It is always a special night at the Grand Ole Opry when a new member is inducted, and Tuesday will be one of those nights as Don Schlitz will finally be welcomed as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Donald Alan Schlitz, Jr. on Aug. 29, 1952, and raised in Durham, N.C. He briefly attended Duke University before coming to Nashville at the age of twenty. His talent was recognized and fostered early on by greats including Bob McDill and Bobby Bare, and he emerged as an empathetic and intelligent chronicler of the human spirit.
Don was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017 and is considered one of the most influential and beloved songwriters in the history of country music. His fifty Top Ten singles include twenty-four Number One country hits. He has won three CMA Song of the Year awards, two Academy of Country Music Song of the Year prizes, two Grammy Awards, and four consecutive (1988-91) ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year trophies.
His chart-topping songs -- among them “The Gambler,” “On the Other Hand,” “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her”, “The Greatest,” and “When You Say Nothing At All” -- are touchstones and inspirations. His works have been recorded by Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, The Judds, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Tanya Tucker, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Keith Whitley, Alison Krauss, and many others.
He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Association Hall of Fame in 1993, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame (with Bob Seger and Gordon Lightfoot) in 2012.
When performing at the Opry on Saturday June 11, Vince Gill asked both Charlie McCoy and Don to become members of the Opry. While Charlie has already been inducted, it took a bit to get Don's scheduled. Thankfully, it is set for Tuesday night with Vince Gill scheduled to do the honors.
Tuesday August 30
7:00: Riders In The Sky, Aaron Tippin, 49 Winchester, The War and Treaty
Intermission
8:15: Gary Mule Deer, Charlie Worsham, Don Schlitz, Vince Gill
While the night will belong to Don Schlitz, I did want to mention that it will be the Opry debut for 49 Winchester
Opry Country Classics will lead off the month of September with another show from the Grand Ole Opry House, hosted by Larry Gatlin with Opry member Crystal Gayle the Spotlight Artist.
Thursday September 1
Host: Larry Gatlin
Spotlight Artist: Crystal Gayle
Also Appearing: Gatlin Brothers, The Isaacs, Erin Kinsey, Zach Top
Again, congratulations to Don Schlitz upon his induction as the Opry's newest member.
So, who will be next?