Grand Ole Opry 2015 Year in Review

With 2015 complete, it is time for the annual "Year in Review" and a look at the numbers from the Grand Ole Opry's 90th year. 

There were a total of 190 Opry shows for the year, which was 6 more then in 2014. The breakdown was as follows, with the change from the previous year:

Friday Night Opry-54 (0)
Saturday Grand Ole Opry-61 (0)
Tuesday Night Opry-50 (+6)
Wednesday Night Opry-8 (-1)
Thursday Opry Country Classics-14 (0)
Saturday Matinee-1 9)0
Tuesday Matinee-1 (0)
Monday Night (special movie filming)-1 (+1)

2015 started with 65 Opry members, Two of the Opry's long time members, Jimmy Dickens and Jim Ed Brown, passed away during the year. Both of these 50+ year members of the Opry were in the "Top 10" of Opry appearances the previous year. In what can truly be called a surprise, no new members were added during the Opry's 90th year. With the Opry really pushing the 90th anniversary of the show, many thought for sure we would see at least one, and possibly more new members added to the ranks. That also means that in the past two years, only two new members have been added, while four Opry members have passed away. As we enter 2016, the Opry membership currently stands at 63.

Of those 65 Opry members that began the year, 54 made at least one appearance with the big surprises being Garth Brooks, who made his first performing Opry appearance since 2005, and Reba McEntire who performed for first time since 2009. The other nice surprise was Larry Gatlin, who made 76 appearances during the past year, while his brothers Larry and Rudy joined him for 62 of those. Those 76 appearances by Larry compares to 23 in 2014. The other big gainers were Mike Snider, who went from 27 appearances in 2014 to 88 this past year, Connie Smith from 62 to 88 and Vince Gill, who appeared 32 times, up from 17 the previous year. 

One of the goals of Steve Buchanan and Pete Fisher has been to ask each Opry member, at least those who have joined since 1999, to appear 10 times each year. It does not matter if it is a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or any other Opry date, as they all count. So of the Opry's 63 members that completed the year, who made the list? 

Looking at the "Top 10", the leader in Opry appearances were Connie Smith and Mike Snider, each with 88. They were closely followed by last year's leader, Jeannie Seely, who came in at 84. The entire "Top 10" list looks as follows: 

1) Connie Smith; Mike Snider-88

2) Jeannie Seely-84

3) Larry Gatlin-76

4) Bill Anderson-72

5) Riders In The Sky-70

6) The Whites-63

7) John Conlee-55

8) Bobby Osborne-54

9) Jesse McReynolds-41

10) Ricky Skaggs-35

As usual, the list is overwhelmingly loaded with Opry veterans. Now as to the rest of the Opry's members, here are those who did make at least 10 appearances in 2015: 

Vince Gill-32
Del McCoury-29
Mel Tillis-17
Lorrie Morgan-16
Diamond Rio-13
Jan Howard, Craig Morgan-11
Terri Clark, Old Crow Medicine Show, Marty Stuart, Carrie Underwood-10

That comes out to 22 of the Opry's 63 members making the "suggested" number of appearances. I congratulate those who help to support the show. 

So what about the other 41? First, there are those who are retired or due to ill health and no longer perform on the Opry. That list includes Tom T. Hall, Barbara Mandrell, Jeanne Pruett and Ricky Van Shelton. Add to that list would be Randy Travis, who while unable to perform did visit Opry 2 times last year, Jean Shepard, who made her only appearance to celebrate her 60th year as an Opry member, and Stonewall Jackson and Stu Phillips, both of whom have had some health issues and quite frankly, are not asked to do the Opry very often. While Stu did make one Opry appearance, Stonewall did not appear at all. As far as the rest, here are the numbers: 

Oak Ridge Boys, Ray Pillow-9
Charlie Daniels, Pam Tillis-8
Trace Adkins, Rascal Flatts, Steve Wariner-7
Joe Diffie, Ralph Stanley-6
Little Big Town, Brad Paisley-5
Darius Rucker, Josh Turner-4
Alison Krauss, Ronnie Milsap, Montgomery Gentry, Blake Shelton-3
Dierks Bentley, Roy Clark, Alan Jackson, Patty Loveless, Loretta Lynn, Charley Pride, Trisha Yearwood-2
Garth Brooks, Hal Ketchum, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire-1
Clint Black, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Travis Tritt, Keith Urban-0

I have no real complaints with those who came close to the 10 appearances, but I find it pretty sad that 5 of the Opry's active members did not make an appearance in 2015. I at least Dolly Parton some recognition as she did do two shows at the Ryman this past year, one of which did benefit the Opry Trust Fund. 

28 of the members hosted at least one segment, with Riders In The Sky on top with 56. They were followed by Jeannie Seely and Connie Smith, each with 55, Bill Anderson with 47 and John Conlee at 40. After that, it drops off to Ricky Skaggs with 32. Joe Diffie, Josh Turner and Terri Clark all hosted for the first time. 

As usual, and following the pattern of the last several years, there were many non-Opry members who made more appearances then the majority of the members. That list was led by Chris Janson, with 28 appearances. The entire list of those who made at least 10 appearances: 

Chris Janson-28
Jimmy Wayne-18
The Willis Clan-17
Charles Esten, Mandy Barnett-15
Jackie Lee, Love and Theft-14
Greg Bates-13
Shelly Skidmore, Exile, Kristian Bush, Mark Wills, JT Hodges-12
Dailey & Vincent, Mo Pitney-11
Striking Matches, EmiSunshine, Holly Williams-10

We should be thankful for not only those listed above, but also all of the artists who have been making guest appearances in place of the Opry members who have not been appearing. All together, 236 non-Opry members made at least one Opry appearance in 2015, down from 267 the year before. And as with the previous year, those associated with "Nashville", the ABC show, had a big presence, with 60 appearances from those who star on the show. 

As I mentioned already, 2015 saw the 60th anniversary of Opry member Jean Shepard, along with the 50th Opry anniversary of Connie Smith. Both tributes were well done. Mike Snider was also recognized for 25 years of Opry membership. We also saw an improvement in the Opry's annual birthday celebration, with a better show then what we saw in 2014. 

All in all, 2015 was pretty similar to the previous couple of years at the Opry. The year saw the passing of several veteran Opry members, a continued shift to younger guest artists, and a reduction in the appearances by some of the veteran Opry members. We also saw the continuing trend of less artists appearing on the shows, particularly on the weekend nights. From what I can tell, 2015 was another very good year at the Opry from a financial and attendance standpoint and the management of Ryman Hospitalities, the owners of the Opry, continue to be pleased with the performance of the show. 

Only time will tell what 2016 will bring. Among the highlights will be the 50th anniversary of Ray Pillow as a member of the Opry, and Vince Gill's 25th anniversary. I am looking forward to both of those nights. I know there are others, such as Clint Black and Alan Jackson, who will be celebrating 25 years of Opry membership, but based on past performance, they may not even show up to acknowledge the occasion. Here's hoping that they will. 

Regardless, I continue to be a fan of the Opry and have great expectations that 2016 will be another good year for the "show that made country music famous."

(As a disclaimer, the recorded number of appearances is based on the tracking that I do of the shows. If there is an error, such as a missed appearance, my apologies.)

Grand Ole Opry 1/8 & 1/9

Before getting into this week's Grand Ole Opry line-ups, I just wanted to compliment the Opry and Brad Paisley, who made a special unannounced appearance last Saturday night. Brad came on at the end of the show and did several Jimmy Dickens songs, as it was the one year anniversary of his death. I just thought it was a nice tribute and I congratulate the Opry and Brad for allowing it to happen. Yes, the Opry can still surprise us once in a while, which is why we listen each week. 

As far as the line-up for this weekend, it is certainly not as strong as what we saw to start off the year, but both nights are still pretty solid. Appearing both nights are Opry members Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider, Del McCoury and Connie Smith. They will be joined on Friday night by Riders In The Sky, Jesse McReynolds and Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, while on Saturday night, The Whites, Terry Clark, Bobby Osborne and Montgomery Gentry are set to appear. That comes out to 7 Opry members on Friday night and 8 on Saturday. 

Appearing with those Opry members on Friday will be Mark Wills, Mo Pitney, LOCASH, The Grascals and Cam, while on Saturday night Holly Williams, Darryl Worley and Dylan Scott will be appearing. For Dylan Scott, who records for Curb Records, it will be his Opry debut. 

As far as hosts this weekend, Jeannie Seely and Connie Smith get the call both nights, with Riders In The Sky and Larry Gatlin hosting Friday and Mike Snider and Terri Clark hosting Saturday. For Terri, this will be her 2nd time hosting a segment and I do like the fact that the Opry is mixing in some new hosts into the rotation. 

Friday January 8
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Mark Wills; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Mo Pitney; Del McCoury Band
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Jesse McReynolds; LOCASH
8:45: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); The Grascals; Cam

Saturday January 9
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Holly Williams; Del McCoury Band
7:30: Mike Snider (host); The Whites
Intermission
8:15: Terri Clark (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Darryl Worley; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Connie Smith (host); Dylan Scott; Montgomery Gentry

Now here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago, the weekend of January 7 & 8, 2011:

Friday January 7
7:00: John Conlee (host); Jeannie Seely; Frankie Ballard
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); George Hamilton IV; Chris Young
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); Jim Ed Brown; Dailey & Vincent
8:45: Mike Snider (host); Connie Smith; Rodney Atkins

Saturday January 8
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; James Wesley
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jan Howard; Jim Ed Brown; Suzy Bogguss
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Brett Eldredge
8:45: John Conlee (host); The Whites; The Grascals

And from ten years ago, the weekend of January 6 & 7, 2006:

Friday January 6
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); The Whites; Jimmy C Newman; Alicia Nugent
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); John Conlee; Doyle Dykes
9:00: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; Jack Greene; Danielle Peck
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Jim Ed Brown; Jeff Bates

Saturday January 7
1st show
6:30: Mike Snider (host); Jim Ed Brown; Trent Willmon
7:00: John Conlee (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jack Greene; Del McCoury Band
7:30: Jean Shepard (host); The Whites; Michael Martin Murphey
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Billy Walker; Doyle Dykes; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); George Hamilton IV; Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jeff Bates

2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Mike Snider; Trent Willmon
10:00: Jeannie Seely (host); The Whites; Del McCoury Band
10:30: John Conlee (host); Jean Shepard; Michael Martin Murphey; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: George Hamilton IV (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jeff Bates
11:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Billy Walker; Doyle Dykes

It was 45 years ago this weekend, Saturday January 9, 1971 that Tom T. Hall made his first Grand Ole Opry appearance as a member of the Opry. In the Opry's records, Tom T's induction date is listed as January 1, which was a Friday night. However, January 9 was the first Saturday. 

Here is a short biography of Tom T Hall, courtesy of the Grand Ole Opry's Picture History Book: 

"Country music is celebrated for the strength of its stories, so it means something when one performer is identified simply as 'The Storyteller.' That performer is Tom T Hall. The title is natural enough. Tom T delivered a combination of detailed observation, arresting storyline, and full-bodied characters in such songs as 'The Day Clayton Delaney Died.' 'Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine,' 'Margie's at the Lincoln Park Inn,' and 'I Flew Over Our House Last Night.' The way he sings these stories-simple, clear, and as understated as a friend talking to you on a porch-matches the songs perfectly. 

One of ten children born to a Baptist minister, Tom T began playing guitar at age four and wrote his first song at nine. In his teens, he formed a bluegrass band, which performed locally. After a stint in the army, while working as a radio copywriter in Roanoke, Virginia, he wrote songs on the side that were recorded by Jimmy C Newman, Johnny Wright, Dave Dudley, and Bobby Bare. After moving to Nashville in 1964, he had several early hit recordings of his own, including 'I Washed My Face in the Morning Dew,' but when Jeannie C. Riley's recording of his 'Harper Valley P.T.A.' sold 6 million copies and swept the 1968 awards, Tom T's own recording career at Mercury Records accelerated. That career continues through more than 45 albums. 

During the decades of the '80s and '90s, Tom T regularly played the Opry. For two years, he also hosted his own syndicated TV program, 'Pop Goes the Country,' which was filmed at Nashville's Opryland complex, and made guest appearances on many other shows. Some claim that the Kentucky-raised singer, songwriter, and author has 'retired' to his farm south of Nashville. Don't believe them. Today Tom T regularly supervises acoustic sessions at his own recording studio, writes those utterly distinctive songs, and can be seen at venues from Nashville's Station Inn to festivals across the country in support of the bluegrass music he holds especially dear. Tom T has authored a string of books, including an autobiography, a songwriting textbook, and several novels. His songs continue to be recorded with great regularity by bluegrass bands, country singers, and Americana acts alike. 

In 2008, Tom T Hall was elected to his rightful place in the Country Music Hall of Fame."

Here is the line-up from Saturday January 9, 1971: 

7:00: Rudy's
Roy Drusky (host): Don't It Make You Want to Go Home
Jimmy C Newman: Louisiana Dirty Rice
Jim & Jesse: Freight Train
Ray Pillow: Heart Over Mind
Roy Drusky: All My Hard Times
Jim & Jesse: My Baby's Gone
Jimmy C Newman: Release Me
Ray Pillow: I'll Break Out Again Tonight
Roy Drusky: Long, Long Texas Road

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jean Shepard: Another Lonely Night
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharman
Tom T Hall: Ballad of Forty Dollars
Roy Acuff: Pins & Needles
Jean Shepard: Second Fiddle
Charlie Walker: Waiting For A Train
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light

8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): Wake Me When It's Over
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Hank Locklin: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Del Wood: Down By the River Side
Lester Flatt: I Can't Tell the Boys From the Girls
Crook Brothers: Old Joe Clark
Stonewall Jackson: Life to Go
Hank Locklin: If Not For You
Roland White & Vic Jordan: Mocking Banjo

8:30: Stephens
Bill Monroe (host): Mule Skinner Blues
Earl Scruggs Revue: Loraderojosp III Breakdown 
George Morgan: For the Good Times
Stringbean: Mountain Dew
Bill Monroe: Sweetheart, You Done Me Wrong
Stu Phillips: Great El Tigrae
Earl Scruggs Revue: Green Back Dollar
George Morgan: Candy Kisses

9:00: Luzianne
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Dolly Parton: Joshua
Osborne Brothers: You Win Again
Ernie Ashworth: Lips, Start Talking
Porter Wagoner: The Last One to Touch Me
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Soldier's Joy
Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton: Daddy Was An Old Time Preacher Man
Osborne Brothers: Listening to the Rain

9:30: Kellogg's
Hank Snow (host): I'm Moving On
Willis Brothers: Cimmaron
Del Reeves: Bar Room Talk
Grandpa Jones: Kitty Klide
Marion Worth: Okie From Muskogee
Del Reeves: If I Lived Here
Hank Snow: Traveling Blues

10:00: Fender
Bill Monroe (host): I Haven't Seen Mary In Years
Jean Shepard: I Thought Of You/It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels/You Win Again/A Dear John Letter
Jimmy C Newman: Cry, Cry, Cry/ Blue Lonely Winter
Jim & Jesse: Where the Chilly Winds Don't Blow

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Ball Knob, Arkansas
Earl Scruggs Revue: Nine Pound Hammer
Ray Pillow: Free Born Man
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): I've Been Walking
Grandpa Jones: I'm Sorry I Caused You to Cry
Willis Brothers: I Still Do
Tom T Hall: 100 Children
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Uncle Josh: Just Joshlin

10:45: Beech-Nut
Porter Wagoner (host): Big Wind
Dolly Parton: Joshua
George Morgan: Snowbird
Hank Locklin: Country Hall of Fame
Crook Brothers: Chicken Reel

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Miller's Cave
Osborne Brothers: There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight
Stringbean: Hot Corn; Cold Corn
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Del Wood: Bill Bailey
Margie Bowes: Understand Your Gal/Big City
Sam McGee: Wildwood Flower
Hank Snow: Born to Lose

11:30: Lava
Del Reeves (host): Help Me Make It Through the Night
Marion Worth: Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed
Justin Tubb: Big Fool of the Year
Ernie Ashworth: Love; I Finally Found It
Stu Phillips: For the Good Times
Del Reeves: Women Do Funny Things to Me/Bells of Southern Bell/Girl on the Billboard/The Chair That Rocked Up All

It has been many years since Tom T Hall has last appeared on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. While he says he is retired, he does make occasional appearances. I know many of us miss Tom T at the Opry and wish that he would someday make a return appearance. 

Nevertheless, congratulations to Tom T Hall on his 45th year as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. 

Finally, it was 17 years ago this weekend, Saturday January 9, 1999 that Boxcar Willie made his final appearance at the Grand Ole Opry. Here is the running order of that show: 

1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Jimmy C Newman (host): Allons of Lafayette
Skeeter Davis: I Got to the Rock
Jimmy C Newman: Bayou Blues/Cajun Stripper

6:45: Opry Book
Ricky Skaggs (host): A Pig In a Pen
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Ricky Skaggs (host): Boston Boy

7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Roy Drusky: Too Old to Die Young
Jan Howard: Uncloudy Day
John Conlee: Rose Colored Glasses
Jim Ed Brown: Distant Drums
Porter Wagoner: One Way Ticket to the Blues/The Blue Velvet Band/Ol' Slewfoot

7:30: Standard Candy
Lorrie Morgan (host): Looking for Something in Red
Oswald: Euneta
Boxcar Willie: Wabash Cannonball/The Great Speckled Bird
Billy Ray Cyrus: A Busy Man/Shot Full of Love
Lorrie Morgan & Jim Ed Brown: Near You

8:00: Martha White
Bill Anderson (host): Son of the South
Holly Dunn: Daddy's Hands
Riders In The Sky: Cowboy Camp Meeting
Daryle Singletary: You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet
Opry Square Dancer Band: Cherokee Shuffle
Bill Anderson: Still

8:30: Physicians Mutual
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take An Old Cold Tater
Jim & Jesse: You Are the One
Stonewall Jackson: Waterloo
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Mike Snider: Short Little Lulu/Clinch Mountain Backstop/Mississippi Sawyer
Jimmy Dickens: I Learned Over Backwards for You

2nd show
9:30: Opry Book
Porter Wagoner (host): Tennessee Border
Charlie Louvin: See the Big Man Cry
Boxcar Willie: Wabash Cannonball
Billy Ray Cyrus: A Busy Man/Shot Full of Love/Achy Breaky Heart

10:00: Lincoln Mercury
Jack Greene (host): Highway to the Sky
Holly Dunn: We've Got the Love
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/He Is My Everything

10:15: Opry Book
Jimmy Dickens (host): Family Reunion
Daryle Singletary: Forever & Always/Yesterday's Wine
Jimmy Dickens: I'd Rather Sleep In Peace Then Know You're Gone

10:30: Epaphone
Ricky Skaggs (host): How Mountain Girls Can Love
The Whites: Hangin' Around
Ricky Skaggs: I'm Bound to Ride

10:45: Jogging In A Jug
Mike Snider (host): Bell Cove Breakdown
John Conlee: Backside of Thirty
Opry Square Dance Band: Durang's Hornpipe
Mike Snider: Snuff Dipper

11:00: Coca-Cola
Bill Anderson (host): Get A Little Dirt on Your Hands
Jan Howard: Too Many Teardrops Too Late
Billy Walker: I Spend A Lot of Lonely Nights These Days
Vince Gill: Don't Come Cryin' to Me/Which Bridge to Cross; Which Bridge to Burn
Bill Anderson: Before

11:30: Opry Tickets
Johnny Russell (host): Good Hearted Woman
Del Reeves: A Lover's Question
Riders In The Sky: Jingle; Jangle; Jingle
Jim & Jesse: Gosh I Miss You All the Time
Charlie Walker: Does Ft Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
Johnny Russell: Red Necks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer

Boxcar Willie had been in declining health for a number of years and his Opry appearances had dropped dramatically. It was nice that the Opry featured Boxcar on the televised portion that night and I can remember watching and noticing how frail he looked. I think he knew it would be his last time on the Opry and he honored the man who brought him to the Opry, Roy Acuff, by singing Roy's two most famous songs. 

Enjoy the Opry this weekend!!

January Opry Highlights

Happy New Year to Grand Ole Opry fans everywhere. I hope 2016 is a great year for each of you and also for the Grand Ole Opry. Continuing with tradition, here are the historical and important events that have taken place regarding the Grand Ole Opry, or Opry members, during the month of January: 

January 16, 1943: Ernest Tubb makes his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Ernest was so well received that he was offered membership to the Opry and he would join the cast the following month. Over time, Ernest would become one of the legends at the Opry and he would remain an Opry member for the rest of his life. 

January 7, 1950: The legendary Hank Snow makes his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry and it was also the night that Hank Snow became an Opry member. Yes, they did things a little different in those days. It was Ernest Tubb that convinced Opry management to give Hank an opportunity on the show. That night Ernest introduced Hank by saying, "From up Canada way, here's the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry, the Singing Ranger, Hank Snow." Hank sang "Brand On My Heart," which had been a hit for him in Canada and in the Dallas, Texas area and he wore a cowboy hat. Hank considered his debut a flop, as he received very little reaction from the audience. He was so upset that he did not want to go back, but his wife Min convinced Hank that he owed it to Ernest to return. He went back and over the next few months things did not improve and the Opry was actually getting ready to fire him when "I'm Moving On" hit and the rest is history. Hank remained an Opry member for the next 49 years, until his death in December 1999.

January 7, 1950: On the same night that Hank Snow joined the Opry, Tennessee Ernie Ford made his debut on the Opry. Unlike Hank, Tennessee Ernie was already an established star and he was featured on the Prince Albert portion of the Opry that night. While he never became a member of the Opry, Ernie had an open invitation to appear on the Opry whenever he was in Nashville and he would often take the Opry up on the offer. In most cases, he would appear on the Martha White segment as he was friends with the ownership of the company. 

January 1, 1953: Hank Williams was found dead in the backseat of his car in West Virginia. Hank was being driven to a New Year's Day appearance in Canton, Ohio. Also booked on the show that night were Jimmy Dickens, June Webb and several others. Jimmy Dickens ended up not making the trip due to the weather and the other artists who did make it performed the show as a tribute to Hank. While Hank was not an Opry member at the time of his death, he is still considered one of the greatest members in the history of the Opry. 

January 19, 1953: Marty Robbins made his Grand Ole Opry debut. Marty would join the cast shortly after. 

January 22, 1953: The Ozark Jubilee premiered on the ABC television network. The show was hosted by Red Foley, who left the Opry for the opportunity to host the show. 

January 29, 1954: Theron Hale passed away. Theron was one of the early members of the Grand Ole Opry, becoming a regular member in 1926. He stayed with the Opry as a regular into the 1930s, and even after that he would continue to perform on occasion with Sam McGee. While he was at the Opry, he would be introduced as "Theron Hale and Daughters," which were Elizabeth and Mamie Ruth. 

January 22, 1955: Porter Wagoner made his first appearance as a guest on the Opry. In February 1957 he would become an Opry member. 

January 12, 1957: Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper became members of the Grand Ole Opry. The Coopers, along with their daughter Carol Lee, came to the Opry from the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree. 

January 1, 1960: Although there is some debate as to the exact date, it would appear that this is the date that Billy Walker became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Billy would remain an Opry member, and a very loyal one, until his death in 2006. Later in his career, Billy was one of the artists who spoke up about Opry management reducing the number of appearances by some of the Opry's senior members. 

January 9, 1960: Patsy Cline became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. While her time at the Opry was very short, her influence on female artists is still felt. In a pretty famous story, Patsy, who had been appearing as a guest artist for a few years, approached Opry manager Ott Devine and asked is she might one day become an Opry member. Ott responded by saying, "Patsy, if that's all you want, you are on the Opry."

January 9, 1965: Norma Jean became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Much as Dolly Parton would do a few years later, Norma Jean joined the show as she was performing as part of Porter Wagoner's outfit. After leaving Porter's show in 1967, she left Nashville and the Opry. 

January 7, 1967: Charley Pride became the first black solo singer to perform on the Opry. He was introduced that night by Ernest Tubb and sang, "The Snakes Crawl at Night" and "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You." Shortly afterwards, he was asked to become an Opry member, however he declined due to his heavy touring schedule. Over the years, he would be asked several more time, until finally in 1993 he accepted the invitation to join. He was the second black artist to become a member of the Opry, following in the shoes of DeFord Bailey. 

January 4, 1969: Dolly Parton became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be her 47th year as an Opry member. While she was performing with Porter Wagoner, she was on the Opry quite frequently. However, once she went forward with her solo career, the appearances have dropped. She has even commented that if she were in charge of the Opry, she would probably fire herself. It was Carl and Pearl Butler, former Opry members, who were friends with Dolly, that helped to bring her to Nashville at the age of 12. She remembered her first time singing on the Opry, saying, "They used to have this Friday Night Frolics and I went up there one night with the intention of being on it. I kept telling everyone I'll sing just one song. Most of the Opry artists had two spots on the show and I walked up to Jimmy C Newman, who was going to sing his second song next and I told him I wanted to be on. I didn't know why he did it, but Jimmy gave me his spot and I sang a George Jones song." That night Dolly maybe didn't know why Jimmy did it, but I think now she realizes he did it because that was the type of person Jimmy C was. 

January 11, 1969: George Jones rejoined the cast of the Opry. Over the course of his long career, George would join the Opry several different times. Not that it mattered much as George was rarely at the Opry. 

January 1, 1971: Tom T Hall became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Although he no longer performs on the Opry, this will be his 45th year as an Opry member. After joining the Opry in 1971, he left in March 1974 when the Opry moved to the new Opry House. At the urging of Ernest Tubb, he rejoined in 1980. After he rejoined, he was regular but by the 1990's, his interest in the show seemed to have ended. 

January 13, 1973: Grand Ole Opry member Ernest Tubb celebrated his 30th anniversary as a member of the Opry. 

January 20, 1973: For the first and only time, Jerry Lee Lewis performed on the Grand Ole Opry. He had always wanted an invitation to appear, however the Opry was afraid to invite him as they were afraid of what he would do on stage. For this appearance, management asked Jerry not to do rock and roll. He agreed but then broke the promise. He appeared on the 11:30 segment hosted by Charlie Walker and was on stage for 40 minutes. In a very nice move, he invited Del Wood to appear with him on stage, later saying that on a previous backstage visit, Del was the only Opry member who was nice to him. 

January 27, 1973: Marty Robbins celebrated his 20th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. 

January 2, 1974: Grand Ole Opry member Tex Ritter passed away in Nashville after suffering a heart attack. Tex joined the Opry in 1965 and enjoyed being in Nashville and a part of the Opry. He was just the 5th person to have been elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. 

January 28, 1976: Skeeter Willis, part of the Willis Brothers, passed away at the age of 58. The Willis Brothers had first come to the Opry in 1946 and were famous for the western style of music that they played. 

January 22, 1977: Grand Ole Opry member Stoney Cooper appeared on the Opry for the final time. Along with his wife Wilma Lee, he joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1957. Stoney suffered from heart problems and passed away after suffering a heart attack in March. 

January 27, 1979: Sissy Spacek, who played the part of Loretta Lynn in the movie "Coal Miner's Daughter" joined Loretta for an appearance on the Opry. 

January 20, 1984: Mike Snider made his first guest appearance on the Opry. He was a member of the cast of Hee Haw and was known for his comedy and banjo playing. He would eventually become a member of the Opry. 

January 11, 1986: Mel McDaniel became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Mel would remain an Opry member until his death in 2011 after a long illness. 

January 14, 1986: During the Opry's televised 60th anniversary special, Reba McEntire was introduced as the Opry's newest member. While this is the date that the special was televised, it was actually filmed in November 1985. This will be her 30th year as an Opry member. Considering that Reba makes very few Opry appearances, it will be interesting to see if the Opry can get her to come out for her 30th. In an interesting note in regards to that special, Hank Snow refused to appear because CBS wanted to limit him to just one verse of "I'm Moving On."

January 14, 1989: Hubert Gregory of the Fruit Jar Drinkers passed away. Hubert's career at the Opry, as with the Fruit Jar Drinkers, went back to the earliest days of the Opry. Like many others of that era, he played with many different groups and combinations of folks, including Sam and Kirk McGee. 

January 20, 1990: Hank Snow celebrated 40 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. The televised segment on TNN included a special, and final appearance, by the Glaser Brothers. 

January 10, 1991: Clint Black became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be his 25th year as an Opry member. 

January 25, 1992: Emmylou Harris is introduced by Roy Acuff as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be her 24 year as a member. Emmylou doesn't get to the Opry very often and that disappoints me as when she joined, I really thought we would actually see her supporting the show, especially considering her history with traditional country music. 

January 22, 1994: Hal Ketchum became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. After being gone from the Opry for a few years due to illness, Hal has made several appearances over the past couple of years. This will be his 22nd year as a member. 

January 21, 1995: Brother Oswald, longtime member of Roy Acuff's Smoky Mountain Boys, became an official member of the Grand Ole Opry, at the age of 83. I believe that made him the oldest person to have joined the Opry's cast. Oswald came to the Opry in the 1930s with Roy and he helped to define the Acuff sound. Thanks to the efforts of Porter Wagoner and Marty Stuart, he became a member. At the time, management asked the other members of the Opry how they would feel with Oswald becoming a member and not one of them had a negative comment to make. Oswald passed away in 2002. 

January 3, 1998: Grandpa Jones made his final Grand Ole Opry appearance. After hosting his segment on the 2nd show, Grandpa suffered the first of what would be a series of strokes. He was taken directly from the Opry House to a Nashville hospital. His condition over time would decline and he passed away in February. 

January 24, 1998: Opry member Justin Tubb passed away from a sudden illness. He was the son of Ernest Tubb and had joined the Opry in 1955. At the time, he was the Opry's youngest member. Not only was Justin a fine singer, but he was an excellent songwriter. 

January 9, 1999: Grand Ole Opry member Boxcar Willie made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. He had been an Opry member since 1981.

January 15, 1999: The Grand Ole Opry returned to the Ryman Auditorium for the first time since moving to the new Grand Ole Opry House in March 1974. There were three shows that weekend, all sellouts. During the 1st show on Saturday night, Ricky Skaggs asked Trisha Yearwood, who was making a guest appearance on the Opry, if she would like to become the Opry's newest member. The weekend of shows was considered such a success that the Opry has returned to the Ryman each winter for a series of shows. 

January 15, 2000: Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Patty Loveless handled the official induction. He had been asked the prior evening, during the Friday Night Opry, if he would like to join and the Opry went ahead and did the induction the following night. This will be Ralph's 16th year as a member. 

January 4, 2003: Hank Williams Jr and Hank Williams III performed together on the Opry in a show that marked the 50th anniversary of the death of Hank Williams. Also appearing in the tribute were Jimmy Dickens, The Whites and Vince Gill. 

January 6, 2006: The Friday Night Opry was cut to two hours, where it has remained since then. 

January 1, 2007: After a long illness, Opry member Del Reeves passed away at the age of 73. He had been an Opry member for 41 years. 

January 11, 2007: Grand Ole Opry member Stonewall Jackson filed an age discrimination lawsuit against Gaylord Entertainment and the management of the Grand Ole Opry. Stonewall made several claims and specifically named Pete Fisher. As the lawsuit played out, Stonewall refused to appear on the Opry, even though he had been asked to. Eventually the lawsuit was settled out of court, with Stonewall privately saying that Gaylord made a settlement. Stonewall did see his Opry appearances increase in the short term, but over the past several years he has rarely played the Opry. 

January 19, 2008: Charlie Daniels became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be his 8th year as an Opry member. He said at the time of his induction that becoming an Opry member had been a dream for him and he was very happy to have been invited to join. Marty Stuart and Connie Smith handled the actual induction. 

January 26, 2011: Opry member Charlie Louvin passed away after an extended illness. Charlie, along with his brother Ira, had joined the Opry in 1955. After Ira's death, Charlie continued at the Opry as a solo artist. Toward the end of his life, Charlie was very outspoken with the way he felt he was being treated and the reduction in his appearances. 

January 7, 2012: Charlie Collins performed on the Grand Ole Opry for the final time. While never a member of the Opry, Charlie spent considerable time on the Opry stage, first coming to the Opry after he joined Roy Acuff's Smoky Mountain Boys. After Roy's death, Charlie would appear with Brother Oswald and play guitar for the Opry Square Dancers. 

January 21, 2012: Emmylou Harris celebrated her 20th year as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Vince Gill, Buddy Miller and Rodney Crowell appeared with Emmylou to help her celebrate. 

January 2, 2015: Longtime Grand Ole Opry member Jimmy Dickens passed away in Nashville. Jimmy had first joined the Opry in 1948 and at the time of his death, Jimmy was the Opry's last link to the pre-Hank Williams period at the Opry. 

Tom T. Hall

It was 45 years ago today, January 1, 1971, that Tom T. Hall first became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. I have always enjoyed Tom T., and his talents as a songwriter. He now considers himself retired and has not performed on the Opry in a number of years. I still thought it was appropriate to remember this member of the Opry and of the Country Music Hall of Fame. I could not find a clip of Tom T. performing on the Opry, but I did find this from five years ago, when he performed at the Loveless Cafe as part of the Music City Roots series.




I

Grand Ole Opry 1/1 & 1/2

With New Year's Eve on Thursday and New Year's Day on Friday, the Grand Ole Opry has gotten an early start to the week and has already posted the line-ups for the first two shows of 2016. Both nights look pretty good, especially the Friday Night Opry. 

The Friday Night Opry will feature Opry members Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider, Ricky Skaggs, Riders In The Sky, The Whites, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Bobby Osborne, Marty Stuart and Connie Smith. The guest artists have all appeared on the Opry before, and that group includes Josh Thompson, Logan Brill and Charles Esten. 9 of the 12 acts are Opry members and overall, a pretty nice line-up for New Year's night. 

A number of those Opry members will also be appearing on Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, and that list includes Jeannie Seely, Mike Snider, Riders In The Sky, Connie Smith, Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers, Jesse McReynolds, Ricky Skaggs and The Whites. As with Friday night, the guests have all made numerous Opry appearances in the past and that list includes William Michael Morgan, Jimmy Wayne, Lindsay Ell and Jackie Lee. That comes to 8 Opry members out of the 12 acts booked. 

What is nice is seeing Ricky Skaggs and Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers continuing their string of Opry appearances from 2015 and it is nice to see Marty Stuart starting the year off at the Opry. Marty is one of the Opry members that we need to see more often at the Opry. Overall, a nice way to start off 2016.

Friday January 1
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Josh Thompson; Mike Snider
7:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Riders In The Sky; The Whites
Intermission
8:15: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Logan Brill
8:45: Marty Stuart (host); Charles Esten; Connie Smith

Saturday January 2
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); William Michael Morgan; Mike Snider
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jimmy Wayne; Connie Smith
Intermission
8:15: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); Jesse McReynolds; Lindsay Ell; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); Jackie Lee; The Whites

And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago, the weekend of December 31, 2010 & January 1, 2011:

Friday December 31
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jack Greene; Craig Campbell
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jean Shepard; Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky (host); George Hamilton IV: John Conlee; Elizabeth Cook
8:45: Emmylou Harris (host); The Whites; Old Crow Medicine Show

Saturday January 1
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jean Shepard; Jett Williams
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Troy Olsen; The Bowling Family
Intermission
8:15: Mike Snider (host); Jan Howard; Restless Heart; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Emmylou Harris (host); Jesse McReynolds; Buddy Miller

Now from ten years ago, the weekend of December 30 & 31, 2005: 

Friday December 30
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jimmy C Newman; Dan Seals
8:00: Jean Shepard (host); Jack Greene; Mandy Barnett
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Leland Martin; The Grascals
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Janie Fricke; Restless Heart
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Craig Morgan

Saturday December 31
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Erika Jo
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jack Greene; Janie Fricke
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Billy Walker; Jett Williams
8:00: Jean Shepard (host); Charlie Louvin; Dan Seals; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Daryle Singletary

With the new year upon us, let's go back a few years to 2 different shows. First, here is the Grand Ole Opry line-up from Saturday January 2, 1960, 56 years ago:

7:30: Pet Milk
Marty Robbins (host): Sweet Lies
Rusty and Doug: The Love I Want
Justin Tubb: I'm A Big Boy Now
June Carter: Comedy Routine
Marty Robbins: El Paso
Jerry Byrd: Slippery Elm
Glaser Brothers: Bay Of Mexico
Justin Tubb: Mine Is A Lonely Life
Marty Robbins: Just Married

8:00: Martha White
Flatt and Scruggs (host): Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
Carl Butler: Grief In My Heart
Benny Martin: If I Can Stay Away Long Enough
Alex Houston: And Elmer
Flatt and Scruggs: I'm On My Way
Carl Butler: Don't Steal From A Poor Man
Cousin Jake: Old McDonald Had A Farm
Crook Brothers: Lost Indian
Benny Martin: Me And My Fiddle
Flatt and Scruggs: Foggy Mountain Rock

8:30: Prince Albert
Don Gibson (host): I'm Moving On
Archie Campbell: Comedy Routine
Billy Grammer: Loveland
Tommy Jackson: Black Mountain Rag
Don Gibson: No One Stands Alone
Chet Atkins: Wildwood Flower
Minnie Pearl: Comedy Routine
Billy Grammer: It Takes You
Stringbean: Train Special 500
Don Gibson: Don't Tell Me Your Troubles
Tommy Jackson: Sally Goodin

9:00: Jefferson Island Salt
Porter Wagoner (host): Uncle Pen
George Morgan: You're The Only Good
Harvie June: Poor Wildwood Flower
Cousin Jody: Horses Carry Tales
Porter Wagoner: Your Kind Of People
Minnie Pearl: Comedy Routine
Fruit Jars: Sally Johnson
George Morgan: Come Away From His Arms
Porter Wagoner: Pay Day

9:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): Chasin' A Rainbow
Bill Monroe: Tomorrow I'll Be Gone
Patsy Cline: Eyes Of A Child
Lonzo and Oscar: Gotta' Find Julie
Hank Snow: I Heard My Heart Break Last Night
Rusty and Doug: The Love I Want
Bill Monroe: Dark As The Night-Blue As The Day
Patsy Cline: Walking After Midnight
Hank Snow: Golden Rocket

10:00: Jamison Bedding
Marty Robbins (host): El Paso
Carl Butler: Grief In My Heart
Rusty and Doug: I Like You
Crook Brothers: Arkansas Traveler
Marty Robbins: Hanging Tree
Glaser Brothers: She Loves The Love I Give Her
Carl Butler: I'll Cry Tomorrow
Rusty and Doug: Love Me To Pieces
Marty Robbins: I Can't Quit

10:30: Pops-Rite Popcorn
Don Gibson (host): I'm Moving On
Justin Tubb: Almost Lonely
Stringbean: Barnyard Banjo Picking
Don Gibson: Who Cares
Fiddle Tune: Leather Britches

10:45: De Con
Flatt and Scruggs (host): If I Should Wander Back Tonight
Benny Martin: Nine Pound Hammer
Harvie June: Mama Don't Chase My Love Away
Flatt and Scruggs: I'm Crying My Heart Out Over You
Fiddle Tune: Soldier's Joy

11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): The Last Ride
Billy Grammer: Kissing Tree
Lonzo and Oscar: Going Down The Road Feeling Bad
Fruit Jars: Old Joe Clark
Hank Snow: The Party Of The Second Part
Jordanaires: He's Got The Whole World In His Hands
Sam and Kirk: Roll On, Buddy, Roll On
Billy Grammer: Loveland
Hank Snow: My Blue Eyed Jane

11:30: Phillips & Buttorff
George Morgan (host): Cry Baby Heart
Bill Monroe: Wait A Little Longer Please Jesus
Cousin Jody: Mocking Bird
George Morgan: Candy Kisses
Bill Monroe (fiddle): Scotland

11:45: Wall-Rite
Porter Wagoner (host): Tell Her Lies And Feed Her Candy
Patsy Cline: Oh Lonesome Me
Rusty and Doug: I Like You
Porter Wagoner: Satisfied Mind

A couple of interesting facts about this show. First, Don Gibson hosted two segments and the first song on each segment was Hank Snow's "I'm Moving On." Interesting in the fact that Hank was also on the Opry that night, although he did not play his signature song. The second fact is Patsy Cline. She did two segments on this show, which would be her last Opry appearance as a guest artist as the following Saturday night, January 9, she became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. 

There were also a couple of names on the schedule that might not be recognized:

Alex Houston was a ventriloquist and Elmer was his "wooden boy."  You can look him up on the internet and to put it mildly, Elmer was pretty scary looking. There are a few albums out of him and his material. During the late '60s, he toured military bases with Bob Hope and appeared on several country music television shows, including Porter Wagoner's. 

Then there was Harvie June. who was described as an "RCA songstress" who made several guest appearances on the Opry. She was around in the 1950s on various labels, eventually ending up on RCA in 1959. Other than that, I really can't find much about her. 

And to finish up the new year line-ups, let's go back 44 years to Saturday January 1, 1972 and see how they celebrated the start of 1972 at the Grand Ole Opry: 

7:00: Shoney's
Billy Grammer (host): I Saw Your Face in the Moon
Ernie Ashworth: Wanted Man
Tommy Overstreet: Take Me Home Country Roads
Billy Grammer: Detroit City
Ernie Ashworth: Jesus is A Soul Man
Tommy Overstreet: Gwen, Congratulations
Billy Grammer: He Touched Me

7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Nobody's Darling But Mine
Stringbean: Old Joe Clark
Onie Wheeler: Mother Prays Loud in Her Sleep
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Turn You Radio On
Stringbean: Battle of New Orleans
Howdy Forrester: Sally Goodin
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light

8:00: Martha White
Lester Flatt (host): w/Uncle Josh, H. McCormick & Roland White: It's Mighty Dark for Me to Travel
Grandpa Jones: Raining on the Mountain Now, My Love
George Morgan: Easy Loving
Crook Brothers: Ida Red
Lester Flatt: I Can't Tell the Boys from the Girls
Grandpa Jones: Mountain Dew
George Morgan: The Gentle Rains of Home
Uncle Josh: Fireball

8:30: Stephens
Stonewall Jackson (host): Muddy Water
Charlie Louvin: To Take Up Where Goodbye Began
4 Guys: Cottonfields/Mariah
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Charlie Louvin: I Placed A Call
Harold Weakley: Where No One Stands Alone
Stonewall Jackson: Waterloo

9:00: Luzianne
Bill Monroe (host): Love, Come Home
Lonzo & Oscar: There's A Hole in the Bottom of the Sea
Barbara Mandrell: Satisfied
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Fire on the Mountain
Bill Monroe: My Little Georgia Rose
Lonzo & Oscar: Out of Hand
Barbara Mandrell: Rocky Top
Bill Monroe: Bluegrass Breakdown

9:30: Kellogg's
Tex Ritter (host): Jealous Heart
Willis Brothers: I Can't Help It/Your Cheatin' Heart/Cold, Cold Heart/ I Saw the Light
Bill Carlisle: Knothole
Marion Worth: I Really Don't Want to Know
Tex Ritter: Fall Away
Bill Carlisle: What Kinda Deal is This

10:00: Fender
George Morgan (host): Easy Loving
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Coming Down from God
Stringbean: Pretty Polly
George Morgan: Walking Shadow; Talking Memory

10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Billy Grammer: Gotta Travel On
Tommy Overstreet: The Games People Play
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird

10:30: Trailblazer
Lester Flatt (host): Will You Be Loving Another Man
Stonewall Jackson: Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Grandpa Jones: The Valley of the Never Do No Good
Lester Flatt: Is Anybody Going North to Cincinnati

10:45: Beech-Nut
Bill Monroe (host) w/James Monroe: I Haven't Seen Mary in Years
Charlie Louvin & Diane McCall: I'm Gonna Leave You
Bill Carlisle: Same Ol' Tale That the Crow Told Me
Crook Brothers: Arkansas Traveler

11:00: Coca-Cola
Tex Ritter (host): Wayward Wind
Willis Brothers: I Still Do
Barbara Mandrell: Tonight My Baby's Coming Home
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Tex Ritter: High Noon
Willis Brothers: Bob
Sam McGee: Railroad Blues

11:30: Elm Hill
Marty Robbins (host): Lovesick Blues
Marion Worth: Burning Bridges
Lonzo & Oscar: Ol' Slewfoot
Marty Robbins: I Walk Alone/Begging to You/Don't Worry/My Woman, My Woman, My Wife/Wedding Bells/Big Boss Man/They'll Take Her Love From Me/Dear Lord, Forgive

Happy New Year and I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend and welcome to 2016!!