As reported last week, the Grand Ole Opry has temporarily suspended the Friday Night Opry until February 19. While that is disappointing to see, happily the Saturday night shows will be continuing with the two hour format and the final hour televised on Circle and available on various streaming sites, such as the Circle page on Facebook and Twitter. Of course, you can listen to the entire two hour show on WSM.
Looking at the line-up for this weekend, we once again see Grand Ole Opry members Jeannie Seely and Riders In The Sky on the schedule, joined by members Dailey & Vincent. Guest artists include frequent guest Carly Pearce, along with comedian Henry Cho, noted contemporary Christian artist Michael W. Smith and Jake Hoot.
Some will recall that Jake Hoot, who made his Grand Ole Opry debut last February, was the season 17 winner on The Voice. Since then he has released four singles that have hit the charts but with limited success.
7:00: Opry Square Dancers; Jeannie Seely; Riders In The Sky; Jake Hoot; Henry Cho
8:00: Dailey & Vincent; Carly Pearce; Michael W. Smith
A pretty solid line-up for Saturday night.
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Now from 50 years ago, Saturday January 16, 1971:
7:00: Billy Walker (host); Jim and Jesse; Bill Carlisle; Lonzo and Oscar
7:30: Bill Monroe (host); Charlie Louvin; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Hank Locklin
8:00: Lester Flatt (host); Ray Pillow; George Hamilton IV; Crook Brothers; Ernie Ashworth
8:30: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Stringbean; George Morgan
9:00: Roy Acuff (host); Billy Grammer; Margie Bowes; Fruit Jar Drinkers
9:30: Hank Snow (host); Willis Brothers; Charlie Walker; Stu Phillips
10:00: Bill Monroe (host); Charlie Louvin; Lonzo and Oscar; Bill Carlisle
10:15: Porter Wagoner (host); Dolly Parton; Hank Locklin; Jim and Jesse
10:30: Lester Flatt (host); Billy Walker; Wilma Lee and Stoney Cooper; Ray Pillow
10:45: Roy Acuff (host); Willis Brothers; George Hamilton IV; Crook Brothers
11:00: Hank Snow (host); Billy Grammer; George Morgan; Fruit Jar Drinkers; Stringbean; Sam McGee
11:30: Marty Robbins (host); Charlie Walker; Margie Bowes; Ernie Ashworth; Ronnie Robbins
It should be noted that it was George Hamilton IV's first Opry appearance in over a year.
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It was a very special weekend 22 years ago as the Grand Ole Opry returned to the Ryman Auditorium for the first time since leaving the Ryman in March 1974. It was a wonderful weekend with a sold out show on Friday night and two sell-outs on Saturday. Saturday's Grand Ole Opry was highlighted by Ricky Skaggs inviting Trisha Yearwood to become the Opry's newest member. It was a memorable weekend and I was very fortunate to be at all three shows.
Here is the running order from that weekend, starting with the Friday Night Opry on January 15, 1999:
7:30
Porter Wagoner (host): Company's Comin'
Billy Walker: Ashes of Love/Blue Moon of Kentucky/That's All Right
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Del McCoury Band: (?)
Bill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the Mustard
Porter Wagoner: Overnight/A Satisfied Mind
8:00
John Conlee (host): The Old School
George Hamilton IV: The Circle of Wood
Skeeter Davis: The End of the World
John Conlee: Busted/Rose Colored Glasses
8:30
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take An Old Cold Tater
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Stonewall Jackson: Don't Be Angry
Holly Dunn: Daddy's Hands
Jimmy Dickens: Another Bridge to Burn
9:00
Ricky Skaggs (host): It's Mighty Dark for Me to Travel
The Whites: Blue Letters
Jack Greene: The Last Letter
Vince Gill: Don't Come Crying to Me/Pockets of Gold
Ricky Skaggs: Little Maggie
9:30
Bill Anderson (host): Wild Weekend
Del Reeves: Bells of Southern Bell
Jimmy C Newman: La Cajun Band
Jim and Jesse: Southbound Train
Hank Locklin: Danny Boy
Bill Anderson: I Wonder If God Likes Country Music
10:00
Johnny Russell (host): In A Mansion Stands My Love
Sherrie Austin (:)
Jim Ed Brown: The Three Bells
The 4 Guys: Amazing Grace
Mike Snider: The Fur Coat
Johnny Russell: The Baptism of Jesse Taylor
Saturday January 16
1st show
6:30: GHS Strings
Jimmy C Newman (host): Big Mamou
Wilma Lee Cooper: Big Midnight Special
Jimmy C Newman: Jambalaya
6:45: Dickey's
Billy Walker (host): Charlie's Shoes
Skeeter Davis: Silver Threads and Golden Needles
Billy Walker: Adam's Side: The Wedding Song
7:00: Shoney's
Jimmy Dickens (host): Take An Old Cold Tater
Holly Dunn: Don't Worry
The 4 Guys: Cottonfields/Mariah
Joe Diffie: Texas Sized Heartache/Behind Closed Doors
Jimmy Dickens: I'd Rather Sleep in Peace Then Know You're Gone
7:30: Standard Candy
Ricky Skaggs (host): Get Up John
Steve Wariner: Holes in the Floor of Heaven
Steve Wariner and Ricky Skaggs: Windy & Warm; Eight More Miles to Louisville/Freight Train
Trisha Yearwood: Living on the Wrong Side of Memphis/A Powerful Thing
8:00: Martha White
Porter Wagoner (host): Howdy, Neighbor, Howdy
Jeanne Pruett: Satin Sheets
Mike Snider: If My Nose was Runnin' Money
Jim Ed Brown: In the Garden
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Cherokee Shuffle
Porter Wagoner: When the Shiny Silver Eagle Meets the Great Speckled Bird
8:30: Physician's Mutual
Bill Anderson (host): Po' Folks
Jan Howard: Rock Me Back to Little Rock/Evil on My Mind
Hank Locklin: Please Help Me I'm Falling
The Whites: Pins & Needles
Bill Carlisle: No Help Wanted
Bill Anderson: I Wonder If God Likes Country Music
2nd show
9:30: Opry Book
Porter Wagoner (host): Ol' Slewfoot
Brother Oswald and Charlie Collins: Wabash Cannonball/The Great Speckled Bird
Charlie Louvin: Think I'll Go Somewhere and Cry Myself to Sleep
Trisha Yearwood: The Perfect Love/Til I Get it Right/She's In Love with the Boys
10:00: Lincoln Mercury
Jack Greene (host): Walking on New Grass
Jim and Jesse: El Comancheros
Jack Greene: There Goes My Everything/He Is My Everything
10:15: Opry Book
Jimmy Dickens (host): Out Behind the Barn
Martina McBride: 'Til I Can Make it on My Own
Jimmy Dickens: I Love Lucy Brown
10:30: Epiphone
Ricky Skaggs (host): I'm' Lonesome; I'll Never Find the Way
Joe Diffie: A Pickup Man
Ricky Skaggs: Blue Moon of Kentucky
10:45: Jogging In A Jug
Steve Wariner (host): Burning the Roadhouse Down
Charlie Walker: Pick Me Up on Your Way Down
Opry Square Dance Band and The Melvin Sloan Dancers: Durang's Hornpipe
Steve Wariner: Holes in the Floor of Heaven
11:00: Coca Cola
Bill Anderson (host): No Fair Falling in Love
Holly Dunn: Daddy's Hands
George Hamilton IV: Abilene
Vince Gill: When I Call Your Name/Go Rest High on That Mountain
Bill Anderson: Still
11:30: Detro Enclosed Trailers
Johnny Russell (host): Good Hearted Woman
Stu Phillips: Colorado
Del Reeves: Hound Dog
Mike Snider: Short Little Lulu/Clinch Mountain Backstep/Mississippi Sawyer
Stonewall Jackson: Muddy Water
It was a wonderful weekend and went so well that the Opry has returned each winter to it's former home.
There you have it for this week. As always, thanks for reading and commenting and I hope everyone enjoys the Grand Ole Opry this weekend.