It is a big weekend at the Grand Ole Opry as there are two shows each on Friday and Saturday night. The reason? Grand Ole Opry member Carrie Underwood is appearing both nights. For Carrie, these will be Opry shows number five, six, seven and eight this year as she continues to uphold her commitment to the Opry. And in case anyone missed the big announcement today from Carrie, she will be going on a nationwide tour beginning in May 2019. Why the long wait? Because, as she also announced today, she is pregnant with her second child. Congratulations to Carrie and her husband Mike.
As to the rest of this weekends shows, both shows on Friday night will also feature Opry members the Oak Ridge Boys. For the Oaks, these will be Opry shows seven and eight for this year and they have more scheduled. It took this group years before they agreed to become Opry members, and much like Carrie, they have taken Opry membership very seriously.
Also appearing on Friday night for both shows will be members Bill Anderson, Ricky Skaggs and The Whites. Joining them on the first show will be Jeannie Seely and Bobby Osborne, while Connie Smith is scheduled for just the second show. Saturday night, in addition to Carrie, has Opry members Mike Snider, Connie Smith, The Whites and Jeannie Seely scheduled for both shows.
Guesting on both nights will be frequent Opry guest Mark Wills. With these four appearances, that will give him 18 for the year. Why don't they just make this guy a member? Over the past number of years, he has certainly appeared more than the majority of the members.
Joining Mark on Friday night will be Runaway June, Mountain Heart and comedian Henry Cho. All are set for both shows. Saturday nights guest list, in addition to Mark, includes Jillian Jacqueline, The Grascals, Dom Flemons, and set for appearances 101 and 102, Charles Esten.
Friday August 10
1st show
7:00: Bill Anderson (host); Runaway June; Mountain Heart
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Mark Wills
8:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Henry Cho
8:30: Oak Ridge Boys (host); Carrie Underwood
2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson (host); Runaway June; Mountain Heart
10:00: Connie Smith (host); Carrie Underwood
10:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Henry Cho
11:00: Oak Ridge Boys (host); Mark Wills
Saturday August 11
1st show
7:00: Mike Snider (host); Jillian Jacqueline; Mark Wills
7:30: Connie Smith (host); The Grascals; Dom Flemons
8:00: The Whites (host); Charles Esten; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Carrie Underwood
2nd show
9:30: Mike Snider (host); Jillian Jacqueline; Mark Wills
10:00: Connie Smith (host); Carrie Underwood
10:30: The Whites (host); Dom Flemons; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jeannie Seely (host); The Grascals; Charles Esten
Four very nice shows this weekend!!!
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-ups from ten years ago, the 2nd weekend in August 2008:
Friday August 8
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Phil Stacey
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); George Hamilton IV; Mandy Barnett
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Rissi Palmer
9:30: Charley Pride (host); Eddy Raven; Carolina Rain
Saturday August 9
1st show
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Radney Foster
7:30: George Hamilton IV (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Exile
8:00: Charley Pride (host); The Whites; T Graham Brown; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Carrie Underwood
2nd show
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Radney Foster
10:00: George Hamilton IV (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Exile
10:30: Charley Pride (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; The Whites; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Riders In The Sky (host); T Graham Brown; Carrie Underwood
And from 25 years ago, here is the line-up for the first show on Saturday August 14, 1993:
1st show
6:30: Jack Greene (host); Jeanne Pruett
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Jan Howard; Charlie Walker
7:00: Bill Monroe (host); Ernie Ashworth; Jim Ed Brown; Charlie Louvin; Skeeter Davis
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Martina McBride; ; Asleep at the Wheel
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); The Four Guys; The Whites; Connie Smith; Opry Square Dance Band; Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jimmy C Newman; Ray Pillow; Roy Drusky; Mike Snider
Looking back in Grand Ole Opry history, it was Saturday August 11, 1979 that Guy Willis, a member of the Willis Brothers, performed on the Opry for the final time.
Originally known as the Oklahoma Wranglers, the Willis Brothers, consisting of Vic, Guy and Skeeter began their career at KGEF Radio in Shawnee, Oklahoma, later moving to Kansas City just prior to World War II. In addition to their musical careers, the Willis Brothers also performed on radio and television, along with appearing in movies. The Willis Brothers were also the first group to back Hank Williams (later becoming known as the original Drifting Cowboys), the first featured group on the Jubilee, USA shows in Springfield, Missouri, and were also among the first Country and Western entertainers to give a concert in Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.
After serving in World War II, the brothers (still known as the Oklahoma Wranglers) relocated to Nashville and in 1946 began performing on the Grand Ole Opry, becoming members. In 1949, they left the Opry to tour nationally with Eddy Arnold, returning as members in 1960 renamed as the Willis Brothers.
Although they recorded for a number of different record labels, including Mercury, Sterling, Coral, RCA, and CMH Records, the Willis Brothers had only four hits that made the country charts: "Give Me Forty Acres," which reached No. 9 in 1964; "A Six Foot Two by Four," No. 41 in 1965; and "Bob" reaching No. 14, along with "Somebody Knows My Dog," reaching No. 62, both in 1967.
Charles Ray Clayton, known as Skeeter, was the first to pass away, on January 28, 1976 at the age of 58. James Ulysses Harrod Lyn, known as Guy, passed away on April 13, 1981, while John Victor, Vic Willis, passed away on January 15, 1995.
After Guy retired, due to declining health, Vic continued on the Opry, first as a solo act, then formed the Vic Willis Trio with C.W. Mitchell and Curtis Young, which debuted on the Opry in November 1980.
Here is the running order from Saturday August 11, 1979, the final night that Guy Willis of the Willis Brothers, appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, and the final night that the Willis Brothers were listed on the Opry program:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Wilburn Brothers (host): Heartaches by the Number
Harold Morrison: Foggy Mountain Top
Wilburn Brothers: Because He Lives
6:45: Rudy's
Billy Grammer (host): Bonaparte's Retreat
Willis Brothers: Sioux City Sue
Billy Grammer: Cincinnati Rag
7:00: Shoney's
Charlie Walker (host): Don't Play Me No Songs about Texas
Hank Locklin: I Can't Stop Loving You/Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Mel McDaniel: God Made Love/Play Her Back to Yesterday
Linda Nail: Why Don't You Love Me
Charlie Walker: Milkcow Blues
7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Charlie Louvin: Love Don't Care Whose House It Lives In/Mama's Angels
Carolee Singers: The Song the Holy Angels Cannot Sing
Crook Brothers/Tennessee Travelers: Billy in the Low Ground
Herman Crook: Will the Circle Be Unbroken
8:00: Martha White
Stonewall Jackson (host): A Wound Time Can't Erase
Connie Smith: When God Dips His Love in My Heart/He Was There all the Time
Bill Carlisle: Little Liza Jane
The Four Guys: Cottonfields/Mariah/Why I'm Walkin'
8:30: Acme
Bill Monroe (host): I'll Never Love No One Else But My Darling
Duke of Paducah: Comedy
Johnny Carver: Tie A Yellow Ribbon/Afternoon Delight
Fruit Jar Drinkers: (?)
Bill Monroe: Walk Softly on this Heart of Mine
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Charlie Walker (host): Don't Play Me No Songs About Texas
Billy Grammer: San Antonio Rose/I'm Letting You Go
Willis Brothers: Take Me Back to Tulsa
Mel McDaniel: God Made Love/Play Her Back to Yesterday
Charlie Walker: Wild Side of Life
10:00: Fender
Wilburn Brothers (host): Fraulein
Harold Morrison: Tennessee
Wilburn Brothers: Knoxville Girl
10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Back in the Country
Brother Oswald: Mountain Dew
Roy Acuff: The Great Judgement Morning/I'll Fly Away
10:30: Trailblazer
Stonewall Jackson (host): My Favorite Sin
Hank Locklin: Country Hall of Fame
Linda Nail: Satisfied
Stonewall Jackson: Come on Home
10:45: Beech-Nut
Charlie Louvin (host): I Don't Love You Anymore/I Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep/See the Big Man Cry
Connie Smith: He Set Me Free
Crook Brothers/Tennessee Travelers: Black Mountain Rag
Mr. C.M. Loudermilk: Instrumental
11:00: Coca-Cola
Bill Monroe (host): Little Cabin Home on the Hill
Fruit Jar Drinkers: (?)
Kirk McGee: Blue Night
Bill Monroe: I Saw the Light
Duke of Paducah: Comedy
Bill Monroe: Little Joe
11:30: Little Debbie
The Four Guys (host): Fire
Bill Carlisle: Same Ol' Tale That the Crow Told Me/Gone Home
Johnny Carver: Lay Down, Sally/Rose Colored Glasses
The Four Guys: Forever in Bluejeans
A name some may not remember from that night is Linda Nail. Linda came to Nashville in 1973 from Wabash, Arkansas. She auditioned at Opryland and became part of the Country Music USA show at the park, performing there for the next seven years. As part of the show, she portrayed Barbara Mandrell, Tammy Wynette, and Minnie Pearl. At the same time, she was pursuing her own singing career, recording for Paragon and Ridgetop Records.
Linda appeared on the Opry many times, making her first appearance as a guest of Roy Acuff. She also made television appearances on the Ralph Emery and Porter Wagoner shows, in addition to appearing on WSM radio. She also toured with Glen Campbell, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Boots Randolph and Ronnie Prophet. Most recently, Linda and her husband own and operated Castle Recording Studio in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, where she sings demos for studio clients as well as producing.
Finally, it was 27 years ago, Saturday August 10, 1991 that Vince Gill became a member of the Grand Ole Opry:
1st show
6:30: Bonanza
Del Reeves (host): Girl on the Billboard
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
Del Reeves: A Dozen Pair of Boots
6:45: Country Music Hall of Fame
Charlie Walker (host): Pick Me Up On Your Way Down
Bill Carlisle: Leave That Liar Alone
Charlie Walker: Drinking Champagne/Take Me Back to Tulsa
7:00: Shoney's
Jim Ed Brown (host): Everyday People
Jan Howard: You Don't Know Me
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain
Wilma Lee Cooper: Wildwood Flower
Ray Pillow: That Ain't No Way to Treat My Heart
Jim Ed Brown: Scarlet Ribbons
7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top/Kentucky
Vince Gill: Look at Us/When I Call Your Name
8:00: Martha White
Jimmy C Newman (host): Colinda
Jeannie Seely: Too Far Gone
Boxcar Willie: Cowboys & Horses; Hobos & Trains
Roy Drusky: Wings of A Dove
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sugar in the Gourd
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya
8:30: Pops Rite
Hank Snow (host): A Vanishing Breed
Jean Shepard: Home in San Antone/Time Changes Everything/Roly Poly
The Four Guys: Tennessee
Mike Snider: Shuckin the Corn
Hank Snow: I Almost Lost My Mind
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Del Reeves (host): Bells of Southern Bell
Skeeter Davis: Oh Happy Day
Vic Willis Trio: Colorado
Teddy Wilburn: Somebody's Back in Town
Bill Carlisle: Business Man
Del Reeves: Luckenbach Texas
10:00: Little Debbie
Jim Ed Brown (host): Southern Loving
Charlie Louvin: When I Stop Dreaming
Jim Ed Brown: The Old Lamplighter
10:15: Tennessee Pride/Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Just a Friend
Vince Gill: Pocket Full of Gold/When I Call Your Name
10:30: Pet Milk
Charlie Walker (host): San Antonio Rose
Jan Howard: Somebody's Always Saying Goodbye
Charlie Walker: Don't Squeeze My Sharmon
10:45: B.C. Powder
Jimmy C Newman (host): Big Mamou
David Houston: My Elusive Dreams
Opry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Blackberry Blossom
Jimmy C Newman: (?)
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Between Fire and Water
Jean Shepard: Slippin' Away
Justin Tubb: Waltz Across Texas
Osborne Brothers: Bluegrass Melodies/Midnight Flyer
Hank Snow: I've Done at Least One Thing That Was Good in My Life
11:30: Creamette
Boxcar Willie (host): Train Melody
Jeannie Seely: Go Down Swinging
The Four Guys: Elvira/Elizabeth/Old Flames/Church on the Cumberland Road/Dumas Walker
Mike Snider: Snuff Dipper
Boxcar Willie: Cowboys & Horses; Hobos & Trains
There you have it for this week. I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend.
Nationally recognized independent Grand Ole Opry historian Byron Fay offers news and comments regarding country music's premier show.
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Tuesday Night Opry 8/7 & Wednesday Night Opry 8/8
Here are the line-ups for the mid-week shows:
Tuesday August 7
7:00: John Conlee; Jim Lauderdale
7:30: Danielle Bradbery; The SteelDrivers
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson; Carly Pearce
8:45: Luke Combs
Wednesday August 8
7:00: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers; Del McCoury Band
7:30: Mandy Barnett; Drake White
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky; Ashley McBryde; Brett Young
Interesting that there are the same number of artists on each show, but there are four segments on Tuesday night but only three on Wednesday.
Big weekend coming up as Carrie Underwood will be performing on all four shows, two on Friday and two on Saturday.
Tuesday August 7
7:00: John Conlee; Jim Lauderdale
7:30: Danielle Bradbery; The SteelDrivers
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson; Carly Pearce
8:45: Luke Combs
Wednesday August 8
7:00: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers; Del McCoury Band
7:30: Mandy Barnett; Drake White
Intermission
8:15: Riders In The Sky; Ashley McBryde; Brett Young
Interesting that there are the same number of artists on each show, but there are four segments on Tuesday night but only three on Wednesday.
Big weekend coming up as Carrie Underwood will be performing on all four shows, two on Friday and two on Saturday.
Sunday, August 5, 2018
August Opry Highlights
Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer!! And where has summer gone? I can't believe that August has begun and many children are returning to school. It has gone fast. I hope everyone is enjoying some great weather and warm temperatures, where ever you are. As usual, here are the important and historical events that have taken place in the history of the Grand Ole Opry, or regarding Opry members, during the month of August:
August 22, 1910: Country Music Hall of Fame member, and former Grand Ole Opry comedian, Rod Brasfield was born in Smithville, Mississippi. Rod joined the Opry in the late 1940s and was famous for his comedy routines with Minnie Pearl and June Carter, among others. Rod was a member of the Opry until he passed away in September 1958.
August 30, 1919: Muriel Ellen Deason, known professionally as Kitty Wells, was born in Nashville. Kitty, along with her husband Johnny Wright, were members of the Grand Ole Opry from the early 1950s until they left the show in December 1964 over a dispute regarding booking fees. Although they left the Opry cast, Kitty would come back to make a few guest appearances on the show. There are also some reports that she asked to rejoin the Opry cast in her later years, but the request was declined. Kitty passed away in July 2012.
August 8, 1921: Webb Pierce was born in West Monroe, Louisiana. Webb first appeared on the Opry in 1952, and joined the cast shortly after. He was an Opry member for a very short period of time as he figured out he was losing out on a lot of money by not appearing on the road on Saturday nights. Webb would come back and make an occasional appearance in his later years. In 2001, after his death, Webb was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
August 28, 1925: The great guitarist Billy Grammer was born in Benton, Illinois. Billy joined the Opry in 1959 and was as well known for his guitar playing as he was for his singing. His career song was "Gotta Travel On." Billy remained a member of the Opry until his death in August 2011, after spending more than 50 years as an Opry member.
August 12, 1927: The man known as "The Wagonmaster," Porter Wagoner was born in West Plains, Missouri. Porter came to the Opry in 1957 from the Ozark Jubilee, and he would remain a very popular Opry member until his death in October 2007, shortly after celebrating 50 years as a member of the Opry. During his long career, this Hall of Fame member had over 80 singles on the country charts and was instrumental in the career of a number of country music artists, including Norma Jean, Dolly Parton, Mel Tillis, Buck Trent and Patty Loveless, among others. Even to this day, Porter is missed at the Opry.
August 29, 1927: Jimmy C Newman was born in High Point, Louisiana. Jimmy joined the Opry in August 1956 and along with his Cajun Band, was a very popular member of the Opry. You could always count on a bouncy, cajun sound whenever Jimmy appeared on the Opry. Jimmy passed away in June 2014 after a short illness.
August 4, 1931: Former Grand Ole Opry manager Hal Durham was born in McMinnville, Tennessee. After the Grand Ole Opry moved to Opryland and the new Grand Ole Opry House, Hal was asked by newly promoted Opry general manager Bud Wendall to come and help him out. It worked out pretty well and soon Hal was running the Opry. He received the official title of general manager in 1978 and would hold that position for the next 15 years. It should be noted that it was under Hal's direction attendance requirements were relaxed, and a number of members were added to the cast with no commitment to the show. After a long retirement, Hal passed away in March 2009.
March 20, 1935: Justin Tubb was born in San Antonio, Texas. Justin would follow in the footsteps of his famous father Ernest and became a successful country music singer, along with being a fine songwriter. Justin became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1955, at the age of 20. At the time he was the Opry's youngest member. Justin remained with the Opry until his sudden death in January 1998.
August 14, 1941: Constance June Meador was born in Elkhart, Indiana. Better known as Connie Smith, she joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1965, left for a few years, then returned for good. In 2015 she celebrated 50 years as a member of the Opry, and sounds as great as ever.
August 11, 1946: Grand Ole Opry member John Conlee was born in Versallies, Kentucky. John, who has one of the unique voices in country music, joined the Opry in 1981 and remains a very active member of the cast.
August 11, 1952: Hank Williams was fired as a member of the Grand Ole Opry by Opry manager Jim Denny. Hank was fired because it was determined that his behavior and personal habits were detrimental to the Opry, and country music in general. Hank was very upset and disappointed at being fired and had hoped that one day he could return as an Opry member. However, Hank passed away and his Opry return never took place.
August 16, 1952: Grandpa Jones, who had left Nashville for a short period of time, rejoined the cast of the Opry. Grandpa had first joined the show in the 1940s.
August 29, 1953: James Clell Summey, known professionally as Cousin Jody officially became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Jody first came to the Opry in 1938 as a part of Roy Acuff's group. He also performed with Pee Wee King and Eddy Arnold. While he appeared on the Opry many times as a solo artist, he also appeared with Lonzo & Oscar. While he was noted for his comedy skills, Jody was also a fabulous dobro player, and in fact it was Jody who first played the dobro on the Opry and helped to define the Acuff sound. Cousin Jody stayed as a member of the Opry until the early 1970s, when health issues forced him to retire. He passed away in August 1975.
August 14, 1954: Ernest Tubb took a leave of absence from the Grand Ole Opry. He was gone for a couple of months, returning in November of that year. What is strange about this is that while he was gone from the Opry, Ernest still hosted the Midnight Jamboree each week. Several reasons and rumors were given as to the reason for not appearing on the Opry, with health related issues being the most common.
August 28, 1954: Stringbean, or "String Beans" as he was referred to during this period of time, left the cast of the Grand Ole Opry to join the Ramblin' Tommy Scott Show. He was gone for just a short period of time and returned to the Opry, where he would remain until his death in November 1973.
August 4, 1956: As best as can be determined, Jimmy C Newman became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Except for a very brief period of time when Jimmy was absent from the show, Jimmy would remain with the Opry until his death in 2014. On a side note, when Jimmy first joined the Opry, the "C" was missing as at that point he had not dedicated himself to the cajun sound that he would later become famous for.
August 11, 1956: This is the date that George Jones first became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. The dates have changed numerous times over the years as George would come and go from the Opry. Among other dates listed in various editions of the Grand Ole Opry History Picture Book are August 4, 1956; January 4, 1969 (he did rejoin the cast on that date after previously leaving), and in the 1979 edition of the book, a 1973 date is listed. Not that it all mattered as George wasn't on the Opry all that often, but whenever he did George received a great ovation.
August 22, 1957: Former Grand Ole Opry member Holly Dunn was born in San Antonio. Texas. Holly was an Opry member for a number of years before retiring and leaving Nashville in 2003. After she left town, the Opry dropped her as a member. Holly passed away in November 2016 after a battle with cancer.
August 4, 1959: Skeeter Davis became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. With the exception for a period on time in the 1970s when she was suspended from the Opry's cast, Skeeter was an Opry member until her death in 2004. Skeeter, who's biggest hit was "The End of the World" make her final Opry appearance in 2002, after which declining health forced her into retirement. Skeeter was always bouncy when on the Opry and brought a smile to a lot of faces.
August 8, 1959: Jim Reeves rejoined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. Jim first joined the Opry in 1955. He had left the show a year earlier because of the demands on his career.
August 26, 1961: Future Grand Ole Opry member Ray Pillow made his debut on the Opry. Ray made a great impression and was invited back for more appearances, which eventually led to Ray becoming an Opry member in April 1966.
August 10, 1963: Jim Ed, Maxine and Bonnie, known collectively as The Browns, became members of the Grand Ole Opry. While Maxine and Bonnie left the act in 1967 due to family considerations, Jim Ed continued on as a solo member. Over the years, Maxine and Bonnie would return for guest appearances and it was always a special treat when they did. Jim Ed was an Opry member for over 50 years, before passing away in 2015. Bonnie passed away in 2016, while Maxine continues to go strong. In 2015, The Browns were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
August 23, 1963: Former Grand Ole Opry member Milton Estes died at the age of 49. Milton was originally a member of Pee Wee King's Golden West Cowboys and served as the groups announcer.
August 27, 1963: Former Grand Ole Opry manager Jim Denny passed away from cancer at the age of 52. When he became the Opry's manager, Jim was the first WSM employee to specifically be given that role. During his time with the Opry, he brought dozens of new members to the show including Webb Pierce, who would later be his partner in Cedarwood Publishing, one of the first music publishing companies to locate in Nashville. It was the success of Cedarwood that led to Jim leaving the Opry as WSM management viewed it as a conflict of interest. In 1966, Jim Denny was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
August 8, 1964: The Osborne Brothers, Bobby and Sonny, became members of the Grand Ole Opry. While both are still considered members of the Grand Ole Opry, Sonny retired from performing in 2005, at which time Bobby continued with his own group, The Rocky Top X-Press. On this same date, Dottie West became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Dottie, who was finally elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame this past year, passed away in September 1991.
August 14, 1965: Bobby Bare became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Bobby stayed as an Opry member until March 1974, when he quit the cast as the show moved to the new Grand Ole Opry House. 43 years later, on April 7, 2018, Bobby had his Opry membership reinstated, a move that was well received by everyone at the Opry.
August 21, 1965: After changing the date several different times, this seems to be the date that the Opry recognizes as to when Connie Smith became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Originally the Opry listed the date as in June, then switched to the August date. What is interesting in either case is that Connie did not appear on the Opry on this date, but actually first appeared as on Opry member a month later, in September. Regardless, this will be Connie's 53rd year as an Opry member.
August 28, 1965: After suffering serious injuries seven weeks earlier in a car accident, Roy Acuff returned to the Opry stage.
August 17, 1967: Charlie Walker became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Charlie, who is a member of the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame, came to the Opry from Texas, where he launched his very successful recording career. Charlie was always a very active member of the Opry, and continued to perform on the show until his death in September 2008.
August 5, 1968: Grand Ole Opry member Terri Clark was born in Montreal, Canada. As a Canadian, she would join Hank Snow and Stu Phillips as the only Opry members from the land up north.
August 12, 1972: David Houston became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. David was another of the artists who came to Nashville, and the Opry, via the Louisiana Hayride. His signature song was the great classic, "Almost Persuaded" which spent weeks at No. 1 on the country charts. David remained an Opry member until he passed away in November 1993.
August 21, 1975: Grand Ole Opry member, and on of the original members, Sam McGee died in a tractor accident on his farm in Tennessee. He was 81. Along with his brother Kirk, he first performed on the WSM Barn Dance in 1926. During his time at the Opry, Sam would appear with various individuals and groups including the Dixieliners. Sam was the first Opry member to use an electric guitar on the show, after which George D. Hay told him to put it back in the case, take it home, and not bring it back.
August 11, 1976: Roy Acuff returned to the Grand Ole Opry stage after suffering a heart attack earlier in the year.
August 11, 1979: Guy Willis, a member of The Willis Brothers, made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Along with his brothers Skeeter and Guy, The Willis Brothers joined the Opry in 1946, left to tour with Eddy Arnold, and returned in 1957.
August 7, 1981: B.J. Thomas became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. However, he did not remain with the Opry for very long, leaving just several years later. For B.J., Opry membership just did not turn out the way he thought it would.
August 22, 1981: Don Williams made his final appearance as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Don joined the cast in 1976, and much like B.J. Thomas a little later, found out that Opry membership just wasn't what he expected.
August 14, 1982: Grand Ole Opry legend Ernest Tubb made his final appearance on the Opry. Suffering from emphysema, Ernest had a difficult time breathing, which made singing very difficult. Not only was this his final Opry appearance, but it was also the final night that Ernest hosted the Midnight Jamboree. After his final appearances in Nashville, he made one more short, final tour in November before retiring and spending his remaining years at his home in Nashville.
August 28, 1982: Just two weeks after the final Opry appearance by Ernest Tubb, Marty Robbins performed on the Grand Ole Opry for the final time. Marty had been a fixture as the host of the 11:30 segment of the show for years. Marty, who suffered from heart issues, would pass away in December.
August 6, 1983: After previously giving up her Opry membership, Norma Jean returned for a guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.
August 24, 1984: Rock artist Neil Young made his debut on the Opry stage. While he is best known for his rock appearances, and being a member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Neil has written a number of country music songs.
August 22, 1987: Roy Clark became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be Roy's 31st year as an Opry member. While he is getting up there in age, Roy still comes out to the Opry once in a while, and sounds great.
August 29, 1987: Grand Ole Opry member Archie Campbell passed away in a Knoxville, Tennessee hospital at the age of 73. He had been in declining health, dealing with heart issues. Archie joined the Opry in 1958 and achieved some of his greatest success as a member of the cast of Hee Haw. Archie was known for his comedy and story telling and often used one of the Opry's announcers as his straight man. In his later years, Archie would make most of his Opry appearances in the winter months, spending the prime tourist season performing at his theater in Gatlinburg.
August 6, 1988: Former Grand Ole Opry member Webb Pierce performed on the Opry for the final time. Webb was a member of the Opry for a short amount of time in the 1950s, when he was the hottest act in country music. Webb, however, found that he was missing out on too much money if he was in Nashville every Saturday night instead of out on the road. After giving up his Opry membership, Webb would still occasionally guest on the show.
August 10, 1991: Vince Gill became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be his 27th year as an Opry member. On the night he joined, he was introduced by Roy Acuff. Over the years, Vince has made known his love of the Opry and has challenged others of his generation to support the show.
August 30, 1991: On her way to the Friday Night Opry, Dottie West was involved in a serious car accident at the entrance to Opryland, which would ultimately prove to be fatal. While Dottie put up a struggle and went through several surgeries, she would pass away a week later.
August 31, 1995: Former Grand Ole Opry and WSM announcer David Stone passed away at the age of 93. Along with his brother Harry, David helped to change to focus of the Opry from a regional show into a nationally recognized professional one. He helped to bring such artists, and professionals, as Pee Wee King, Roy Acuff, and Eddy Arnold to the Opry.
August 9, 1996: Hank Snow returned to the Grand Ole Opry for the first time that year. He had been suffering from respiratory issues. He performed three songs that night, including the hit, "I Don't Hurt Anymore." Hank would make just a few more Opry appearances before retiring the following month.
August 24, 1998: Grand Ole Opry member Jerry Clower died in a Jackson, Mississippi hospital after undergoing open heart surgery. He was 71. Jerry joined the Opry in November 1973, the last member to join the cast before the show moved to the new Grand Ole Opry House. A great comedian and storyteller, Jerry was loved by many.
August 26, 2000: Pam Tillis became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. For Pam, this will be her 18th year as an Opry member.
August 18, 2001: The Grand Ole Opry moved the televised portion of the Opry from TNN to CMT, as TNN changed into Spike TV and changed their focus away from country music. The first show on CMT featured Vince Gill, who celebrated 10 years as an Opry member. Also appearing that night were Steve Wariner, Sonya Isaacs, Jimmy C. Newman, Brad Paisley, Elizabeth Cook and Loretta Lynn. Quite an impressive line-up for the televised portion.
August 10, 2002: During the televised portion of the Grand Ole Opry on CMT, the Dixie Chicks announced that Porter Wagoner and Bill Carlisle had been elected as the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Personally, I have always felt that the Hall of Fame did an injustice to both Porter and Bill by having the Dixie Chicks make the announcement as part of an Opry show. Nothing again the Dixie Chicks, I just thought the Hall of Fame should have made a bigger deal out of the announcement. In Porter's case, it was long overdue. It is still fun going back an looking at the tape of that night as Porter looked like he was biting his tongue and holding back what I think he really wanted to say.
August 23, 2002: Grand Ole Opry member Del Reeves made his final appearance on the Opry. Del entered a period of declining health that led to his retirement from the Opry. As with so many others of that generation, Del suffered from respiratory issues and emphysema, which would lead to his death several years later.
August 31, 2002: The Grand Ole Opry celebrated its 4,000 Saturday night broadcast. The Opry did a tribute to Minnie Pearl that featured Clint Black, Barbara Mandrell, Vince Gill, Amy Grant and Steve Wariner.
August 23, 2003: Trace Adkins became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be his 15th year as an Opry member. On the night of his induction, his idol Ronnie Milsap did the honors, assisted by Lorrie Morgan.
August 12, 2006: Grand Ole Opry member Jimmy C Newman was recognized upon his 50th year as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
August 25, 2010: In a special ceremony, Brad Paisley and Jimmy Dickens sang, "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" as the historic center piece of wood was returned to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry House after being damaged in the historic flood of May 2010. Thanks to extensive repair and renovation, the center circle was restored to its former condition.
August 6, 2011: The Oak Ridge Boys became members of the Grand Ole Opry. The Opry had wanted the quartet as members for years, however they had always declined due to their heavy touring schedule. However, 7 years ago the Oak Ridge Boys felt the time was right and they accepted the offer by Jimmy Dickens to join the cast. On the night they joined, the group sang, "Bobby Sue," "Amazing Grace," and of course, "Elvira." Every time they are on the Opry, they never fail to receive a standing ovation.
August 13, 2011: Vince Gill celebrated 20 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, in a show dedicated to Grand Ole Opry member Billy Grammer, who had passed away earlier in the week. Joining Vince that night, who opened the show performing Billy's great hit, "Gotta Travel On" were Amy Grant, Martina McBride, and Emmylou Harris, among others.
August 16, 2013: During a concert appearance in Cleveland, Ohio, Old Crow Medicine Show was surprised by Grand Ole Opry member Marty Stuart, who invited Old Crow to become the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry. Of course, they accepted and a month later became official Opry members. Personally, this was one of the best moves the Opry had made in many years.
August 7, 2014: Earl White, the last remaining member of the Crook Brothers square dance band, passed away after a short illness. After the passing of Herman Crook, and then Lewis Crook, Earl continued as the fiddle player for the square dancers, joined by Charlie Collins before he passed away.
August 8, 2015: Connie Smith was honored for 50 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Marty Stuart hosted a one hour segment of the show, which included Connie singing her monster hit, "Once A Day."
August 13, 2016: Vince Gill was honored upon his 25th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Vince hosted two shows that night, both of which lasted over 3 hours. Vince as on stage the entire night, with both shows featuring Bill Anderson, Ashley Monroe, Rodney Crowell, Charlie Worsham, and of course, his wife, Amy Grant. As someone who was there, it was a spectacular night.
August 29, 2017: Chris Young was invited by Vince Gill to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Chris was formally inducted in October.
August 22, 1910: Country Music Hall of Fame member, and former Grand Ole Opry comedian, Rod Brasfield was born in Smithville, Mississippi. Rod joined the Opry in the late 1940s and was famous for his comedy routines with Minnie Pearl and June Carter, among others. Rod was a member of the Opry until he passed away in September 1958.
August 30, 1919: Muriel Ellen Deason, known professionally as Kitty Wells, was born in Nashville. Kitty, along with her husband Johnny Wright, were members of the Grand Ole Opry from the early 1950s until they left the show in December 1964 over a dispute regarding booking fees. Although they left the Opry cast, Kitty would come back to make a few guest appearances on the show. There are also some reports that she asked to rejoin the Opry cast in her later years, but the request was declined. Kitty passed away in July 2012.
August 8, 1921: Webb Pierce was born in West Monroe, Louisiana. Webb first appeared on the Opry in 1952, and joined the cast shortly after. He was an Opry member for a very short period of time as he figured out he was losing out on a lot of money by not appearing on the road on Saturday nights. Webb would come back and make an occasional appearance in his later years. In 2001, after his death, Webb was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
August 28, 1925: The great guitarist Billy Grammer was born in Benton, Illinois. Billy joined the Opry in 1959 and was as well known for his guitar playing as he was for his singing. His career song was "Gotta Travel On." Billy remained a member of the Opry until his death in August 2011, after spending more than 50 years as an Opry member.
August 12, 1927: The man known as "The Wagonmaster," Porter Wagoner was born in West Plains, Missouri. Porter came to the Opry in 1957 from the Ozark Jubilee, and he would remain a very popular Opry member until his death in October 2007, shortly after celebrating 50 years as a member of the Opry. During his long career, this Hall of Fame member had over 80 singles on the country charts and was instrumental in the career of a number of country music artists, including Norma Jean, Dolly Parton, Mel Tillis, Buck Trent and Patty Loveless, among others. Even to this day, Porter is missed at the Opry.
August 29, 1927: Jimmy C Newman was born in High Point, Louisiana. Jimmy joined the Opry in August 1956 and along with his Cajun Band, was a very popular member of the Opry. You could always count on a bouncy, cajun sound whenever Jimmy appeared on the Opry. Jimmy passed away in June 2014 after a short illness.
August 4, 1931: Former Grand Ole Opry manager Hal Durham was born in McMinnville, Tennessee. After the Grand Ole Opry moved to Opryland and the new Grand Ole Opry House, Hal was asked by newly promoted Opry general manager Bud Wendall to come and help him out. It worked out pretty well and soon Hal was running the Opry. He received the official title of general manager in 1978 and would hold that position for the next 15 years. It should be noted that it was under Hal's direction attendance requirements were relaxed, and a number of members were added to the cast with no commitment to the show. After a long retirement, Hal passed away in March 2009.
March 20, 1935: Justin Tubb was born in San Antonio, Texas. Justin would follow in the footsteps of his famous father Ernest and became a successful country music singer, along with being a fine songwriter. Justin became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1955, at the age of 20. At the time he was the Opry's youngest member. Justin remained with the Opry until his sudden death in January 1998.
August 14, 1941: Constance June Meador was born in Elkhart, Indiana. Better known as Connie Smith, she joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1965, left for a few years, then returned for good. In 2015 she celebrated 50 years as a member of the Opry, and sounds as great as ever.
August 11, 1946: Grand Ole Opry member John Conlee was born in Versallies, Kentucky. John, who has one of the unique voices in country music, joined the Opry in 1981 and remains a very active member of the cast.
August 11, 1952: Hank Williams was fired as a member of the Grand Ole Opry by Opry manager Jim Denny. Hank was fired because it was determined that his behavior and personal habits were detrimental to the Opry, and country music in general. Hank was very upset and disappointed at being fired and had hoped that one day he could return as an Opry member. However, Hank passed away and his Opry return never took place.
August 16, 1952: Grandpa Jones, who had left Nashville for a short period of time, rejoined the cast of the Opry. Grandpa had first joined the show in the 1940s.
August 29, 1953: James Clell Summey, known professionally as Cousin Jody officially became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Jody first came to the Opry in 1938 as a part of Roy Acuff's group. He also performed with Pee Wee King and Eddy Arnold. While he appeared on the Opry many times as a solo artist, he also appeared with Lonzo & Oscar. While he was noted for his comedy skills, Jody was also a fabulous dobro player, and in fact it was Jody who first played the dobro on the Opry and helped to define the Acuff sound. Cousin Jody stayed as a member of the Opry until the early 1970s, when health issues forced him to retire. He passed away in August 1975.
August 14, 1954: Ernest Tubb took a leave of absence from the Grand Ole Opry. He was gone for a couple of months, returning in November of that year. What is strange about this is that while he was gone from the Opry, Ernest still hosted the Midnight Jamboree each week. Several reasons and rumors were given as to the reason for not appearing on the Opry, with health related issues being the most common.
August 28, 1954: Stringbean, or "String Beans" as he was referred to during this period of time, left the cast of the Grand Ole Opry to join the Ramblin' Tommy Scott Show. He was gone for just a short period of time and returned to the Opry, where he would remain until his death in November 1973.
August 4, 1956: As best as can be determined, Jimmy C Newman became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Except for a very brief period of time when Jimmy was absent from the show, Jimmy would remain with the Opry until his death in 2014. On a side note, when Jimmy first joined the Opry, the "C" was missing as at that point he had not dedicated himself to the cajun sound that he would later become famous for.
August 11, 1956: This is the date that George Jones first became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. The dates have changed numerous times over the years as George would come and go from the Opry. Among other dates listed in various editions of the Grand Ole Opry History Picture Book are August 4, 1956; January 4, 1969 (he did rejoin the cast on that date after previously leaving), and in the 1979 edition of the book, a 1973 date is listed. Not that it all mattered as George wasn't on the Opry all that often, but whenever he did George received a great ovation.
August 22, 1957: Former Grand Ole Opry member Holly Dunn was born in San Antonio. Texas. Holly was an Opry member for a number of years before retiring and leaving Nashville in 2003. After she left town, the Opry dropped her as a member. Holly passed away in November 2016 after a battle with cancer.
August 4, 1959: Skeeter Davis became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. With the exception for a period on time in the 1970s when she was suspended from the Opry's cast, Skeeter was an Opry member until her death in 2004. Skeeter, who's biggest hit was "The End of the World" make her final Opry appearance in 2002, after which declining health forced her into retirement. Skeeter was always bouncy when on the Opry and brought a smile to a lot of faces.
August 8, 1959: Jim Reeves rejoined the cast of the Grand Ole Opry. Jim first joined the Opry in 1955. He had left the show a year earlier because of the demands on his career.
August 26, 1961: Future Grand Ole Opry member Ray Pillow made his debut on the Opry. Ray made a great impression and was invited back for more appearances, which eventually led to Ray becoming an Opry member in April 1966.
August 10, 1963: Jim Ed, Maxine and Bonnie, known collectively as The Browns, became members of the Grand Ole Opry. While Maxine and Bonnie left the act in 1967 due to family considerations, Jim Ed continued on as a solo member. Over the years, Maxine and Bonnie would return for guest appearances and it was always a special treat when they did. Jim Ed was an Opry member for over 50 years, before passing away in 2015. Bonnie passed away in 2016, while Maxine continues to go strong. In 2015, The Browns were elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
August 23, 1963: Former Grand Ole Opry member Milton Estes died at the age of 49. Milton was originally a member of Pee Wee King's Golden West Cowboys and served as the groups announcer.
August 27, 1963: Former Grand Ole Opry manager Jim Denny passed away from cancer at the age of 52. When he became the Opry's manager, Jim was the first WSM employee to specifically be given that role. During his time with the Opry, he brought dozens of new members to the show including Webb Pierce, who would later be his partner in Cedarwood Publishing, one of the first music publishing companies to locate in Nashville. It was the success of Cedarwood that led to Jim leaving the Opry as WSM management viewed it as a conflict of interest. In 1966, Jim Denny was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
August 8, 1964: The Osborne Brothers, Bobby and Sonny, became members of the Grand Ole Opry. While both are still considered members of the Grand Ole Opry, Sonny retired from performing in 2005, at which time Bobby continued with his own group, The Rocky Top X-Press. On this same date, Dottie West became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Dottie, who was finally elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame this past year, passed away in September 1991.
August 14, 1965: Bobby Bare became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Bobby stayed as an Opry member until March 1974, when he quit the cast as the show moved to the new Grand Ole Opry House. 43 years later, on April 7, 2018, Bobby had his Opry membership reinstated, a move that was well received by everyone at the Opry.
August 21, 1965: After changing the date several different times, this seems to be the date that the Opry recognizes as to when Connie Smith became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Originally the Opry listed the date as in June, then switched to the August date. What is interesting in either case is that Connie did not appear on the Opry on this date, but actually first appeared as on Opry member a month later, in September. Regardless, this will be Connie's 53rd year as an Opry member.
August 28, 1965: After suffering serious injuries seven weeks earlier in a car accident, Roy Acuff returned to the Opry stage.
August 17, 1967: Charlie Walker became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Charlie, who is a member of the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame, came to the Opry from Texas, where he launched his very successful recording career. Charlie was always a very active member of the Opry, and continued to perform on the show until his death in September 2008.
August 5, 1968: Grand Ole Opry member Terri Clark was born in Montreal, Canada. As a Canadian, she would join Hank Snow and Stu Phillips as the only Opry members from the land up north.
August 12, 1972: David Houston became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. David was another of the artists who came to Nashville, and the Opry, via the Louisiana Hayride. His signature song was the great classic, "Almost Persuaded" which spent weeks at No. 1 on the country charts. David remained an Opry member until he passed away in November 1993.
August 21, 1975: Grand Ole Opry member, and on of the original members, Sam McGee died in a tractor accident on his farm in Tennessee. He was 81. Along with his brother Kirk, he first performed on the WSM Barn Dance in 1926. During his time at the Opry, Sam would appear with various individuals and groups including the Dixieliners. Sam was the first Opry member to use an electric guitar on the show, after which George D. Hay told him to put it back in the case, take it home, and not bring it back.
August 11, 1976: Roy Acuff returned to the Grand Ole Opry stage after suffering a heart attack earlier in the year.
August 11, 1979: Guy Willis, a member of The Willis Brothers, made his final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. Along with his brothers Skeeter and Guy, The Willis Brothers joined the Opry in 1946, left to tour with Eddy Arnold, and returned in 1957.
August 7, 1981: B.J. Thomas became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. However, he did not remain with the Opry for very long, leaving just several years later. For B.J., Opry membership just did not turn out the way he thought it would.
August 22, 1981: Don Williams made his final appearance as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Don joined the cast in 1976, and much like B.J. Thomas a little later, found out that Opry membership just wasn't what he expected.
August 14, 1982: Grand Ole Opry legend Ernest Tubb made his final appearance on the Opry. Suffering from emphysema, Ernest had a difficult time breathing, which made singing very difficult. Not only was this his final Opry appearance, but it was also the final night that Ernest hosted the Midnight Jamboree. After his final appearances in Nashville, he made one more short, final tour in November before retiring and spending his remaining years at his home in Nashville.
August 28, 1982: Just two weeks after the final Opry appearance by Ernest Tubb, Marty Robbins performed on the Grand Ole Opry for the final time. Marty had been a fixture as the host of the 11:30 segment of the show for years. Marty, who suffered from heart issues, would pass away in December.
August 6, 1983: After previously giving up her Opry membership, Norma Jean returned for a guest appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.
August 24, 1984: Rock artist Neil Young made his debut on the Opry stage. While he is best known for his rock appearances, and being a member of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Neil has written a number of country music songs.
August 22, 1987: Roy Clark became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be Roy's 31st year as an Opry member. While he is getting up there in age, Roy still comes out to the Opry once in a while, and sounds great.
August 29, 1987: Grand Ole Opry member Archie Campbell passed away in a Knoxville, Tennessee hospital at the age of 73. He had been in declining health, dealing with heart issues. Archie joined the Opry in 1958 and achieved some of his greatest success as a member of the cast of Hee Haw. Archie was known for his comedy and story telling and often used one of the Opry's announcers as his straight man. In his later years, Archie would make most of his Opry appearances in the winter months, spending the prime tourist season performing at his theater in Gatlinburg.
August 6, 1988: Former Grand Ole Opry member Webb Pierce performed on the Opry for the final time. Webb was a member of the Opry for a short amount of time in the 1950s, when he was the hottest act in country music. Webb, however, found that he was missing out on too much money if he was in Nashville every Saturday night instead of out on the road. After giving up his Opry membership, Webb would still occasionally guest on the show.
August 10, 1991: Vince Gill became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be his 27th year as an Opry member. On the night he joined, he was introduced by Roy Acuff. Over the years, Vince has made known his love of the Opry and has challenged others of his generation to support the show.
August 30, 1991: On her way to the Friday Night Opry, Dottie West was involved in a serious car accident at the entrance to Opryland, which would ultimately prove to be fatal. While Dottie put up a struggle and went through several surgeries, she would pass away a week later.
August 31, 1995: Former Grand Ole Opry and WSM announcer David Stone passed away at the age of 93. Along with his brother Harry, David helped to change to focus of the Opry from a regional show into a nationally recognized professional one. He helped to bring such artists, and professionals, as Pee Wee King, Roy Acuff, and Eddy Arnold to the Opry.
August 9, 1996: Hank Snow returned to the Grand Ole Opry for the first time that year. He had been suffering from respiratory issues. He performed three songs that night, including the hit, "I Don't Hurt Anymore." Hank would make just a few more Opry appearances before retiring the following month.
August 24, 1998: Grand Ole Opry member Jerry Clower died in a Jackson, Mississippi hospital after undergoing open heart surgery. He was 71. Jerry joined the Opry in November 1973, the last member to join the cast before the show moved to the new Grand Ole Opry House. A great comedian and storyteller, Jerry was loved by many.
August 26, 2000: Pam Tillis became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. For Pam, this will be her 18th year as an Opry member.
August 18, 2001: The Grand Ole Opry moved the televised portion of the Opry from TNN to CMT, as TNN changed into Spike TV and changed their focus away from country music. The first show on CMT featured Vince Gill, who celebrated 10 years as an Opry member. Also appearing that night were Steve Wariner, Sonya Isaacs, Jimmy C. Newman, Brad Paisley, Elizabeth Cook and Loretta Lynn. Quite an impressive line-up for the televised portion.
August 10, 2002: During the televised portion of the Grand Ole Opry on CMT, the Dixie Chicks announced that Porter Wagoner and Bill Carlisle had been elected as the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Personally, I have always felt that the Hall of Fame did an injustice to both Porter and Bill by having the Dixie Chicks make the announcement as part of an Opry show. Nothing again the Dixie Chicks, I just thought the Hall of Fame should have made a bigger deal out of the announcement. In Porter's case, it was long overdue. It is still fun going back an looking at the tape of that night as Porter looked like he was biting his tongue and holding back what I think he really wanted to say.
August 23, 2002: Grand Ole Opry member Del Reeves made his final appearance on the Opry. Del entered a period of declining health that led to his retirement from the Opry. As with so many others of that generation, Del suffered from respiratory issues and emphysema, which would lead to his death several years later.
August 31, 2002: The Grand Ole Opry celebrated its 4,000 Saturday night broadcast. The Opry did a tribute to Minnie Pearl that featured Clint Black, Barbara Mandrell, Vince Gill, Amy Grant and Steve Wariner.
August 23, 2003: Trace Adkins became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. This will be his 15th year as an Opry member. On the night of his induction, his idol Ronnie Milsap did the honors, assisted by Lorrie Morgan.
August 12, 2006: Grand Ole Opry member Jimmy C Newman was recognized upon his 50th year as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
August 25, 2010: In a special ceremony, Brad Paisley and Jimmy Dickens sang, "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" as the historic center piece of wood was returned to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry House after being damaged in the historic flood of May 2010. Thanks to extensive repair and renovation, the center circle was restored to its former condition.
August 6, 2011: The Oak Ridge Boys became members of the Grand Ole Opry. The Opry had wanted the quartet as members for years, however they had always declined due to their heavy touring schedule. However, 7 years ago the Oak Ridge Boys felt the time was right and they accepted the offer by Jimmy Dickens to join the cast. On the night they joined, the group sang, "Bobby Sue," "Amazing Grace," and of course, "Elvira." Every time they are on the Opry, they never fail to receive a standing ovation.
August 13, 2011: Vince Gill celebrated 20 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, in a show dedicated to Grand Ole Opry member Billy Grammer, who had passed away earlier in the week. Joining Vince that night, who opened the show performing Billy's great hit, "Gotta Travel On" were Amy Grant, Martina McBride, and Emmylou Harris, among others.
August 16, 2013: During a concert appearance in Cleveland, Ohio, Old Crow Medicine Show was surprised by Grand Ole Opry member Marty Stuart, who invited Old Crow to become the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry. Of course, they accepted and a month later became official Opry members. Personally, this was one of the best moves the Opry had made in many years.
August 7, 2014: Earl White, the last remaining member of the Crook Brothers square dance band, passed away after a short illness. After the passing of Herman Crook, and then Lewis Crook, Earl continued as the fiddle player for the square dancers, joined by Charlie Collins before he passed away.
August 8, 2015: Connie Smith was honored for 50 years as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Marty Stuart hosted a one hour segment of the show, which included Connie singing her monster hit, "Once A Day."
August 13, 2016: Vince Gill was honored upon his 25th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Vince hosted two shows that night, both of which lasted over 3 hours. Vince as on stage the entire night, with both shows featuring Bill Anderson, Ashley Monroe, Rodney Crowell, Charlie Worsham, and of course, his wife, Amy Grant. As someone who was there, it was a spectacular night.
August 29, 2017: Chris Young was invited by Vince Gill to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Chris was formally inducted in October.
Thursday, August 2, 2018
Grand Ole Opry 8/3 & 8/4
The line-ups have been posted for the two Opry shows this weekend, the Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. One show each night.
Looking at the list of Grand Ole Opry members appearing, Connie Smith, Bill Anderson, The Whites, and Mike Snider, who has been missing the last couple of weeks, are scheduled for both nights. They will be joined on Friday night by members Larry, Steve and Rudy, the Gatlin Brothers, while on Saturday night Jeannie Seely will join the group. That comes out to five members each night.
Guesting on both nights this weekend will be Christian comedian Chonda Pierce. Joining her on Friday night will be Adam Craig, Shelly Fairchild, Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys, Wade Hayes, William Michael Morgan, and making their annual appearance, Wild Blue Country.
Saturday night, in addition to Chonda, we will see a return appearance by The McCrary Sisters. Joining those two will be Jackie Lee, Kalie Shorr, John Berry and the legendary Gene Watson.
Friday August 3
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Adam Craig; The Whites
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Shelly Fairchild; Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Wade Hayes; Chonda Pierce
8:45: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); Wild Blue Country; William Michael Morgan
Saturday August 4
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jackie Lee; The Whites
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Kalie Shorr; Gene Watson
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Chonda Pierce; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Bill Anderson (host); John Berry; The McCrary Sisters
Two pretty nice shows this weekend.
And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the 1st weekend in August 2008:
Friday August 1
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Connie Smith; Mark Wills
8:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Mountain Heart; David Ball
9:00: Jean Shepard (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Raul Malo
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Buddy Jewell; Mandy Barnett
Saturday August 2
1st show
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Randy Houser
7:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jamey Johnson
8:00: Jean Shepard (host); Stu Phillips; Raul Malo; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: John Conlee (host); Connie Smith; The Grascals
2nd show
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Randy Houser
10:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jamey Johnson
10:30: Jean Shepard (host); Jan Howard; Raul Malo; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: John Conlee (host); Connie Smith; The Grascals
Now from 25 years ago, Saturday August 7, 1993:
1st show
6:30: Jack Greene (host); Skeeter Davis
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Jeannie Seely; Charlie Walker
7:00: Bill Monroe (host); The Four Guys; Jimmy C Newman; Jim Ed Brown; Jean Shepard
7:30: Del Reeves (host); Teddy Wilburn; Brother Oswald; Dude Mowrey
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Riders In The Sky; Charlie Louvin; The Whites; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jeanne Pruett; Ray Pillow; Roy Drusky; Mike Snider
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Charlie Louvin; Jan Howard; Wilma Lee Cooper; Dude Mowrey
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Bill Carlisle; Jean Shepard
10:15: Bill Monroe (host); Del Reeves
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Mike Snider
10:45: Jimmy C Newman (host); The Four Guys; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); The Whites; Justin Tubb; Stonewall Jackson; Riders In The Sky
11:30: Jack Greene (host); Jeanne Pruett; Roy Drusky; Johnny Russell
Ok, let's be honest. Who remembers Dan "The Dude" Mowrey?
Dan was from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and was discovered by Mel Tillis in the mid-1980s while he was still a teenager. Mel acted as Dan's manager and helped to get the singer signed to Capital Records in 1991. His debut album, "Honky Tonk" was released in 1991 and included the singles "Cowboy's Don't Cry" and "Honky Tonk Song," which Mel had written for Webb Pierce. By 1993, Dan had moved to Arista Nashville and released a self-titled album as well as three singles. After that, he disappeared from the Nashville scene and reemerged in 2002 with limited success.
To finish it up this week, it was 30 years ago, Saturday August 6, 1988, that former Grand Ole Opry member Webb Pierce made his final guest appearance.
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Charlie Walker (host): Right or Wrong
Wilma Lee Cooper: This Old House
Charlie Walker: Just Call Me Lonesome/Take Me Back to Tulsa
6:45: Rudy's
The Four Guys (host): Sing it High; Sing it Low
Jeannie Seely: Why Doesn't He Just Leave Me Alone
The Four Guys: Look Out for Me, Oh Muddy Water
7:00: Shoney's
Jack Greene (host): My World Ain't Turning Yet
Jean Shepard: A Stranger in My Place
Ray Pillow: So Far, Not So Good
Webb Pierce: There Stands the Glass/Memory No. 1
Jack Greene: You Are My Treasure/There Goes My Everything
7:30: Standard Candy
Tom T Hall (host): Faster Horses
Osborne Brothers: Midnight Flyer
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
The Wagoneers: I Want to Know Her Again/Every Step of the Way
Tom T Hall: The Old Side of Town
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jan Howard: Somebody's Always Saying Goodbye/Faded Love
Billy Walker: A Million and One/Charlie's Shoes
Bill Carlisle: I'm Moving
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Rachel
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light
8:30: Music Valley Merchants
Hank Snow (host): Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walkin'
Vic Willis Trio: American Trilogy
Teddy Wilburn: Lovesick Blues
Connie Smith: Sing, Sing, Sing
Hank Snow: Among My Souviners
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Jack Greene (host): Try a Little Kindness
David Houston: Have a Little Faith
Wilma Lee Cooper: Big Midnight Special
Ray Pillow: Don't We All Have the Right
The Four Guys: Tennessee
Jack Greene: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me/Midnight Tennessee Woman
10:00: Little Debbie
Charlie Walker (host): Cherokee Maiden
Jeannie Seely: Tell Me Again
Charlie Walker: Just Call Me Lonesome/San Antonio Rose
10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Tom T Hall: Old Dogs, Children, & Watermelon Wine/I Love
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away
10:30: Pet Milk
Osborne Brothers (host): Flying South
Roy Drusky: Time Has Made a Change in Me
Osborne Brothers: Kentucky
Glenn Duncan: Katy Hill
10:45: B.C. Powder
Billy Walker (host): Down to My Last Cigarette
Jean Shepard: At the Time
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Bill Cheatham
Billy Walker: Wild Texas Rose
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Snowbird
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Justin Tubb: Looking Back to See
Webb Pierce: In the Jailhouse Now/I'm Walkin' the Dog
Hank Snow: Little Buddy
11:30: Creamette
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Jan Howard: Slow Burning Memory
Bill Carlisle: Leave that Liar Alone
Teddy Wilburn: Arkansas
Connie Smith: I've Got My Baby on My Mind
Stonewall Jackson: Ol' Chunk of Coal/Waterloo
Appearing on the first show that night were The Wagoneers.
Webb Pierce had been an Opry member for a short amount of time in the 1950s. He left just a few years after joining when he figured out how much money he was losing on Saturday night dates that he had to give up to be at the Opry. At the time, Webb was the hottest thing going in country music. A very successful artist and businessman, Webb still would do the Opry on occasion. In 2001, after he had passed away, he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
There you have it for the first weekend in August. I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend.
Looking at the list of Grand Ole Opry members appearing, Connie Smith, Bill Anderson, The Whites, and Mike Snider, who has been missing the last couple of weeks, are scheduled for both nights. They will be joined on Friday night by members Larry, Steve and Rudy, the Gatlin Brothers, while on Saturday night Jeannie Seely will join the group. That comes out to five members each night.
Guesting on both nights this weekend will be Christian comedian Chonda Pierce. Joining her on Friday night will be Adam Craig, Shelly Fairchild, Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys, Wade Hayes, William Michael Morgan, and making their annual appearance, Wild Blue Country.
Saturday night, in addition to Chonda, we will see a return appearance by The McCrary Sisters. Joining those two will be Jackie Lee, Kalie Shorr, John Berry and the legendary Gene Watson.
Friday August 3
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Adam Craig; The Whites
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Shelly Fairchild; Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Wade Hayes; Chonda Pierce
8:45: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers (host); Wild Blue Country; William Michael Morgan
Saturday August 4
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jackie Lee; The Whites
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Kalie Shorr; Gene Watson
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Chonda Pierce; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Bill Anderson (host); John Berry; The McCrary Sisters
Two pretty nice shows this weekend.
And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from ten years ago, the 1st weekend in August 2008:
Friday August 1
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Connie Smith; Mark Wills
8:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Mountain Heart; David Ball
9:00: Jean Shepard (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Raul Malo
9:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Buddy Jewell; Mandy Barnett
Saturday August 2
1st show
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Randy Houser
7:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jamey Johnson
8:00: Jean Shepard (host); Stu Phillips; Raul Malo; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: John Conlee (host); Connie Smith; The Grascals
2nd show
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Randy Houser
10:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jamey Johnson
10:30: Jean Shepard (host); Jan Howard; Raul Malo; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: John Conlee (host); Connie Smith; The Grascals
Now from 25 years ago, Saturday August 7, 1993:
1st show
6:30: Jack Greene (host); Skeeter Davis
6:45: Grandpa Jones (host); Jeannie Seely; Charlie Walker
7:00: Bill Monroe (host); The Four Guys; Jimmy C Newman; Jim Ed Brown; Jean Shepard
7:30: Del Reeves (host); Teddy Wilburn; Brother Oswald; Dude Mowrey
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Riders In The Sky; Charlie Louvin; The Whites; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
8:30: Hank Snow (host); Jeanne Pruett; Ray Pillow; Roy Drusky; Mike Snider
2nd show
9:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Charlie Louvin; Jan Howard; Wilma Lee Cooper; Dude Mowrey
10:00: Grandpa Jones (host); Bill Carlisle; Jean Shepard
10:15: Bill Monroe (host); Del Reeves
10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Mike Snider
10:45: Jimmy C Newman (host); The Four Guys; Opry Square Dance Band; Melvin Sloan Dancers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); The Whites; Justin Tubb; Stonewall Jackson; Riders In The Sky
11:30: Jack Greene (host); Jeanne Pruett; Roy Drusky; Johnny Russell
Ok, let's be honest. Who remembers Dan "The Dude" Mowrey?
Dan was from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and was discovered by Mel Tillis in the mid-1980s while he was still a teenager. Mel acted as Dan's manager and helped to get the singer signed to Capital Records in 1991. His debut album, "Honky Tonk" was released in 1991 and included the singles "Cowboy's Don't Cry" and "Honky Tonk Song," which Mel had written for Webb Pierce. By 1993, Dan had moved to Arista Nashville and released a self-titled album as well as three singles. After that, he disappeared from the Nashville scene and reemerged in 2002 with limited success.
To finish it up this week, it was 30 years ago, Saturday August 6, 1988, that former Grand Ole Opry member Webb Pierce made his final guest appearance.
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Charlie Walker (host): Right or Wrong
Wilma Lee Cooper: This Old House
Charlie Walker: Just Call Me Lonesome/Take Me Back to Tulsa
6:45: Rudy's
The Four Guys (host): Sing it High; Sing it Low
Jeannie Seely: Why Doesn't He Just Leave Me Alone
The Four Guys: Look Out for Me, Oh Muddy Water
7:00: Shoney's
Jack Greene (host): My World Ain't Turning Yet
Jean Shepard: A Stranger in My Place
Ray Pillow: So Far, Not So Good
Webb Pierce: There Stands the Glass/Memory No. 1
Jack Greene: You Are My Treasure/There Goes My Everything
7:30: Standard Candy
Tom T Hall (host): Faster Horses
Osborne Brothers: Midnight Flyer
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
The Wagoneers: I Want to Know Her Again/Every Step of the Way
Tom T Hall: The Old Side of Town
8:00: Martha White
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Jan Howard: Somebody's Always Saying Goodbye/Faded Love
Billy Walker: A Million and One/Charlie's Shoes
Bill Carlisle: I'm Moving
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Rachel
Roy Acuff: I Saw the Light
8:30: Music Valley Merchants
Hank Snow (host): Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Stonewall Jackson: Why I'm Walkin'
Vic Willis Trio: American Trilogy
Teddy Wilburn: Lovesick Blues
Connie Smith: Sing, Sing, Sing
Hank Snow: Among My Souviners
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Jack Greene (host): Try a Little Kindness
David Houston: Have a Little Faith
Wilma Lee Cooper: Big Midnight Special
Ray Pillow: Don't We All Have the Right
The Four Guys: Tennessee
Jack Greene: Don't You Ever Get Tired of Hurting Me/Midnight Tennessee Woman
10:00: Little Debbie
Charlie Walker (host): Cherokee Maiden
Jeannie Seely: Tell Me Again
Charlie Walker: Just Call Me Lonesome/San Antonio Rose
10:15: Sunbeam
Roy Acuff (host): Meeting in the Air
Tom T Hall: Old Dogs, Children, & Watermelon Wine/I Love
Roy Acuff: I'll Fly Away
10:30: Pet Milk
Osborne Brothers (host): Flying South
Roy Drusky: Time Has Made a Change in Me
Osborne Brothers: Kentucky
Glenn Duncan: Katy Hill
10:45: B.C. Powder
Billy Walker (host): Down to My Last Cigarette
Jean Shepard: At the Time
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Bill Cheatham
Billy Walker: Wild Texas Rose
11:00: Coca Cola
Hank Snow (host): Snowbird
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Justin Tubb: Looking Back to See
Webb Pierce: In the Jailhouse Now/I'm Walkin' the Dog
Hank Snow: Little Buddy
11:30: Creamette
Stonewall Jackson (host): Me & You & A Dog Named Boo
Jan Howard: Slow Burning Memory
Bill Carlisle: Leave that Liar Alone
Teddy Wilburn: Arkansas
Connie Smith: I've Got My Baby on My Mind
Stonewall Jackson: Ol' Chunk of Coal/Waterloo
Appearing on the first show that night were The Wagoneers.
Webb Pierce had been an Opry member for a short amount of time in the 1950s. He left just a few years after joining when he figured out how much money he was losing on Saturday night dates that he had to give up to be at the Opry. At the time, Webb was the hottest thing going in country music. A very successful artist and businessman, Webb still would do the Opry on occasion. In 2001, after he had passed away, he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
There you have it for the first weekend in August. I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend.
Monday, July 30, 2018
Tuesday Night Opry 7/31 & Wednesday Night Opry 8/1
Here are the posted line-ups for the mid-week shows this week:
Tuesday July 31
7:00: Bill Anderson; Elizabeth Cook
7:30: Connie Smith; Dailey & Vincent
Intermission
8:15: The Swon Brothers; Rory Feek
8:45: Carly Pearce; Tracy Lawrence
Wednesday August 1
7:00: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers; LEVON
7:30: Brooke Eden; Ray Stevens
Intermission
8:15: Del McCoury Band; Bobby Bones
8:45: Charlie Worsham; Restless Heart
Two pretty nice shows this week and can you believe it is August already? Where did the summer go?
Tuesday July 31
7:00: Bill Anderson; Elizabeth Cook
7:30: Connie Smith; Dailey & Vincent
Intermission
8:15: The Swon Brothers; Rory Feek
8:45: Carly Pearce; Tracy Lawrence
Wednesday August 1
7:00: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers; LEVON
7:30: Brooke Eden; Ray Stevens
Intermission
8:15: Del McCoury Band; Bobby Bones
8:45: Charlie Worsham; Restless Heart
Two pretty nice shows this week and can you believe it is August already? Where did the summer go?
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Grand Ole Opry 7/27 & 7/28
Before getting to the Grand Ole Opry line-ups for this weekend, there are a couple of items to pass along.
First, Grand Ole Opry members Ricky Skaggs and Tom T. Hall have been elected to the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. The announcement was made in Nashville on Wednesday. Tom T. was elected along with his late wife Dixie, both of whom were very involved in bluegrass music. Its been a big year for both Ricky and Tom T. As earlier this year, Ricky was voted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, while Tom T. was elected to the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame at Bean Blossom. Ricky, who is scheduled for the Friday Night Opry this week, and Tom T., who is now retired, join a very small group that have been elected to both the Country and Bluegrass halls. Congratulations to both.
Secondly, last week Jeanne Pruett celebrated her 45th year as member of the Grand Ole Opry, joining the cast on July 21, 1973. This Saturday, Jeanne, who is now retired, will be at the Grand Ole Opry House signing copies of her new book "Satin Sheets: I Remember" following the show. It will be interesting to see if her friend, Opry member Jeannie Seely, will introduce her on the Opry stage. If you remember, when Jeanne celebrated her 40th anniversary as an Opry member, Jeannie was able to get her to sing a chorus of Satin Sheets. Let's see what happens this week.
As to the Grand Ole Opry this weekend, as mentioned, Ricky Skaggs is set for the Friday Night Opry, to be joined by Opry members The Whites, Dailey & Vincent, and one of the newest members Chris Young. In fact, Chris gets the entire last segment to himself. Jeannie Seely, as mentioned, is scheduled for Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, joined by Opry members Connie Smith, Bobby Osborne, and making it a two show weekend, The Whites. That makes four Opry members each night.
Two guest artists, Mark Wills and Jeanne Robertson, are scheduled for both nights this weekend. joined on Friday by William Michael Morgan, T Graham Brown, Rhett Walker Band and RaeLynn. Saturday night, Mark and Jeanne will be joined by Waylon Payne, Ashley Campbell, Mandy Barnett and Charlie McCoy. 10 acts for each show in total and no Mike Snider for the 2nd week in a row.
Friday July 27
7:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); William Michael Morgan; T Graham Brown
7:30: The Whites (host); Mark Wills; Rhett Walker Band
Intermission
8:15: Dailey & Vincent (host); Jeanne Robertson; RaeLynn
8:45: Chris Young
Saturday July 28
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Waylon Payne; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
7:30: The Whites (host); Ashley Campbell; Mark Wills
Intermission
8:15: Jeannie Seely (host); Jeanne Robertson; Opry Square Dancers; Mandy Barnett; Charlie McCoy
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry from 10 years ago, the 4th weekend in July 2008:
Friday July 25
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
8:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jean Shepard; The Time Jumpers
9:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Rebecca Lynn Howard
9:30: Marty Stuart (host); Connie Smith; Gene Watson
Saturday July 26
1st show
7:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Connie Smith; Jennifer Hanson
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Suzy Bogguss
8:00: Jean Shepard (host); Jan Howard; The Isaacs; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); The Whites; The Time Jumpers
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Connie Smith; Jennifer Hanson
10:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Suzy Bogguss
10:30: Jean Shepard (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; The Isaacs; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); The Whites; The Time Jumpers
Now from 50 years ago, Saturday July 27, 1968:
1st show
6:30: Willis Brothers (host); Ernie Ashworth; Norma Jean
6:45: Jack Greene (host); The Four Guys
7:00: Hank Locklin (host); Tex Ritter; Del Wood; Cousin Jody; Hugh X. Lewis; Martha Carson
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Stringbean; Johnny & Jonie Mosby; David Rogers; Crook Brothers
8:00: Flatt and Scruggs (host); Bob Luman; Dottie West; Bill Carlisle
8:30: Ernest Tubb (host); Charlie Louvin; Leroy Van Dyke; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Billy Parker
2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson (host); Willis Brothers; Ernie Ashworth; Norma Jean;
10:00: Jack Greene (host); Stringbean; Johnny & Jonie Mosby
10:15: Charlie Louvin (host); The Four Guys; Dottie West
10:30: Bob Luman (host); Del Wood
10:45: Ernest Tubb (host); Leroy Van Dyke; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Locklin (host); Tex Ritter; Martha Carson; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Bill Carlisle; Lorene Mann; Cousin Jody; Don Winters
There were a couple of names from that night that many have not heard in a while, two of which were Johnny and Jonie Mosby.
Johnny Mosby was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1933, while Janice Irene Shields was born in Van Nuys, California. The couple met in California when she auditioned for a spot in Johnny's orchestra, and they were married in 1958.
They first recorded for Columbia Records, with their first single "Don't Call Me from a Honky Tonk" released in 1963. The single went to No. 13 on the country charts, and that was followed by "Trouble in My Arms" which reached No. 12. In 1965, the couple released "Mr. and Mrs. Country Music," also on Columbia, followed by "The New Sweethearts of Country," which was on the Starday Record label.
From 1967 to 1972 they recorded for Capital Records. Their next Top 20 singles were "Just Hold My Hand" and "I'm Leavin' It Up to You." In 1971, Jonie released a solo single "I've Been There," however it reached only the bottom half of the country charts. That same year, the couple separated and the duo ended.
Another artist, who appeared on the first show that night was David Rogers. Between 1968 and 1984, he had 37 singles on the Billboard Charts, with two of those, "Need You" and "Loving You Has Changed My Life," reaching the Top 10. He recorded on the Columbia, Atlantic, United Artists and Republic labels. David, who was born in 1936, passed away in 1993.
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Several weeks ago, I highlighted the career of the Glaser Brothers. As mentioned, after their breakup in the 1970s, the brothers reunited and had a brief resurrection of their careers. In 1981, now under the name Tompall & The Glaser Brothers, they enjoyed chart success with "Lovin' Her Was Easier," written by Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson.
On Saturday July 30, 1983, the brothers guested on the Grand Ole Opry, appearing on Hank Snow's segment during the 1st show and George Hamilton IV's on the 2nd show. Here is the line-up from that night:
1st show
6:30: Ray Pillow (host); Wilma Lee Cooper
6:45: Billy Walker (host); Skeeter Davis
7:00: Jack Greene (host); Jeanne Pruett; Billy Grammer; Teddy Wilburn
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Justin Tubb; Charlie Louvin; Stonewall Jackson; Crook Brothers; Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Vic Willis Trio; Bill Carlisle; George Hamilton IV: Connie Smith
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The Four Guys; David Houston; Tompall & The Glaser Brothers; Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson (host); The Four Guys; Skeeter Davis; Ray Pillow; Wilma Lee Cooper
10:00: Billy Walker (host); Jeanne Pruett
10:15: Jack Greene (host); Billy Walker
10:30: Roy Acuff (host); Charlie Louvin; Teddy Wilburn
10:45: Stonewall Jackson (host); Connie Smith; Crook Brothers; Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); David Houston; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Justin Tubb; Kirk McGee
11:30: George Hamilton IV (host); Vic Willis Trio; Bill Carlisle; Tompall & The Glaser Brothers
There you have it for this week. As always, I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!
First, Grand Ole Opry members Ricky Skaggs and Tom T. Hall have been elected to the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. The announcement was made in Nashville on Wednesday. Tom T. was elected along with his late wife Dixie, both of whom were very involved in bluegrass music. Its been a big year for both Ricky and Tom T. As earlier this year, Ricky was voted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, while Tom T. was elected to the Bill Monroe Bluegrass Hall of Fame at Bean Blossom. Ricky, who is scheduled for the Friday Night Opry this week, and Tom T., who is now retired, join a very small group that have been elected to both the Country and Bluegrass halls. Congratulations to both.
Secondly, last week Jeanne Pruett celebrated her 45th year as member of the Grand Ole Opry, joining the cast on July 21, 1973. This Saturday, Jeanne, who is now retired, will be at the Grand Ole Opry House signing copies of her new book "Satin Sheets: I Remember" following the show. It will be interesting to see if her friend, Opry member Jeannie Seely, will introduce her on the Opry stage. If you remember, when Jeanne celebrated her 40th anniversary as an Opry member, Jeannie was able to get her to sing a chorus of Satin Sheets. Let's see what happens this week.
As to the Grand Ole Opry this weekend, as mentioned, Ricky Skaggs is set for the Friday Night Opry, to be joined by Opry members The Whites, Dailey & Vincent, and one of the newest members Chris Young. In fact, Chris gets the entire last segment to himself. Jeannie Seely, as mentioned, is scheduled for Saturday's Grand Ole Opry, joined by Opry members Connie Smith, Bobby Osborne, and making it a two show weekend, The Whites. That makes four Opry members each night.
Two guest artists, Mark Wills and Jeanne Robertson, are scheduled for both nights this weekend. joined on Friday by William Michael Morgan, T Graham Brown, Rhett Walker Band and RaeLynn. Saturday night, Mark and Jeanne will be joined by Waylon Payne, Ashley Campbell, Mandy Barnett and Charlie McCoy. 10 acts for each show in total and no Mike Snider for the 2nd week in a row.
Friday July 27
7:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); William Michael Morgan; T Graham Brown
7:30: The Whites (host); Mark Wills; Rhett Walker Band
Intermission
8:15: Dailey & Vincent (host); Jeanne Robertson; RaeLynn
8:45: Chris Young
Saturday July 28
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Waylon Payne; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press
7:30: The Whites (host); Ashley Campbell; Mark Wills
Intermission
8:15: Jeannie Seely (host); Jeanne Robertson; Opry Square Dancers; Mandy Barnett; Charlie McCoy
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And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry from 10 years ago, the 4th weekend in July 2008:
Friday July 25
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jimmy C Newman; Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper
8:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jean Shepard; The Time Jumpers
9:00: Ricky Skaggs (host); The Whites; Rebecca Lynn Howard
9:30: Marty Stuart (host); Connie Smith; Gene Watson
Saturday July 26
1st show
7:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Connie Smith; Jennifer Hanson
7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Suzy Bogguss
8:00: Jean Shepard (host); Jan Howard; The Isaacs; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); The Whites; The Time Jumpers
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Connie Smith; Jennifer Hanson
10:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Suzy Bogguss
10:30: Jean Shepard (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; The Isaacs; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); The Whites; The Time Jumpers
Now from 50 years ago, Saturday July 27, 1968:
1st show
6:30: Willis Brothers (host); Ernie Ashworth; Norma Jean
6:45: Jack Greene (host); The Four Guys
7:00: Hank Locklin (host); Tex Ritter; Del Wood; Cousin Jody; Hugh X. Lewis; Martha Carson
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Stringbean; Johnny & Jonie Mosby; David Rogers; Crook Brothers
8:00: Flatt and Scruggs (host); Bob Luman; Dottie West; Bill Carlisle
8:30: Ernest Tubb (host); Charlie Louvin; Leroy Van Dyke; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Billy Parker
2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson (host); Willis Brothers; Ernie Ashworth; Norma Jean;
10:00: Jack Greene (host); Stringbean; Johnny & Jonie Mosby
10:15: Charlie Louvin (host); The Four Guys; Dottie West
10:30: Bob Luman (host); Del Wood
10:45: Ernest Tubb (host); Leroy Van Dyke; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Locklin (host); Tex Ritter; Martha Carson; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Bill Carlisle; Lorene Mann; Cousin Jody; Don Winters
There were a couple of names from that night that many have not heard in a while, two of which were Johnny and Jonie Mosby.
Johnny Mosby was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1933, while Janice Irene Shields was born in Van Nuys, California. The couple met in California when she auditioned for a spot in Johnny's orchestra, and they were married in 1958.
They first recorded for Columbia Records, with their first single "Don't Call Me from a Honky Tonk" released in 1963. The single went to No. 13 on the country charts, and that was followed by "Trouble in My Arms" which reached No. 12. In 1965, the couple released "Mr. and Mrs. Country Music," also on Columbia, followed by "The New Sweethearts of Country," which was on the Starday Record label.
From 1967 to 1972 they recorded for Capital Records. Their next Top 20 singles were "Just Hold My Hand" and "I'm Leavin' It Up to You." In 1971, Jonie released a solo single "I've Been There," however it reached only the bottom half of the country charts. That same year, the couple separated and the duo ended.
Another artist, who appeared on the first show that night was David Rogers. Between 1968 and 1984, he had 37 singles on the Billboard Charts, with two of those, "Need You" and "Loving You Has Changed My Life," reaching the Top 10. He recorded on the Columbia, Atlantic, United Artists and Republic labels. David, who was born in 1936, passed away in 1993.
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Several weeks ago, I highlighted the career of the Glaser Brothers. As mentioned, after their breakup in the 1970s, the brothers reunited and had a brief resurrection of their careers. In 1981, now under the name Tompall & The Glaser Brothers, they enjoyed chart success with "Lovin' Her Was Easier," written by Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson.
On Saturday July 30, 1983, the brothers guested on the Grand Ole Opry, appearing on Hank Snow's segment during the 1st show and George Hamilton IV's on the 2nd show. Here is the line-up from that night:
1st show
6:30: Ray Pillow (host); Wilma Lee Cooper
6:45: Billy Walker (host); Skeeter Davis
7:00: Jack Greene (host); Jeanne Pruett; Billy Grammer; Teddy Wilburn
7:30: Bill Anderson (host); Justin Tubb; Charlie Louvin; Stonewall Jackson; Crook Brothers; Stoney Mountain Cloggers
8:00: Roy Acuff (host); Vic Willis Trio; Bill Carlisle; George Hamilton IV: Connie Smith
8:30: Hank Snow (host); The Four Guys; David Houston; Tompall & The Glaser Brothers; Fruit Jar Drinkers
2nd show
9:30: Bill Anderson (host); The Four Guys; Skeeter Davis; Ray Pillow; Wilma Lee Cooper
10:00: Billy Walker (host); Jeanne Pruett
10:15: Jack Greene (host); Billy Walker
10:30: Roy Acuff (host); Charlie Louvin; Teddy Wilburn
10:45: Stonewall Jackson (host); Connie Smith; Crook Brothers; Stoney Mountain Cloggers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); David Houston; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Justin Tubb; Kirk McGee
11:30: George Hamilton IV (host); Vic Willis Trio; Bill Carlisle; Tompall & The Glaser Brothers
There you have it for this week. As always, I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend!!
Monday, July 23, 2018
Tuesday Night Opry 7/24 & Wednesday Night Opry 7/25
The Tuesday Night Opry offers a perfect contrast between someone who takes their Opry membership seriously and someone who it seems, does not.
Martina McBride is scheduled for both shows (yes, there are two shows) on Tuesday Night. Martina has been an Opry member since 1995 and is one of those members who is good for making one or two appearances on the Opry each year, of which the Opry usually will put out the red carpet. Since joining the Opry, Martina has averaged 4 appearances per year. Over the last 5 years, it has been an average of 2.
On the other hand, you have Chris Janson, one of the Opry's newest members, also scheduled for both shows on Tuesday night. For Chris, these will be appearances number 16 and 17 this year.
You tell me. Which one of these artists takes their Opry membership more seriously? And before anyone says anything, both artists are out on the road touring, and I do like Martina. She has had a marvelous career. However, when it comes to the Opry, the numbers tell the story.
Tuesday Night Opry July 24:
1st show
7:00: Steve Wariner; Brothers Osborne; Tyler Farr
8:00: Henry Cho; Chris Janson; Martina McBride
2nd show
9:30: Jeannie Seely; Steve Wariner; Tyler Farr
10:30: Henry Cho; Chris Janson; Martina McBride
Wednesday July 25:
7:00: Bill Anderson; Steve Moakler
7:30: Linda Davis; Delta Rae
Intermission
8:15: Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers; Maggie Rose
8:45: Aaron Lewis; Point Of Grace
Martina McBride is scheduled for both shows (yes, there are two shows) on Tuesday Night. Martina has been an Opry member since 1995 and is one of those members who is good for making one or two appearances on the Opry each year, of which the Opry usually will put out the red carpet. Since joining the Opry, Martina has averaged 4 appearances per year. Over the last 5 years, it has been an average of 2.
On the other hand, you have Chris Janson, one of the Opry's newest members, also scheduled for both shows on Tuesday night. For Chris, these will be appearances number 16 and 17 this year.
You tell me. Which one of these artists takes their Opry membership more seriously? And before anyone says anything, both artists are out on the road touring, and I do like Martina. She has had a marvelous career. However, when it comes to the Opry, the numbers tell the story.
Tuesday Night Opry July 24:
1st show
7:00: Steve Wariner; Brothers Osborne; Tyler Farr
8:00: Henry Cho; Chris Janson; Martina McBride
2nd show
9:30: Jeannie Seely; Steve Wariner; Tyler Farr
10:30: Henry Cho; Chris Janson; Martina McBride
Wednesday July 25:
7:00: Bill Anderson; Steve Moakler
7:30: Linda Davis; Delta Rae
Intermission
8:15: Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers; Maggie Rose
8:45: Aaron Lewis; Point Of Grace
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