Grand Ole Opry 3/13 & 3/14

Taking a look at the Grand Ole Opry lineups for this weekend, the Friday Night Opry features Opry members Steve Wariner, The Whites, Riders In The Sky and The Isaacs. On the schedule for Saturday night are Mark Wills, Connie Smith, John Conlee and Dailey & Vincent. 

John Foster has been making a lot of Opry appearances lately and he has two more on his calendar this weekend as he will be guesting on both nights. I still can't believe that John is not part of the Opry NextStage class for 2026. I know he is traditional which makes it tough for him in today's country music environment, especially when it comes to radio airplay. (Remember Mo Pitney). He has been out doing shows and fans seem to like him. Hopefully he doesn't get discouraged. In my opinion, he is the type of artist that the Opry should be promoting and if he can break through, I can easily see him being considered for Opry membership someday. 

The rest of the weekend schedule includes a couple of Opry debuts: Ward Davis on Friday night and Josh Okeefe on Saturday. Rounding out the weekend schedule are Shawn Colvin, Foy Vance, Erin Enderlin, Aubrie Sellers, and the Gardiner Brothers, who will be appearing to help the Opry celebrate St. Patrick's Day weekend. 

Michael and Matthew Gardiner are five-time World Champion Irish dancers, global content creators, performers, and keynote speakers whose work sits at the intersection of tradition, innovation, and modern storytelling. The brothers were born in Denver but were raised in Ireland. Formally the principal dancers for Riverdance, they have more than 9 million followers and over 1.5 billion views across social media, as they have introduced a new generation of audiences to the joy of Irish dancing. 

Friday March 14
7:00: Steve Wariner, The Whites, Ward Davis, Shawn Colvin
Intermission
8:20: Riders In The Sky, Foy Vance, John Foster, The Isaacs

Saturday March 15
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mark Willis, Connie Smith, Josh Okeefe, Erin Enderlin
Intermission
8:20: John Conlee, Aubrie Sellers, Gardiner Brothers, John Foster, Dailey & Vincent

Ward Davis, who is making his Opry debut on Friday night, is an acclaimed musician/songwriter who is from Monticello, Arkansas. His music combines traditional country roots with a modern edge. After moving to Nashville, he gained recognition as a talented songwriter with artists such as Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Trace Adkins recording his songs. Since the debut of his debut album in 2015, he continues to record with his recently released "Here I Am" being his latest project. 

Josh Okeefe debuts on Saturday night, is a folk singer/songwriter. The child of Irish immigrants, Derby, England, native he is a folk singer-songwriter who has performed with Alison Krauss, Country Music Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, and Rufus Wainwright. He has made appearances at the Newport Folk Festival and the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, as well as at the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts at the invitation of British folk musician Billy Bragg. 

It was a special night at the Grand Ole Opry 28 years ago as on Saturday March 14, 1998, Diamond Rio was invited to become the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry: 

From the Tennessean, Sunday March 15, 1998: 

In a week or two, when schedules allow, Diamond Rio will be the first vocal group since 1984 to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Not since The Whites were inducted that year has a full band been asked to join the cast of the world-famous radio show, broadcast on WSM-AM (650).

The reigning Country Music Association group of the year, Diamond Rio was at the Opry last night to make a guest appearance on the 7:30 segment of the show, telecast live by The Nashville Network. Opry president and general manager Bob Whittaker surprised the band after its performance of its current hit, "Imagine That" with an invitation to become the 71st member of the show's cast. 

"It's a dream that has gone through generations of my family, and I know the rest of the guys here," lead singer Marty Roe told Whittaker on stage. "We accept and are excited. I don't know how else to say it. We are very honored to be asked to do such a thing." 

Roe, Jimmy Olander and Dan Truman worked in the Opryland theme park as members of the Tennessee River Boys before leaving in 1986 to form their own group. Brian Prout and Gene Johnson joined in 1987. Dana Williams is the nephew of Opry members The Osborne Brothers. He joined in 1989, the same year it began calling itself Diamond Rio. 

The six-man band has demonstrated its commitment to the Opry with frequent guest appearances on the show, Whittaker said. "They will inject their own unique blend of energy into the Opry and help us move the show into the next century." 

The group will be inducted on its next Opry appearance, which could come as soon as mid-April, Roe said. 

Diamond Rio has won the CMA award for group of the year four times. The band's hits include "Meet Me in the Middle," "Norma Jean Riley," "In a Week or Two," "Love a Little Stronger," and "How Your Love Makes Me Feel." The Whites in '84 and Riders In The Sky in '82 were the last full groups to join the Opry. Alison Krauss appears with her band Union Station, but Krauss is the only official member, an Opry spokeswoman said. 

Diamond Rio will also be the first Opry inductee in 1998, and only the second ever to receive a public invitation to join. Johnny Paycheck inducted Nov. 8 was first. 

"You can't compare this to other awards," Roe said backstage. "It's wonderful to be recognized by the industry, but I rank the Opry right up there with the Hall of Fame. We put this right at the top of the heap." 

Diamond Rio's induction took place the following month, on April 18. After joining the Opry, Diamond Rio made regular appearances on the show and were very popular members. And while several members of the group appeared as part of the group chorus on the NBC Opry 100 special last March, for reasons that will be left unsaid, the group has not made a scheduled appearance on the Opry since 2019. 

Here are the posted lineups for the weekend of March 13 & 14, 1998, including Saturday night when Diamond Rio was invited to become the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry: 

Friday March 13
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Oswald & Charlie, Jean Shepard, Charlie Louvin, Billy Walker
8:00: Jimmy C Newman (host): Bill Carlisle, Ray Pillow
8:30: Johnny Russell (host): Wilma Lee Cooper, Charlie Walker, The 4 Guys
9:00: Bill Anderson (host): Jeannie Seely, Del Reeves, The Lynns
9:30: Mike Snider (host): Jack Greene, Stonewall Jackson, The Whites

Saturday March 14
1st show
6:30: Jimmy C Newman (host): Bill Carlisle
6:45: Jean Shepard (host): Jack Greene
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Jan Howard, Oswald & Charlie, Holly Dunn
7:30: Ray Pillow (host): Mark Wills, Jo Dee Messina, Diamond Rio
8:00: Bill Anderson (host): Del Reeves, Charlie Walker, The Whites, Opry Square Dance Band, Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: The 4 Guys (host): Jeannie Seely, Billy Walker, Marty Stuart

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Jean Shepard, Diamond Rio
10:00: Jimmy C Newman (host): Holly Dunn
10:15: Bill Anderson (host): Jo Dee Messina
10:30: Marty Stuart (host): 
10:45: The 4 Guys (host): Opry Square Dance Band, Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Del Reeves (host): Mark Wills, The Whites
11:30: Johnny Russell (host): Stu Phillips, Charlie Walker, Jeannie Seely

As I write, hopefully Diamond Rio will return to the Opry. They are missed. 

There you have it for this week. Thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend.