Looking at the Grand Ole Opry schedule for this weekend, on the Friday Night Opry Clint Black will be honored upon his 35th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, while on Saturday night, Opry 100 Honors will spotlight Hank Williams. Both shows will be taking place at the Ryman Auditorium.
Clint Black became a member of the Grand Ole Opry during a taping of The Grand Ole Opry 65th Anniversary Celebration: The New Tradition, which took place on January 10th at the Grand Ole Opry House. Opry member Garth Brooks did the induction. The special was aired on CBS on January 19.
After being inducted, Clint said, "It's wonderful when your dreams come true. It's like stepping into a picture you've been looking at all your life."
Sadly, like many other Opry members who joined during that period of time, Clint's Opry appearances have been infrequent over the years. In fact, since joining the Opry, Clint has appeared less than 50 times. In fact, in 1991, the year that Clint became an Opry member, he only made two appearances and would not make another Opry appearance until 1994. Perhaps a little more thought should have gone into the decision to make Clint an Opry member.
While Clint's Opry anniversary is being celebrated on Friday night, Saturday night will be the Opry 100 Honors show with Hank Williams as the honoree.
I won't go into all of the controversy that is on the internet on whether Hank should be reinstated as an Opry member or not. Some just don't understand that only living members are current members of the Opry. Hank's legacy with the Opry is well known and his membership is recognized on the membership wall backstage at the Opry House.
Dan Rogers, the Grand Ole Opry’s senior vice president and executive producer, spoke to Rolling Stone about his work with country music’s oldest institution. During the conversation, he explained why Williams will never be reinstated.
“Hank Williams will always be a treasured past member of the Grand Ole Opry,” Rogers began. “The Grand Ole Opry is made of living, breathing artists who can contribute to the show, and to whom the Opry can give back. We have a long list in the member gallery of folks who have been members of the Opry from Uncle Jimmy Thompson, who preceded what Opry membership even meant,” he explained.
“Had Hank Williams lived, there is little doubt in my mind that–I would hope that he would have returned to the Opry and all would have been great and right in the world. Unfortunately, he didn’t,” Rogers continued. “I hope the world knows how everyone at the Opry is thankful for and respects all of his contributions.”
What some forget is that Hank's time at the Opry was very short. He joined in June 1949 and was fired in August 1952, a little over three years after joining. Yet those three years at the Ryman were among the three most significant years in the 100-year history of the show.
The final act that led to the firing of Hank Williams from the Opry took place on Saturday August 9, 1952, when Hank failed to appear for his scheduled appearances that night. On Monday, Opry manager Jim Denny fired Hank. It has been written in some spots that Jim Denny, based on Hank's previously missing appearances, knew that Hank would probably not show up on August 9, but scheduled him anyways. Jim Denny also left the door open for Hank to return if he cleaned himself up. Sadly, that never happened.
Taking a closer look at this weekend, besides Clint Black, the Friday Night Opry includes Opry members Rhonda Vincent, Riders In The Sky, Connie Smith and The Whites.
As you would expect, several members of the Williams family will be on hand on Saturday night to honor their Grandfather, among them Holly, Hilary and Sam Williams. Sadly, the only Opry member on the schedule is Mandy Barnett, who will open the show. Terri Clark was on the original schedule but has cancelled. Of note, John Bryant Irvin will be making his Opry debut. I really don't know much about him other than he seems to have a connection with Hank Jr.
Friday January 9
7:00: Rhonda Vincent, Riders In The Sky, The Whites, Connie Smith
Intermission
8:20: John Foster, Emily Ann Roberts, Clint Black
Saturday January 10
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mandy Barnett, Hilary Williams, Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys, Sam Williams
Intermission
8:20: John Bryant Irvin, Opry Square Dancers, Holly Williams, John Foster
Nice to see John Foster on the schedule for both nights.
This is the final weekend at the Ryman for 2026.
What could Clint possibly say "it is so wonderful to be "back" at the Opry after BLANK (#) years !! Ha, Ha, you are correct Byron, very sad. Even more sad, only Mandy on Saturday night. That is the Grand Ole Opry night and only one member can make it - thankfully they finally put Mandy on the show. She has also been doing an excellent job on XM hosting several segments.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking at the line-up for this weekend's show ... John Foster is on both nights AND he's closing out the Saturday night show? That's outstanding! Is he going to be invited to be a member? While it's a bit soon for that, I do see the possibility at some point and when he is closing out a Saturday Night Grand Ole Opry that artists like Vince Gill, Don Schlitz or Ricky Skaggs getting that privilege; this is very exciting for him; he is always well received by the audience! He's so good, I thoroughly enjoyed all of his performances on American Idol. He was on the New Year's Tournament of Rose parade and paid tribute to New Orleans, and he sang, "Jambalaya" (On the Bayou) and did a great job.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy both shows everyone and only two weekends at the Ryman? Darn, sure wish it was like it used to be. They'd move downtown in November and go through February.
(Jeanene)
With such a marquee headline name, you would think that Moore members would be on the schedule if we’re going to honor the guy that is still considered perhaps the greatest performer in the history of country music. The show that they did to Marc I think 50 or 60 years from the day he passed away was much more interesting. I’ve only ever seen portions of that on YouTube but, you had Vince and you had Hank the third and the whites I think and it was a much better show. he has been a terrible member, but congratulations to Clint. I suppose. When I was probably six or seven give or take and he was at the height of his popularity I did a concert with him. He went out of his way to be very nice to me. Giving me a harmonica as I recall. So for that, not his contributions, congratulations. Ez
ReplyDelete