The Grand Ole Opry returns to the Opry House this weekend after enjoying the last three months at the Ryman Auditorium. Looking at the schedule for this weekend, Saturday looks like the better night as Opry member Loretta Lynn will be making a rare appearance on the Opry stage.
Joining Loretta on Saturday night will be "Nashville" star Clare Bowen and frequent Opry guest Lee Greenwood. I think I have mentioned before that in an interview that Lee did several years ago, he said that he was asked many years ago if he would like to become an Opry member and he turned it down due to his heavy touring schedule. However, he said that even though he turned down membership, Opry management told him that he could appear at the Opry whenever he wished. That was prior to Pete Fisher taking over management of the show, but it would appear that the agreement with Lee is still in place as he has found time to do the Opry several times each year.
Several Opry members are scheduled for both nights as Diamond Rio and Connie Smith are set to host segments both nights. Also scheduled both nights is Mike Snider and Jim Ed Brown, both of whom are hosting segments on Friday night. It was a pleasure to hear Jim Ed back on the Opry after a long battle with cancer and it is even better that he will be hosting a segment. The reviews were positive from last weekend and even though his voice is still a little weak, he sounded good. Also scheduled for both nights is guest artist Love and Theft. This duo has been on the Opry several times over the past few weeks and are set for a few more appearances before the end of the month.
Joining this group on the Friday Night Opry will be Chuck Mead, Emily West and The Willis Clan, along with Jackie Lee. Brandon Heath is also scheduled for another appearance, coming off a very impressive performance earlier in the year. Finally, Opry member Jean Shepard is scheduled. She has been scheduled a few times so far in 2015 and has cancelled each appearance. It will be interesting to see if she makes it this weekend.
Friday February 6
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Jackie Lee; Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Brandon Heath
Intermission
8:15: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jean Shepard; Love and Theft
8:45: Diamond Rio (host); Emily West; The Willis Clan
Saturday February 7
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Clare Bowen; Mike Snider
7:30: John Conlee (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Lee Greenwood
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Jim Ed Brown; Love and Theft; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Diamond Rio (host); Loretta Lynn
And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 5 years ago this weekend, February 5 & 6, 2010. This was the weekend that George Hamilton IV was recognized for 50 years as an Opry member, and a weekend that my wife and I were at the Opry. Pete Fisher did the honors on Saturday night with George and it was nicely done.
Friday February 5
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jim Ed Brown; The Whites
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Chris Young
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Keith Anderson
8:30: Mike Snider (host); Stonewall Jackson; Jack Greene; Josh Turner
Saturday February 6
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely; Chris Young
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; George Hamilton IV
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jimmy C Newman; Sandi Patty; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Oak Ridge Boys
And from 10 years ago this weekend, February 4 & 5, 2005:
Friday February 4
7:30: John Conlee (host); The Whites; Osborne Brothers
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host) w/Helen Cornelius; Charlie Walker; Connie Smith; The Grascals
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Billy Walker; Jimmy C Newman; Carolyn Dawn Johnson
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; Riders In The Sky; III Tyme Out
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Mel McDaniel; Marty Stuart
Saturday February 5
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely; Jimmy C Newman
7:00: Brad Paisley (host); Lee Ann Womack; Carolyn Dawn Johnson; The Grascals
8:00: John Conlee (host); George Hamilton IV; Connie Smith; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Riders In The Sky; Sawyer Brown
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Osborne Brothers; Carolyn Dawn Johnson
10:00: Brad Paisley (host); Jim Ed Brown w/Helen Cornelius; The Grascals
10:30: John Conlee (host); Billy Walker; Lee Ann Womack; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Connie Smith
11:30: Riders In The Sky (host); George Hamilton IV; Sawyer Brown
For this week's featured line-up, it was on Friday February 6, 1976 that Ronnie Milsap became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Ronnie came to Nashville in 1973 and was signed by RCA. The hits started soon after that and within a few years, led Ronnie to the Opry. As he said, "Before I joined the Opry in 1976, Jeanne Pruett was always getting me to come out here and guest. Eventually she said, 'I think you need to join the Grand Ole Opry.' And I said, 'Well, how do you do that?' All of a sudden, one night I was over here and Mr. Roy Acuff came up to me in the hall and said, 'Hey, Ronnie, you want to be a member of the Opry?' I said, 'Yes, sir.' He said, 'Ok, then you're going to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry.'"
This will be Ronnie's 39th year as an Opry member and like many others, I just wish he was around more. When he plays the Opry, he always gets a great ovation from the audience and he seems to enjoy himself. Last year, he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, a well deserved honor, and he is currently touring in what is being called a farewell tour.
The weekend Ronnie joined the Opry, he appeared on the Friday Night Opry, where he officially became a member, and on Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. Here is the running order of Saturday's show, February 7, 1976:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Billy Grammer (host): Gotta Travel On
Del Wood: Keep on the Firing Line/(?)
Billy Grammer: That's Life/God Will Take Care of You
6:45: Rudy's
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): Curly-Headed Baby
Skeeter Davis: Love Will Keep Us Together
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
Wilma Lee Cooper: The Tramp on the Street
7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Barbara Mandrell: Standing Room Only
Roy Drusky: Sunrise
Ernie Ashworth: Wichita Woman
Barbara Mandrell: Steel Guitar Rag
Roy Drusky: One Day at A Time
Porter Wagoner: Cold Hard Facts of Life/The Carroll County Accident/Green, Green Grass of Home
7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Don Gibson: Sweet Dreams
Marion Worth: You Win Again
Justin Tubb: Looking Back to See
Roy Acuff: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Gray Eagle
Don Gibson: Oh, Lonesome Me
8:00: Martha White
Osborne Brothers (host): Smokey Mountain Smoke
Grandpa Jones: Ball Headed End of the Broom
Connie Smith: 'Til I Kissed Ya
Charlie Louvin & Pam Dickinson: Don't It Seem to Rain A Lot In Our Lives
Hank Locklin: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): I Don't Hurt Anymore
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Ronnie Milsap: Day Dreams
Bill Carlisle: I'm Moving
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Brush Arbour: White Line
Hank Snow: The Next Voice You Hear
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Roy Drusky (host): Alone With You
Willis Brothers: Bob
Don Gibson: I Can't Stop Loving You
Skeeter Davis: One Tin Soldier
Justin Tubb: As Long As There's A Sunday
Don Gibson: Blue, Blue Day
Roy Drusky: Bouquet of Roses
10:00: Fender
Porter Wagoner (host): Tennessee Sunshine
Barbara Mandrell: Satisfied
Del Wood: The Entertainer
Porter Wagoner: The Last One to Touch Me
10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Traveling the Highway Alone
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Heartbreak Street
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird/I Saw the Light
10:30: Trailblazer
Grandpa Jones (host): Nashville On My Mind
Osborne Brothers: Smokey Mountain Smoke
Billy Grammer: That's Life
Grandpa Jones: Make Me A Pallet Down on the Floor
10:45: Beech-Nut
Hank Locklin (host): The Sweetest Mistake I Ever Made
Connie Smith: 'Til I Kissed Ya
Crook Brothers/Smokey Mountain Cloggers: Cotton Eyed Joe
Hank Locklin: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Tangled Mind
Stu Phillips: Only You Can Hush the Wind
Marion Worth: Delta Dawn
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Ernie Ashworth: Wichita Woman
Kirk McGee: My Darling Rose Malone
Hank Snow: Mary Ann Regrets
11:30: Elm Hill
Charlie Louvin (host): I Just Want Out
Jeanne Pruett: Break My Mind/Satin Sheets
Ronnie Milsap: Lovesick Blues/Just in Case/Day Dreams
Bill Carlisle: Little Liza Jane
Charlie Louvin & Pam Dickinson: If I Could Only Win Your Love
Enjoy the Opry this weekend!!
Joining Loretta on Saturday night will be "Nashville" star Clare Bowen and frequent Opry guest Lee Greenwood. I think I have mentioned before that in an interview that Lee did several years ago, he said that he was asked many years ago if he would like to become an Opry member and he turned it down due to his heavy touring schedule. However, he said that even though he turned down membership, Opry management told him that he could appear at the Opry whenever he wished. That was prior to Pete Fisher taking over management of the show, but it would appear that the agreement with Lee is still in place as he has found time to do the Opry several times each year.
Several Opry members are scheduled for both nights as Diamond Rio and Connie Smith are set to host segments both nights. Also scheduled both nights is Mike Snider and Jim Ed Brown, both of whom are hosting segments on Friday night. It was a pleasure to hear Jim Ed back on the Opry after a long battle with cancer and it is even better that he will be hosting a segment. The reviews were positive from last weekend and even though his voice is still a little weak, he sounded good. Also scheduled for both nights is guest artist Love and Theft. This duo has been on the Opry several times over the past few weeks and are set for a few more appearances before the end of the month.
Joining this group on the Friday Night Opry will be Chuck Mead, Emily West and The Willis Clan, along with Jackie Lee. Brandon Heath is also scheduled for another appearance, coming off a very impressive performance earlier in the year. Finally, Opry member Jean Shepard is scheduled. She has been scheduled a few times so far in 2015 and has cancelled each appearance. It will be interesting to see if she makes it this weekend.
Friday February 6
7:00: Connie Smith (host); Jackie Lee; Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Brandon Heath
Intermission
8:15: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jean Shepard; Love and Theft
8:45: Diamond Rio (host); Emily West; The Willis Clan
Saturday February 7
7:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Clare Bowen; Mike Snider
7:30: John Conlee (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Lee Greenwood
Intermission
8:15: Connie Smith (host); Jim Ed Brown; Love and Theft; Opry Square Dancers
8:45: Diamond Rio (host); Loretta Lynn
And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from 5 years ago this weekend, February 5 & 6, 2010. This was the weekend that George Hamilton IV was recognized for 50 years as an Opry member, and a weekend that my wife and I were at the Opry. Pete Fisher did the honors on Saturday night with George and it was nicely done.
Friday February 5
7:00: Riders In The Sky (host); Jim Ed Brown; The Whites
7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Chris Young
8:00: Bill Anderson (host); Connie Smith; Keith Anderson
8:30: Mike Snider (host); Stonewall Jackson; Jack Greene; Josh Turner
Saturday February 6
7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely; Chris Young
7:30: Mike Snider (host); Jean Shepard; George Hamilton IV
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jimmy C Newman; Sandi Patty; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Oak Ridge Boys
And from 10 years ago this weekend, February 4 & 5, 2005:
Friday February 4
7:30: John Conlee (host); The Whites; Osborne Brothers
8:00: Jim Ed Brown (host) w/Helen Cornelius; Charlie Walker; Connie Smith; The Grascals
8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Billy Walker; Jimmy C Newman; Carolyn Dawn Johnson
9:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jan Howard; Riders In The Sky; III Tyme Out
9:30: Jeannie Seely (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Mel McDaniel; Marty Stuart
Saturday February 5
1st show
6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jeannie Seely; Jimmy C Newman
7:00: Brad Paisley (host); Lee Ann Womack; Carolyn Dawn Johnson; The Grascals
8:00: John Conlee (host); George Hamilton IV; Connie Smith; Opry Square Dancers
8:30: Bill Anderson (host); Riders In The Sky; Sawyer Brown
2nd show
9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Osborne Brothers; Carolyn Dawn Johnson
10:00: Brad Paisley (host); Jim Ed Brown w/Helen Cornelius; The Grascals
10:30: John Conlee (host); Billy Walker; Lee Ann Womack; Opry Square Dancers
11:00: Bill Anderson (host); Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys; Connie Smith
11:30: Riders In The Sky (host); George Hamilton IV; Sawyer Brown
For this week's featured line-up, it was on Friday February 6, 1976 that Ronnie Milsap became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Ronnie came to Nashville in 1973 and was signed by RCA. The hits started soon after that and within a few years, led Ronnie to the Opry. As he said, "Before I joined the Opry in 1976, Jeanne Pruett was always getting me to come out here and guest. Eventually she said, 'I think you need to join the Grand Ole Opry.' And I said, 'Well, how do you do that?' All of a sudden, one night I was over here and Mr. Roy Acuff came up to me in the hall and said, 'Hey, Ronnie, you want to be a member of the Opry?' I said, 'Yes, sir.' He said, 'Ok, then you're going to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry.'"
This will be Ronnie's 39th year as an Opry member and like many others, I just wish he was around more. When he plays the Opry, he always gets a great ovation from the audience and he seems to enjoy himself. Last year, he was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame, a well deserved honor, and he is currently touring in what is being called a farewell tour.
The weekend Ronnie joined the Opry, he appeared on the Friday Night Opry, where he officially became a member, and on Saturday's Grand Ole Opry. Here is the running order of Saturday's show, February 7, 1976:
1st show
6:30: Mrs. Grissoms
Billy Grammer (host): Gotta Travel On
Del Wood: Keep on the Firing Line/(?)
Billy Grammer: That's Life/God Will Take Care of You
6:45: Rudy's
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper (host): Curly-Headed Baby
Skeeter Davis: Love Will Keep Us Together
Willis Brothers: Truck Stop
Wilma Lee Cooper: The Tramp on the Street
7:00: Shoney's
Porter Wagoner (host): On A Highway Headed South
Barbara Mandrell: Standing Room Only
Roy Drusky: Sunrise
Ernie Ashworth: Wichita Woman
Barbara Mandrell: Steel Guitar Rag
Roy Drusky: One Day at A Time
Porter Wagoner: Cold Hard Facts of Life/The Carroll County Accident/Green, Green Grass of Home
7:30: Standard Candy
Roy Acuff (host): Wabash Cannonball
Don Gibson: Sweet Dreams
Marion Worth: You Win Again
Justin Tubb: Looking Back to See
Roy Acuff: Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Crook Brothers/Stoney Mountain Cloggers: Gray Eagle
Don Gibson: Oh, Lonesome Me
8:00: Martha White
Osborne Brothers (host): Smokey Mountain Smoke
Grandpa Jones: Ball Headed End of the Broom
Connie Smith: 'Til I Kissed Ya
Charlie Louvin & Pam Dickinson: Don't It Seem to Rain A Lot In Our Lives
Hank Locklin: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
Osborne Brothers: Rocky Top
8:30: Stephens
Hank Snow (host): I Don't Hurt Anymore
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Ronnie Milsap: Day Dreams
Bill Carlisle: I'm Moving
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Bill Cheatham
Brush Arbour: White Line
Hank Snow: The Next Voice You Hear
2nd show
9:30: Kellogg's
Roy Drusky (host): Alone With You
Willis Brothers: Bob
Don Gibson: I Can't Stop Loving You
Skeeter Davis: One Tin Soldier
Justin Tubb: As Long As There's A Sunday
Don Gibson: Blue, Blue Day
Roy Drusky: Bouquet of Roses
10:00: Fender
Porter Wagoner (host): Tennessee Sunshine
Barbara Mandrell: Satisfied
Del Wood: The Entertainer
Porter Wagoner: The Last One to Touch Me
10:15: Union 76
Roy Acuff (host): Traveling the Highway Alone
Wilma Lee & Stoney Cooper: Heartbreak Street
Roy Acuff: The Great Speckled Bird/I Saw the Light
10:30: Trailblazer
Grandpa Jones (host): Nashville On My Mind
Osborne Brothers: Smokey Mountain Smoke
Billy Grammer: That's Life
Grandpa Jones: Make Me A Pallet Down on the Floor
10:45: Beech-Nut
Hank Locklin (host): The Sweetest Mistake I Ever Made
Connie Smith: 'Til I Kissed Ya
Crook Brothers/Smokey Mountain Cloggers: Cotton Eyed Joe
Hank Locklin: Send Me the Pillow You Dream On
11:00: Coca-Cola
Hank Snow (host): Tangled Mind
Stu Phillips: Only You Can Hush the Wind
Marion Worth: Delta Dawn
Fruit Jar Drinkers: Hickory Leaf
Ernie Ashworth: Wichita Woman
Kirk McGee: My Darling Rose Malone
Hank Snow: Mary Ann Regrets
11:30: Elm Hill
Charlie Louvin (host): I Just Want Out
Jeanne Pruett: Break My Mind/Satin Sheets
Ronnie Milsap: Lovesick Blues/Just in Case/Day Dreams
Bill Carlisle: Little Liza Jane
Charlie Louvin & Pam Dickinson: If I Could Only Win Your Love
Enjoy the Opry this weekend!!