When I look at the Grand Ole Opry lineups for this weekend, a smile comes across my face as both nights offer very solid lineups, with a bit of something that should please everyone as there is a lot of variety on both Friday and Saturday night.
Starting off with the Friday Night Opry, Opry members, T. Graham Brown, The Whites, Don Schlitz (who is not closing the show for a change), John Conlee and comedian Gary Mule Deer are on the schedule. Five different Opry members, each with their own style. Neal McCoy will be closing out the show, with Keb' Mo and Alexandra Kay also scheduled to appear.
Saturday night offers us Marty Stuart, Old Crow Medicine Show, Connie Smith, Bill Anderson and Gary Mule Deer, who is making it a two-show weekend. Marty is closing the show, while the other four members will be appearing during the first half. Dom Flemons, who is really, really good is on the schedule, along with Miko Marks, Tierra Kennedy and bluegrass artist Mike Compton. Mike has appeared on the Opry previously as part of the duo Compton and Newberry.
Friday December 12
7:00: T. Graham Brown, The Whites, Alexandra Kay, Don Schlitz
Intermission
8:20: John Conlee, Gary Mule Deer, Keb' Mo, Neal McCoy
Saturday December 13
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Connie Smith, Bill Anderson, Gary Mule Deer, Old Crow Medicine Show
Intermission
8:20: Dom Flemons, Miko Marks, Mike Compton, Tiera Kennedy, Marty Stuart
On Sunday night, there is another Opry Country Christmas show on the calendar.
Opry Country Christmas
Sunday December 17
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Scotty McCreery
Also Appearing: Gatlin Brothers, The Isaacs, Mandy Barnett, Riders In The Sky, Charlie McCoy
I find it hard to believe but after this weekend, there are only three more Grand Ole Opry shows on the schedule for 2025, and three more Opry Country Christmas shows.
This week, as Opry 100 continues, the Spotlight shines on Ira and Charlie Louvin.
Ira Lonnie and Charles Elzer Loudermilk were born in Alabama. Becoming known as brothers Ira and Charlie Louvin, they started singing traditional and gospel music professionally on local radio stations in Chattanooga, Tennessee. They were heavily influenced by the Delmore Brothers and Monroe Brothers in the early part of their musical careers.
After Charlie left the act briefly in 1945, to serve in World War II, the brothers moved first to Knoxville, Tennessee and later to Memphis, Tennessee, working as postal clerks by day while making appearances in the evening. Another brief disbandment, due to Charlie's service in the Korean War, led to the brothers' relocation to Birmingham, Alabama.
In 1955, they joined the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. Among their top songs were "When I Stop Dreaming" (1955), "Hoping That You're Hoping" (1956), "You're Running Wild" (1956), "My Baby's Gone" (1958), and "I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby" (which reached number 1 on the US Country Charts in 1965). By the 1960s, their popularity began to wane and in 1963 Charlie split from Ira because of his drinking and abusive behavior and they each pursued solo careers.
Two years later, Ira was killed in an automobile accident at the age of 41, along with his 4th wife, near Williamsburg, Missouri, as they were returning from a performance in Kansas City, Missouri.
After Ira's death, Charlie continued to record music with solo hits "I Don't Love You Anymore" in 1964 and "See the Big Man Cry" in 1965. He continued as a solo member of the Grand Ole Opry and made regular appearances before passing away in January 2011 from pancreatic cancer.
In 2001, the Louvin Brothers were introduced into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Their harmonies would influence later artists such as Emmylou Harris, Graham Parsons, and The Byrds. In 1975, Emmylou Harris had a hit with their song "If I Could Only Win Your Love." In 2001, he and his brother were introduced into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The tribute CD "Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers," released in 2003, won the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Country Album.
Now a look back to Saturday December 13, 2003, as the Grand Ole Opry remembered The Louvin Brothers, Ira and Charlie.
From the Tennessean (Fri. Dec. 12)
Nothing can match the ache, yearning and tension of the original recordings of Ira and Charlie Louvin. But a new album called Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of the Louvin Brothers is a lovingly produced, highly musical tribute album that should help folks discover or rediscover the songs popularized by the greatest harmony duo in country music history.
Tomorrow night on the Grand Ole Opry, a bevy of musicians will take the tribute to the stage, as Dierks Bentley, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Joe Nichols, Terri Clark, Rhonda Vincent, Ronnie Dunn, Del McCoury and Rodney Crowell are set to perform. The scene should bring a smile or two to the face of Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry member Charlie Louvin.
Here is the running order from the first show on Saturday December 13, 2003:
6:30: Tennessee Pride
Porter Wagoner (host): Company's Comin'
Connie Smith: Ribbon of Darkness/I Love Charlie Brown
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Jim Ed Brown: Scarlet Ribbons
Jim Ed Brown & Helen Cornelius: Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
Porter Wagoner: Happy Birthday Jesus
Wagonmasters: Circle The Wagon
7:00: Tootsie's/Standard Candy
Rhonda Vincent & Joe Nichols: Cash On The Barrelhead
Carl Jackson: Must You Throw Dirt In My Face
Jerry Salley, Larry Cordle & Carl Jackson: Runnin' Wild
Rebecca Lynn Howard & Rhonda Vincent: The Angels Rejoice
Del McCoury: Let Us Travel, Travel On
Terri Clark & Jon Randall: I Can't Keep You In Love With Me
Rodney Crowell & Del McCoury: My Baby's Gone
Dierks Bentley & Harley Allen: I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby
Charlie Louvin & Leslie Satcher: When I Stop Dreaming
Rebecca Lynn Howard & Ronnie Dunn: If I Could Only Win Your Love
Lesley Satcher & Jon Randall: Are You Teasing Me
Charlie Louvin & Terri Clark: Keep You Eyes On Jesus
8:00: Martha White
John Conlee (host): Friday Night Blues
Jean Shepard: Tennessee Waltz
Mel McDaniel: Louisiana Saturday Night/Stand Up
Opry Square Dance Band: Cherokee Shuffle
John Conlee: How High Did You Go
8:30: Country Music Hall of Fame
Bill Anderson (host): Po' Folks Christmas
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
Hal Ketchum: The Point of Rescue/It's A 5 O'clock World
Bill Anderson: There's No Place Like Home For Christmas
This was the last appearance that Charlie made on the televised portion of the Grand Ole Opry. In his later years, sadly, Charlie was one of the veteran Opry members whose appearances were greatly reduced. At the time of his death, Charlie had been an Opry member for just over 55 years, and he proudly told people that once he joined the Opry, he never left, unlike others.
There you have it for this weekend. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.
Has anyone seen the Hallmark A Grand Ole Opry Christmas ? It was a good story, tried to touch on "Opry" moments and the few cameos were well done - although he wrote some of the Christmas music it is still disappointing that Brad Paisley was considered the highlight member even though he hasn't been here in a long while. Nice little story with a different theme - the actor/singer Rob Mayes (who played Jett Woods) was the real deal. Disclaimer, I like most Hallmark Christmas movies.
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