Grand Ole Opry 12/20

This weekend, there is only one Grand Ole Opry show, which will be taking place on Saturday night, as For King & Country continues its weekly run at the Opry House. 

Looking at Saturday night, it is a good lineup as the veterans have once again turned out. 

Saturday December 20

7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mark Wills, Connie Smith, Bill Anderson, Cam

Intermission

8:20: The Whites, Opry Square Dancers, Charles Esten, Ricky Skaggs

(Steve Earle was on the original schedule but apparently has cancelled and has been replaced by Charles Esten. 

There is also an Opry Country Christmas show on Sunday night. The lineup is strong with Jon Pardi as the Spotlight Artist: 

Sunday December 21

Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Jon Pardi
Also Appearing: Gatlin Brothers, Mark Wills, Mandy Barnett, Ricky Skaggs, Riders In The Sky, Charlie McCoy

Johnny Cash was a member of the Grand Ole Opry in the 1950s but he didn't stay around long. That was pretty common in those days as Opry members came and went. After he gave up his Opry membership, he continued to make Opry appearances until that famous night in the mid-1960s when, during an Opry appearance, he kicked out the stage lights and was told by management that he would not be invited back. 

By the late 1960s, Johnny had cleaned himself up and became the biggest star in country music. He taped his television show at the Ryman Auditorium and over time, was invited back to appear on the Opry. While he never again became an Opry member, he would from time to time appear on the show, usually with June Carter, or at times, with Waylon Jennings. 

One of those Opry appearances took place 50 years ago on Saturday December 20, 1975. Here is the running order from that night: 

1st show

6:30: Mrs. Grissoms

Bill Anderson (host): Po' Folks Christmas

Skeeter Davis: On The Way Home

Justin Tubb: Cold Brown Bottle

Bill Anderson: A World of Make Believe

6:45: Rudy's

Ernest Tubb (host): If You Don't Quit Checking on Me

Del Reeves: Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song

Charlie Louvin: When I Stop Dreaming

Ernest Tubb: Blue Christmas

7:00: Shoney's

Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South

Jean Shepard: Another Neon Night

Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Walking My Lord Up Calvary's Hill

Billy Grammer: Just A Closer Walk With Thee

Bobby Lord: Rainbow Girl

Jim & Jesse: Paradise

Porter Wagoner: Happy Birthday Jesus

7:30: Standard Candy

Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball

Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry

Johnny Cash: Folsom Prison Blues/Texas 1947

Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash: Jackson

Johnny Cash: I Walk The Line
Crook Brothers & The Tennessee Travelers: Cotton Eyed Joe

Roy Acuff: Will The Circle Be Unbroken

8:00: Martha White

Lester Flatt (host): Salty Dog Blues

Grandpa Jones: Christmas Guest

Roy Drusky: Bouquet of Roses

Hank Locklin: Send Me The Pillow You Dream On
Billy Walker: Don't Stop In My World

The 4 Guys: Let There Be Peace

Marty Stuart: Fire on the Mountain

8:30: Stephens

Hank Snow (host): Colorado Country Morning

Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets

Don Gibson: Oh, Lonesome Me

Roy Clark: Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms/With Rain On My Heart, Blues on My Mind

Willis Brothers: Truck Stop

Stu Phillips: Great El Tigre

Ernie Ashworth: Honky Tonk Hardwood Floor

Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge

Hank Snow: Christmas Wants

2nd show

9:30: Kellogg's

Ernest Tubb (host): Waltz Across Texas

Willis Brothers: Give Me 40 Acres

Del Reeves: You Comb Her Hiar

Skeeter Davis: Let It Shine

Charlie Louvin: (?)

Jim Ed Brown: Another Morning

Roy Clark: John Hardy/Cryin' My Heart Out Over You

Stu Phillips: There Must Be Another Way To Say Goodbye

10:00: Fender

Bill Anderson (host): If You Can Live With It

Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Curly Headed Baby

Justin Tubb: Bad, Bad Leroy Brown

Bill Anderson & Mary Lou Turner: Sometimes

10:15: Union 76

Roy Acuff (host): Meeting In The Air

Johnny Cash: Big River/I Still Miss Someone/Give My Love To Rose

Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash: If I Were A Carpenter

Roy Acuff: I Saw The Light

10:30: Trailblazer

Lester Flatt (host): Great Big Woman & A Little Biddy Bottle of Wine

Grandpa Jones: Jingle Bells

Bobby Lord: Mississippi

Jim & Jesse: Please Be My Love

Kenny Ingram: Cumberland Gap

10:45: Beechnut

Porter Wagoner (host): Indian Creek

Stonewall Jackson: Waterloo

Billy Grammer: What A Friend

Barbara Lea: Ain't Love Grand

Crook Brothers & The Tennessee Travelers: Bill Cheatham

Porter Wagoner: Happy Birthday Jesus

11:00: Coca Cola 

Hank Snow (host): Nestor, The Long-Eared Christmas Donkey

Billy Walker: Don't Stop In My World

Fruit Jar Drinkers: Sally Goodin

Hank Locklin: Send Me The Pillow You Dream On

Kirk McGee: Blue Night

Hank Snow: Silent Night

11:30: Elm Hill

Marty Robbins (host): Singing The Blues
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets/Sweet Baby Jane

Don Gibson: Blue, Blue Day/I Can't Stop Loving You

Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips

Marty Robbins: Don't Worry/Big Boss Man/Devil Woman/Love Me/Cool Water/Driftwood On The River/My Woman, My Woman, My Wife/El Paso

What a night!!! The final Saturday night before Christmas and the Opry members came out. The final segment on the 2nd show with Marty Robbins did not start until 12:15, with the show ending just after 1:00 am. Marion Worth was scheduled but cancelled, while Jean Shepard, Roy Drusky and The 4 Guys appeared only on the early show, and Jim Ed Brown only on the late show. Just an amazing night. 

Oh, and by the way, a ticket in the lower balcony only cost $3.00

To close it out, Randy Travis will be celebrating his 39th year as an Opry member, joining the Opry on Saturday December 20, 1986. I know Randy has always valued his time as an Opry member. 

Here is the line-up from that night 39 years ago: 

1st show

6:30: Del Reeves, Skeeter Davis

6:45: Porter Wagoner, Riders In The Sky

7:00: Ricky Skaggs, Lorrie Morgan, Jim & Jesse, Randy Travis

7:30: Roy Acuff, Jean Shepard, Roy Drusky, Crook Brothers, Melvin Sloan Dancers

8:00: Bill Monroe, The Whites, Stonewall Jackson, Archie Campbell, Connie Smith

8:30: Hank Snow, Boxcar Willie, Osborne Brothers, Mel McDaniel

2nd show

9:30: Porter Wagoner, The 4 Guys, Del Reeves, Jan Howard, Billy Walker

10:00: Ricky Skaggs, The Whites, Randy Travis

10:15: Roy Acuff, George Hamilton IV

10:30: Bill Monroe, Charlie Louvin

10:45: Archie Campbell, Bill Carlisle, Crook Brothers, Melvin Sloan Dancers

11:00: Hank Snow, Jean Shepard, Justin Tubb, Charlie Walker, Mel McDaniel

11:30: Boxcar Willie, Osborne Brothers, Connie Smith

There are not many left from that night. 

That takes care of it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night. 

Merry Christmas to All!!!