Taking a look at the Grand Ole Opry lineups for this weekend, the Friday Night Opry has Opry members Mark Wills, Connie Smith and Trace Adkins on the schedule. Also appearing will be George Thorogood & The Destroyers, The Infamous Stringdusters and MercyMe.
Trace and MercyMe will also be appearing on a special segment that will celebrate the upcoming film, "I Can Only Imagine," which is a film inspired by the true stories of MercyMe. While the original film was released in March 2018, this is an update of that original film and is scheduled to be released in theaters on February 20.
For those not familiar with the film, here is the description:
After the breakout success of the song “I Can Only Imagine,” MercyMe’s Bart Millard (John Michael Finley) is living the dream—sold-out arenas, a devoted fan base, and a thriving career. But behind the spotlight, Bart’s past threatens the family he’s built, especially the fragile bond with his son, Sam (Sammy Dell).
When hopeful newcomer Tim Timmons (Milo Ventimiglia, “This Is Us”) joins the band for their biggest tour yet, he unknowingly brings a renewed gratitude to Bart’s life through their unlikely friendship. Bart soon discovers that Tim carries hardships—and secrets—of his own, forcing him to face his past and repair his relationships with Sam and his wife, Shannon (Sophie Skelton), before fame costs him what matters most. Based on the heartfelt true story behind the hit single “Even If,” I CAN ONLY IMAGINE 2 is the inspiring next chapter of faith, family, and finding God in the fire.
In addition to Trace Adkins and MercyMe, that special segment will also include John Michael Finley, Tim Timmons and Sam Wesley, with Tim and Sam making their Opry debuts.
Saturday night Mark Wills returns to make it a two-show weekend, joined by Opry members Bill Anderson, John Conlee, Riders In The Sky and Rhonda Vincent. Connor Smith will be guesting, along with Thelma & James. Rounding out the lineup, and making his Opry debut, will be Blake Whiten, who wrote on his Facebook page that he was "extremely honored" to be making his Opry debut.
Friday February 13
7:00: Mark Wills, Connie Smith, The Infamous Stringdusters, George Thorogood & The Destroyers
Intermission
8:20: Trace Adkins, Mercy Me, (Story Behind the Movie: Bart, Tim, Trace, John, Sam, & Milo Ventimiglia), John Michael Finley, Tim Timmons, Sam Wesley, Mercy Me
Saturday February 14
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mark Wills, Riders In The Sky, Blake Whiten, Bill Anderson
Intermission
8:20: Thelma & James, John Conlee, Opry Square Dancers, Connor Smith, Rhonda Vincent
While February 14 is St. Valentine's Day, it was also the date that a couple of the Grand Ole Opry's more recent members made their Opry debuts. For Kelsea Ballerini it happened in 2015 and for Lainey Wilson it was in 2020.
From The Tennessean:
Country newcomer Kelsea Ballerini is sure of one thing-Valentine's Day 2015 will be a day she'll never forget. Ballerini, whose debut single "Love Me Like You Mean It," recently broke in the Top 30 on Billboard's country radio airplay chart, will make her Grand Ole Opry debut on Saturday-Valentine's Day.
"It's the ultimate Valentine's Day surprise," Ballerini said. "I've been to the Opry twice as a fan, and it's so incredible. I can't believe I get to go from being in the audience to being on the stage. It's awesome but really nerve-wrecking."
Ballerini plans to play a full band version of her single "Love Me Like You Mean It," as well as a harmony driven, stripped down version of her song "First Time" from her self-titled E.P.
Here is the posted lineup from that night 11 years ago:
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Connie Smith (host), Chris Janson, Mike Snider
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host), Kelsea Ballerini, The Whites
Intermission
8:15: Jim Ed Brown (host), Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers, Chuck Wicks
8:45: Bill Anderson (host), Mo Pitney, Charles Esten
As far as Lainey Wilson, this is how she remembered her Opry debut:
“Most little girls dream about their wedding day, walking down the aisle in a beautiful wedding dress. Well, this is the day I’ve been dreaming about my whole life—to be standing in the Grand Ole Opry circle in a pair of bell bottoms, doing what I love,” said Lainey Wilson. “Stepping into that circle is about like stepping into Country music heaven. You hear about how it’s the best feeling in the world…how it’s better than you imagined it…but you don’t really understand until you get there and experience it for yourself. So many of my influences have stood in that circle. I’m humbled and excited to feel their spirit when I step in for the first time.”
Here is the posted lineup from the night of Lainey's Opry debut on February 14, 2020:
7:00: Mark Wills (host), Mike Snider, Dailey & Vincent
7:30: Bill Anderson (host), The Grascals, Charles Esten
Intermission
8:15: Terri Clark (host), Gary Mule Deer, Lainey Wilson
8:45: John Conlee (host), Sawyer Brown
It didn't take long for either Kelsea or Lainey to become members of the Opry. Kelsea joined the cast on April 16, 2019, while Lainey became a member on June 7, 2024.
There you have it for this weekend.
It seems like these shows in the last month and the ones coming up are honestly dare. I say better than the anniversary shows the network broadcast or maybe even the actual anniversary show. These lineups are really solid and Marc and trace are back in a couple of weeks for the big Ronnie Milsap thing. Everybody who reads here knows how I feel about Mark. I can only imagine was a great movie if you guys have never seen it. This is going to be a fun weekend. Ez
ReplyDeleteI found the Friday Night Opry last night a bit strange. The first half of the show was fine, and Connie sounded very good. However, the second half of the show, which was livestreamed on the Opry's Facebook page, just didn't feel like an Opry show.
ReplyDeleteFor those who missed it, it included a 30 discussion with the artists for that segment, sitting on stage discussing the movie that was being promoted. Trace Adkins seemed to be the leader of it. I cannot remember any time in the Opry's history that this type of panel discussion has taken place. There have been times when a group of artists have sat on stage, but they mixed up the talk and storytelling with music. That was not the case last night. They did eventually sing for the final 30+ minutes.
In watching the livestream, I was reading many of the comments that were being made. Many were positive, but some were asking where the music was, while others were not familiar with the movie or the artists on stage.
Again, just a strange show.
I thought of a couple of "different" shows. One was when they had a group of Waylon's friends on, and they were telling stories about him, as I recall.
DeleteThe other one was for the anniversary in 1994, which I think may have been Bob Whittaker's first as manager, or at least his second. He was, you'll recall, changing things up a lot (including the idea of inviting people to become members on stage). The four Hall of Famers still doing the Opry were introduced, sat on the stage, and watched as someone paid tribute--I remember Mike Snider for Grandpa Jones, the Bluegrass Boys for Monroe, and Jeannie Seely for Hank Snow, who couldn't stand it and got up and sang with her.
Michael I remember the Waylon show and the hall of fame tribute I might have been at one or both. Countryart
DeleteThe Hall of Fame tribute show was in 1994 during the Opry's 69th birthday weekend. I remember the year as it was the only birthday weekend I have missed since the late 1980s. In checking the program from that night, Porter Wagoner was for Jimmy Dickens, Jeannie Seely with Hank Snow, Mike Snider with Grandpa Jones and the Bluegrass Boys for Bill Monroe.
DeleteThere are two different Waylon Opry shows. The first one took place on Saturday May 3, 1997, which was the night of the 50th anniversary of the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. On that particular night, Porter Wagoner was the host, and Waylon on, along with Steve Wariner, Travis Tritt and Joe Diffie. It was advertised as a guitar pull, and all of the acts were on stage for the entire 30-minute televised segment.
The last one took place right after Waylon passed away, on Saturday February 16, 2002. Porter Wagoner was the host and Marty Stuart, Travis Tritt and Hank Williams Jr. were on stage for the entire televised hour and sang a few of Waylon's hits and told stories about Waylon.
I remember both of those shows because I was there for both of them. I would say the difference between last night and those two Waylon Opry shows was that last night they went an entire 30-minute segment just talking on stage, while during the Waylon shows, they told stories and played music in-between.
I wonder what the audience reaction was to a "conversation" about a movie instead of a music program - at the outrageous prices I would expect there was quite a bit of disappointment. Especially if that was not known when tickets were purchased.
ReplyDeleteI've got so many thoughts and frustrations about what the Opry has become in the last ten years that it is not worth the effort to type or breath to say out loud anymore. Let's face it, it's all about money. In a way it always has been almost from the very beginning. When National Life ran the show what was the Opry? The promotional arm if the insurance company. We've been watching the National Life Opry shows from the 60's on the internet hosted by Judd Collins and John Cameron Swayze. Very heavy in the promotion of their insurance and rightfully so. Part of the difference, and I say this as only an opinion, their target audience and market was different. They were after the family and working class to sell their insurance. And, likely some of the people in the trenches running the Opry understood the appeal to the audience at that time and kept it close to the ground per Judge Hay's advise. Today it is still about the money and our society has changed from the mid 20th century and more people have diverse taste and I dare say are more apt to accept what they are told they should like, what is good art or music. The Opry owners are still chasing the dollar and that means appealing to everyone, not jut rural America, flyover country. Do we know if the Opry receives any additional money for helping promote something like this movie?
ReplyDeleteWe have just been fortunate enough that for the first 75-80 years or so, the artists and music of the Opry has supported one genre, with sub genre's of that music and for those of us with less diverse thinking, we have had a place to go and not have to listen to things we do not enjoy. Times, they are a changing and I'm getting old. I don't think it has to be but that is the way it is.
Listening to George Thorogood on Friday night I started to post then backed off. But listening to the end of his performance and hearing the same sounds, not even words over and over and over and then the loud guitars, I wanted to ask what exactly is the criteria for being blessed with the opportunity to walk in that circle. Now I know Roger Miller made part of his career out of just making crazy sounds, multiple and varied I might add, and one might say yodeling would qualify as just sounds, but what I was hearing Friday night was ridiculous to me. But what do I know? He got a standing ovation! And he probably helped fill many of the seats. Again, it all goes back to the money. That's understandable and the way the world turns but it is sad that art and tradition has to be sacrificed for it.
Back to hibernation for me.
Jim
Knightsvielle, IN
Look at me, I can't even spell the town I live it so what do I know!
ReplyDeleteJim
Knightsville, IN