Grand Ole Opry 5/22 & 5/23

Last Sunday night, the ACM Awards took place. No, I did not watch the awards show as I was watching something else, but I did follow along on social media. First, congratulations to all the winners. But secondly, as I was viewing the various posts, a picture of a group popped up that looked somewhat familiar. I think they were presenting an award, or maybe performing, I don't remember. But I do recall seeing them someplace or somewhere. Then it dawned on me. It was Little Big Town and then it hit me where I saw them before: they are members of the Grand Ole Opry. 

Maybe I didn't recognize the group as it has been years since they have appeared on the Opry. I did some checking and their last appearance was on August 20, 2024. Prior to that, they last appeared in March 2023. In fact, since 2020, they have appeared just 5 times on the show. I guess they were too busy to participate in any of the Opry 100 shows during the Opry's 100th year. 

Little Big Town is another example of an Opry member who probably should not have been asked to be Opry members. I am not sure why they haven't been appearing, and hopefully they will be appearing at some point in 2026, but obviously being Opry members isn't that important to them. 

They are still actively touring and keeping busy. And you would think with all of the Opry shows each week, that they could fit an appearance or two into their schedule. 

Of course, there are others. But like Josh Turner (last week's highlight), and Diamond Rio, Little Big Town seems to have gone missing as far as the Opry is concerned. 

Now moving ahead to this weekend at the Opry, Memorial Day weekend. Scheduled to appear on the Friday Night Opry are members T. Graham Brown, Steven Curtis Chapman, Charlie McCoy, Kathy Mattea and Ricky Skaggs. Ricky is also set to appear on Saturday night, along with Mark Wills, Connie Smith and John Conlee. 

There are two Opry debuts this weekend; The Revitalists on Friday and Zach John King on Saturday. 

Rounding out the lineups are Mae Estes, Taylor Hicks, Peyton Porter and Jon Walmsey. 

Now if the name Jon Walmsey sounds familiar to you, it might be because he is probably better known for portraying "Jason" on the hit television show The Waltons. Since that time, he spent time as a guitarist with the Richard Marx band. Since returning to Nashville, Jon wrote, produced and played on a number of projects for EMI music, including the well-loved holiday CD, A Waltons Christmas-Together Again. After extensive live and session work as a guitarist with a who’s-who of musical artists, Jon released his first solo blues CD in 2017, Goin’ To Clarksdale. Once again living in the UK, Jon’s US visits are extremely rare, so his return to the ‘Opry will truly be a special event for his music and television fans alike. 

While many may think that this will be Jon Walmsey's Opry debut, that is not the case. He actually appeared on the Opry once before on February 15, 1975. This return appearance will take place over 51 years later, which might be the longest time span between Opry appearances. 

Friday May 22
7:00: T. Graham Brown, Mae Estes, The Revitalists, Steven Curtis Chapman
Intermission
8:20: Taylor Hicks, Charlie McCoy, Kathy Mattea, Ricky Skaggs

Saturday May 23
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Mark Wills, Connie Smith, Zach John King, Jon Walmsey
Intermission
8:20: John Conlee, Peyton Porter, Opry Square Dancers, Ricky Skaggs

The Revivalists have been embraced as a good-times band, their swirl of indie rock, soul, folk, and even a dash of hip-hop serving a soundtrack to many summer nights. Their story, after all, has been one of youthful triumph, with a chance encounter between singer David Shaw and guitarist Zack Feinberg steadily leading to an octet that rose from the dingiest dives to the grandest American concert halls and amphitheaters. With PJ Howard and Andrew Campanelli, they are a two-drummer powerhouse anchored by bassist George Gekas and buoyed by horn man Rob Ingraham, keyboardist Michael Girardot, and pedal steel guitarist Ed Williams.

Zach John King’s Grand Ole Opry debut was originally scheduled for January 24, 2026, a date he announced on social media as one of the “best news of my life." However, due a winter storm which brought as much as two feet of snow and ice to Nashville, the Opry cancelled its live show for that night. King had already decided not to perform if his family wouldn’t be there, so he chose to skip the show and his debut was rescheduled for this upcoming Saturday night. 

Saturday May 23, 1992 was a significant date in the history of the Grand Ole Opry as on that Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. the new Grand Ole Opry Museum opened at Opryland. 

According to the article in the Tennessean:

The museum features personal memorabilia of Patsy Cline, Hank Snow and Marty Robbins. Displays include a dress worn by Cline for Opry performances and the restored recreation room from her Nashville home; a car, guitars, performing suits and a custom-made silver saddle used by Snow during his trick-riding days; and a car and the restored office of Robbins. 

The museum also pays tribute to the Opry's former home at the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville and includes a multi-screen video presentation. 

"The Opry goes on every Friday and Saturday night, but this museum captures the sights and sounds of the Opry's early says," said Hal Durham, Grand Ole Opry general manager. "We are pleased to offer the museum as another way for people to enjoy the legacy." 

Opry spokesman Craig Lamb said the museum involves "tremendous special effects" inside, and the entrance is like walking into the back alley of the Ryman. Rusty Summerville, project coordinator of the museum for Opryland, likened the adventure to opening "the Opry history book for guests to explore and be truly overcome with nostalgia. as soon as they walk in the museum." 

The Grand Ole Opry museum was always a fun place to visit, and while it really didn't change much over the years, other than an addition to the building, it was very popular and best of all, it was free!! Sadly, when the flood of 2010 happened that resulted in the relocation of the Opry for several months, the museum suffered damage and was never reopened. The building is now used as a training and storage building and most of the exhibits are back in the Opry's archives. 

Here are the posted Grand Ole Opry lineup for Saturday May 23, 1992: 

1st show
6:30: Bill Monroe (host): Jeanne Pruett
6:45: Jimmy Dickens (host): Jan Howard
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Skeeter Davis, Jimmy C Newman, Jack Greene, Wilma Lee Cooper
7:30: Tom. T. Hall (host): The Whites, Stu Phillips, Martina McBride
8:00: Roy Acuff (host): Bill Anderson, Connie Smith, Opry Square Dance Band, The Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Osborne Brothers, Jim Ed Brown, The 4 Guys, Hank Locklin

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Billy Walker, David Houston, Tom T. Hall
10:00: Bill Monroe (host): Charlie Walker, Roy Drusky
10:15: Roy Acuff (host): Mike Snider
10:30: Jimmy C Newman (host): Ray Pillow, Carlisles
10:45: Jimmy Dickens (host): Martina McBride, Opry Square Dance Band, The Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Hank Snow (host): The Osborne Brothers, Justin Tubb, The Whites, Jack Greene
11:30: Jim Ed Brown (host): Connie Smith, Hank Locklin, The 4 Guys

And for those who might ask, it was Martina McBride's Opry debut.