I thought it would be appropriate to begin this weekend's post with a look back at last weekend when Bill Anderson was honored upon his 65th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Here is the press release from the Opry:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (July 18, 2026) – The Grand Ole Opry celebrated Bill Anderson on his 65th Opry anniversary. Anderson is the longest-serving member and the first artist in the 100-year history of the Opry to mark 65 years. Anderson was officially inducted as a member on the Opry on July 15, 1961.
Anderson received congratulations throughout the night including a video message from his friends and fellow Opry members Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Steve Wariner and more. His longtime friend and Opry member Lorrie Morgan presented him with a gift from the Opry, a European cut diamond and blue sapphire ring. Blue sapphire is the anniversary stone for 65 years. After the show, Anderson celebrated backstage in Studio A with his family, friends and fellow Opry members.
“The Opry is the home of country music, and thankfully for 65 years now the show has been home to Whisperin’ Bill Anderson,” said Opry Executive Producer Dan Rogers. “We’re so thankful that through all the stages of his career—all the hits, all the songwriting successes, all the TV appearances, all the tour dates, and more, Bill has always come home to this Opry he loves. We’re so honored, we’re so proud, and we’re looking forward to the next 65.”
I was at the shows this weekend and here are my random thoughts:
>While the entire Saturday night show was excellent, the highlight to me was the 30-minute segment that featured Bill. Yes, it got off to a little rough start with "Po' Folks", but he recovered nicely and really hit his stride with Mary Lou Turner and "Sometimes." Bill is still sharp and gets around well, but you could also tell that his hearing isn't what it once was and I think that was the issue. But overall, he was wonderful.
>The presentation of the gift to Bill by Lorrie Morgan was well done. Lorrie and Bill go back a long way, and you could tell that they were longtime friends. Lorrie was the perfect Opry member to have made that presentation. I have seen video clips on various social media sites.
>Backstage, in addition to those who performed, I saw John Conlee, T. Graham Brown, Moore & Moore, Dallas Wayne, and a host of musicians, too numerous to name. I did miss Garth, who was there prior to the show but quickly left.
>It was noted by several people that Connie Smith was not there, nor was she featured in the congratulatory video with a number of other Opry members. We have all heard the stories that don't need repeating, but I was sorry that she did not take part.
>After the Opry there was a reception for Bill in Studio A that was well attended. Bill cut the cake and took a few questions from those attending. He also stayed and took photos and greeted fans.
>While I am sure it came through loud and clear on the radio, Bill received a long-standing ovation. In fact, he received a couple. I am sure some of the younger members of the audience were not all that familiar with Bill, I was wonderful to see the respect and recognition that he received.
>On a side note, I went to the Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center in Hendersonville to view the Steve Wariner painting exhibit. He had approximately 50 paintings on display and it was outstanding. He definitely has talent. Sadly, it only lasts another week but I highly recommend the visit if you are in the Nashville area.
>Of course, some brought up Jimmy Dickens and his length of time at the Opry. So to clear it up, while the exact date is lost to history, most accept that Jimmy became an Opry member around November 8, 1948. If Jimmy had never left, he would have been an Opry member for 66 years, 1 month and 20+ days. Assuming that, Bill would have another year to go to become the undisputed leader in Opry membership. Now, we know Jimmy left for 17 years, resigning from the Opry in 1957 and rejoining in 1975. That brings Jimmy' active Opry membership to just under 49 years. Call it what you want, but Bill is rightfully noted as the longest tenured Opry member in the history of the Opry.
I did want to mention the Friday Night Opry that featured, among others, Hannah Harper. She is the real deal, and I hope that the Opry works on creating a relationship with her that would include more appearances. She received the loudest applause of the night and frankly, I would have liked to have seen her close that show. John Conlee was as sharp as ever and I did enjoy John Carter & Ana Cristina Cash. It was nice to hear a Johnny Cash song, and a Carter Family classic sung again at the Opry.
Overall, including the Friday Night Opry, it was a very nice weekend in Nashville and again, congratulations to Bill Anderson upon his 65th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Now taking a look at this weekend at the Grand Ole Opry, Opry members The Oak Ridge Boys return for both the Friday and Saturday night shows. Joining the Oaks both nights will be T. Graham Brown, while The Whites and Connie Smith are on the Saturday schedule.
Guesting on Friday will be comedian Chonda Pierce, Trey Hensley, Restless Road, Scotty Hasting, Victoria Show and making her Opry debut, Leanna Crawford.
I am sure everyone remembers Mason Ramsey and Kat Luna. Well, they are both back on the Saturday night schedule, along with Special Consensus, Eric Paslay and Donovan Woods, who will be making his Opry debut.
Friday July 24
7:00: T. Graham Brown, Scotty Hasting, Leanna Crawford, Trey Hensley
Intermission
8:20: Victoria Shaw, Chonda Pierce, Restless Road, The Oak Ridge Boys
Saturday July 25
7:00: Opry Square Dancers, T. Graham Brown, Connie Smith, Donovan Woods, Special Consensus
Intermission
8:20: Mason Ramsey, The Whites, Opry Square Dancers, Kat Luna, Eric Paslay, The Oak Ridge Boys
Leanna Crawford will be appearing on the Opry in support of her new album, Thank God. The record follows an extraordinary stretch for the Nashville resident, who was named New Artist of the Year at the 2025 GMA Dove Awards and earned K-LOVE Fan Awards' Breakout Single of the Year for "Still Waters (Psalm 23)," a Gold-certified hit that introduced millions of listeners to her vulnerable songwriting.
Donovan Woods is known for his candid, emotionally resonant songwriting, blending folk, country, and pop. Outside of his own recorded music, he has written songs that have been recorded by Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Charles Kelley of Lady A, Ben Platt, Hailey Whitters, Ashley Cooke, Barenaked Ladies, Matt Nathanson, Phillip Phillips, and more. Albums like Hard Settle, Ain’t Troubled, Both Ways, Without People, and his most recent Polaris Prize Long Listed Album, Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now, are praised for his consistent compelling storytelling of exploring love, vulnerability, and relationships. In 2026, he is back with brand new music with his new EP, Squander Your Gifts, released on February 27.
How many remember when there was a fire at the Grand Ole Opry House? Well, it did happen and on Sunday July 25, 1976 it made the front page of the Sunday Tennessean:
An early-morning fire in Opryland U.S.A.'s Opry House damaged a lighting panel and caused cancellation yesterday of a performance of Liberty's Song, but the Grand Ole Opry went on as scheduled.
The fire, according to Opryland marketing director Ray Canday, started about 5:30 a.m. in the panel which controls the theater's lighting. Neither the amount of damage nor the cause of the fire had been determined yesterday, he said.
Canday said the Opryland night crew discovered the fire and notified the complex's firefighting unit. The fire was extinguished by 6:30 a.m., he said. Canday said the fire was an electrical blaze and was confined to the lighting panel. He said Liberty's Song, an Opryland production with a Bicentennial flavor, will be performed on scheduled today.
That Saturday night was also the final night in which Opry member Bobby Lord appeared on the show as a member. Like several others, Bobby quietly left the Opry to pursue other interests. He did, however, return a few times to make guest appearances.
Looking at this weekend back in 1992, the Opry Cameo featured Del Reeves:
How many shows can you do in a day? As Grand Ole Opry veteran Del Reeves. He'll be singing just about every waking moment this weekend.
The Good Time Charlies/Girl On the Billboard hit maker will be busy, busy, busy, beginning Friday night. Reeves is booked to sing on the 6:30 p.m. portion of the Friday Night Opry. And he and fellow Opry stars Charlie Walker and Jeannie Seely are also slated to sing at the Jim Ed Brown Nightlife Theater that evening. Del Reeves' Saturday Opry appearances are scheduled for 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. and once again, he'll join Opry star Brown and his new Branson-style family theater on Music Valley Drive.
North Carolina native Reeves spent part of this month on the road. He celebrated Independence Day at a big festival in Jellico, Tenn., then appeared in Knoxville, Pa. on July 12. Next Tuesday, Reeves is scheduled to appear on Crook & Chase on The Nashville Network.
You see, he's newsworthy again because of a certain young star he discovered several years ago. Reeves produced the first Nashville record on the then-unknown Billy Ray Cyrus, and he took Cyrus to manager Jack McFadden. The rest, as they say, is history. That same day Reeves tells his Billy Ray tales on TV, the Achy Breaky Hunk will celebrate his Platinum Record award for more than a million in sales of his debut CD Some Gave All.
The Grand Ole Opry great has his own share of country-music success. Among Del Reeves' top 10 tunes are Be Quiet Mind, The Belles of Southern Belle, Women Do Funny Things to Me and The Philadelphia Fillies, all recorded during his 1961-71 heyday.
Here is the posted lineup for the weekend of July 23 & 24, 1992:
Friday July 23
1sr show
6:30: Bill Anderson (host): Stonewall Jackson, Jeannie Seely, Roy Drusky, Del Reeves
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host): The Osborne Brothers, Jack Greene, Dixiana, Jeanne Pruett
7:30: Roy Acuff (host): Carlisles, Skeeter Davis, The 4 Guys
8:00: Grandpa Jones (host): Jimmy Dickens, Jimmy C Newman, Mike Snider
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Ray Pillow, Jean Shepard, The Whites
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Connie Smith, Billy Walker, Justin Tubb, Dixiana
10:00: Roy Acuff (host): The Osborne Brothers, Jan Howard, Charlie Walker
10:30: Grandpa Jones (host): Mike Snider, Carlisles, Jeanne Pruett, Bill Anderson
11:00: Hank Snow (host): The Whites, Jimmy C Newman, The 4 Guys, Jack Greene
11:30: Jimmy Dickens (host): Jean Shepard, Charlie Walker, Johnny Russell
12:05: Rev. Jimmy Snow
Saturday July 24
1st show
6:30: Bill Anderson (host): Jim Ed Brown
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host): Jeannie Seely
7:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Jan Howard, Carlisles, Charlie Walker, The Whites
7:30: Jimmy C Newman (host): Skeeter Davis, Ray Pillow, The 4 Guys
8:00: Roy Acuff (host): Jean Shepard, Jimmy Dickens, Opry Square Dance Band, The Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Billy Walker, Del Reeves, Jeanne Pruett, Mike Snider
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Roy Drusky, Jeannie Seely, Vic Willis Trio
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host): Jan Howard, Charlie Walker
10:15: Roy Acuff (host): Carlisles
10:30: Del Reeves (host): Mike Snider
10:45: Jimmy C Newman (host): Skeeter Davis, Opry Square Dance Band, The Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Billy Walker, Jean Shepard, The 4 Guys, The Whites
11:30: Jimmy Dickens (host): Jeanne Pruett, Jim Ed Brown, Johnny Russell
Sunday Matinee
3:00: Porter Wagoner, Skeeter Davis
3:30: Jimmy Dickens, The Whites
4:00: Jim Ed Brown, The 4 Guys
4:30: Roy Acuff
(There was also a Saturday matinee but that lineup was not available)
Some may disagree, but in my opinion, Del Reeves was one of the finest showmen that the Opry ever had. He was a total entertainer.
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