Before getting into the Opry line-ups for this weekend, I just wanted to say a few things about last Saturday night's show. First, I thought Pete Fisher did a very nice job with the dedication to Jimmy C Newman. It seemed a little longer then some of the ones he has had to do, and I really felt it was from the heart. I know many of us will criticize Pete and some of the decisions he has made at the Opry, but on this one, my compliments. I also thought it was nice that Cajun Country was allowed to open the show. They did "Alligator Man" and as was commented in the posts from last week, it did seem that the song was a beat or two slower then normal. A nice tribute to an Opry legend.
Secondly, again hats off to Pete Fisher, an excellent job with the "retirement" of Paul Eckhart. As has been noted, Paul has been attending Opry shows for the past 42 years and has not missed from attending at least one show each weekend. During the last segment, Pete came out to the front, along with Connie Smith, and did a special presentation that was greeted by a standing ovation from the sold-out Opry House. Well deserved!!
As far as the Opry this weekend, it's July 4th weekend and it will be business as usual at the Grand Ole Opry as the Opry will be presenting the usual Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry.
As far as the Friday Night Opry, a couple of the Opry's more popular members will be making appearances, Mel Tillis and The Oak Ridge Boys. In addition, The Isaacs and Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers will be making guest appearances.
In addition to his Friday night performance, Mel Tillis also be appearing on Saturday night, where he will be joined by Opry members Vince Gill and, hopefully making it, Stu Phillips. This Opry legend was scheduled early in the year and cancelled out. I really hope he can make it this weekend.
Guest artists on Saturday include Jonathan Jackson, from "Nashville" and the ever popular Chris Janson. Yes, Chris again!! And for this keeping track, this will be appearance #15.
Friday July 4
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Mandy Barnett; Jean Shepard
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jan Howard; The Isaacs
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers; Mel Tillis
8:45: Connie Smith (host); The Oak Ridge Boys
Saturday July 5
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Janelle Arthur; T.G. Sheppard
7:30: Connie Smith (host); George Hamilton IV; Jim Ed Brown; Danny Gokey
Intermission
8:15: Mel Tillis (host); Stu Phillips; Chris Janson; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Jesse McReynolds; Jonathan Jackson
A couple of pretty solid shows!!
And now, the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 5 years ago, the weekend of July 3 & 4, 2009:
Friday July 3:
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jesse McReynolds; Holly Williams
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jean Shepard; The Grascals
8:00: Mike Snider (host); The Vanderbilt Kennedy Music Camp; Jan Howard; Jack Greene
8:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Stonewall Jackson; John Conlee; Connie Smith
Saturday July 4:
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely; Christy Sutherland
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); George Hamilton IV; The Grascals
8:00: Mike Snider (host); Stonewall Jackson; Chris Young; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: John Conlee (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Mandy Barnett; Jim Ed Brown w/The Browns
And from 10 years ago, the weekend of July 2 & 3, 2004:
Friday July 2:
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jimmy C Newman; Mandy Barnett
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jimmy Wayne
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Ricky Van Shelton
9:00: John Conlee (host); Jean Shepard; Dan Seals
9:30: Mike Snider (host); Kellie Coffey; T Graham Brown
Saturday July 3:
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Del McCoury Band
7:00: Jean Shepard (host); BeauSoleil; Lane Turner
7:30: John Conlee (host); Charlie Walker; Billy Walker; Emerson Drive
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jack Greene; Mandy Barnett
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Emerson Drive
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Billy Walker; Lane Turner
10:30: Jean Shepard (host); Stu Phillips; Del McCoury Band; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: John Conlee (host); BeauSoleil
11:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jack Greene; Mandy Barnett
Looking back at anniversary dates for Opry members, it was on Saturday July 3, 1993 (21 years ago), that Alison Krauss became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. When Alison joined the Opry, she was just 21 years old and was the first bluegrass artist to be added to the cast in 29 years. She had first appeared on the Opry in 1989 at the age of 17.
Alison is the most awarded female artist in the history of the Grammy Award and is a true legend in not only bluegrass music with Union Station, but has branched out into other areas of music and has recorded music with a host of folks. This summer she is on tour with Willie Nelson.
On the night she was inducted, Garth Brooks did the honors, although he did not perform during her segment. Here is the running order of the Opry from Saturday July 3, 1993, the night Alison Krauss became an Opry member.
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Del Reeves (host); Two Dollars in the Jukebox/A Dime at A Time/Looking at the World Through A Windshield
The Whites: Hangin' Around
Del Reeves: Bad News
6:45: Hall of Fame
Grandpa Jones (host): Going Down the Country
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain
Grandpa Jones: Little Old Home Down in New Orleans
7:00: Shoney's
Jack Greene (host): I'll Be There
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Jeanne Pruett: I Oughta Feel Guilty
Stonewall Jackson: Old Chunk of Coal
Charlie Walker: There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/Statue of A Fool
7:30: Standard Candy
4 Guys (host): If It's Coming From the Country, It's Coming From the Heart
George Hamilton IV: Has Anyone Here Seen Hank
Mike Snider: Battle Cry of Freedom/Get Your Hand Off My Knee and Load the Cannon
Alison Krauss: Atlanta, I Hear You Calling/Big Mon
4 Guys: The Star Spangled Banner
8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Company's Comin'
Jean Shepard: Bouquet of Roses
Oswald: Mountain Dew
Charlie Louvin: See the Big Man Cry
Porter Wagoner: Happy Birthday Margaret Smathers
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sugar in the Goard
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home
8:30: Kraft
Hank Snow (host): Address Unknown
Skeeter Davis: Lovesick Blues
Ray Pillow: Someone Had to Teach You
Jan Howard: You Don't Know Me
Roy Drusky: Son, Go Bring My Children Home
Hank Snow: I've Done at Least One Thing that Was Good In My Life
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Y'All Come
Del Reeves: There She Goes
Stonewall Jackson: Side-Steppin' the Blues
Alison Krauss: (?)/Molly and Tenbrooks
Porter Wagoner: Wabash Cannonball/The Precious Jewel/Fireball Mail/Night Train to Memphis/The Great Speckled Bird/On A Highway Headed South
10:00: Little Debbie
Grandpa Jones (host): Ball-Headed End of the Broom
Wilma Lee Cooper: The Gloryland March
The Whites: Keep on the Sunny Side
Grandpa Jones: Gone Home
10:15: Sunbeam/Tennessee Pride
4 Guys (host): We're Only Here For A Little While
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
4 Guys: Swing Down Chariot
10:30: Piccadilly
Charlie Walker (host): Right or Wrong
Jean Shepard: Let's All Go Down to the River/I Saw the Light/Will the Circle Be Unbroken/I'll Fly Away/Somebody Touched Me
Charlie Walker: There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere
10:45: Opry Book
Jimmy C Newman (host): Colinda
Charlie Walker: Will You Visit Me on Sundays
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sail Away Ladies
Jimmy C Newman; Cajun's Dream
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Ancient History
Roy Drusky: Mississippi
Justin Tubb: Waltz Across Texas
Jack Greene: Walking on New Grass/Statue of A Fool
Hank Snow: The Prisoner's Song/Are You Lonesome Tonight
11:30: General Jackson
George Hamilton IV (host): This Land is Your Land
Ray Pillow: Please Don't Leave Me Anymore
Jan Howard: Wayfaring Stranger
Mike Snider: Bells of St. Marys
George Hamilton IV: Forever Young
Congratulations to Alison and I really wish we would see her more at the Opry.
Enjoy the Opry this weekend and be safe over the holiday weekend!!!
Secondly, again hats off to Pete Fisher, an excellent job with the "retirement" of Paul Eckhart. As has been noted, Paul has been attending Opry shows for the past 42 years and has not missed from attending at least one show each weekend. During the last segment, Pete came out to the front, along with Connie Smith, and did a special presentation that was greeted by a standing ovation from the sold-out Opry House. Well deserved!!
As far as the Opry this weekend, it's July 4th weekend and it will be business as usual at the Grand Ole Opry as the Opry will be presenting the usual Friday Night Opry and Saturday's Grand Ole Opry.
As far as the Friday Night Opry, a couple of the Opry's more popular members will be making appearances, Mel Tillis and The Oak Ridge Boys. In addition, The Isaacs and Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers will be making guest appearances.
In addition to his Friday night performance, Mel Tillis also be appearing on Saturday night, where he will be joined by Opry members Vince Gill and, hopefully making it, Stu Phillips. This Opry legend was scheduled early in the year and cancelled out. I really hope he can make it this weekend.
Guest artists on Saturday include Jonathan Jackson, from "Nashville" and the ever popular Chris Janson. Yes, Chris again!! And for this keeping track, this will be appearance #15.
Friday July 4
7:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Mandy Barnett; Jean Shepard
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); Jan Howard; The Isaacs
Intermission
8:15: Bill Anderson (host); Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers; Mel Tillis
8:45: Connie Smith (host); The Oak Ridge Boys
Saturday July 5
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Janelle Arthur; T.G. Sheppard
7:30: Connie Smith (host); George Hamilton IV; Jim Ed Brown; Danny Gokey
Intermission
8:15: Mel Tillis (host); Stu Phillips; Chris Janson; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Vince Gill (host); Jesse McReynolds; Jonathan Jackson
A couple of pretty solid shows!!
And now, the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 5 years ago, the weekend of July 3 & 4, 2009:
Friday July 3:
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jimmy C Newman; Jesse McReynolds; Holly Williams
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jean Shepard; The Grascals
8:00: Mike Snider (host); The Vanderbilt Kennedy Music Camp; Jan Howard; Jack Greene
8:30: Ricky Skaggs (host); Stonewall Jackson; John Conlee; Connie Smith
Saturday July 4:
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely; Christy Sutherland
7:30: Riders In The Sky (host); George Hamilton IV; The Grascals
8:00: Mike Snider (host); Stonewall Jackson; Chris Young; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: John Conlee (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Mandy Barnett; Jim Ed Brown w/The Browns
And from 10 years ago, the weekend of July 2 & 3, 2004:
Friday July 2:
7:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Jimmy C Newman; Mandy Barnett
8:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Jimmy Wayne
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Ricky Van Shelton
9:00: John Conlee (host); Jean Shepard; Dan Seals
9:30: Mike Snider (host); Kellie Coffey; T Graham Brown
Saturday July 3:
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Del McCoury Band
7:00: Jean Shepard (host); BeauSoleil; Lane Turner
7:30: John Conlee (host); Charlie Walker; Billy Walker; Emerson Drive
8:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jack Greene; Mandy Barnett
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Emerson Drive
10:00: Porter Wagoner (host); Jan Howard; Billy Walker; Lane Turner
10:30: Jean Shepard (host); Stu Phillips; Del McCoury Band; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: John Conlee (host); BeauSoleil
11:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jack Greene; Mandy Barnett
Looking back at anniversary dates for Opry members, it was on Saturday July 3, 1993 (21 years ago), that Alison Krauss became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. When Alison joined the Opry, she was just 21 years old and was the first bluegrass artist to be added to the cast in 29 years. She had first appeared on the Opry in 1989 at the age of 17.
Alison is the most awarded female artist in the history of the Grammy Award and is a true legend in not only bluegrass music with Union Station, but has branched out into other areas of music and has recorded music with a host of folks. This summer she is on tour with Willie Nelson.
On the night she was inducted, Garth Brooks did the honors, although he did not perform during her segment. Here is the running order of the Opry from Saturday July 3, 1993, the night Alison Krauss became an Opry member.
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Del Reeves (host); Two Dollars in the Jukebox/A Dime at A Time/Looking at the World Through A Windshield
The Whites: Hangin' Around
Del Reeves: Bad News
6:45: Hall of Fame
Grandpa Jones (host): Going Down the Country
Billy Walker: You Gave Me A Mountain
Grandpa Jones: Little Old Home Down in New Orleans
7:00: Shoney's
Jack Greene (host): I'll Be There
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Jeanne Pruett: I Oughta Feel Guilty
Stonewall Jackson: Old Chunk of Coal
Charlie Walker: There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/Statue of A Fool
7:30: Standard Candy
4 Guys (host): If It's Coming From the Country, It's Coming From the Heart
George Hamilton IV: Has Anyone Here Seen Hank
Mike Snider: Battle Cry of Freedom/Get Your Hand Off My Knee and Load the Cannon
Alison Krauss: Atlanta, I Hear You Calling/Big Mon
4 Guys: The Star Spangled Banner
8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Company's Comin'
Jean Shepard: Bouquet of Roses
Oswald: Mountain Dew
Charlie Louvin: See the Big Man Cry
Porter Wagoner: Happy Birthday Margaret Smathers
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sugar in the Goard
Porter Wagoner: Green, Green Grass of Home
8:30: Kraft
Hank Snow (host): Address Unknown
Skeeter Davis: Lovesick Blues
Ray Pillow: Someone Had to Teach You
Jan Howard: You Don't Know Me
Roy Drusky: Son, Go Bring My Children Home
Hank Snow: I've Done at Least One Thing that Was Good In My Life
2nd show
9:30: Dollar General
Porter Wagoner (host): Y'All Come
Del Reeves: There She Goes
Stonewall Jackson: Side-Steppin' the Blues
Alison Krauss: (?)/Molly and Tenbrooks
Porter Wagoner: Wabash Cannonball/The Precious Jewel/Fireball Mail/Night Train to Memphis/The Great Speckled Bird/On A Highway Headed South
10:00: Little Debbie
Grandpa Jones (host): Ball-Headed End of the Broom
Wilma Lee Cooper: The Gloryland March
The Whites: Keep on the Sunny Side
Grandpa Jones: Gone Home
10:15: Sunbeam/Tennessee Pride
4 Guys (host): We're Only Here For A Little While
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
4 Guys: Swing Down Chariot
10:30: Piccadilly
Charlie Walker (host): Right or Wrong
Jean Shepard: Let's All Go Down to the River/I Saw the Light/Will the Circle Be Unbroken/I'll Fly Away/Somebody Touched Me
Charlie Walker: There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere
10:45: Opry Book
Jimmy C Newman (host): Colinda
Charlie Walker: Will You Visit Me on Sundays
Opry Square Dance Band/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Sail Away Ladies
Jimmy C Newman; Cajun's Dream
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Ancient History
Roy Drusky: Mississippi
Justin Tubb: Waltz Across Texas
Jack Greene: Walking on New Grass/Statue of A Fool
Hank Snow: The Prisoner's Song/Are You Lonesome Tonight
11:30: General Jackson
George Hamilton IV (host): This Land is Your Land
Ray Pillow: Please Don't Leave Me Anymore
Jan Howard: Wayfaring Stranger
Mike Snider: Bells of St. Marys
George Hamilton IV: Forever Young
Congratulations to Alison and I really wish we would see her more at the Opry.
Enjoy the Opry this weekend and be safe over the holiday weekend!!!