The Opry is Celebrating its 85th Birthday!!

The following is information from the Grand Ole Opry:

Get ready for a birthday party, Opry style! Giant guitars, one-of-a-kind cakes, and special shows are all on tap as the show that made country music famous celebrates its 85th birthday with country music's most popular artists and biggest fans throughtout a months-long celebration.

Grand Ole Opry superstars Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Ricky Skaggs and Steve Wariner are picking up their guitars and hitting the Opry stage Tuesday, May 25 to officially launch a months-long celebration of the Opry's 85th birthday with an all-star guitar jam. As a part of the night's Tuesday Night Opry, each Opry member will take the stage individually followed by a guitar jam finale featuring the group's take on some of the most popular songs in Opry history. The four artists-each known as a million-selling recording artist as well as an impeccable musician-have together amassed more than 75 Country Music Association and Grammy Awards.

The night will light the fuse on a celebration to continue throughout the year as the show that made country music famous celebrates its 85th birthday with country music's most popular artists and biggest fans.

Among the highlights of a banner year:

Guitar Greetings: Two new 20-foot, 3000 pound steel and aluminum Opry 85th guitars will be unveiled outside the Grand Ole Opry House, officially welcoming visitors to the Opry party. Both fans and superstars will also be invited to sign other oversized guitars on display throughout the landmark birthday year, and larger than life Opry 85th decor featuring Opry members Trace Adkins, Charlie Daniels, Loretta Lynn, and others will cover much of the front facade of the Grand Ole Opry House.

Star-Packed Shows: Opry performances are scheduled for up to four days a week this summer (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) with upcoming performances by Lady Antebellum, Oak Ridge Boys, Charley Pride, Josh Turner, and more. Opry Country Classics runs Thursdays through June 17 and again this fall at the historic Ryman Auditorium, and Hee Haw alum Mike Snider honors the Opry's rich country comedy traditions in Pickin' & Grinnin': A Grand Ole Opry Comedy Revue on select dates June through October in Studio A at the Opry House. Meanwhile, the songs of one of the Opry's most enduring legends, Patsy Cline, are set to take center stage at teh Ryman this summer in the return of Always...Patsy Cline.

In Pictures: A gallery showcasing some of the Opry's most memorable moments captured by the Opry's official photographer for over a decade, Chris Hollo, as well as past staff photographer Les Leverett is one of three new exhibits set to open in celebration of the Opry's 85th in the Grand Ole Opry Museum, located steps away from the Opry House. Other exhibits will spotlight the Opry in the first decade of the new millennium, including artifacts from Martina McBride, Montgomery Gentry, Carrie Underwood, and more; a third salutes late Opry icon Porter Wagoner.

Be Our Guest: The Opry has for years welcomed famous fans from all walks of life to its stage, including every U.S. President from Richard Nixon through George W. Bush. Recent guests including Garrison Keillor and Good Morning America's Robin Roberts have played a part in the Opry by acting as Opry guest announcers. In celebration of the Opry's 85th, a who's-who of celebrities will appear as guest announcers while the show will also launch an "I'm With The Band" series. "I'm With The Band" will invite personalities from outside the country world who have an interest in music to sit in with the Opry band for a song on country music's most revered stage.

Star's Guitars: As country music devotees descend on Nashville fro CMA Music Fest, a June 11 Guitars of the Stars Benefit Auction will give fans the unique opportunity to bid on acoustic guitars decorated by some of country music's most popular stars including award-winners Luke Bryan, The Judds, and Darius Rucker. Proceeds will benefit the Opry Trust Fund, which has for more than 40 years assisted members of the country music community in need.

Birthday Bash: The Opry's 85th Birthday Bash weekend featuring Opry Birthday Shows and an Opry Plaza Birthday Party is scheduled for Oct 8-9.

Now for my opinion:
I think it is a great thing that the Opry is going to celebrate its 85th birthday for most of the year. Obviously with attendance down, the Opry needs to do something to create some excitement for the shows. All of these things will help (although I think the biggest help would be for the Opry to offer improved line-ups each week instead of what we have been getting most weeks).

I am disappointed that the big kickoff on May 25 is being held on a Tuesday night. It would have meant something more if a Saturday night was the kick-off night, as it was Saturday night that made the Opry famous, not Tuesday night. I also think that by adding a Wednesday night show, it continues to delute the Friday and Saturday night shows.

I also think that adding these other shows takes away the thrill and the importance of the birthday weekend, which traditionally has offered some of the stronger line-ups at the Opry. I can remember when almost every Opry star would be at the Opry for at least one show during the birthday weekend, and a ticket to the birthday weekend was a must have ticket, and hard to get. Who can forget the 75th celebration and even the 80th that featured Garth Brooks.

My other concern is that they have not announced any acts for the birthday weekend. Usually by now, you have a couple that have committed. Also, in looking at some of the tour plans of Opry members, there are already quite a few that have shows scheduled that weekend and will not even be in town. With enough notice, you would think that as many members would be at the Opry that weekend as could be. But, with a months-long celebration, the Opry members can choose when they want to appear as part of the Opry's 85th celebration.

I do have my tickets to the Birthday Bash weekend, and I am sure it will be good. But, again, I am concerned that it will be watered-down and considered just another event, along with the others ones scheduled for the year.

Grand Ole Opry Line-up 4/30 & 5/1--Updated

The Opry did fill out it's line-up for this weekend with Mandy Barnett and Chris Scruggs.

The Grand Ole Opry has posted the line-up for this weekend's shows. The Opry is back to just one show this Saturday night. Here are the line-ups:

Friday April 30
7:00: John Conlee(host); Jimmy C. Newman; The Grascals
7:30: Jimmy Dickens(host); George Hamilton IV; Sarah Buxton
8:00: Jim Ed Brown(host); Jack Greene; The Band Perry
8:30: Mike Snider(host); Connie Smith; Mandy Barnett

Saturday May 1
7:00: The Whites(host); Connie Smith The Grascals
7:30: Mike Snider(host); Ray Pillow; Blaine Larsen
INTERMISSION
8:15: Jeannie Seely(host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Chris Scruggs; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Bill Anderson(host); Jan Howard; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Mandy Barnett

There are still a couple of spots to fill on each of the shows. Also, Sarah Buxton will be at the Opry shop on Friday night, signing autographs of her CD. The Grascals are hosting the Midnight Jamboree on Saturday night at the Ernest Tubb Record Shop.

There is good variety on both shows, but just my opinion, it is not one of their stronger line-ups.

Grand Ole Opry--May 3, 1969

Here is another of my classic Grand Ole Opry line-ups. This one is from May 3, 1969, or 41 years ago this coming weekend. As I did with the last line-up I posted, I was able to do some research and have listed the songs that the artists sang or played that night. I hope you enjoy it.

7:30: Standard Candy
Hank Locklin(host): "Send Me The Pillow That You Dream On"
Osborne Brothers: "Working Man"
Dottie West: "Here Comes My Baby"
Crook Brothers: "Grey Eagle"
Hank Locklin: "Where The Blue Of The Night Meets The Gold Of The Day"
Grandpa Jones: "T For Texas"
Osborne Brothers: "World Of Forgotten People"
Dottie West: "Reno"
Hank Locklin: "Country Hall Of Fame"

8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff(host): "Wabash Cannonball"
Charlie Walker: "Honky-Tonk Season"
Lonzo & Oscar: "Hertz Rent-A-Chick"
Leroy Van Dyke: "Oh Lonesome Me"
Leroy Van Dyke: "Auctioner"
Del Wood: "Cajun Stripper"
Charlie Walker: "My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You"
Roy Acuff: "Meeting In The Air"

8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow(host): "I'm Movin On"
Justin Tubb: "The Great River Road Mystery"
Marion Worth: "Don't Look For Me"
Fruit Jar Drinkers: "Fire On The Mountain"
Hank Snow: "Down The Train Of Aching Hearts"
Marion Worth: "Faded Love"
Ray Pillow: "Wonderful Day"

9:00: Luzianne
Bill Monroe(host): "Love, Come Home"
Willis Brothers: "Monongahela Valley"
Norma Jean: "Dusty Roads"
Stonewall Jackson: "Muddy Waters"
Bill Monore: "I Haven't Seen Mary In Years"
Willis Brothers: "Moonlight Drive In A Diesel"
Norma Jean: "Jackson Ain't A Very Big Town"
Stonewall Jackson: "Don't Be Angry"
Bill Monroe: "Watermelon Smilin' On The Vine"

9:30: Kelloggs
Bobby Lord(host): "Take The Bucket To The Well"
Billy Grammer: "Beer Barrel Polka"
Skeeter Davis: "Silver Thread & Golden Needles"
Willis Brothers: "Alcohol & #2 Diesel Don't Mix"
Bobby Lord: "Yesterday's Letters"
Carol Northcutt: "In The Mood"
Skeeter Davis: "Going Down The Road Feeling Bad"
Billy Grammer: "Gotta Travel On"

10:00: Fender
Bill Monore(host): Goodbye, Old Pal"
Norma Jean: "Dusty Roads"
Del Wood: Ragging The Keys"
Bill Monore: "I'll Meet You In The Morning"


10:15: Pure
Hank Locklin(host): "Danny Boy"
Osborne Brothers: "A Working Man"
Grandpa Jones: "Darby's Ram"
Hank Locklin: "Country Hall Of Fame"
Hank Locklin: "Please Help Me I'm Falling"


10:30: Buckley's
Roy Acuff(host); "Sunshine Special"
Dottie West: "Come On Home"
Stonewall Jackson: "Angry Words"
Stonewall Jackson & Roy Acuff: "Life To Go"


10:45: (?)
Archie Campbell(host): "The Dark End Of The Street"
Bobby Harden: "Green Little Apples"
Bobby Harden: "A Trip To Nashville"
Crook Brothers: "Sally Ann"


11:00: Coke
Hank Snow(host): "The Gold Rush Is Over"
Hank Snow: "Wreck Of The Old 97"
Hank Snow: "One More Ride"
Justin Tubb: "Ballad Of 40 Dollars"
Lonzo & Oscar: "Columbus Stockade Blues"
Fruit Jar Drinkers: "Katy Hill"
Hank Snow: "Among My Souvenirs"
Lonzo & Oscar: "Love Took My Heart & Smashed That Sucker Flat"
Sam McGee: "Wheels"
Louie Roberts: Ka-lua(?)


11:30: Lava
Charlie Walker(host): "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down"
Ray Pillow: "Take Your Hands Off My Heart"
Marion Worth: "Almost Persuaded"
Leroy Van Dyke: "If A Woman Answers"
Charlie Walker: "Honky Tonk Season"
Ray Pillow: "Wonderful Day"
Marion Worth: "Don't Look For Me"
Leroy Van Dyke: "Heartaches By The Numbers"
Leroy Van Dyke: "Once A Day"


I hope that I got all of the song titles right. A couple were hard to catch. A couple of other notes:

As you can see, quite a few Opry members were missing that night, including such big stars as Lester Flatt, Tex Ritter, Marty Robbins, George Morgan, Bill Anderson, Porter Wagoner and Ernest Tubb among others.

During this time period, the Opry had 2 shows on Saturday night. The first show was from 6:30-9 and the seconds show was from 9:30-midnight. The live show on WSM did not start until 7:30. The 6:30-7:00 segment did not make it on the air. On this particular night, that segment was hosted by Bobby Lord, and featured Skeeter Davis, Billy Grammer and Archie Campbell. The 7:00-7:30 segment aired on WSM from 9:00-9:30, and that segment is listed above.

Also with this show, I listed the acts in the exact order that they appeared on stage. As you can see, some artists were on a couple of different times during a particular segment, while other artists did several songs together, like you see on the Opry today.

Hope you enjoy this look back.

Tuesday Night Opry 4/27 & Opry Country Classics 4/29

Here is the line-up for this week's Tuesday Night Opry, April 27th.
7:00: Riders In The Sky; Bucky Covington
7:30: Cherryholmes; Danny Gokey
INTERMISSION
8:15: Bill Anderson; Jewel
8:45: The Whites; Blake Shelton

It is one of their stronger Tuesday night line-ups, and it has a lot of appeal to the younger fans.

Here is the line-up for this week's Opry Country Classics, Thursday April 29th, at the Ryman Auditorium.
Host: Nan Kelley
Spotlight Artist: Steve Wariner
Also Appearing: Gail Davies; George Hamilton IV; Opry Square Dancers; Stu Phillips; Chris Scruggs; Leroy Van Dyke; Emily West.

Yes, you read it right, the great Leroy Van Dyke will be on Opry Country Classics this week. Leory had a couple of the greatest hits in country music history, with "The Auctioneer" and "Walk On By." I think that it has been years since he has been on the Opry. I know I saw him on one of my visits. What a treat for the fans. Stu Phillips is also scheduled. He has cancelled his last couple of appearances and I know that on his last Opry visit, he sounded pretty bad. Hopefully, whatever was ailing him is behind him. This looks like it could be a pretty good show.

Grand Ole Opry Line-up 4/23 & 4/24--Updated

A couple of changes in the line-up. Connie Smith has been added for Friday and Saturday night. Jimmy C. Newman added for Friday night. Bobby Osborne has cancelled.

The Grand Ole Opry has announced line-ups for this weekend's shows. The highlight for many Opry fans will be the Saturday appearance of Loretta Lynn. The long time Opry member has made infrequent appearances in recent years, so this weekend will be a treat for her fans. Also appearing this weekend will be Charlie Daniels, Pam Tillis, Joe Diffie and Marty Stuart.

Here are the line-ups:
Friday April 23
7:00: Pam Tillis(host); John Conlee; The Whites
7:30: Jimmy Dickens(host); Jeannie Seely; The Steeldrivers
INTERMISSION
8:15: Marty Stuart(host); Jimmy C. Newman; Jack Greene; Connie Smith
8:45: Bill Anderson(host); Stonewall Jackson; Charlie Daniels Band

Saturday April 24
First Show
7:00: John Conlee(host); The Whites: Jason & The Long Road To Love
7:30: George Hamilton IV(host); Jimmy C. Newman; Connie Smith; Point Of Grace
8:00: Jeannie Seely(host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Joe Diffie; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Mike Snider(host); Jack Greene; Loretta Lynn

Second Show
9:30: John Conlee(host); The Whites; Loretta Lynn
10:00: Mike Snider(host); Jimmy C. Newman; Jason & The Long Road To Love
10:30: George Hamilton IV(host); Jan Howard; Point Of Grace; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jeannie Seely(host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Joe Diffie

With many of the Opry's usual segment hosts out of town this weekend, George Hamilton gets the opportunity to hosts two segments on Saturday night. Also, Jesse McReynolds and Jimmy C. Newman are doing both shows on Saturday and The Whites are appearing on all three shows over the weekend. And, there are still slots to fill for this weekend.

Finally, just a note on Gaylord and the Opry. We have commented before on what appears to be lower attendance at the Opry shows. Over the past several days, Gaylord has released their 2009 annual report and have scheduled their shareholders meeting. Getting a look at the report and trying to get a feel for how the Opry is doing is a little bit hard, as Gaylord includes the Opry in the category called "Opry and Attractions", which includes items other than the Opry. I can tell you that "Opry and Attractions" income and revenue are down for the 3rd consecutive year, which is not good news if you like the Opry. At some point, you would have to think that this would have to turn around, or as Gaylord moves more into the hotel and convention business, they could be looking to sell the Opry to create more revenue to expand their hotel holdings.

Many of us have thought that maybe the Opry would be better off if someone other than Gaylord Entertainment were the owners of the Opry, but you can never tell. As Opry fans, let us hope that good decisions are made about the future of the show.

The ACM Awards Show/WSM

Not related directly to the Grand Ole Opry, but I just wanted to make a couple of comments regarding the Academy of Country Music Awards show and WSM radio.

First, the ACM awards. The Academy of Country Music has always been "westcoast" based, and has always tended to favor the California sound of country music while the Country Music Association is a Nashville based organization that has always tended to favor "Nashville" based country music. The ACM awards, which are always held in the spring, tended to be a bit more progressive in their view of country music, and always has featured more fan interaction on the shows, and more actors and actresses giving out awards. The CMA show, always held in the fall and from the Grand Ole Opry House, tended to create more of a formal image in how it presented itself, and its winners, with a few notable exceptions, were usually more in line with mainstream country music. But, over the years as the sound of country music has changed, the difference between the two award associations has lessened. And that has especially been more noticeable when the CMA moved their awards show to what is now called the Bridgestone Arena.

The award shows almost seem like mini-concerts, with a rock feel to them, glitzy productions and lots of fan participation. And, with a few awards thrown in. Where at one time the awards were the focus, now it seems like the music is more important.

That brings me to the ACM show from Sunday night. Granted, I did not watch all of the show. But, I caught enough of it to tell you that it just did not feel like a "country music" awards show. Country music today has moved so far away from the country music of my generation that it is almost not recognizable any longer. They still call it country music, but with the production numbers on Sunday, I might as well been watching the MTV music awards than the ACM. Don't get me wrong: these young singers have talent. And to them, what they are singing is country music. It just isn't to the rest of us.

Pretty much all of the artists that won awards are cross-over artists and now the focus for these artists is to become a star in all areas of music, not just country. They are trying to have it both ways. Which is fine, but, please don't call it country music. A true country entertainer who does not have cross over appeal basically has no chance to make it in the business any longer.

I know that in my generation, we had some great country artists who became cross over stars, people such as Johnny Cash, Ray Price and Glen Campbell. But, they recorded country records that happened to cross over. When they recorded it was to have a top country hit, not a cross over hit and it was country.

As we all know, country radio today is only interested in the young and the new. It can be country, but not too country. There are a couple of exceptions like George Strait. But now, it is one or two albums and you are done. And, many sound alike.

I just wish country radio programmers would program based on the quality of the song and how well it is presented. Not the name of the artist or the age of the artist. At least we have satellite radio that gives us another outlit to listen to.

Oh by the way, the ratings for this years ACM show were down from a year ago.

Sorry for the rant, it is just how I feel and if you disagree, that is ok.


One more note on WSM radio. I was reading something that a friend sent me and he thought that there was cause for some concern with WSM. Currently the station is without a General Manager, as the previous one resigned from his position. And, in the words of the person who wrote to me, WSM is "broke", as in financially. Advertising rates are down and the ratings have stayed flat. We know that WSM almost became a sports station a number of years back, and there is no talk of that now, but, in the world of AM radio, WSM is a dinosaur. Let's hope that someone takes control that not only will preserve the traditional country music on WSM, but make positive decisions that will help the bottom line of the station.

Tuesday Night Opry 4/20 & Opry Country Classics 4/22

This week, the Tuesday Night Opry will be at the Ryman Auditorium. For the 2nd week in a row, only 7 artists are listed on the schedule. I don't know if that is just the way it worked out or if management has decided that 7 artists is enough for the Tuesday night show.

Here is the line-up for the Tuesday Night Opry, April 20
7:00-8:00: John Conlee; Wade Hayes; Jean Shepard; Aaron Tippin
INTERMISSION
8:15-9:15: Bill Anderson; Jimmy Dickens; Craig Morgan

My only assumption is that as the "headliner" for this show, Craig Morgan will get an opportunity to perform longer. We shall see.

Here is the line-up for Opry Country Classics on Thursday April 22
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Pam Tillis
Also Appearing: Andy Griggs; Rebecca Lynn Howard; Opry Square Dancers; Eddy Raven; Ronny Robbins; Rhonda Vincent

The Thursday show is definitely the stronger of the two mid-week shows this week.