After last year when the Grand Ole Opry celebrated its 100th birthday the entire month of October, this year the Opry is back to the traditional schedule of celebrating the Opry's birthday the first weekend in October. In fact, it will be a long birthday weekend as there is one birthday show on the schedule for Thursday and Friday, two shows on Saturday and finally, a Sunday Night Opry. The Sunday show will include WSM celebrating the 101st anniversary of the station.
I already in a previous post listed the running order for the Thursday Night Opry, which will be a regular Opry show and not an Opry Country Classics show which traditionally takes place on that night. Opry members Steven Curtis Chapman, Rhonda Vincent and Crystal Gayle are on the schedule, among others.
Just to review for Thursday night:
8:00: T. Graham Brown, Riders In The Sky, Stephen Day, Crystal Gayle
Intermission
9:20: Mandy Barnett, Steven Curtis Chapman, Charlie Worsham, Rhonda Vincent
Moving now to the Friday Night Opry, Grand Ole Opry member Brad Paisley is scheduled to appear. Joining Brad are Opry members Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Suzy Bogguss, Connie Smith, Riders In The Sky and The Oak Ridge Boys. Yes, that makes seven Opry members for Friday night.
Guesting and making his Opry debut is Lucas Leon. Lucas was on American Idol, along with Brad Paisley and on the show, he performed with Brad, "I'm Gonna Miss Her." After that performance, Brad asked Lucas if he wanted to hang out and play at the Grand Ole Opry with him. Lucas said of the offer, "exciting is an understatement." It is wonderful that the promise that Brad made to Lucas is being fulfilled.
Moving now to Saturday night, where there are two shows on the schedule, Vince Gill and The Oak Ridge Boys are back to make it a two-show weekend for both. They will be joined by 65-year Opry member Bill Anderson, Mandy Barnett, Mark Wills and soon to be Opry member Rhett Akins. Rhett's Opry induction will be taking place in just a couple of weeks.
Speaking of Rhett Akins, on Saturday afternoon in Studio A, he will be performing during the Opry's Birthday Tailgate Party. Rhett will perform and share the stories behind your favorite country songs—plus, there’s birthday cake! And as a reminder, this is a ticketed event.
Rounding out the week will be the Sunday Night Opry with Opry member Ricky Skaggs scheduled, along with The Whites, Dailey & Vincent and Charlie McCoy. Rounding out that lineup are Brandon Lake and Cole Chaney, who will be making his Opry debut.
Friday October 2
7:00: Rick Skaggs, Connie Smith, Lucas Leon, Suzy Bogguss
8:20: Rhonda Vincent, The Oak Ridge Boys, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill
Saturday October 3
7:00/9:30:
Opry Square Dancers, Mark Wills, Rhett Akins, Bill Anderson, Mandy Barnett, The Oak Ridge Boys, Opry Square Dancers, Vince Gill
(Same running order both shows)
Sunday October 4
7:00: Dailey & Vincent, The Whites, Cole Chaney & Kyova, Charlie McCoy
8:20: Abby Anderson, Brandon Lake, Ricky Skaggs
While it wasn't the birthday weekend in 1987, it was still a very nice weekend at the Grand Ole Opry as the posted lineup from that weekend shows:
Friday October 2
1st show
6:30: Jim Ed Brown (host): Skeeter Davis, Justin Tubb, The 4 Guys, Hank Locklin
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host): Wilma Lee Cooper, Jimmy C Newman, Billy Walker, Lorrie Morgan
7:30: Roy Acuff (host): Jean Shepard, David Houston
8:00: Jack Greene (host): Gene Watson, Jeanne Pruett
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Jan Howard, Charlie Walker, Stonewall Jackson
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Jeannie Seely, Ray Pillow, Gene Watson
10:00: Roy Acuff (host): The 4 Guys, Carlisles, Jimmy C Newman
10:30: Jimmy Dickens (host): Jean Shepard, Billy Walker, David Houston, Hank Locklin
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Jack Greene, Stonewall Jackson, Jeanne Pruett
11:30: George Hamilton IV (host): Jan Howard, Charlie Walker
Saturday October 3
1st show
6:30: Billy Walker (host): Jan Howard
6:45: Jimmy Dickens (host): Lorrie Morgan
7:00: Jack Greene (host): Jean Shepard, David Houston, George Hamilton IV, Skeeter Davis
7:30: Jimmy C Newman (host): The 4 Guys, Hank Locklin, Dottie West
8:00: Roy Acuff (host): Stonewall Jackson, Jeanne Pruett, Carlisles, Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:30: Hank Snow (host): Jeannie Seely, Charlie Louvin, Wilma Lee Cooper, Ray Pillow
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host): The 4 Guys, Jimmy C Newman, Dottie West
10:00: Jack Greene (host): Lorrie Morgan
10:15: Roy Acuff (host): Jean Shepard
10:30: Stonewall Jackson (host): David Houston
10:45: George Hamilton IV (host): Skeeter Davis, Crook Brothers, Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Hank Snow (host): Jeanne Pruett, Hank Locklin, Justin Tubb, Wilma Lee Cooper
11:30: Charlie Louvin (host): Ray Pillow, Jeannie Seely, Carlisles
Finally, skipping ahead to this weekend in 1998. Appearing that night, in their Opry debut, was Paid In Full. The group was the winner of the Southern Gospel talent search the previous month at the Grand Ole Opry's Gospel Jubilee. The group was based in New Albany, Mississippi.
Friday October 2
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Oswald & Charlie, Skeeter Davis, Hovie Lister & The Statesmen Quartet
8:00: Bill Anderson (host): Jeannie Seely, Bill Carlisle, Jimmy C Newman
8:30: The 4 Guys (host): Jim & Jesse, Jan Howard, Charlie Walker
9:00: Jimmy Dickens (host): Charlie Louvin, Del Reeves, Stu Phillips, Billy Walker
9:30: Mike Snider (host): Jack Greene, Ray Pillow, The Whites, Osborne Brothers
Saturday October 3
1st show
6:30: Charlie Walker (host): Jan Howard
6:45: Jack Greene (host): Bill Carlisle
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host): Charlie Louvin, Del Reeves, Jeannie Seely, Jim & Jesse
7:30: Bill Anderson (host): Wilma Lee Cooper, Ricky Skaggs, Paid In Full
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host): Oswald & Charlie, The 4 Guys, Opry Square Dance Band, Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Billy Walker (host): Hovie Lister & The Statesmen Quarter, Jimmy C Newman
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host): Skeeter Davis, Stonewall Jackson, Stu Phillips, Charlie Walker
10:00: Jimmy C Newman (host): Jack Greene
10:15: Jimmy Dickens (host): Wilma Lee Cooper
10:30: Billy Walker (host): Hovie Lister & The Statesmen Quartet
10:45: Bill Anderson (host): Opry Square Dance Band, Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Jeannie Seely (host): Paid In Full, Jan Howard
11:30: The 4 Guys (host): Del Reeves, Jim & Jesse
For those interested, the trio Paid In Full is still active 30 years later and will be giving their Farewell Concert on Sunday November 1 in their hometown. They have just released a new 30th anniversary album.
There you have it for this weekend. As I have for the past 30+ years, I will be in Nashville this weekend for the birthday celebration and looking forward to some great shows and the opportunity to see some of my Opry friends.
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