Tuesday Night Opry 12/1-Updated

Jimmy Dickens has cancelled for Tuesday night.

Here is the line-up for the Tuesday Night Opry-December 1st. Interesting that Jimmy Dickens is listed after not being on the Opry this past weekend. Perhaps he is feeling better or he just hasn't cancelled as of yet.

7:00: Jimmy C. Newman; Jason Michael Carroll
7:30: The Whites; Dailey & Vincent
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson; Jimmy Wayne
8:45: Dierks Bentley

November 28, 1925

As we all know, the Grand Ole Opry historically considers it's official start date as November 28, 1925, when George D. Hay sat Uncle Jimmy Thompson down before the WSM microphones on that Saturday night, and Uncle Jimmy played a number of fiddle songs. However, the Barn Dance program, as it was called at the time, was not formally established on that night, although Uncle Jimmy returned the following week to play on WSM again. George D. Hay's formal announcement of the establishment of a regular program devoted to old-time music to be aired on Saturday nights came late in December 1925 when WSM announced the following: "Because of this recent revival in the popularity of the old familiar tunes, WSM has arranged to have an hour or two every Saturday night, starting Saturday December 26".

I mention this because this Saturday night November 28, the Grand Ole Opry will officially have been on the air for 84 years, despite the birthday celebration that is always held in October. Yet, according to WSM's historical records, the real start of the Barn Dance program, which became the Grand Ole Opry, took place on Saturday December 26. I wonder why, in George D. Hay's historical accounts, he considers the November 28 date as the offical start and not the December 26 date? I know that with Hay now deceased, that question will never really be answered. Also, I know that on Saturday night's program they will mention the "official anniversary" several times, but I wonder why they still hold the birthday celebration in October, since there is no longer a DJ convention or other activities to tie it to.

Happy "official" birthday to the Grand Ole Opry!!!!!!

Grand Ole Opry Line-Up 11/27 & 11/28

It's Thanksgiving weekend and for the Opry that usually means a pretty good weekend of shows as many of the artists who live in the Nashville area are home for the holiday weekend. And this weekend's shows are pretty good with appearances by Brad Paisley, Lorrie Morgan, Rhonda Vincent and Jimmy Wayne among others. Overall, it is a pretty balanced line-up of shows for this weekend. Here are the line-ups:

Friday November 27
7:00: Jeannie Seely(host); Jim Ed Brown; Rhonda Vincent
7:30: Jimmy Dickens(host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Lorrie Morgan
8:00: Riders In The Sky(host); Jan Howard; Jimmy C. Newman; Matt Kennon
8:30: Mike Snider(host); Connie Smith

Saturday November 28
First Show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens(host); Jimmy C. Newman; Jimmy Wayne
7:30: Mike Snider(host); Jim Ed Brown; The Whites
8:00: Lorrie Morgan(host); Riders In The Sky; Cherryholmes; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson(host); Connie Smith; Brad Paisley

Second Show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens(host); Lorrie Morgan; Brad Paisley
10:00: Mike Snider(host); Charlie Louvin; Jimmy Wayne
10:30: Jeannie Seely(host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson(host); Connie Smith; Cherryholmes

They have top loaded the 2nd show on Saturday night with Lorrie Morgan and Brad Paisley in the 1st segment. The Ryman Auditorium is always tough to get emptied and to get the people in for the 2nd show as there is limited lobby space and entrances to the building. Add that to the parking situation in downtown Nashville, especially if there is a hockey game or concert going on, and many, many people are late getting in to the 2nd show. Some of them I am sure will be unhappy if they miss the star power during that segment. Also, David Ball is hosting the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree at the record shop. I am sure almost all of you remember back in the day that the Midnight Jamboree guest host was always on the Opry. Not so anymore. There is still a slot to fill on the Friday night show, during the final segment. Typically, that is a pretty good act in that slot, so maybe the Opry will fill it with a quality performer and not Mandy Barnett or Rebecca Lynn Howard, which seems to be usually the case. Have a great Thanksgiving weekend to all!!

Classic Grand Ole Opry Line-up-April 19/20, 1974

It has been a while since I posted a Grand Ole Opry line-up from years long past. This time, I go back to the weekend of April 19 & 20, 1974. On this weekend, the Opry had 1 show on Friday night, 2 shows on Saturday night, a Saturday matinee and a Sunday Grand Ole Gospel show. Let's take a look back:

Friday April 19, 1974
8:00: Stu Phillips(host); Barbara Mandrell; The Promenaders; Bashful Brother Oswald
8:30: George Jones(host); The Carlisles; Patsy Sledd; Harold Morrison
9:00: Charlie Walker(host); Jan Howard; Mel Street; The Promenaders
9:30: Billy Grammer(host); The Willis Brothers; Jim Mundy
10:00: The Osborne Brothers(host); Louie Roberts; Del Wood
10:30: Bill Monore(host); Ray Pillow; Jim & Jesse

11:05: Grand Ole Gospel Show: Rev. Jimmy R. Snow; The Evangel Temple Choir & Special Guest

Saturday Matinee
3:00: Jimmy C. Newman; Jan Howard
3:30: Lester Flatt; Ernie Ashworth
4:00: Charlie Walker; Lonzo & Oscar
4:30: Stu Phillips; Louie Roberts

Saturday April 20, 1974
6:30: The Willis Brothers(host); Mac Wiseman
6:45: Jimmy C. Newman(host); Ernie Ashworth; Del Wood
7:00: Billy Grammer(host); Jan Howard; Stu Phillips; Norvel Felts
7:30: Charlie Walker(host); Minnie Pearl; Dottie West; Bashful Brother Oswald; The Crook Brothers; The Stoney Mt. Cloggers
8:00: Lester Flatt(host); Marion Worth; Lonzo & Oscar; Louie Roberts
8:30: George Jones(host); Justin Tubb; Patsy Sledd; Harold Morrison; The Fruit Jar Drinkers

9:30: Charlie Walker(host); The Willis Brothers; Minnie Pearl; Ernie Ashworth
10:00: Jimmy C. Newman(host); Jan Howard; Norvel Felts
10:15: Billy Grammer(host); Mac Wiseman; Dottie West
10:30: Lester Flatt(host); Lonzo & Oscar
10:45: Justin Tubb(host); Del Wood; The Crook Brothers; The Stoney Mt. Cloggers
11:00: George Jones(host); Patsy Sledd; Harold Morrison; The Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam & Kirk McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins(host); Marion Worth; Louie Roberts

Sunday Grand Ole Gospel
7:00: The Masters Four Quartet; The Joymen Quartet
7:30: The Regents Quartet; Alvis and the Barnetts
8:00: Coy Cook and the Premiers; The Dixie Echos
8:30: The Statesmen Quartet

I bet some of those Sunday Grand Ole Gospel shows were great. Some great quartet singing there. Also, looking at the Grand Ole Opry line-ups from that weekend, a lot of the big stars are missing: Roy Acuff, Hank Snow, Ernest Tubb, Grandpa Jones, Bill Anderson, Porter Wagoner, Bill Monroe only on Friday, Ernest Tubb....

Tuesday Night Opry-11/24

Here is the line-up for the Tuesday Night Opry at the Ryman Auditorium-November 24

7:00: Riders In The Sky; Emily West
7:30: Jeannie Seely; Chuck Wicks
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson; Justin Moore
8:45: Jimmy Dickens; The Time Jumpers

Grand Ole Opry Line-Up-11/20 & 11/21_Updated

As expected, changes were made in this weekend's line-ups. Holly Williams has been added to both Saturday night shows, and this will be here 3rd appearance in the last several months. The Whites will be hosting the 2nd Saturday segments.

Here is this week's Grand Ole Opry line-ups:

Friday November 20:
7:00: George Hamilton IV(host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jason Michael Carroll
7:30: Jimmy Dickens(host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Shane Yellowbird
8:00: Mike Snider(host); Stonewall Jackson; The Whites; Connie Smith
8:30: Vince Gill(host); Ralph Stanley; Little Big Town

Saturday November 21:
First Show
7:00: Jimmy Dickens(host); Jimmy C. Newman; Holly Williams
7:30: The Whites(host);Jack Greene; Ralph Stanley
8:00: George Hamilton IV(host); Jan Howard; The Lovell Sisters; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Mike Snider(host); Connie Smith; Charlie Daniels Band

Second Show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens(host); Jimmy C. Newman; Holly Williams
10:00: The Whites(host); Jack Greene; Ralph Stanley
10:30: Mike Snider(host); Ray Pillow; Charlie Daniels Band; Opry Square Dancers
11:00; Vince Gill(host); Connie Smith; The Lovell Sisters

Comments:
>Ralph Stanley will be autographing copies of his new book at the Opry Originals Shop on Friday night after the Friday Night Opry.
>George Hamilton is hosting a segment on Friday and Saturday night. I have always enjoyed it when he has hosted a segment as he gives his guests great and sincere introductions. Sometimes he has the habit of being a little too long on the introductions, but I always enjoy his style.
>On Saturday night, there is no host for the 2nd segment on both shows. It could be that there was no one else available to host, but looking at the artists scheduled that night, Jimmy C. Newman, Ray Pillow and The Whites have all hosted segments in the past. It has been many years since Jack Greene hosted, and he is not in the rotation of hosts. Or, it could be that adjustments are going to be made to the schedule. I notice that Vince Gill is only scheduled for the 2nd show on Saturday. The way it is listed now, Jimmy Dickens will be hosting the entire first hour on both shows. Hope his voice holds out-it has not been the strongest of late.
>Rockie Lynne will be hosting the Midnight Jamboree from the Ernest Tubb Record Shop. At one time, he had the beginnings of a solid career, but seems to have hit a wall.
>Finally, the question of the week, is who is Shane Yellowbird? Again, with the ticket prices being charged at the Opry, the booking needs to be better. Don't get me wrong, as I am sure Shane is a fine artist. But???

Tuesday Night Opry 11/17

Here is the line-up for the Tuesday Night Opry-November 17.
7:00: Bill Anderson; Rebecca Lynn Howard
7:30: Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Buddy Jewell
Intermission
8:15: Jack Greene; Love & Theft
8:45: Jim Ed Brown; Mandy Barnett