Let's start off with a quiz as the Grand Ole Opry comes to the final weekend of 2025.
What do Ringo Starr, Sabrina Carpenter, Amy Grant, The McCrary Sisters, Train, Shinedown, Bill Medley, James Taylor, Keb' Mo, Shaun Cassidy, NE-YO, Quinn XCII, Breland, Leftover Salmon all have in common?
Each of these artists appeared on the Grand Ole Opry once this past year. What is so special about that?
Well, that means they appeared on the Opry one more time than Josh Turner or Little Big Town. It also means that they appeared on a traditional Grand Ole Opry show (meaning not the NBC special) one more time than Reba McEntire, Clint Black, Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt, Alison Krauss, Diamond Rio, Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts and Keith Urban.
I will have more to say about some of this when I do my yearly recap, but as well as the 100th year of the Grand Ole Opry went in 2025, those active Grand Ole Opry members that I have named above, could not find time in their schedule to appear on the Opry at least one time this year. Sadly, most of those are the Opry members who rarely appear on the Opry. Hopefully these missing members can find time to make it to the Opry in 2026.
I mention 2026 because the Opry 100 celebration is being extended into 2026, so those missing Opry members are being given a second chance to make an appearance and already two of those members are on the schedule with Clint Black celebrating his 35th anniversary as a member of the Opry and Reba McEntire returning to induct Suzy Bogguss as the newest Opry member and to celebrate her 40th anniversary, both in January. So, how about Brad Paisley? His 25th anniversary is coming up in February. Hopefully he will make it for that milestone.
I know it is frustrating to many of us that several of the Opry's biggest names do not appear all that often on the Opry. That does not take away from those who do. Because of the support that the Opry receives from members such as Vince Gill, Carrie Underwood, Mark Wills, T. Graham Brown, Don Schlitz, Marty Stuart and so many others, 2025 has been a very good year for the Opry. There have been some great and memorable shows. And with Opry 100 continuing into 2026, I would expect the support for the Opry that these members have shown, will continue thru 2026.
So now let's take a look at the Opry lineup for the final weekend of 2025, a weekend that will feature Opry members T. Graham Brown, Riders In The Sky, Dailey & Vincent, Connie Smith and Don Schlitz.
There is also an Opry debut on Saturday night as Callie Twisselman will be making her first appearance on the Opry. If you remember, as part of Opry 100, there would be 100 Opry debuts in 2025 and the Opry will end up close to that number.
Friday December 26
7:00: T. Graham Brown, Sunny Sweeney, Riders In The Sky, Jake Hoot
Intermission
8:20: Erin Enderlin, Channing Wilson, The Cleverlys
Saturday December 27
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Dailey & Vincent, Connie Smith, Callie Twisselman, Channing Wilson
Intermission
8:20: Jade Eageleson, Opry Square Dancers, Dylan Marlowe, Don Schlitz
Callie Twisselman, who is making her Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday night, just released her EP Growing In Grace. In addition to her Opry debut, Callie is scheduled to open for Dolly Parton in Las Vegas on September 17, 2026.
Regarding her Opry debut, she wrote this on her Facebook page: I’ve been dreaming of this my whole life! My Grand Ole Opry debut!! Thank you Jesus for not letting this girl give up! I made a deal with my 89-year-old Grandma some years back, that if I ever played the Opry she would have to come watch. Well, she’s keeping her word and flying on a plane for the first time in over 40 years to see her Granddaughter sing on that very stage. Dreams really do come true.
Hank Snow was one of the greatest Opry members in the history of the show. Once he settled in, Hank would host the 8:30 segment on the first show and the 11:00 segment on the second. Someone mentioned to me once that Hank ran his segments like a train conductor. No matter what time it started, the segment would last literally exactly 30 minutes. He would get the act on and off very efficiently. His segments always included the Fruit Jar Drinkers on both shows, and either Sam or Kirk McGee (or both) on the late show. From a personal standpoint, I always enjoyed that Hank stood behind the announcers' podium when introducing the acts, leaving the stage clear and free for those set to perform.
As Hank grew older, and his hit making days were behind, he tried to freshen up his act by adding a duet partner, Kelly Foxton. To say that it was an unusual paring would be an understatement. Together, they produced two albums, of which no hits appeared. The partnership lasted about five years and, in the end, let's just say, it didn't work out. Hank continued with his solo Opry appearances and Kelly moved on.
Hank first introduced Kelly Foxton to Opry audiences in 1979 and together, they made their last appearance on the Opry on December 26, 1981. Here is the running order from their final duet appearance on the Opry:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Billy Walker (host): Word Games
Jan Howard: It's Good To See You
Justin Tubb: Pull The Covers Over Me
Billy Walker: Soap & Water
6:45: Rudy's
Jack Greene (host): I Need Somebody Bad Tonight
Jeannie Seely: It Turns Me Inside Out
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
7:00: Shoney's
Ernest Tubb (host): Thanks A Lot
Jean Shepard: What Would I Do
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Wilma Lee Cooper: The Crippled Boy
Jimmy Dickens: Sleepin' At The Foot of The Bed
Osborne Brothers: Old Flames
Ernest Tubb: Half A Mind
7:30: Standard Candy
Bill Monroe (host): A Used To Be
Skeeter Davis: It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels
Ernie Ashworth: Talk Back Trembling Lips
Billy Grammer: Kansas City Railroad Blues
Wilburn Brothers: Because He Lives
Crook Brothers: Gray Eagle
Bill Monroe: Lonesome Road Blues
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Connie Smith: How Great Thou Art
Bill Carlisle: Have A Drink on Me
Minnie Pearl: Jealous Hearted Me
8:30: Acme
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
The 4 Guys: I Don't Want You're Love Forever
Roy Drusky: I Really Don't Want To Know
Vic Willis Trio: Faded Love
Ray Pillow: Please Don't Leave Me Anymore Darling
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Cacklin' Hen
Hank Snow & Kelly Foxton: Before The Next Teardrop Falls
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Ernest Tubb (host): Let's Say Goodbye Like We Said Hello
The 4 Guys: Living Up A Storm
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything
Jeannie Seely: I'm Almost Ready
Billy Walker: Soap & Water
Wilma Lee Cooper: Singing Waterfall
Ernest Tubb: Waltz Across Texas
10:00: Little Debbie
Bill Monroe (host): Blue Kentucky Moon
Skeeter Davis: Rock A Bye Boogie
Lonzo: Rambling Fever
Bill Monroe: My Last Days on Earth
10:15: Sunbeam
Charlie Walker (host): San Antonio Rose
Jean Shepard: Slippin' Away
Osborne Brothers: Rank Stranger
Charlie Walker: Close All The Honky Tonks
10:30: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Night Train to Memphis
Stonewall Jackson: Ol' Chunk of Coal
Justin Tubb: What's Wrong With The Way That We're Doing It Now
Roy Acuff: Jesus Will Outshine Them All
10:45: Beechnut
Roy Drusky (host): There'll Never Be Anyone Else But You For Me
Billy Grammer: What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Crook Brothers: Lafayette
Roy Drusky: The Last Farewell
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Right or Wrong
Connie Smith: The Deeping Snow
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Nubbing Ridge
Jimmy Dickens: I'm Little But I'm Loud
Kirk McGee: Blue Night
Kelly Foxton: Crazy
11:30: Bama
Marty Robbins (host): Singing The Blues
Vic Willis Trio: A Woman Like You
Ray Pillow: Wasted Again
Bill Carlisle: I'm Moving
Marty Robbins: Ribbon on Darkness, Return To Me/Beyond The Reef/That's All Right/Cool Water/I Don't Know Why/Don't Worry/El Paso City/Devil Woman/Muddy Water/Love Me/A White Sports Coat/Teardrops In My Heart/All Around Cowboy/El Paso
After Marty Robbins sang El Paso the first time, it was 12:45 am and WSM ended the Opry and went to the Midnite Jamboree. Everything else that followed was only heard in the Opry House.
Charlie Louvin, David Houston and Boxcar Willie were all scheduled but cancelled. Jan Howard, Ernie Ashworth, Wilburn Brothers and Minnie Pearl only appeared on the first show, while Charlie Walker and Lonzo were only on the late show. Oscar was in Florida.
I mentioned that Hank Snow ran his segments like a train. On the first show, his segment lasted exactly 30 minutes, while on the second show it came in at 27, three minutes short in a show that was running long.
There you have it for this week, and for 2025. It has been an amazing year at the Opry as the show celebrated its 100th anniversary. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.
Countryart here. That show a who’s who at the Opry all Opry members except Kelly Foxton. Merry Christmas one and all.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Byron. Thanks for all you do here. Merry Christmas to all your readers and commenters, too.
ReplyDeleteJ in OK
On one of the early TNN telecasts, Vice President George Bush appeared, so Mr. Acuff hosted the segment, and apparently he brought out the vice president earlier than expected. I seem to recall him saying to Minnie Pearl and Connie Smith that it was his segment, so he would do what he wanted. Amen.
ReplyDeleteWhat Mr. Acuff meant to say was it was his SHOW and he would do what h wanted...
DeleteReally sad news on Christmas as Opry member Stu Phillips has passed away. I always thought that Stu was a very underrated ballad singer and was a very loyal Opry member. His last Opry appearance was the night he was recognized upon his 50th anniversary as an Opry member.
ReplyDelete(Byron)
A wonderful singer and, from all I read, as nice a person as you could hope to meet. For some reason I thought of how he would gather up the microphone wire as he started to sing, as if he was concerned he or someone else would trip--which also suggests a nice person!
DeleteThe one time we met Stu backstage he was just as nice as he appeared to be on stage. It was great that he got to appear with the group at the end of that three hour televised show in March. I agree he was very underrated as a ballad singer and was very loyal to the Opry. I suspect he might have appeared more in the last days his voice was still holding up if he had been asked. Seems those were during the Fisher years so there you go.
ReplyDeleteJim
Knightsville, IN
I must say that it does not disappoint me that some of those big name members don't come around A few of them never appealed to me. And when they became members I could have thought of others that should have come before them. Anymore, other than being a blessing for those who truly dreamed of it and/or truly understand and respect the Opry, I don't care too much these days who becomes a member. Seems to me it has been watered down to where anyone of any musical background or talent has as good a chance as the next act at becoming a member. Okay, maybe that is harsh but like Whisper's song, it's just the way I feel.
ReplyDeleteThe lack of dedication of these members who can't appear once a year, even once every couple years, gives you respect for people like Charley Pride and others who were asked but turned it down early in their career out of respect knowing they could not be dedicated to appearing as they felt was the right and respectful thing to do.
Time marches on. There's a guy that should be a member if he wants to be, Tracy Lawrence!
Jim
Knightsville, IN
I agree with you Jim. I guess those artists have their reasons. I'm a pastor and there's people on the church rolls that never come, but they will tell people they're members of the church.
DeleteI know several of those artists live in the Middle Tennessee area and they never find their way to the Opry. It's been that way since the late 80s early 90s with certain artists. They want to be on the membership list, but don't won't to make any commitments.
I've said it once and I'll say it again...It's time for another purge!
DeleteI believe I have all of Stu's recordings in my collection. I got to see him many times and he was always a gentleman. I also remember he officiated Charlie Louvin's funeral. I'm 40 years old,but my favorite artists are the ones from the 1950s and 1960s. We don't have many left from those decades.
ReplyDelete