Grand Ole Opry 6/12 & 6/13

This announcement was made last week by the Opry: 

NEW! OPRY HOUSE VIP SUITES

Enjoy the Opry show from your own private box on the stage wings, plus exclusive takeaways and extras delivered straight to your seat. Learn more about this new, exclusive space, now booking for June and July shows!

VIP Suite Inclusions:

Validated parking
Welcome drink in a souvenir glass
Official show poster
Souvenir copy of the Opry Family Album
In-suite food and beverage service
Sodas, water, popcorn, and charcuterie
Cookie tray delivered at intermission

For those familiar with the Grand Ole Opry House, these suites are located along the side of the stage where the old concession stands were at one time. The view of the seats is basically the same as if you were sitting closest to the wall in section one or seven. 

There are three rows of four seats each. The ticket price seems to fluctuate depending on the day of the week, the show and the row of the seat purchase. If you were to buy a seat in the box for this coming Saturday night, the price would be $265 in the first two rows and $239 in the last row. I would assume the view is the same for all of the seats. 

It will be interesting to see how this all goes. Could this be something that gets expanded over time?

Now moving ahead to this weekend at the Grand Ole Opry. Taking a look at the Friday Night Opry, members Craig Morgan, John Conlee, Henry Cho, Steven Curtis Chapman and Chris Janson are on the schedule. It is nice to see Chris back on the Opry's schedule, and it should be noted that as one of the Opry's newest members, Steven Curtis will be making his 5th appearance of the year. 

Saturday night's Grand Ole Opry is being dedicated to Bill Cody. I would expect Dan Rogers to again, give a heartfelt dedication and I am sure a lot of memories will be shared, not only on Saturday night, but also on Friday. There are only three Opry members on the Saturday schedule: Riders In The Sky, Dailey & Vincent and T. Graham Brown. 

Guesting on Friday are Tigirlily Gold and Steep Canyon Rangers. Very frequent Opry guest Charles Esten will be appearing on Saturday, along with The French Family Band, Payton Smith and making her Opry debut, Maisie Peters. 

Friday June 12
7:00: Craig Morgan, Tigirlily Gold, John Conlee, Steep Canyon Rangers
Intermission
8:20: Henry Cho, Steven Curtis Chapman, Chris Janson 

Saturday June 13
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, Riders In The Sky, Payton Smith, Maisie Peters, Dailey & Vincent
Intermission
8:20: The French Family Band, Opry Square Dancers, Charles Esten, T. Graham Brown 

(The Saturday lineup is the posted lineup that I received. After receiving it, John Carter & Ana Cristina Cash with Jamey Johnson was added to the lineup. Thus, the schedule posted is subject to change, and it will change)

Maisie Peters, who makes her Opry debut on Saturday, is from the UK. As the first female signee to Ed Sheeran's Gingerbread Man Records, she has built one of pop’s most dedicated fan bases across two critically acclaimed albums and over a billion streams. Her 2023 album, The Good Witch, hit #1 on the UK Official Album Chart, making her the youngest British female solo artist to achieve this since 2014. Maisie’s third studio album Florescence, co-produced with 2x GRAMMY winner Ian Fitchuck, was released on May 22nd via Atlantic/Gingerbread Man Records.

Taking a look back 25 years ago, Fan Fair was taking place in Nashville, but a lot of the attention was at the Grand Ole Opry House, 

From The Tennessean Friday June 15

While the industry's record labels and distributors worked hard to book excellent talent for Fan Fair's Adelphia Coliseum evening showcases, the weekend's greatest collection of singers, pickers, legend and upstarts can be found today and tomorrow at the Grand Ole Opry. 

All-time greats such as Porter Wagoner, Jimmy Dickens, Connie Smith, The Osborne Brothers and Bill Anderson will be there, as will critically acclaimed young bloods BR5-49 and Elizabeth Cook. In addition, three acts will be making their Opry debuts on the hallowed stage: Chris Gagle, Jamie O'Neal and indie hitmaker Mark McGuinn. 

This week's complete Opry schedule, including information about tomorrow's special matinee at Ryman Auditorium: 

Friday June 15
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host): The Whites, Bill Carlisle, BR5-49, Pam Tillis
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host): Eric Heatherly, George Hamilton IV, Mark McGuinn, Jack Greene
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host): Jeannie Seely, Osborne Brothers, Jamie O'Neal
9:00: Bill Anderson (host): Sara Evans, Charley Pride
9:30: Vince Gill (host): Mike Snider, Brad Paisley, Trisha Yearwood

Saturday June 16
Opry Matinee at The Ryman Auditorium
3:00: Porter Wagoner, Pam Tillis
3:30: Osborne Brothers, Connie Smith
4:00: Vince Gill, Jim Ed Brown
4:30: Jimmy Dickens, Patty Loveless

Saturday June 16
1st show
6:30: Steve Wariner (host): Connie Smith, Bill Carlisle, Osborne Brothers, Jim Lauderdale
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host): Jimmy C Newman, The Whites, Jim Ed Brown, Ricky Skaggs
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Chris Cagle, Mark McGuinn
8:00: Bill Anderson (host): Billy Walker, Charley Pride, Opry Square Dance Band, Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host): Del Reeves, Hal Ketchum, Alan Jackson

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Hal Ketchum, Chris Cagle, Connie Smith
10:00: Jimmy Dickens (host): Charlie Louvin, Jimmy C Newman, Charley Pride
10:30: Steve Wariner (host): Hank Locklin, Ricky Skaggs, Opry Square Dance Band, Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host): Jan Howard, Billy Walker, Pam Tillis
11:30: Charlie Walker (host): Elizabeth Cook, Del Reeves, Mark McGuinn

A lot can happen in just 25 years. This about this. Of the Opry members who were on the schedule that weekend, Porter Wagoner, Bill Carlisle, Buck White, Jim Ed Brown, George Hamilton IV, Jack Greene, Jimmy Dickens, Jeannie Seely, Osborne Brothers, Charley Pride, Jimmy C Newman, Billy Walker, Melvin Sloan, Del Reeves, Hal Ketchum, Charlie Louvin, Hank Locklin and Jan Howard have all passed away. 

You blink an eye and so much is missed.