and a few of the others and the legacy that they were leaving us, never to be repeated.
I will always have fond memories of Stu and the beautiful songs that he sang on the Opry. While many of today's generation have no idea who Stu Phillips was, Stu was a wonderful Opry member for 58 years and whenever I think of Stu, a smile will come across my face.
With that, welcome to 2026 and the continuation of Opry 100. 2025 brought us some amazing shows and I am sure there are more of those in the coming year starting with this weekend. While every Grand Ole Opry member brings something to the show, Vince Gill is probably the Opry's most important member and he is back this weekend, appearing on both Friday and Saturday night.
Joining Vince on the Friday Night Opry are Opry members Charlie McCoy and T. Graham Brown. Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers are on the schedule. Joe had announced earlier this year that he plans on retiring from the road in early 2026. Dillon Carmichael and Kylie Morgan round out the lineup.
On Saturday night, in addition to Vince, Steve Earle, Connie Smith and Dailey & Vincent are on the schedule. The wonderful Wendy Moten, along with Josh Ross and Nate Smith round out the Saturday lineup. And let's not forget the Opry Square Dancers who will be opening the show.
Friday January 2
7:00: T. Graham Brown, Kylie Morgan, Dillon Carmichael, Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers
Intermission
8:20: Mae Estes, Charlie McCoy, Vince Gill
Saturday January 3
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Dailey & Vincent, Connie Smith, Josh Ross, Steve Earle
Intermission
8:20: Wendy Moten, Opry Square Dancers, Nate Smith, Vince Gill
Saturday January 3, 1996, was a sad day in the history of the Grand Ole Opry as Opry member Grandpa Jones, after appearing on the second show that night, suffered the first of what would become a series of strokes. It would be the final time that Grandpa would appear on the Opry, as he was taken directly to the hospital from the Opry House, and as his condition would continue to decline, would pass away the following month.
Grandpa Jones, who was born on October 20, 1913 is best remembered as an old-time country and gospel music singer and banjo player who always wore his pants tucked inside his boots, whose animated performances were often characterized by his leg kicks and foot stomping, and as a charter cast member of the CBS television show "Hee Haw" that aired from 1969 to 1971, before a 20-year run in local syndication.
Born Louis Marshall Jones, he spent his teenage years in Akron, Ohio, where he started singing country music songs on radio station WJW. In 1931, he joined the Pine Ridge String Band, which provided the musical accompaniment for the very popular Lum and Abner show. By 1935, his pursuit of a musical career took him to WBZ (AM) radio in Boston, Massachusetts, where he met musician/songwriter Bradley Kincaid, who gave him the nickname "Grandpa" because of his off-stage grumpiness at early-morning radio shows. The name stuck and he decided to create a stage persona based around it and started performing under the name, playing the guitar, yodeling, and singing mostly old-time ballads.
In 1937, he met musician Cousin Emmy in West Virginia who taught him the art of the claw hammer style of banjo playing, which gave a rough backwoods flavor to his performances. In 1942, he joined radio station WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he met fellow Kentuckian and country musician Merle Travis. A year later, they made their recording debuts together for Syd Nathan's upstart King Records and by 1944, he was making records under his own name and had his first hit with "It's Raining Here This Morning."
Shortly afterward, he enlisted in the US Army and after his discharge in 1946, he went back to recording for King Records. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1946, and started performing on the Grand Ole Opry. Later that year, he married Ramona Riggins who, as an accomplished performer herself, would also be a part of his performances. Some of his older famous songs that he recorded include "Eight More Miles to Louisville" (1946, which he wrote), "Old Rattler" (1947) and "Mountain Dew" (1947). In 1956, he signed with Decca Records and recorded 16 songs, including "The All-American Boy" (1959, which reached number 21 on the US Country charts), "T For Texas" (1962, which reached number 5 on the US Country charts), and "Night Train to Memphis" (1963).
In 1969, he joined the television show "Hee Haw" where he played banjo by himself or with fellow banjo player Dave "Stringbean" Akeman and also provided slapstick comedy in skits, and joined cast mates Buck Owens, Roy Clark and Kenny Price in a gospel segment at the end of some shows. In 1978, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Grandpa Jones was unique and his style of performing and entertaining is missing from today's Opry. He was a character, and a very talented one. While he was an Opry member for over 50 years, it was Hee Haw that brought him his greatest fame.
Here is the running order from Saturday January 3, 1998, the final night that Grandpa Jones appeared on the Grand Ole Opry:
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Grandpa Jones (host): Banjo Sam
Wilma Lee Cooper: Wedding Bells
Grandpa Jones: My Little Old Home Down in New Orleans
6:45: Joggin' In A Jug
John Conlee (host): As Long As I'm Rockin' With You
Bill Carlisle: Elvira
John Conlee: Domestic Life
7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): Y'All Come
Brother Oswald: Prairie Queen
Jimmy C Newman: Gumbo Song
Osborne Brothers: World of Forgotten People/Rocky Top
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home
Porter Wagoner and Christie Lynn: Milwaukee, Here I Come
7:30: Standard Candy
Johnny Russell (host): Someday I'll Sober Up
Ricochet: Connected at the Heart
Del Reeves: I Would Like to See You Again
Tracy Byrd: Don't Take Her, She's All I Got
Riders In The Sky: Always Drink Upstream from the Herd
Johnny Russell: Act Naturally
8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): Southern Fried
Jodle Birge: A Day at Disneyland
Ricky Skaggs: Dim Light, Thick Smoke
Vince Gill: The Key to Life
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Cherokee Shuffle
8:30: Clifty Farms
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take an Old Cold Tater
Mike Snider: Foggy Mountain Breakdown
The Whites: Pins and Needles
Billy Walker: You Gave Me a Mountain
The Four Guys: I'm Bound for Higher Ground
Jimmy Dickens: Another Bridge to Burn
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
John Conlee: Rose Colored Glasses
Riders In The Sky: Where the Bloom is on the Sage
Ricochet: A Lot to Be Desired
Christie Lynn: Walk Softly on My Heart
Porter Wagoner and Christie Lynn: Forty Miles from Poplar Bluff
10:00: Opry Book
Grandpa Jones (host): Stop That Ticklin' Me
Tracy Byrd: Roly Poly/Watermelon Crawl
Grandpa Jones: Any Old Time
10:15: Banquet
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind the Barn
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
Jimmy Dickens: Mountain Dew
10:30: Purnell's
Bill Anderson (host): But You Know I Love You
Osborne Brothers: Beneath Still Waters
Bill Anderson: A World of Make Believe
10:45: MTD
Ricky Skaggs (host): Hold What 'Cha Got
Jean Shepard: A Phone Call Away
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Durang's Hornpipe
Ricky Skaggs: I'm Lost and I'll Never Find the Way
11:00: Coca Cola
Mike Snider (host): The Whole World Smiles With You
Del Reeves: A Lover's Question
The Whites: Swing Down Chariot
Vince Gill: A River Like You/The Key to Life
Tom Brantley: Wheel Hoss
11:30: Opry Book
Johnny Russell (host): Got No Reason Now for Going Home
The Four Guys: Moments to Remember
Charlie Walker: Who'll Buy the Wine
Stu Phillips: Dust in My Eyes
Johnny Russell: Ain't You Even Gonna Cry
Grandpa Jones is another of the legendary stars of the Grand Ole Opry who is still missed today.
That lineup is from 28 years ago, and when you look at it. I am struck at the number of Opry members from that night that are still active:
John Conlee, Riders In The Sky, Bill Anderson, Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill and The Whites. Not many left.
There you have it as we start a new year. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.
Byron makes an interesting point. Certainly several of them really struggled with their health at the end, and their voices were suffering. It seems to be worse for the men than for the women in that regard. I think of Mr. Acuff becoming gravelly--he could handle a tune, but just sounded different, at least until close to the end. Then I remember David Houston, who had a beautiful voice, but my mother, who adored him, used to cringe in his later years--and of course he died far too young.
ReplyDeleteSome of them NEED to perform. Bill Anderson's account of Mr. Acuff's last night at the Opry is beautiful, haunting, and telling.
I agree with Byron. I remember driving home one Friday night and Roy Acuff was singing on the Opry and this was around September or over a month before he died, and he was off tune. I thought what the heck. An Usher at the Opry told me a couple years later she believed Mr Acuff wanted to die on the Opry Stage.
ReplyDeleteGrandpa Jones had hearing aids tubes and started forgetting his words and started forgetting the joke lines of jokes he told for years. He forgot new entertainers names. We love they all,but don't want to see them embarrassing themselves either.
Same thing with the Rock and Roll circuit. Chuck Berry would forget where he was going on his Gibson and sing off key.
Sad.
Happy new year to everyone and Byron. I hardly ever comment. I remember PBS filmed a documentary on Heart Surgery in the late 1980s and Grandpa Jones was spotlighted. It showed him chopping wood with an Axe, and thumping the Banjo and showed them performing open heart surgery on him. He survived another decade.
ReplyDeleteEveryone be safe tonight. Be aware your surroundings. Remember Hank Williams Sr who passed away in the wee hours of the night in the new year of 1953.
Let me state clearly before I comment about Roy Acuff, I'm not nominating him for sainthood or anything like that. I was called out one time here because someone thought I was placing Acuff's morals too high which I was not. This is just the way I see those last days.
ReplyDeleteWithout looking back at my documentation, I can't comment on specific nights during the last couple months of Mr. Acuff performing. I was listening to all of them but the details are not as clear as they once were. What is fresh in my mind is the emotional experience it was listening to him struggle to do his part in the show as long as he could sit or stand at center stage. Many of those nights he would have his last guest close the show. I remember Charlie Walker and Connie Smith doing that. Was it tough to listen to? Much of the time it was, not just because of his loss of ability to perform but also because I think most listening or watching in the crowd understood what they were witnessing. There was nothing fake or, in my opinion, egotistical about his wanting to be on stage. I think he was very aware he was lacking, he openly talked about it some nights. I just think he was that dedicated to the Opry and anyone who came to the Opry expecting to see him. Did he wish to die on stage? Maybe. Among the last recordings he did were for a 1982 Elektra LP titled Back In the Country and produced by Wesley Rose. I believe I have heard that he did those recordings because of an obligation to Wesley Rose. One of the songs was "The Stage". I always wondered if it was written just for him because it mapped out his last days pretty close. That must have been the last recordings that Jimmie Riddle made for he passed December 10 that year.
Something was different in 1992 and maybe for another 10 or so years. Most of the people listening or visiting the Opry knew who Roy Acuff, Bill Monroe, Hank Snow and some of the others were. They knew they were pillars of the Opry, as our friend Eddie used to say, and they had spent their life performing and continued to not for money but for the love of the music and for their dedicated fans. I suspect most of those people were pretty tolerant of the performances that became less than perfect even if it hurt them to see the artist they like beginning to fade. They used to say country fans were the most loyal. I don't know if that can be said anymore, for that matter, who is a country fan today. I'm disconnected from the reality of popular music these days so I could be wrong but it seems today most younger people are music fans, not fans of a specific genre and for that matter that line has become blurred anyway.
I would agree that today most who listen to the Opry, but more likely those who attend, will look down on any older artist who is not performing up to par. For the most part they don't know their contributions or dedication to the Opry or music and likely just see them as old artists that need to hang it up.
I've probably said this before but I'd still rather hear a veteran that I know what their abilities are or were having a bad night, than a newer artist that doesn't and never did have it. For me it's a hard thing to consider when those folks from a decade or two or more ago should have hung it up.
Just thoughts from someone who listened to all of those artist Byron mentioned live out their last nights on the Opry. I'm glad I was listening. I'm not criticizing any opinions that have or will be given here.
Jim
Knightsville, IN
Happy new year to all! Byron, you make a really good point about people, knowing when to hang it up. You know, and some of the readers may know that I teach voice professionally as a career. In a lot of ways, it’s painful to listen to some of those legendary folks who just can’t do it like they used to do it. On the other hand, I will use Ronnie as an example. He became a huge influence on me in the last few years of his career. I never got to see him in his prime, but if he had stopped, I would have never gotten to meet him, or spend time with him, or get to become friends with his band and his crew and have his lead guitar player makes some records on me at his own expense. I feel like people should go into those situations, having done some research and listening to what artists sound like currently and not expect the same thing out of them, but a singer has to sing sometimes. It’s in your heart and your soul and you like, need to do it. I literally need to hold a microphone and I am never happy if I have to go a long time without being able to stand in front of an audience. I get both sides, but I feel like as long as they want to work, they’ve earned the right to work. I haven’t looked at the comments yet and I’m very curious to see what anyone else thinks on this. on the other hand, there are people who just get better. I talk about Marc all the time. he will tell you that he sounds like a child on his major hit records. He has aged into being I think one of the two best vocalists as far as men in the entire cast with Vince being the other one. just my thoughts. Ez
ReplyDeleteAs much as I love and revere Bill Anderson, many of his performances in the last year or two have been pretty tough to listen to. Recitations are fine, but his singing voice is really not up to par.
ReplyDeleteIt's never bothered me and I respect their decision. Personally, I think Roy Acuff, Jimmy Dickens,Bill Carlisle,etc might not have lived as long as they did if they weren't able to perform. I also respect artists like Stu Phillips's decision. I was real close to 1960s country star Bill Phillips. He suffered a stroke in the early 90s and he retired, cause he didn't think his voice was good anymore. He didn't want people to remember him like that. He missed it, but he was able to go on without being on stage.
ReplyDeleteI like wrestling and there's wrestling fans who think the older wrestlers should retire and stay gone. There's some of those wrestlers that are able to walk away from it and are fine. There's others that just can't walk away from it, cause it's such apart of their lives that they can't function without it.
That goes with other occupations, there's some people that love what they do and they're going to do it until the day they die.
I agree that sometimes it can be hard to listen, but I still respect those that continue on. If those screaming young voices can be on,then I don't have a problem with those that are 70 plus that are off key.
Curry-Obviously I agree. I always think of the Archie Campbell penned story that Porter made popular, Trouble in the Amen Corner. You just don't push people aside that have given their whole life to their job of calling because they are not at the top of their game anymore. You at least try and find them a way to remain relevant and maintain their integrity. There are bound to be special cases but it should not be first choice or the easy way out. Same applies to putting a loved one in a nursing home. It should be the last resort. Just a personal note, I'm thankful I never had to do that with grandma, mom or dad.
ReplyDeleteJim