First off, I want to thank everyone that voted in the Opry Poll. Now let's hope the management follows through on the results of the poll. Don Williams was the top pick with 3605 votes. Mary Chapin Carpenter was next with 2636. Glen Campbell was third with 1625 votes. Tim McGraw nearly got 11% of the votes with 1153. Anne Murray only got 943 and Faith Hill finished last with 795. Almost 11,000 votes were cast and I'm sure someone will lose their job for coming up with a question like this.  Hahaha Pete Fisher, gray power speaks!

The Grand Ole Opry will pay tribute to one of its most beloved members, Roy Acuff, on Saturday, Sept. 13. Vince Gill and members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-- Jeff Hanna, John McEuen, and Jimmie Fadden—are among those scheduled to appear, sharing stories and songs as they honor the King of Country Music.

George Jones makes a return visit to the Mother Church of country music, Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, on September 18. Georgette, the daughter of George & Tammy will appear as a special guest. Tickets available through Ticketmaster.com or Ryman.com.

Here I am tonight, sitting at my mom's house in Florida as the lights come up on another Friday night Opry. Porter Wagoner opens with Howdy Neighbor. John Conlee came out and sang Only In It For The Love and How High Did He Go. Connie Smith was next up and did Once A Day and How Great Thou Art. Porter and Penny Dehaven sang 40 Miles From Poplar Bluff and Porter closed with Green Green Grass of Home.

Jean Shepard was our next host. She sang the Wabash Cannonball. The Whites were next and did Send Me The Pillow You Dream On and Swing Down Sweet Chariot. Elizabeth Cook was just introduced and was going to sing I'm Not Lisa, but we just had an extremely close lightening strike. Now I'm not one to run at the slightest rumble, but just after the thunder settled a person entered our chat room with the nickname Lighteningrod. Well, rather than tempt faith, I pulled the plug for about 30 minutes.

When I rejoined the Opry, Rhonda Vincent was just starting You Can't Take It With You When You Go. The audience sure did like that. Jimmy Dickens closed his portion of the Opry with We Could.

Bill Anderson welcomed everyone to the final portion and did Family Reunion. Stu Phillips was his first guest and Stu did The Great ElTigre. Jack Greene was next with I Love You Because. Steve Holy was the next guest and he sang his big hit, Good Morning Beautiful and then he sang an Elvis song. Bill closed the Friday Opry with Deck Of Cards.

Saturdays show started off with Little Jimmy Dickens Sleeping At The Foot Of The Bed. His first guests were The Whites who sang Pins & Needles and then an old gospel song recorded by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, He Took Your Place. Holly Dunn was next and sang Daddy's Hands. Jimmy closed out the first section singing Mountain Dew.

John Conlee hosted the tv portion and opened by introducing Dierks Bentley, who sang What Was I Thinking and I Wish It Would Break.  John Conlee did two songs for us next, How High Did You Go and Common Man.  Next was Jimmy Wayne who sang Stay Gone and I Love You This Much.  Next up was John Michael Montgomery. JMM did three songs for us on the radio. Be My Baby Tonight, a new song, Cool and then an old one, Grundy County Auction. Now don't go thinking that was the high point of the show.  Mel Tillis was in the house and he showed what class is.  He started out with his classic Coca Cola Cowboy, then Send Me Down To Tucson and another favorite of mine, I Got The Hoss, You Got The Saddle.  What a great response the Opry audience gave Mel. John Conlee closed out with the Backside Of 30.

Porter Wagoner was host of Martha White segment and his first guest was Billy Walker did Charlie's Shoes.  Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys sang Wonder Where You Are Tonight. Jean Shepard did Only A Phone Call Away. I really do wish they would  have a webcam going for the Opry Square Dancers. They work so hard each week. Porter did Haul Off And Love You and then closed with Misery Loves Company.

The last portion of the first show was hosted by the pride of Gleason, Tennessee, the man that needs no return address, only Banjo Picker, Gleason, Tn, Mike Snider. He and his band fired up the audience as only he can do.  His first guest was George Hamilton IV who did one of his biggest hits, Abilene.  Elizabeth Cook did a new song called Outlined In Blue. Connie Smith was next up and she did Just One Time and Then And Only Then. Mike closed his section with If My Nose Was Running Money, I'd Blow It All On You.

This next weekend is when Trace Adkins, who said on CMT Countdown USA program, that When Little Jimmy Dickens came out on the Opry stage with a ladder, Trace thought Jimmy was going to "give him some tongue". That On the Opry, he'll only play hits because that's "all the audience wants to hear". Trace wondered what number inductee he was. He stated that "dead [members] don't count. When you die, you're no longer a member [of the Opry]." He also compared the Opry to baseball in that they "recycle your number [when you die]". becomes the next member of the Grand Old Opry family. Won't that be exciting? Join Diamond Rio, Terri Clark, Joe Diffie, The Isaacs, Big Al Downing, Patty Loveless, Gibson Brothers, Rodney Atkins, Ronnie Milsap, the Del McCoury Band, Lorrie Morgan and Doyle Dykes join Opry regulars Connie Smith, Porter Wagoner, Jimmy Dickens and Mike Snider.  

Till next week, be safe and as our kids head back to school, please keep a careful eye out for them.

First off, I want to thank everyone that voted in the Opry Poll. Now let's hope the management follows through on the results of the poll. Don Williams was the top pick with 3605 votes. Mary Chapin Carpenter was next with 2636. Glen Campbell was third with 1625 votes. Tim McGraw nearly got 11% of the votes with 1153. Anne Murray only got 943 and Faith Hill finished last with 795. Almost 11,000 votes were cast and I'm sure someone will lose their job for coming up with a question like this. Hahaha Pete Fisher, gray power speaks!

Fridays Opry show was a great one. It got underway with Porter Wagoner singing Company's Coming. Then the Whites did Pins And Needles and Keep On The Sunny Side. The next guest was Dean Miller, Roger's boy, and he did The Gun Ain't Loaded and On A Good Day. Porter came back and did Why Don't You Haul Off And Love Me One More Time and closed with Misery Loves Company.

Jimmy C. Newman opened with Cajun Band and then brought out Hot Club Of Cowtown. They did two numbers, Pray For The Lights To Go Out and the 3 member swing band really showed there stuff on an instrumental that featured each and brought a standing ovation from the Opry audience. It must be hard to follow an act like that, but Chalee Tennison was up to it. She sang Easy Lovin' You and Parading In The Rain. Jimmy C. closed with Jambalaya and the Cajun Stripper.

Little Jimmy Dickens did Out Behind The Barn. His first guest was Deric Ruttan who did When You Come Around and I Saved Everything. Jimmy's next guest was a surprise. It was Joel Sonnier who did Know Me One More Time and Big Mammoo. Jimmy closed out his segment with Can You Build Your House On Another Man's Grave.

The last broadcast segment was hosted by Bill Anderson who opened with Walk Out Backwards. Stonewall Jackson was next and did his song for an 8 year old fan, BJ The DJ. Andy Griggs was next and I think he surprised many folks singing two songs that showed his country roots run deep, I'll Go Crazy and Sweet Prairie Haze. Bill ended the show with Quits.

When I got seated for Saturdays show, I was thinking that there is no way tonight's show will be better than Fridays. Well, let me tell you, I was dead wrong. Saturdays show was better than many of the shows that have been put together to celebrate the Oprys Birthday.

Jimmy Dickens started out with John Henry. The Whites went next and did Wonder Who's Holding My Baby Tonight and Swing Down Chariot. Jack Greene didn't let us down. He sang Statue Of A Fool and Walkin' On New Grass. Jimmy closed with Mountain Dew.

Marty Stuart was the host for the tv portion and he started off with a great song, To Much Month At The End Of The Money. The audience was fired up and ready for C-O-U-N-T-R-Y. III'rd Tyme Out offered up some of the best with, Coal Miners Blues and Across The Miles. Bruce Robinson, songwriter/singer, did two of his songs that have been recorded by others, but he did them the way he wrote them. Angry All The Time and Travelin' Soldier. Marty Stuart came back and did Farmer Blues, then one of the Superlatives fired off Country Music's Gotta A Hold On Me. But we're not done. Charlie Walker took the stage and did Pick Me Up On Your Way Down. And then Mr Ray Price came on and did Make The World Go Away and Time. How on earth do you close a segment that has been this fantastic? Well Marty Stuart knew just how to do it. First he did If There Ain't, There Ought To Be and then closed with Hillbilly Rock.

Wow! This is great and we still have an hour to go. Jimmy C. Newman did  Lafayette. Then brought out Billy Walker who did Funny How Time Slips Away. Holly Dunn was next and did I Know It's Heaven Where You Are. Hot Club Of Cowtown only got to do one song, but they picked a great one and showed everyone that three young artists can make some great music. They did China Doll. Jimmy C. closed out with Jambalaya.

Hal Ketchum got the hosting honors for the last segment and he had some great guests to support him. The Osbornes fired off Country Roads and followed with a crowd pleaser, Rocky Top. Andy Griggs did the songs that got him where he is today, Ain't No Practice Life and Tonight I Want To Be Your Man. Hal closed with his super song, Stay Forever.

You think this weeks show was great? Well next weeks could be better. The Tuesday Opry will have The Crabb Family, Hal Ketchum, Connie Smith, Sharon White & Barbara Fairchild together and then Joe Nichols. The Friday and Saturday shows will have Elizabeth Cook, Steve Holy, the Del McCoury Band, Rhonda Vincent, Dierks Bentley, Jimmy Wayne and Mel Tillis as well as regulars like Jack Greene, Jimmy C. Newman, John Conlee and Jean Shepard. Hope you all can join us and if not, don't forget, you can visit the WSM Archives and catch the show.

Have a great week.

WooooooHooooooo Have you seen those numbers? The numbers on the Opry Poll. Which CMA winner would like to see on the Opry stage. Don Williams holds a commanding lead over Mary Chapin Carpenter. Over half the votes cast so far belong to those two. The rest are divided among Glen Campbell, Anne Murray, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. I really hope the Opry takes this poll to heart. People want to see the great artists.

The Friday Opry was a joy this week. Jeannie Seely was the first host and she started off with Anytime. Her first guest was Jack Greene who sang Try A Little Kindness and I Love You Because. Next up was Rodney Atkins and he sang When You Were In Love With Me and a 1978 Charlie Rich song, Behind Closed Doors. The audience sure seemed to welcome him to the Opry. Jeannie closed with Together Again.

The Whites hosted next and opened with Pins And Needles. Charlie Louvin was next and did See The Big Man Cry, a 1965 hit for him. Robinella And the CC Stringband were up next. They did Dress Me Up, Dress Me Down. From the sound of the applause, the audience was really enjoying the music. Then Elizabeth Cook came out and sang two songs, Your So Hard Hearted and a 1975 Jessi Colter song, I'm Not Lisa. The Whites closed with Keep On The Sunny Side.

Jimmy Dickens took the stage and did his classic, May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose. His first guest was the great Nashville Bluegrass Band. They started off with Rockin' Chair Money and then did Angeline The Baker. There were definitely some bluegrass fans in the audience. Billy Dean took the stage to cheers and applause and did Billy The Kid and I'm In Love With You. Jimmy closed with Another Bridge To Burn.

Jim Ed Brown hosted the last segment tonight and started it off with Don't Bother To Knock. He brought out Pinmonkey who did two songs, Jar Of Clay and Barbed Wire And Roses. T. Graham Brown was next. Still plugging his new song, Which Way To Pray. T. also did Tell It Like It Used To Be. Jim Ed closed with The Old Lamplighter.

The Saturday Opry was another great show this week. Jimmy Dickens started it off with Take An Old Cold Tater (and wait). His guests were The Whites, who sang It Should Have Been Easy and Swing Down Chariot, and Jim Lauderdale, who did Zykea and I'll Follow You Anywhere. Jimmy closed with a song from his latest cd (it came out in 1964). You probably never heard it because it was the flip side of a flop record. Just kidding, he sang We Could.

Jim Ed Brown hosted next and started off with Looking Back To See. Jack Greene did All Of Me and Statue Of A Fool. Elizabeth (Hey Ya'll) Cook was next and sang Your So Hard Hearted and Crazy Arms and then Jim Ed closed with Scarlet Ribbons.

George Hamilton IV this next half hour and opened with Canadian Pacific from 1969. His first guest was Rodney Atkins who's performance was a repeat of last night, When You Were In Love With Me and Behind Closed Doors for his mom. Nashville Bluegrass Band came out next and did Luckiest Man Alive and an instrumental that had the folks cheering, Honky tonk Swing. George closed with Circle Of Wood, about that special spot on the Opry stage.

Jeannie Seely was our next host and she started off doing My Heart Tells Me Stay. Billy Walker came out next and sang The Bad Thing About A Good Memory. Billy Dean was next to sing and did Somewhere In My Broken Heart and I'm In Love With You. Jeannie closed, doing Sentimental Journey.

Bill Anderson hosted the last segment and sang a 1969 hit, But You Know I Love You. Holly Dunn came out and sang Devil Stand Back and I Can't Stop Now. T. Graham Brown was next on stage and he did (of course) his new song Which Way To Pray and Call On Me. Bill closed with his 1960 song, The Tip Of My Fingers.

The filler portion from last nights show started out with George Hamilton IV doing the Wabash Cannonball. Jessie McReynolds and the Virginia Boys got the audience going with Take Me Back Into Your Heart and then drove the crowd crazy with an instrumental. Jimmy Fortune came out and sang What Money Can't Buy and the moving More Than A Name On A Wall. George closed with A Rose And A Baby Ruth.

Hope you all can listen next week when Hal Ketchum, Marty Stuart, Hot Club of Cowtown, Bruce Robison, Ray Price, IIIrd Tyme Out and Andy Griggs join the regulars on the stage at the Grand Old Opry.

The Opry will celebrate its 78th birthday Oct. 10 & 11, 2003, with two shows both Friday and Saturday nights (6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.). Martina McBride has already been confirmed to perform during this special weekend and many more will be added soon!

Don't miss your chance to help us celebrate our 78th Birthday! Packages for this fun-filled weekend are still available.

Packages include:
*Ticket to the Grand Ole Opry
*Ticket to a Ryman Museum
*Ticket to Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Celebration
*Ticket for a Backstage Tour (Opry House)
*Ticket for a B-B-Q Plate by the Wildhorse Saloon
*Souvenir Voucher Ticket

For those of you that heard Craig Morgan almost fall apart on the Opry stage this last week, we now know the reason. His son, oldest of four kids, was rushed to a Nashville hospital with a ruptured appendix. According to Craig, he is feeling much better and recovering well.

Opry.com has a poll question on their main page. It asks which past CMA Entertainer of the Year, you would like to see on the Opry stage. Right now Mary Chapin Carpenter is at the top with 24%, Glen Campbell is at 17.9%, Don Williams is at 17.1%, Ann Murray is at 16.8%, Tim McGraw at 14.4% and Faith at 9.2%. I'd like to see Don. Go vote. Make your voice heard.

This Fridays show was one that any Opry fan would have enjoyed. Porter Wagoner started off with Haul Off And Love Me One More Time. The Whites were next with a great song, If It Ain't Love, You Better Leave It Alone. Billy Currington was excellent doing, Must Have Been Off My Rocker and Walk A Little Straighter. Porter closed with several songs. among them was Dim Lights, Thick Smoke and Loud, Loud Music and I'm Cryin My Heart Out Over You.

John Conlee was the next host and he started with Common Man. Jan Howard did Heartaches By The Number. Trent Summar & the New Row Mob did some song, but his accent sounds so put on, it put me off. I think he will take some listening to, to get used to. Let me mark that down on calendar..... August, 2005. Next up was Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys and they did two great songs, Are You Missing Me and New Partner Waltz. John closed with two more of his great songs, Friday Night Blues and Rose Colored Glasses.

Jimmy Dickens opened his segment with A-Sleeping At The Foot Of The Bed. Jean Shepard was his first guest and she did a favorite, Silver Threads And Golden Needles and one of Tennessee's state songs, Tennessee Waltz. Not to worry, in the next half hour the other state song will be done. Bering Strait was the next guest and they did an Alan Jackson song, Mercury Blues and then they did a Russian drinking song. Yep, it would make me drink too. Jimmy closed with We Could.

Bill Anderson welcomed everyone to Nashville and the Opry and sang Did She Mention My Name. Here it comes! The Osborne Brothers and Rocky Top. Dang, that audience must all be from Tennessee, be Volunteer Football fans or love bluegrass. Next to take the stage was T. Graham Brown. He started out by Tell(ing) It Like It Used To Be and then he told it like it is with his very moving song, Which Way To Pray. Bill closed with an old song, 8 x 10.

Saturdays Opry was supposed to be kicked off by Jimmy Dickens, but Jean Shepard took the stage. She said she wasn't Jimmy, she's taller and she wasn't Willie Nelson after taxes. Then she went right into her first song, Loves Gonna Live Here Again. Connie Smith was up next and sang How Long and I Want Me Right Where I Am. Jim Ed Brown did the Three Bells and Pop-A-Top. Jean closed with the Tennessee Waltz.

Bill Anderson was the host for the televised portion and started out by introducing Martina McBride who sang This One's For The Girls and Where Would You Be, a song written by Rachel Proctor. Whispering Bill did The Corner Of My Life. Next up with her Opry debut was Rachel Proctor, who sang Didn't I and It's Days Like This. Bill brought Martina back out to sing Concrete Angel and I'll Fly Away. Martina accepted the Opry Trust Fund's $50,000 check for the Country Music Retirement Center from Bill Anderson. Bill brought out George Hamilton IV who did Abilene then next on the stage was Earl Scruggs and he wasted no time, firing off the Ballad Of Jed Clampett, followed by Foggy Mountain Breakdown and Earls Breakdown. It sounded like everyone in the Opry house was on their feet. Bill closed with Still.

Porter Wagoner hosted the next segment and started out with, They All Go Native On Saturday Night. Jimmy C. Newman was next with Big Mammu. The Osborne Brothers were next and didn't let anyone down. They did Rocky Top. Hal Ketchum came out next and sang Stay Forever. Porter closed with a narrative song, Trouble In Amen Corner.

Jeannie Seely was the next host and brought out Jack Greene who did The Last Letter. Josh Turner graced the stage next with some good news. His cd will finally be out in about a month. It's only been close to two years. He sang a song he wrote, Jacksonville. T. Graham Brown was up next with the two songs from last night, Which Way To Pray and Tell It Like It Used To Be. Jeannie closed with Make The World Go Away.

The left over from last night was hosted by Mike Snider. Josh Turner was also on this segment and did In My Dreams and Long Black Train. Jim Ed Brown did Fool Enough To Fall and Suddenly. Mike closed with a comedy song and the audience was on their feet at the sound of the first notes. Mike thanked everyone and then did If My Nose Was Runnin' Money Honey, I'd Blow It All On You.

All in all, another great Opry show. By the way, next week CMT will rerun the George Jones birthday show. Why? Danged if I know. But who cares, the radio/internet show is so much better. I'll save you all a seat right down front.

Next week be with us when special guests Nashville Bluegrass Band, Jimmy Fortune, Rodney Atkins, Robinella & the CC String Band and Jim Lauderdale join the cast of regulars to bring you another Grand Ole Opry. 

Well, I asked the Q & A Lady at Opry.com, who has the say on how many songs each artist does. Like, I didn't have any clue! Got my answer today and was I surprised - NOT!  "The number of songs each artist performs is decided by Opry management and the CMT production staff for the televised portion, and Opry management alone for the rest of the show." Now you know. It is their (management's) jukebox and they will play whatever they want...and they wonder why attendance is down. Next thing you know, management will want to change the name, because folks associate "Ole" with rural people and they'll get rid of "Opry" because it sounds hayseed, unsophisticated. Let's see, they could call it Grand Music Festival and bring in artists from other genres. Oh that's right, they've already started doing that.

I better get down off this soapbox before you all start emailing Pete Fisher and CMT and telling them that the fans in the front two rows should be the ones that decide how many songs each artist does, based on applause or number of rotten tomatoes that get tossed. Or better yet, they could bring in Chuck Barris, J.P. Morgan, Jamie Farr and Rip Taylor to judge how many songs each artist sings. Excuse me, I just got an email. . . . . . .

Your not hearing things according to the Tennessean. That is Wynonna asking you to confine your smoking to the smoker's lounge at Nashville International Airport.

Charlie Daniels suggests that you take a moment to view the artwork in the airport's concourses.

Terri Clark asks you to make sure you have the right suitcase.

Joe Diffie recommends that you alert airport authorities if you notice an unattended bag.

Besides, Wynonna, Daniels, Clark and Diffie, singer Sherrie Austin has recorded a message about the airport's volunteer customer support group, the Flying Aces; and group Lonestar also promotes airport art.

Other messages, such as ''Welcome to Nashville, home of the Grand Ole Opry,'' were recorded by Angela Smith, a Chattanooga woman who has done recorded messages for several companies including BellSouth, Krystal restaurants, Proffitt's department store, Tractor Supply Co., Clinique makeup and Earthlink Internet service.

Sounds too country to me!

Starting next year, the Opry will have a new-old sponsor. The Farmers Almanac, published since 1818, will join other Opry sponsors like Martha White, Tennessee Pride, Goo Goos, Dickies and Tootsies.

The U.S. Postal Service will unveil a stamp honoring Country legend Roy Acuff, at a Sept. 13 ceremony at the Grand Ole Opry House. Roy will be smiling down from above that day when everyone can lick his backside.

Les Paul visited Nashville this weekend. He and his NY based trio performed Friday at the Ryman for the annual All Star Guitar Night. He also visited the Country Music Hall of Fame for an event called "A Conversation With Les Paul."  Do I hear all those Les Paul Specials out there playing The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise?

Friday Nite: My Chuck Barris idea is sounding better. Ok I'm sorry, but this is the first night I ever felt glad the Opry was over.

It started out great with Jeannie Seely singing Hey Good Lookin and went right on to Mel McDaniel singing Louisiana Saturday Night and then Stand Up. Next up was Danni Leigh and she did Something About That Girl, but here is where things started downhill. One of her band members was featured on the next song. Gong!!  Danni should have sung. Hope she does tomorrow night. Jeannie Seely closed her segment with a duet with her base player, Today I Started Loving You Again.

Jimmy C. Newman hosted next and started off with Cajun Band. His next guest was Stu Phillips who sang a medley of songs, Have I Told You Lately That I Love You, You Win Again and Release Me. Next was Laura Cantrell. For the past ten years, she has had a weekly show up in New Jersey called The Radio Thrift Shop. Now she's released her second album. Gong!! Maybe it was just first night jitters. The Whites were next and brought everyone back to a country feeling with Just As Long As You Love Me and Doing It By The Book.

Little Jimmy Dickens hosted next and opened with Take An Ole Cold Tater. Just once I'd like to hear him sing When The Ship Hits The Sand. Deric Ruttan was next. A Canadian, his bio says a storyteller who has Bruce Springsteen and Kris Kristofferson as his role models. Well again maybe jitters, but Gong!! Jack Greene saved this segment of the Opry with There Goes My Everything and Statue Of A Fool. Jimmy Dickens closed with I Leaned Over Backwards For You.

The last segment was hosted by Bill Anderson who sang Liars One, Believers Zero. Brian McComas was next plugging his #11 song 99.9% Sure. He also did a new song Watching The Night Disappear With You..Gong!! Dan Seals was next, doing Big Wheels In The Moonlight and Shine On Me. Bill Anderson closed with his updated version of that Wink Martindale classic, Deck Of Cards.

Saturday started with Little Jimmy Dickens who did Sleep At The Foot Of The Bed. His first guests were the The Whites always ready with a song to get your toes to tappin. They did one of my favorites, Pins And Needles and Swing Down Sweet Chariot. Danni Leigh was next and she did 7 Spanish Angels. She did a great job on that song. Jimmy Dickens closed the segment by reminding everyone that the tv portion is coming up next and if you happen to be sitting with someone you shouldn't be with, now's a good time to move. Closing song was Mountain Dew.

Jeannie Seely hosted the tv portion and started by introducing Mark Wills who entertained us with two songs. 19 Somethin' and a new song called The Crowd Goes Wild, but it sounded to me like the wild crowd was canned noise and it looked that way on the tv. Jeannie sang Sentimental Journey and Anytime, which was cut on tv, for us. Then Brian McComas did 99.9% Sure I've Never Been Here Before. Duh, yes you have Brian. Then he did a new song, Baby Let Me Be Your Man. Next out was the Steven Sisters. They did 3 numbers, Wherever You Are, In My Time Of Dying and an outstanding instrumental that brought the crowd to their feet. Dan Seals was next with I'd Really Love To See You Tonight. Then he brought up his brother Jim and they did Summer Breeze (I don't think that's country), then Dan did the Bop. Jeannie Seely and her base player, Danny Davis closed with Today I Started Loving You Again.

Jim Ed Brown got to host the next section. He opened with Southern Lovin'. Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys got the toes tappin again with Maybelline. Billy Walker did a song from his cd Thank You, Thank You Very Much, the song was Bad Thing About A Good Memory. Jim Ed brought Les Paul out on the stage to meet the audience at the Opry House. Les was in Nashville for a pickers show at the Ryman Friday night where he performed for 45 minutes. It's a shame he couldn't have played for us tonight. Elizabeth Cook was next and sang Your So Hard Hearted. Jim Ed closed with Morning Comes To Early.

Bill Anderson hosted the last segment and sang Bright Lights And Country Music. Jimmy C. Newman and Cajun Country did Sugahbee. Deric Ruttan was back with When You Come Around. Jack Greene was next with 2 songs for us. Try A Little Kindness and Follow Me. Bill closed with I Would Have Done A Lot Of Things Different.

I'm glad I stayed for the filler portion. Jim Ed Brown sang about Barroom Pals And Good Time Gals. Then the Lonesome River Band did On Down The Line. Craig Morgan sang Almost Home for us and then tried to introduce the next song for someone in a hospital bed, but broke up on stage. The band vamped while he recovered enough to sing Every Friday Afternoon. The audience responded to his emotional performance with a standing ovation. Jim Ed closed with a Jim Reeves song, Four Walls.
 
Sorry about the Gong Show comments, but I sure have a feeling they are destroying the tradition of the Opry and I don't want that to happen. Have a good week and maybe we'll see you next week at the Grand Old Opry.

Visiting the Opry stage next week will be  T. Graham Brown, Josh Turner, Billy Currington, Earl Scruggs and Martina McBride as well as regulars like Mike Snider, The Whites, Jean Shepard, Holly Dunn, Connie Smith and Jimmy C. Newman.

An auction, next Friday, in Smyrna, TN offers some interesting memorabilia.

The 1956 Flex bus that used to wheel country music legend Jim Reeves around on tour. The bus for years has been without a motor or transmission, a status that long ago relegated it to showpiece status at the now-defunct Jim Reeves Museum in the Inglewood section of Nashville.

Besides the Reeves tour bus, there is the bass boat that once belonged to singer Little Jimmy Dickens. Fans of Gene Autry can try bidding on a 1984 Mercedes-Benz formerly owned by The Singing Cowboy, complete with its original ''9 Angels'' license plate.

Also included are hundreds of smaller items, from comic books to movie posters, many autographed by Gene Autry, Jim Reeves and other singing legends. Music lovers can pick from an assortment of guitars, some reproductions but others authentic instruments used by legends like Faron Young, a major star of the 1950s and '60s. Roy Acuff buffs can bid on a 153-year-old clock that the late Grand Ole Opry stalwart bought 40 years ago in Germany while on tour.

Interested bidders either may attend the auction in person or bid online at bidspotter.com.

I'm sitting here typing up Fridays Opry show and listening to the stage stream from the Uncle Dave Macon Days festival.

Fridays Opry started out with Mike Snider doing Glory In The Meeting House and Abe's Retreat. Mel McDaniels was the first guest and he got the Opry House audience up on their feet with Baby Has Her Blue Jeans On and Stand Up. Dusty Drake was next doing two songs from his cd, Smaller Pieces and Not Bad For A Good Ol' Boy. Mike closed out with Limerock and The Squirrel Hunter.

They just started the Clogging Competition, Junior Division. This is an event where they really need a webcam.

Jean Shepard did Head Over Heels In Love With You. Her first guest was Jesse McReynolds and the Virgina Boys did a song he wrote some 50 years ago, Just Wondering Why. Robbie Fulks sang I Never Did Like Planes. Next up was Buddy Jewell who did two songs from his cd, Sweet Southern Comfort and Help Pour Out The Rain. Jean closed out her segment with Secret Love.

Have you ever wondered why some artists get to do two or three songs and others only do one song? Well I wondered. I decided to ask the Opry Q & A Lady. Maybe I'll get an answer. I asked her once, what the requirements were to get on the Opry as a guest? The response didn't surprise me any. The management (Pete Fisher) decides who gets on.

Jimmy Dickens hosted the next segment and opened with Sleeping At The Foot Of The Bed. Charlie Walker did Cherokee Maiden. Leroy Van Dyke came out and did his #1 from 1961, Walk On By. Next up was Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas. They did Let Me Touch You For Awhile and I Just Think I'll Stay Around and then they let Jerry Douglas do a number. Jimmy Dickens closed out with I'm Just Blue Enough To Do Most Anything.

"Whispering" Bill Anderson opened the last segment doing I Get The Fever. T. Bubba Bechtol entertained the audience with his views on diets, At home, gravy was considered a beverage.... I have to be on two diets just to get enough to eat. Sherrie Austin came out and did two songs, Jolene and Streets Of Heaven.

Saturday at the Opry, started out with Darrell Scott singing a song he wrote. You might have heard it sung by Travis Tritt, Great Day To Be Alive. Jean Shepard likes that old Jeanne Pruitt song, Satin Sheets and does a good job singing it. Jimmy Dickens closed out with Mountain Dew.

Mike Snider hosted the tv portion and started out with Alison Krauss doing Lucky One. Mike was next with a great toe tapping song, Black & White Rag. Up next up was Sherrie Austin who did a repeat of Fridays songs, Jolene and Streets Of Heaven. Mike, who must have been playing during the tv commercials got to do another number, Done Gone. Next was Jessica Andrews, who did Good Times, then she brought out her boyfriend Marcel (I Want To Be A Rock & Roll Country Star) who sang with her on More To Me Than You. Then she sang yet another song, Jessie Plays Guitar. Alison Krauss & Union Station returned and did Touch You and Dan Tyminski did Man Of Constant Sorrow and that woke up the audience. Mike closed with three more string band numbers.

John Conlee was the next host and he started out with Doghouse. Billy Walker did a great song with a great title, Bad Thing About A Bad Memory. T. Bubba entertained next with his brand of humor. What is that they say about a bad penny? Next was Marcel. He did Tennessee. Must be trying to go for a third state song. I felt the only thing country about it was the title. After the Opry Square Dancers stomped all over the remains of that last song, John Conlee sang Busted. Possibly as a commentary on that last song or the artist. Hahaha

Jeannie Seely started out the next segment with Sentimental Journey, a song that Dave Dudley had some luck with. Jack Greene was next and did Highway To Heaven and This One Belongs To Me. Buddy Jewell was next and he did a song from his cd, O'Reilly Luck and Lacey's Song. Jeannie closed out with a duet with her bass player, Danny Davis, Today I Started Loving You Again. 

Just A Comment: They take away our country heroes from the radio, so we turn to the Opry. Now it appears they are trying to take them away from there also. Even after O Brother and the Down From The Mountain tours, THEY don't get it. We want real country.

Till next week, keep it country.

Next week on the Opry stage, see the Lonesome River Band, Danni Leigh, Laura Cantrell, Dan Seals, Craig Morgan and Brian McComas as well as regulars, Porter Wagoner, Jimmy Dickens, The Whites, Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys, Mel McDaniels and Jack Greene.

Well shuckydarns...Melissa Fritz, from Bremen, Indiana, is the winner of CMT's Ultimate Country Home -- a 36-hundred square foot house designed by 13 country stars. She also gets six acres of land, and a 2003 Kia Sorento EX. "We lost our home to foreclosure last year and had to move, and we've been renting, so this is unbelievable!," exclaims Fritz. Congratulations to Melissa.

I guess I'll be waiting for the Prize Patrol.

During the month of July, the Ryman hosts the 10th Anniversary Bluegrass Nights. This weekend was Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys. July 10th will be Mountain Heart and Blue Highway. Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder on July 17th. Marty Stuart and the Superlatives on July 24th. Check wsmonline.com at 7:30 pm each Thursday night.

Coming up on July 12th, will be some live broadcasts from the 26th Annual Uncle Dave Macon Days in Murfreesboro. Look for the Uncle Dave Macon Days Stage Steam Link on the wsmonline.com page.

Welcome to the Friday Opry. As the curtain goes up, Porter Wagoner greets us and brings out Jimmy C. Newman. Jimmy C. did a song that I first remember hearing Doug Kershaw do, Diggy Liggy Lo. Then he followed that with the Cajun Stripper. Next Porter brought out the one and only Billy Joe Shaver. Billy did In The Good Ol' USA and a song from back in 98/99, Try And Try Again. Porter closed with Green Green Grass Of Home.

Jeannie Seeley was the next host and sang Anytime. Mike Snider and his string band was next and did a number from the tv special on the civil war, Ash Oaken Farewell. Jimmy Wayne was next with Stay Gone and a new song, I Love You This Much. Jeannie closed with To Far Gone.

Jimmy Dickens told us about his education Out Behind The Barn and then introduced Stu Phillips. Stu did a song about miners being rescued in Penn. Not sure what the title of the song was, possibly The Tenth Man Was God. Jean Shepard sang the Tennessee Waltz and then the Riders In The Sky took the stage and did a Bob Wills tune, Miss Molly and then Paul Roberts and Shelby Darnell's 1942 song, There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere. Jimmy closed with I Love Lucy Brown.

Bill Anderson greeted us with Po' Folks and introduced Eddy Raven. Eddy didn't let me down, he did his 1984 #1 hit, I've Got Mexico and followed that with his 1989 #1, Bayou Boys. Mandy Barnett sang a Legend In My Time and God Bless America and Bill followed that with a wonderful narration called Birth Of A Nation. What a great way to end a 4th of July Opry show.

Saturday's Opry started off with Jim Ed Brown singing Southern Loving. Jeannie Seely was his first guest and even though allergies were bothering her, she did Hey Good Lookin' and Sentimental Journey. Dale Watson was next and he did I'm So Glad She's Got Me Now off his new cd, One More Once More. Dale also did Legends (What If?). Way to go Dale! Jim Ed closed this segment with Borrowed Angel, a Mel Street hit from 1972.

Hal Ketchum hosted the next portion and did But I Do. Jack Greene was the next guest and he did Try A Little Kindness and Follow Me. Dale Ann Bradley & Coon Creek did a great job. What a great voice and a great band. They did, Sweetheart Of The Pines and Big Mon. Hal closed with Forever.

The Riders In The Sky hosted this next portion and started out with a 1947 Sons Of The Pioneers song, Cool Water. Jan Howard sang Rock Me Back To Little Rock and Evil On Your Mind. Jimmy C Newman was next and did Cajun Man Can. Jimmy Wayne came on to the screams of the "young crowd" and sang, Stay Gone and Sarah after he made a notation in his journal. Go figure. The Riders closed out with another classic, Happy Trails.

Mike Snider hosted next and told everyone he had some bad news and some good news. The bad news was, they would have him for the next half hour. The good news was he saved a bundle by switching to Geico. Haha. George Hamilton IV sang Forever Young. Eddy Raven was next and sang Cowboys Don't Cry and I Got Mexico. Just a word here about the Opry Square Dancers. This group dances their heart out every week, but their energy is lost on the radio and the internet, but tonight they got the rewards they deserve. In the audience was a large group of dancers in Nashville for an Irish Dance Competition and those folks led the applause when the dancers finished. Mike Snider closed with the song, he says, got him where he is. If My Nose Was Running Money Honey, I'd Blow It All On You.

Bill Anderson hosted the last segment and led it off with a song he wrote, but it never went anywhere, called, You Sure Made A Monkey Out Of Me. Jean Shepard was next and sang two great songs. Only A Phone Call Away and When Two Worlds Collide. Mandy Barnett came out and sang Walking The Floor Over You and Crazy. Bill ended the segment singing A World Of Make Believe.

I stuck around for the playback from Fridays show, just so I could hear the Larry Stephenson Band. It was worth the wait. They did two songs, Where Did My Blue Eyed Lover Go and You'll Never Know How Much It Hurts. I'll be adding some of his music to my collection soon. He also has a new cd in the works for the end of the year.

Hope you all enjoyed the Opry and will take the time to listen in next week when John Anderson, Sherrie Austin, Buddy Jewell, T. Bubba Bechtol and Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas will be doing the Friday show. On Saturday, look for The Crabb Family, Big Sandy & His Fly Rite Boys, Darrell Scott, Sherrie Austin, Buddy Jewell, T. Bubba Bechtol, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Jessica Andrews and Marcel.

Till next week, be safe.

Trace Adkins is already being called on as the newest member of the Opry. Trace will have to go on the Grand Ole Opry Caribbean Cruise in Jan 2004. Altogether now....awwwwww. Departing from New Orleans, Carnival’s new ship the M/V Conquest will visit three great ports of call: Montego Bay, Cozumel and Grand Cayman. Once aboard, vacationers will experience the diverse itinerary of a seven-night, eight-day cruise with exclusive Opry fun including four private shows by Brad Paisley, Trace Adkins, Bill Anderson, Little Jimmy Dickens and Jeanie Seely plus a private cocktail party and an Opry members question-and-answer session. A full casino, deck activities, dancing, first-run movies, and gourmet dining are also included. Eddie Stubbs will also be along on the trip. For more info or booking call toll free 866-653-OPRY.

Well Fridays Opry had some new faces that I haven't seen before or they didn't impress me much if I did see them, Ha! In the first half hour, hosted by Porter Wagoner, we had Connie Smith and then Jennifer Hanson. She is a singer/songwriter and married to Mark Nesler, the man behind such country hits as Tim McGraws "Just To See You Smile" and Daryl Worley's "I Miss My Friend". She did two songs, Beautiful Goodbye and Half A Heart Tattoo. Porter closed the segment doing a duet with Penny DeHaven, Burning The Midnight Oil.

This segment was hosted by Jean Shepard and she brought out Charlie Walker who did a little two step number, I Will Free Myself. Two Tons Of Steel was next up to the mikes. Wish they had been able to do more than King Of A One Horse Town. I have no idea what Jack Greene was thinking when he did that popped up version of E.T.'s Walking The Floor Over You. He did redeem himself with Don't You Ever Get Tired Of Hurting Me. Jean closed with a Bill Anderson song, Tips Of My Fingers.

Willie Nelson after taxes (Jimmy Dickens) was host of the next segment and did a wonderful love song, May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose. Stonewall Jackson sounded great tonight doing Don't Be Angry With Me. Belly laughs were in order next when Gary Muledeer took the stage. His rapid fire one liners had the audience falling over laughing. Another new face to the Opry was Rachel Proctor. She is another songwriter turned singer. The Lynns, Courtney Cale and Sonya Isaacs have recorded her compositions. Then, in 2001 Martina McBride recorded Rachel’s song "Where Would You Be," which later became a gigantic hit. The first song she did was destined for pop radio somewhere. Her second song was cute, called Shame On Me. A line from the song was, "Shame on me for dreaming about you, shame on you for being in my dreams."

Bill Anderson was the last host for tonight and he introduced the Riders In The Sky who did Rhythm Range and a classic Tumbling Tumbleweeds. The Whites did Just As Long As You Love Me and Keep On The Sunny Side. Bill closed with a 1971 song of his, We Called It Quits.

On the Saturday Opry they held nothing back. Ricky Skaggs opened the show with a lively bluegrass number and then introduced Holly Dunn. Holly did the same song from last week, from her new gospel cd, Heaven Where You Are. Big Sandy and His Fly Right Boys were up next. This was a return visit for this California group, members of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. They also were performing at the free Plaza Party outside the Opry House. The Whites were up next and did Doing It By The Book. Ricky closed out the segment with Amanda Jewel.

Brad Paisley opened the tv portion doing Celebrity. Buddy Jewell was his first guest. Buddy did Pour Out The Rain and Abilene On Our Mind. Jennifer Hanson was next with a repeat of last nights song selection. Brad did a song from a new cd he is still working on, Little Moments Like That. Jeff Bates was next with The Love Song and Long Slow Kisses. Suzy Boggus came out all fired up and ready to perform. She started with Someday Soon and then did a song from her new cd, Cupid Shot Us Both With One Arrow. The new cd is called Swing and was produced by Ray Benson. Brad Paisley closed out the segment with A Little Mud On The Tires and Wrapped Around.

Porter Wagoner hosted the Martha White portion and started off with, Haul Off And Love Me. Jimmy C Newman was next with Jambalaya and then a Cajun instrumental, Cajun Stripper. Riders In The Sky performed Woody's Roundup from Toy Story and Biscuit Blues, a comedy song about trail food. Porter closed with Misery Loves Company. The commercials sure did make me hungry, Martha Whites Blueberry Cheesecake Muffins. Ready in 15 minutes. If you'll excuse me, I'll be right back.

Bill Anderson added his welcome to the audience and did Wild Weekend. Jean Shepard was next and did Together Again. Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys sang There's More Pretty Girls Than One. Connie Smith sang The Keys In The Mailbox and then Bill closed the show with a song he wrote back in 1960, Tips Of My Fingers.

The curtain comes down on another great Opry show and I hope you can make it next week when the guests will be Billy Joe Shaver, Jimmy Wayne, Mandy Barnett, the Larry Stephenson Band, Dale Watson, Dale Anne Bradley & Coon Creek and on the Tuesday Opry, The Crabb Family. Till then, have a great week.

The hype around Nashville this week concerns a movie. Not just any movie, but an IMAX movie made with Gaylord money. Here is the news release.

"Our Country," a film celebrating the heritage of country music and filled with performances by country's most recognizable stars, will debut in IMAX and other large format theaters nationwide this summer. The world premiere of the film will take place on Wednesday, June 25 at the Regal Opry Mills IMAX Theatre in Nashville, where it will open to the public on June 27. Many artists in the film will attend the invitation-only premiere.

Ok, the list of stars is amazing, close to 40 big name stars and all in a movie that is about 40 minutes long.  Hmmm? That gives each star 1 minute of face time, not enough time for a complete song. Well it's your money. Think I'll put Oh Brother in the VCR and skip the premiere.

I had those darn network problems tonight and missed the first half hour of the Friday Opry, but got there in time for John Conlee's portion. Stu Phillips was John's first guest. He sang If Loving You Means Anything. Trent Summar & The New Row Mob were up next and they aren't my cup of tea, maybe after a few long necks, but up next was the sweetest cowgirl of my dreams, Joni Harms. She had everyone's toes a tappin with Two Steppin Texas Blue and then did another of her great songs, one called Catalog Dreams. The story of how country folks passed the days lookin at that old Sears catalog. John Conlee closed out this segment doing The Carpenter and Rose Colored Glasses.

Jimmy Dickens did one Out Behind The Barn and then brought out Connie Smith. Connie did How Long, a song she and Marty Stuart wrote together and then did Run Away Little Tears. Ronnie McDowell was next and sounded great doing Older Women. He also did a Narvel Felts song, Hold Me Until She Passes By. Jimmy closed out with Our Love Is Just Another Bridge To Burn.

Jean Sheppard opened with Second Fiddle To An Old Guitar. Charlie Louvin was next with How's The World Treating You. Jimmy C. Newman was next with Colinda, but it sounded like the audience was there to see and hear the next guest, Miranda Lambert. She was a runner up on the Nashville Star show. She did Honky Tonk Blues and a song she did in the competition, On A Greyhound Bound For Nowhere. Jean asked her to do one more song. Miranda and her daddy (he was playing guitar) did a song that her dad had just wrote called, Nantucket On A Freighter. Jean closed out the show with a gospel medley with the Carol Lee singers.

I am sorry, I was late again tonight, but it was because my grandson turned eight and it's his party. When I arrived, BR549 was on stage doing I'll Be Yours And You'll Be Mine. Jim Ed Brown came out and sang You Can Have Her, I Don't Want Her. Mandy Barnett sang You Don't Have To Say You Love Me. Mandy brought out Chuck Mead from BR549 and they sang Jackson. Steve Azar was up next and did two songs. They were loud. The young folks there seemed to enjoy it. The Oak Ridge Boys were next up and boy, did they give the audience what they came for. They did three songs. Glory Bound and Colors from their new cd. But they couldn't leave the stage without doing Elvira. Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius did an duet of theirs, I Don't Wanna Have To Marry You. It sounded so good. The years have been good to those two. Jim Ed closed with Pop-A-Top.

Porter Wagoner brought out Jeannie Seeley as his first guest. She sang When He Needs You. The Whites were next with Keep On The Sunny Side. Miranda Lambert was next and did two songs. Honky Tonk Blues and Greyhound Bound For Nowhere.

Brad Paisley was the next host to take the stage, and after rendering Celebrity, he introduced Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys who did, As Long As I Live. Jean Shepard offered Secret Love and then Hal Ketchum did Forever. They did a live taping of an insert for the 4th of July special on A&E. It took four takes, but they managed to say Happy Birthday America. Brad closed out this segment with a song of his new cd. It's a Verne Gosdin song, Is It Raining At Your House. At least he's working with some good material.

I stayed for the recorded segment from Fridays show and it was worth it. Ricky Skaggs was host and started off with Uncle Pen. Jim Ed Brown did two songs, Unbelievable Love and Barroom Pals, Goodtime Gals. Then Gene Watson took the stage and did two songs, Leave If You Want To and Got No Reason Now For Going Home. Ricky asked Gene to do one more song and the audience agreed. He did Farewell Party.

It was another great show. Long live the Opry. Till next week, be safe.

Look for appearances by Trent Summar & The New Row Mob, Ronnie McDowell, Steve Azar, Oak Ridge Boys, Billy Yates, Holly Dunn, Hal Ketchum and Brad Paisley next weekend.

It is hard to believe, but, WSM actually played all the songs on the CMT 100 Greatest Songs List. I wish that I had been in the studio when they played all those songs. I'm sure the dj's off air comments were interesting.

Holly Dunn is the first Opry star to speak out on the CMA's plan to change Fan Fair to a Music Festival. Her comments were in a letter to the editor of the Tennessean. In her letter Holly says, "It has been my belief that the CMA's mission is to protect and advance country music, not to help further the public's growing confusion over what country music really is. I cannot in good faith continue to support an organization that no longer values itself. Instead of country music, it now appears CMA stands for ''Cash Management Association.'' " She has received over 100 emails since the letter was published. All are positive and supportive of her comments.

Lots of new faces on the Friday Opry and one old one that deserves mention. The first segment was hosted by Porter Wagoner and he had Connie Smith as his first guest. Great as always. Next up was Dusty Drake. Making his living as a deliveryman for Pizza Hut, Drake hit every Music City singer-songwriter night and quickly began making a name for himself. He was soon making his living as a demo singer and songwriter, placing cuts with a number of hitmakers including Joe Diffie, Mark Chesnutt and Ricochet. His big break came last year, when he traveled with Brooks & Dunn. He was on the Opry last month. Tonight he did his single, One Last Time and then did an John Anderson song, Black Sheep.

Riders In The Sky hosted the second segment and Jimmy C Newman was their first guest. Next up was a clogging group out of Kennesaw, Ga. This was their 29th visit to the Opry. They sure did sound like a lively group and the audience sure did like them. Up next was the Old Crow Medicine Show. They are a young five piece rollicking, punkified old-time acoustic band. They bring it all together to play songs from some of the earliest traditions of American music-tunes from jug bands and traveling shows, back porches and dance halls, southern Appalachian string music and Memphis blues. They did My Bones Are Gonna Rise Again and Mamma Ride Me.

I find myself smiling when Jimmy Dickens takes the stage and tells us about his stiff neck he got putting toilet water on. The seat fell on him. Jimmy introduced The Whites who always do wonderful songs in the old fashion way. His next guest was Eddy Raven, whom we haven't seen in awhile. Eddy did Operator, Operator and You Should Have Been Gone By Now.

For his segment Bill Anderson introduced Amy Dalley. As a writer, she has written a series of songs that were recorded by artists such as Martina McBride, Amanda Wilson and Joanna Janet. She has just finished touring with Toby Keith and has a single on radio that she did for the Opry folks, Love's Got An Attitude. Mike Snider showed how great string band music really can be and just for laughs did one of his comedy songs, Puttin On The Dog. A lively tune about a wife wanting a fur coat and how he makes one out of a German Shepard that accidentally got hit by his car.

On Saturday, when the curtain went up, Jimmy Dickens introduced Holly Dunn. She told us she has a new gospel cd out available on her website and the ET Record store. She did a song from it, I Know It's Heaven Where You Are. Jesse McReynolds & the Virginia Boys did Blue Ridge Mountain Blues for us and then Jack Greene did It's Our Time and There Goes My Everything.

Ricky Skaggs hosted the tv portion and started off with Black Eyed Suzie. Dusty Drake did a repeat of last nights show. Ricky did Simple Life. Trace Adkins was up next. He did I'm Tryin', Chrome, Then They Do and 11 Roses. I was surprised when Little Jimmy Dickens came out on stage and asked Trace to be the newest member of the Opry. It will be official August 23rd. Congratulations to Trace Adkins. Jimmy C. Newman did Colinda. Ricky closed with an instrumental, Goin' To Ceili.

Porter Wagoner, George Hamilton IV and Mike Snider were great, but everyone was waiting for Eddy Raven. He did two numbers, Right Hand Man and Operator, Operator.

Bill Anderson hosted the next segment and John Conlee did a great song, Miss Emily's Picture. Elizabeth Cook rendered a fine song for us, Crazy Arms. Then T. Graham Brown came on and wooed the audience with Tell It Like It Used To Be and Don't Know Which Way To Pray. Bill Anderson closed the Fathers Day show with Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine.

I stayed for the second show tonight because of one guest. Charlie Nagatani. He started singing Country Music in 1956 at age 20. Nagatani and his band, The Western Cannonballs, began performing at U.S. Military Clubs in Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, Guam, the Philippines and Thailand until the Vietnam War ended. Upon his return to Kumamoto, Nagatani opened a Country Music saloon named "Good Time Charlie's," where he still entertains seven nights a week. In 1989, Nagatani organized the first Country Gold festival, and in 1992, Nagatani traveled to Nashville to record his first album, which featured friends Emmylou Harris, Bill Monroe, Porter Wagoner and others. Charlie did a story song he wrote, My Name Is Good Time Charlie.

Fan Fair is underway. According to the Tennessean, lines are long for some autographs, some stars were sick and no shows. Next year, it will not be Fan Fair. According to Ed Benson, executive director of the CMA, it's more than just a place for fans to get autographs from their favorite artists. He says the new name better tells people that the event is what he calls an urban music festival. The new name?  CMA Music Festival. Yep, that says it all. It will also include other styles of music.(?) Now I'm not trained in psychology, but it looks like they are saying it's our (CMA) Festival and fans are no longer a part of it. And can anyone tell me what CMA Music is? I better get down off this soapbox before I get a nose bleed.

The Golden Voice Awards were presented June 5th. Winners were, Male Vocalist-Bobby Bare; Female Vocalist-Jan Howard; Group Of The Year-Carol Lee Singers; Entertainer of the Year-Roy Clark; Bluegrass-Ralph Stanley; Career Achievement-Jean Shepard; Songwriter of the Year-Freddie Hart; Radio Personality-Kyle Cantrell; Legacy Award-Conway Twitty; Golden Circle Award-F. Keith Adkinson and Golden Music Award-John Hughey.  All proceeds from ticket sales go to The Performer’s Benefit Fund, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping senior performers and musicians with ongoing hospitalization needs.

We won't mention the CMT list of 100 show Wednesday night, accept to pass on Vince Gills comment, as reported in the Tennessean, "It's fun that they're doing it," Gill said yesterday, "but I wouldn't put a lot of stock in it as the Holy Grail." According to Brad Schmitt, Vince said yesterday he "would like to see more bluegrass on that list."

Coming up on the Tuesday Opry are The Wilkinsons and Tammy Cochran and next weekend see Old Crow Medicine Show, Amy Dalley, Buddy Jewell, Eddy Raven, Trace Adkins, T. Graham Brown and Ricky Skaggs performing.

Fridays Opry was wonderful. Porter told us Company's Coming and John Conlee who is Only In It For The Love, put on his Rose Colored Glasses and was Hangin Around. Mark Wills did When You Think Of Me and 19 Somethin' and Porter closed out the first half hour with Green Green Grass Of Home.

Roy Clark opened with instrumental version of Ghost Riders In The Sky. Charlie Louvin did My Baby's Gone. Jim Ed Brown did the 1959 hit, Scarlet Ribbons. BR549 told us about liven that Honky Tonkin Lifestyle and that even on Friday it Seems Like One Long Saturday Night. Roy Clark showed us that even with a sore throat, he can sing a great song, Love Takes Two.

Little Jimmy Dickens explained about his education Out Behind The Barn. He didnt learn much, but ain't forgot what he learned. Billy Walker did a song off his cd, Thank You, Thank You Very Much, I Saw Elvis At WalMart. Jimmy C. Newman did Colinda. Vince Gill took the stage and did Look At Us and When I Call Your Name. Jimmy closed out with I Love Lucy Brown.

The last portion on the radio was hosted by Bill Anderson who started out with Po Folks. Connie Smith did Cry, Cry, Cry. Then Charlie Pride walked out on the stage and started off with Kiss An Angel Good Morning, Felt The Comfort Of Her Wings and the Kaw-liga. Bill closed the night with the help of his bass player, James Freeze, did I Wonder If God Loves Country Music.

Saturdays show was started off by Little Jimmy Dickens, who introduced the Whites who did Keep On The Sunny Side. No matter how many times I hear the Whites do that song, I never get tired of it. Jim Ed Brown was up next and did The Three Bells. John Conlee was on next and did I Don't Remember Loving You and Rose Colored Glasses. Jimmy closed this segment by reminding the Opry House audience that they would be going to the TV portion and they do turn the cameras on the audience. "So, if your sitting beside someone you shouldn't be, now is a good time to move."

Roy Clark had been scheduled to host, but had come down with something, so George Hamilton IV filled in. His first guest was a Canadian group, Emerson Drive who did Fall Into Me and Only God Could Make Me Stop Loving You. George sang his monster hit, Abilene and then Has Anybody Here Seen Hank. Next up was the Austin, Tx band, the Derailers. They did Genuine and Alone With You. Darryl Worley was next and did 4 songs. Tennessee River Run, I Need A Breather, Have You Forgotten? and I Miss My Friend. Charlie Pride was next and did the same songs as Fridays show. George IV closed the show with Forever Young.

Porter Wagoner opened his segment with Dooley then Jimmy C Newman did Big Mamu. Jean Shepard sang Wabash Cannonball and Satin Sheets. Then Porter brought out a special guest, Freddie Hart, who did Easy Lovin. Porter closed his portion with the help of the Carol Lee Singers doing House Of Gold.

Bill Anderson opened the last segment with Wild Weekend. Jesse McReynolds and the The Virginia Boys did Faded Love. Holly Dunn was next with, You Really Had Me Going. From the sound of the crowd, we knew Vince Gill was next. He did Look At Us and The Key To Life. Bill closed the first show with a song he co-wrote, Done A Lot Of Things Different.

Well, Fan Fair is over and all the fans have left. Join us next week, when once again the curtain rises for another Grand Old Opry show.

The Grand Ole Opry's free "Opry Plaza Parties" will return for a fourth consecutive year, beginning Friday, June 6. The concert series will run every Friday and Saturday night through August 9.

The series kicks off June 6 with BR549 followed by The Derailers June 7.

Others performing in the plaza throughout the summer include Two Tons of Steel, Billy Joe Shaver, Jim Lauderdale and Bruce Robison.

Also during Fan Fair, they will have an Opry At The Ryman matinee show, on June 7th.

We have a winner! Debbie Hughes of Franklin, Indiana was the winner of the Fan Fair Vacation Package giveaway on opry.com.
 
On Thursday June 5 and Friday June 6 you can hear the following artists in a special presentation by WSM from the Stage of the Ryman Auditorium (online, just go to our regular "live" stream). AND, as a special treat, most all of them can also be seen in a live webcast (just go to our home page and look for "Ryman Webcast") :

June 5
10:00 AM Radney Foster
10:30 AM Scotty Emerick
11:30 AM Jim Lauderdale
12:00 PM Del McCoury Band
12:30 PM Eric Heatherly
1:00 PM Little Big Town
1:30 PM Hal Ketchum
2:00 PM Kentucky Headhunters/Doug Stone
2:30 PM Dean Miller & Billy Yates
3:30 PM Chalee Tennison

June 6
1:00 PM Lorrie Morgan
1:30 PM Steve Azar
2:00 PM BR5-49
2:30 PM Andrea Zonn & T.Bubba Bechtol
3:00 PM Jimmy Wayne
 
If I had to describe the Friday Opry this week, it would be The Isaacs, Mike Snider, Trace Adkins and Daryle Singletary. The Isaacs were fantastic and the audience loved them. I did too. I went and ordered their new CD, http://www.theisaacs.com/ Eye Of The Storm. They did "He Ain't Never Done Me Nothin' But Good" and another song that I missed the title of, because I was just blown away by them.

You have heard me talk about Mike Snider and his jokes and his string band music. I would bet that many of you are having a hard time finding his music. Well there is only one place I know to get it. http://www.mikesnider.com/ His comedy songs CD includes my favorite, "If My Nose Was Runnin Money Honey, I'd Blow It All On You"

Trace Adkins was the next artist that was outstanding. No he didn't sing Chrome. He did a Hank Jr song, "Eleven Roses" and he showed that he does have a country heart. That song is on a Hank Jr tribute CD "Songs Of Hank Williams, Jr - A Bocephus Celebration".

Daryle Singletary was great as always and did "Kay" from his "That's Why I Sing This Way" CD. He mentioned that it was his next single being released to radio. He also did "To Much Fun".

Saturdays show got off to a great start with Jimmy Dickens introducing the Whites who did San Antonio Rose followed by Jean Shepard doing a Buck Owens song, Loves Gonna Live Here Again. Then she did the other Tennessee state song, Tennessee Waltz.

The TV portion brought us Lorrie Morgan as host. Her first guest was Dierks "What Was I Thinking" Bentley. Then Lorrie did I Didn't Know My Own Strength. Jim Ed Brown was next and he did a classic, Suddenly. Jim's songs always are so soothing. Lorrie was back with another number, Something In Red. Next was Montgomery Gentry who got to do four songs. My Town, Speed, Hillbilly Shoes and Ramblin Man. T. Graham Brown had to follow them, but showed he was man enough. Tell It Like It Used To Be and Darlene and a song off his new cd Next Right Thing. The song was written by Bill Anderson and T. and is called Which Way To Pray. It's a sad story song about a young lady and her problems through her life. Very moving song. It had many of us spellbound. Lorrie ended her segment with Good As I Was To You.

Porter Wagoner was our next host and let us know, We Got Company Coming. Billy Walker dusted off an old one, Cross The Brazos At Waco. Jeannie Seely offered When He Leaves You.

Mike Snider hosted the next segment and started it off by introducing a 15 year old banjo picker who really ripped it up. Holly Dunn did a song from her new gospel CD, that isn't out yet. Joni Harms was introduced next, even though she had a sore throat after her New York show at Carnegie Hall last night, did one of her great western swing songs, Two Steppin Texas Blue. Connie Smith followed Joni and did Pick Me Up On Your Way Down and Once A Day.

Special mention goes to the Martins, who performed actually last night, but we didn't get to hear until Saturday. They are a contemporary gospel group who have several CD's out. Their latest is Glorify Edify Testify. Very good music.

Well the big curtain comes down on another exciting weekend at the Opry. Hope you can join us sometime during the week for all the entertainment during Fan Fair.

The annual City Of Hope Celebrity Softball Challenge has announced the lineup. For the WSIX: Montgomery Gentry, Chris Cagle, John Michael Montgomery, Clay Walker, Amy Dalley, Billy Dean, Brian McComas, John Berry, Lorrie Morgan, Sixwire, Steve Holy, Suzanne Alexander, Tommy Shane Steiner, Sammy Kershaw and Rodney Atkins. For the WSM-FM team: Vince Gill, Trick Pony, Joe Nichols, Bryan White, Lonestar's Dean Sams, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Aaron Lines, Brad Martin, Chalee Tennison, Craig Morgan, Dusty Drake, Emerson Drive, Hometown News, Jimmy Wayne, Linda Davis and Anthony Smith. Buddy Jewell will serve as the celebrity umpire and Susan Branham will be the celebrity batgirl for both teams.
The event will take place at Greer Stadium on June 5 and can be seen on Great American Country on June 20th and 21st.

As some of you may know, Fan Fair is fast approaching. WSM will be out in front of the Coliseum in downtown Nashville and putting on some great artist sessions on stage at the Ryman Auditorium during week. If you can't be there in person, the programs will be online and over the radio!

I missed the first half hour of the Friday Opry due to internet problems, but managed to get in just as Jeannie Seeley opened her segment with It's Such A Pretty World Today, an old Wynn Stewart hit. Then Stu Phillips did Crystal Chandeliers. Next up was Josh Turner, what a voice. He has been on the Opry many times and each time he mentions his cd that he has been trying to get released for almost a year. Maybe he is just to country. He did a song he wrote called Long Black Train. Mike Snider was up next with some great string band music, Mississp, Canadian Leather Britches and Big Mon. Then Jeannie closed out her show with When He Needs You.

Jimmy Dickens took the stage next with Out Behind The Barn. Billy Walker entertained us next with a new song, Two Tickets To Texas Tonight. Next up was young Elizabeth Cook who introduced Tim Caroll who sang Jackson with her. They did a fine job of it too. A rare treat, Jack Greene did two numbers for us, Walkin' On New Grass and This One Belongs To Me. Little Jimmy closed with a song he wrote that was recorded by Merle Haggard, Shopping For Dresses.

Ole Whispering Bill was the next host and opened with But You Know I Love You. Charlie Walker sang an old song from WWII time, There's A Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere. Up next was Calvin Gilmore, a gospel singer and manager/owner of the Carolina Opry over in Myrtle Beach. He did How Amazing Grace Can Be. Who better to follow Calvin, but none other than T. Graham Brown who did Wine Into Water and another song, Use The Blues. T. also mentioned that he has a new cd out. Bill closed out the Friday show with a song he wrote and Ray Price had some success with, City Lights.

Saturdays show was gonna be a good one. You could tell. There was electricity in the air, and the audience was buzzing. When the curtain went up and Little Jimmy Dickens took the stage, you knew, this was a show that you needed to be there for. Mel McDaniels had the audience on their feet with Stand Up. Holly Dunn did a Willie Nelson hit for us, Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain. Jim Ed Brown did a 1975 top five hits, Fools. Jimmy Dickens closed out with Mountain Dew.

On the tv portion, Buddy Jewell, Nashville Star winner, got to see first hand what it means to be a star. Host Hal Ketchum introduced Clint Black, who did two songs. Then Hal did two songs. Buddy was next, doing his song, Help Pour Out The Rain. That's it. One song. Next on the stage was Travis Tritt who did, Country Ain't Country Any More, Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde. Hal Ketchum did the Angel Song and the introduced Ronnie Milsap, who performed three songs, Smokie Mountain Rain, Honky Tonk Women and There's A Stranger In My House. Hal closed the one hour tv portion with King Of Love. The hour seemed to go from high point to high point and the audience showed their appreciation with lots of cheering and applauding. I felt a little sorry for Buddy, because he only got to do one song, but in the second show he did do two numbers.

Porter Wagoner's segment brought Jimmy C. Newman, Dierks Bentley and the Osbornes to center stage. Bobby and Sonny were the highlight, I think with their two songs, Rank Strangers and Rocky Top. Porter closed the segment with House Of Gold.

Bill Anderson started out the last half hour of the first show with his 1961 hit Po' Folks. Jan Howard did You Belong To Me. Calvin Gilmore did How Amazing Grace Can Be for the Saturday crowd followed by Mike Snider. Then Bill Anderson closed the show with the New Deck Of Cards, an updated version of the Wink Martindale hit.

The filler section between shows tonight was outstanding. Hosted by Marty Stuart who did Rock Island Line, then George Hamilton IV. Next in the spotlight was Daryle Singletary who did two great songs, That's Why I Sing This Way and the Johnny Paycheck song, Old Violin.

The curtain comes down on another great weekend at the Opry. Hope you all can join in the fun next week for another big weekend. Look for Lorrie Morgan, The Martins, Brian McComas, The Isaacs, Trace Adkins, Montgomery Gentry, Dierks Bentley and Joni Harms to visit the Opry stage. Until then, have a great week.

Kyle Cantrell, formerly with WSM is still working for classic country. Cantrell who worked for WSM as operations manager, program director and host for more than 20 years and was an Opry announcer for 11 years has put together a program for syndication. It's called Classic Country Gold and has already been tenatively signed up by 56 smaller radio stations. It will air on Saturdays and compete with Gaylord's new program, America's Grand Ole Opry Weekend. The one hour show is set to debut June 7th.

On Thursday evening about 5 pm, June Carter Cash passed away. Please pray for strength for Johnny. For 35 years, June was what held that man together. If you get a chance, listen to June and Johnny on Return To The Promised Land cd, a song called Far Side Banks Of Jordan.

The Friday Opry was kicked off by Porter Wagoner doing Why Don't You Haul Off And Love Me One More Time. Then the Whites did Pins And Needles and dedicated Keep On The Sunnyside to June Carter Cash. Jim Lauderdale did Lost In The Lonesome Pines. Riders In The Sky had fun with Rawhide and did Mystery Of His Way. Porter ended his segment with a hymn, When The Rollcall Is Called Up Yonder.

John Conlee was up next with a 1979 hit, Lady Lay Down. Chalee Tennison was up next her song I Am Love and then a Tammy Wynette song, Till I Can Make It On My Own. Mike Snider and his string band tore it up with Tennessee Mountain Fox Chase. He also told us how Gleason, Tn is so small, the only heavy industry there is, is a 400lb Avon lady. Then ripped it up again with Black And White Rag. John closed his section with another classic of his, Rose Colored Glasses.

Little Jimmy Dickens was on next. Take An Old Cold Tatter And Wait. Mel McDaniels sang Baby Has Her Blue Jeans On and Stand Up. Jimmy introduced Mandy Barnett who did Stand By Your Man and Break My Mind.

On Bill Andersons segment after Son Of The South, Stonewall Jackson was on and did Waterloo. Dusty Drake was up next. He's a new artist and did his current single, One Last Time. Connie Smith did two songs for us, Cincinnati, Ohio and It Don't Worry Me. Bill closed the show with a song that he and Roy Acuff used to do, I Wonder If God Likes Country Music.

Saturdays show started out with Pete Fisher saying a few words about June Carter Cash and dedicated the show to her memory. Jimmy Dickens hosted this first portion and his guests were Connie Smith and the Warren Brothers, but the best part was Jimmy singing Life Turned Her That Way.

Jean Shepard's guests were The Whites and Jim Ed Brown. Buck and the girls did Blue Letters and Swing Low. Jim Ed did Suddenly and a Johnny Paycheck song, Satin Sheets. Jean closed her segment doing a Jimmy Davis song, Live And Let Live.

Mike Snider hosted the next section with guests, Mel McDaniel, Jimmy C. Newman and Dan Seals. Don't you love the computer world where even a candy bar can have a webpage. http://www.googoos.com Dan Seals did one of his great songs, Everything That Glitters Is Not Gold. Mike did Fire On The Mountain to close his section of the show.

Porter Wagoner hosted the next segment with guests, Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys, Mandy Barnett. Jesse did Blue Moon Turns To Gold, Mandy did Hurt. Porter closed it out with Over In The Glory Land.

The last portion of the Opry was hosted by Vince Gill, who started with a great song, There's Not Much Love Here Anymore. Jeannie Seely sang Anytime. Jack Greene did an upbeat E.T. song, Walking The Floor Over You. Jim Lauderdale came out and sang two of his songs, If I Were You (I'd Love Me Forever) and I'd Follow You Anywhere. Vince ended the show singing a June Carter penned song, Ring Of Fire.

Next week on the Opry, Del McCoury Band, T. Graham Brown, Travis Tritt, Ronnie Milsap and Nashville Star winner, Buddy Jewell 

Coming up on the Opry: May 24th, Travis Tritt and Ronnie Milsap. On May  31st, Lorrie Morgan

According to an Edward Morris story on CMT.com

The stars were out in Nashville for the Hall Of Fame medallion presentations, including Hall of Famers Earl Scruggs, Bill Anderson, Charlie Louvin, Little Jimmy Dickens, and Gordon Stoker and Ray Walker of the Jordanaires; Grand Ole Opry members Vince Gill, Hank Locklin, Jeannie Seeley, Ray Pillow and Hal Ketchum; and music industry guests Jimmy Martin, Amy Grant, Jim Lauderdale and Ralph Emery.

Jack Clement and his Cowboy's Ragtime Band provided songs that Wagoner and Carlisle made famous. Band members included Shawn Camp, fiddle and guitar; Billy Burnette, guitar; Kenny Malone, drums; Glenn Rieuf, steel; David Roe, bass; and Bobby Wood, piano.

Vince Gill and Jimmy Dickens paid tribute to Bill Carlisle before presenting the medallion to his son, Bill Carlisle Jr. Praising Carlisle's good humor and showmanship, Gill said, "I am so proud he was inducted into the Hall of Fame before he passed on." (Carlisle was inducted into the Hall last November and died on March 17.) "Even when he was ill, he went out there [on the Grand Ole Opry stage] on a walker and kicked their butts."

Urging the crowd to sing along, Clement and his band played "Too Old to Cut the Mustard," Carlisle's 1951 breakthrough hit. George Riddle and Bill Carlisle Jr., who played in Carlisle's band, and veteran Opry musician Joe Edwards teamed up for the equally zany "Is Zat You Myrtle" and "No Help Wanted." Jim Lauderdale and the Jordanires then took the stage to sing Carlisle's classic hymn, "Gone Home."

Jimmy Dickens told stories of his closeness with Carlisle during their 50 years on the Opry together. He said it became a routine for him to stop by Carlisle's dressing room on Opry nights. "We traded little nasty jokes together," he confessed. One time he walked in, he said, and Carlisle without even looking up, barked to his sideman, "George, run up to the bar and get him a drink so he'll leave."

Vince Gill also took the lead in honoring Wagoner, recalling how he had faithfully watched the syndicated Porter Wagoner Show with his father every weekend when he was a kid. "All those years, I thought [Dad] was a big Porter Wagoner fan," he said. "But then I found out he kind of dug Dolly." He said the only time he really impressed his dad was when he called him at his home in Columbus, Ohio, to tell him that Parton had asked him to sing with her on a re-recording of "I Will Always Love You." "He said, 'I'll be right down.'" Indeed, the elder Gill drove to Nashville to watch the recording. And get his picture taken with Parton.

Gordon Mote, a singer and pianist Wagoner recommended for the spot, sat in with the band to sing "A Satisfied Mind," Wagoner's first No. 1 single. Gill and the Jordanaires followed with a spirited but occasionally halting rendition of "Green, Green Grass of Home." Introducing her own song, Dolly Parton explained to the crowd that she wrote "I Will Always Love You" as a way of explaining her feelings to Wagoner when she decided to leave his show and strike out on her own. She acknowledged that the separation caused bad blood between them but stressed that their friendship had still survived. Noting that Wagoner had grandchildren in the audience, the eternally youthful star quipped, "Those grandkids look like Porter and me think we still do." After a spellbinding performance of "I Will Always Love You," she teamed up with Wagoner to sing one of their best-known duets, the Jack Clement composition, "Just Someone I Used To Know." They sounded as fresh as they did in their prime.

Still slim, regally dressed and sassy, the 75-year-old Wagoner warned the crowd that his acceptance speech would be a long one. "I knew that this was going to be a touching moment for me," he said, "and I figured I'd get out here and forget what to say. So I wrote all of it down -- 23 pages." He welcomed "friends from the music industry, fishing buddies, my family and representatives from the Internal Revenue Service." Wagoner assailed radio for neglecting traditional country artists, asserting that such artists were still making good music and earning money with their shows.

Always the self-promoter, Wagoner announced, "I've got a new gospel album that will knock your socks off. "You're going to hear it if I have to carry the damn thing around and play it from the top of my car."

Wagoner concluded his remarks by reading a list of the country artists he most cherished, all of them now members of the Hall of Fame. "It's like reading a list of the members of my family," he said, "because, in truth, these were my family. They were as close kin to me as uncles, cousins and aunts. We shared stories, stages, dressing rooms, bus trips, food and drink, happiness and grief. But most of all, we shared music. Great music. That's the main reason I wanted to be in the Country Music Hall of Fame so badly. I wanted to be with my family."

The program ended with a group singing of "Will The Circle Be Unbroken."

On the Friday Opry... Porter told about how he went out for breakfast the other day and sat close to a couple that was visiting Nashville to see the Opry. He overheard the wife say how she hoped they would see Porter Wagoner, because he was her favorite. Her husband said, "Heck, he must be 80. I've listened to him all the 75 years of my life." Everytime the wife would say something nice about Porter, the husband would put her down.

He finally looked around and he couldn't believe what the guy was eating for breakfast. He had beef tongue.

The waitress came over and asked Porter what he'd like. He says, "Well, I don't want anything that came out of an animals mouth," nodding toward the couple. "Give me two eggs."

Think about it....

All the regulars put in their usual great performances. Porter Wagoner, Connie Smith, The Whites, Jean Shepard, George Hamilton IV, Riders In The Sky, Jimmy Dickens, Charlie Walker, Jim Ed Brown, Jeannie Seely, Stu Phillips and Mike Snider all offered the classics, including Thought I Heard You Call My Name (Porter), Then And Only Then (Connie), Abilene (George IV), Cherokee Maiden (Charlie) and Lamp Lighter (Jim Ed). The surprise of the night was how great Billy Currington sounded on his song, Walk A Little Straighter.

Saturdays show started out with Jimmy Dickens doing May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose. The Whites came out and did Keep On The Sunny Side. Holly Dunn performed next, doing You Really Had Me Going and then Hal Ketchum did But I Do and King Of Love. Then Jimmy took us to the tv portion with Good Ol Mountain Dew. Always love his announcement to the audience. During this tv portion, the cameras show the audience, so if your sitting with someone you shouldn't be with, now is the time to move.

Vince Gill hosted this section and dig his new song, Next Big Thing. Then he brought out Nanci Griffith. Nanci is known for the songs she has written, songs like Five And Dime, Lonestar State Of Mind and two songs she did, Listen To The Radio and Gulf Coast Highway. Next up was Andrea Zonn. She has been a fiddle player in Vince Gills band for awhile and has just done her first cd.  She did In My Own Backyard. Rebeca Lynn Howard did her big song, Forgive and then did a great job on a song done by Dolly, Linda and Emmylou, Those Memories Of You. Vince next introduced his wife, Amy Grant who did Back In Babys Arms and Vince closed out the segment with Mean Bottle.

The highlight of the next segment, that included Porter Wagoner, Jimmy C. Newman and Riders In The Sky, was Mike Snider who provided some of his humor. Mike said his day had been bad. Started out at a retirement home, doing a show. When he was finished he went around and talked with the folks. He told one old man, "Hope you get better." The old man replied, "Hope you do also." Then Mike said he was driving down the road and saw a guy pulling this huge chain behind him. Mike asked why he was pulling that chain and the guy replied, "You ever try to push one?" Then as he arrived downtown, he was going into this store and opened the door for an elder lady. She says, "I hope your not doing that because I'm a WOMAN." He says, "No, I'm doing it because of your age." She replies, "Young man, my age is no business of yours." To which Mike says, "Well, it looks like you been in the business a long time." Then when Mike walked out of the store, there was a cop writing out a ticket. Mike asks, "Don't you guys ever give anyone a break?" Well the cop kept on writing. Mike asks, "Are you deaf, too?" The cop starts writing a second ticket. Mike called him a few names and the cop writes another ticket. Well Mike finally got tired of this and walked around the corner, got in his pickup and headed to the Opry.

Marty Stuart hosted the last segment tonight. His guests were Jean Shepard who sang Second Fiddle (To An Old Guitar), Jim Ed Brown, who sang Morning Comes Too Early and then Connie Smith who sang If It Ain't Love and a duet with Marty, Once A Day. Marty and his band closed out the show with This Little Light Of Mine and Hillbilly Rock.

It was a great night and I listened with friends from England, Sweden, Norway, Canada and New Zealand. I hope you all get to listen with others that really enjoy the Opry.

On this weeks Tuesday Opry hear Rhonda Vincent and Joe Nichols.

The Nashville Star winner is selected. Buddy Jewel.....

According to Craig Havighurst at the Tennessean, "The winner (and perhaps others) will be granted a standard new-artist deal on Sony Music Nashville, the country label that's home to the Dixie Chicks, Montgomery Gentry, Travis Tritt and others. With a significant head start in national name recognition, Sony will try to market the new ''Nashville Star'' looking for a shot at country radio and the country music infrastructure."

Clint Black will produce the album of the winner who will also appear on stage to perform at the Opry.

Here is a great story from WKRN television in Nashville

Stolen Guitar Found After 30 Years

On April 2nd, 1973, a burglar broke into a country music star's Joelton home and stole his prized, signature guitar. 30 years later the guitar has been located and will soon be reunited with a very thankful Grand Ole Opry performer.

Country music performer Jim Owen has written a lot of songs in his career. "Well it was a total shock. The guitar disappeared 29-years-ago," said Owen.

Owen has written for, and performed with some of the biggest names in country music including Jerry Reed, Mel Tillis, Crystal Gayle, and Roy Clark. One of his biggest hits, Louisiana Woman Mississippi Man was performed by Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn. It's a song he wrote on a guitar created just for him, one that still bears his name. "A 12-and-a-half million seller was written with it," Owen said by phone.

"What a shock and wonderful feeling to realize I might get it back."

After four decades, the guitar was spotted for sale on the internet. Metro Police Detective Rick Mavity tracked it to a Murfreesboro music shop. The store owner there says it was given to him by an older gentlemen who claims it was a gift from Mr. Owen.

Mr. Owen tells police that's not the case. Either way, the store owner gladly gave the guitar back.

Mr. Owen tells News 2 that his wife lost a cherished banjo in that same burglary 30 years ago. A banjo with blue birds on the frets. It was a present from her father. Could lightning strike twice.

Sunday May 4 the Country Music Hall of Fame conducted the Medallion Ceremony for Porter Wagoner and the late Bill Carlisle. The program started at 6 pm and included musical performances by Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, Jim Lauderdale, Jack Clement and Cowboy's Ragtime Band. The medallions were presented by E.W. 'Bud' Wendell and Jimmy Dickens.

I think the highlight of this Fridays Opry was hearing Hank Locklin do his 1956 song, Send Me The Pillow You Dream On. Oh sure the rest of the show was good. Porter, Mike Snider and Jim Lauderdale did the first half hour, followed by Jeannie Seely who hosted the next segment. She did Anytime followed by George Hamilton IV and Pour Me Another Cup Of Coffee. Then Jack Greene did This One Belongs To Me, ending with Jeannie and her bass player sang Today I Started Loving You Again.

Billy Walker sang Two Tickets To Texas Tonight, a song I don't recall hearing before, Jean Sheppard and Jan Howard did a gospel medley that was great. The newer artists, Jimmy Wayne, Chalee Tennison and Rebecca Lynn Howard all did current songs from their cd's.

I hope some of you take the time to check out the Opry Warm Up show at 5pm central, with Keith Bilbrey. They have it on webcam so you can see whats going on in dressing room 15, backstage at the Opry House.

The Saturday really got going when Del McCoury and the boys took the stage for three songs. Learning The Blues, Nashville Cats and a toe tappin, foot stompin instrumental.

The tv portion was next and I feel so sad for the folks watching on the tube. They miss out on so much. Lonestar did 4 songs for us, What About Now, Already There, My Front Porch Looking In and Walking In Memphis. Jimmy Dickens did a fun song, Me And My Big Mouth and then Rhonda Vincent took the stage for 3 songs. From her new cd, You Can't Take It With You. Then Alison Krause joined her for the title song from the cd, One Step Ahead Of The Blues. Then Rhonda introduced 12 year old Molly Cherryholmes who joined Rhonda on an instrumental. The Whites were up next and did Makin' Believe. Mark Wills was next up and he did 3 songs, 19 Somethin', When You Think Of Me and  a Ronnie Milsap song, Having Day Dreams. Jimmy Dickens closed this segment with I'd Rather Sleep In Piece.

In the next portion hosted by Porter Wagoner, we had Jim Ed Brown do an old Browns song, I Take The Chance. Jean Shepard did a Jeanne Pruett song, Satin Sheets. Mike Snider and his string band did a number and then Mike had to tell a story. Seems he saw the little girl next door out in the yard digging a hole. He asked what she was doing? Burying my goldfish, she says. Why is the hole so big, he asks. Because it is in your cat! Hahaha.

The last portion of the Opry openned with Marty Stuart doing To Much Month At The End Of They Money. His lovely wife took the stage next and sang Ribbon Of Darkness and Where Is My Castle. Up next was the high energy gospel group, The Crabb Family. They did Homesick To Go and Through The Fire. Then Marty called out some of the McCoury band and they did Paul And Silas and then closed the show with Sundown In Nashville.

A wonderful show, with great performances by all the artists. Until next week, be safe. Don't forget Mothers Day.

Upcoming appearances on the Opry: May 2/3: Terri Clark, The Crabb Family (fantastic gospel group), Lonestar, Rhonda Vincent and Mark Wills. Joe Nichols will be a guest on the Tuesday Opry May 6th.

This news release from the Opry:
As part of the Grand Ole Opry's ongoing commitment to provide a superior product to its customers along with an outstanding experience for performers, George Massenburg has been hired for a limited time as an audio consultant for all audio aspects of the Opry. An internationally renowned producer, recording engineer and designer of audio equipment, Massenburg will focus on the audio quality of the television broadcast of "Grand Ole Opry Live" on CMT as well as the Opry's syndicated radio show "America's Grand Ole Opry Weekend," which will launch in May.

Hmmmm, reading that, one might conclude that the "real stars" of the Opry, don't need electronic tweaking.

CMT did a replay this weekend of an Opry show from November which was hosted by Brad Paisley. Tim McGraw made his debut on the Opry stage along with T. Graham Brown and Pinmonkey.

On Friday, Porter got the show off in fine style with the Whites and Mel McDaniels. Then he brought on the Larry Stephenson Band and they did two great bluegrass numbers, Cross The Fields Of Time and the Prisoner Song.

I wonder if that new sound consultant was on the job, Friday? Porter was talking about his cd available at the Opry Gift shop when he was covered up by a commercial for French Fries. Hahaha

Jim Ed Brown brought on the Osborne Brothers to do two songs, Bluegrass Melody and Rocky Top, a song written by Felice Bryant who just passed away. BR549 followed with a couple of numbers. In Bill Andersons portion of the show, the great Charlie Louvin did Cry Myself To Sleep and Mandy Barnett did two numbers. What a voice that young lady has.

Saturday started out terrible. I kept dropping my internet connection and missed the whole first half hour. Once I was able to get a solid connection, Jimmy C Newman was starting his portion of the show. Have you ever wondered what the C stands for in his name? Cajun. The Osborne Brothers sang a fine song, Not That Good At Goodbyes. Then young Elizabeth Cook performed a Jessi Colter song, I'm Not Lisa and then a fun song from her cd, If I Could, I Would.

Charlie Walker and Connie Smith were great, as always and then Craig Morgan took the stage and did Almost Home from his new cd and a Bill Anderson song from his first cd, When A Man Can't Get A Woman Off His Mind. Charlie Walker closed the segment with a classic, Pick Me Up On Your Way Down.

Jesse McReynolds did Blue Ridge Mountain Blues followed by Mandy Barnett doing I'd Be A Legend In My Time and Satin Sheets and Jim Ed Brown did Three Bells.

On Bill Andersons portion, he had Jan Howard, Billy Currington and Blake Shelton who did, Ole Red and The Baby. Then Bill closed the show with a Hank Sr. song Wedding Bells.

On the filler portion, for those of you that have never been to the Opry, they have 30 minutes between shows to move the audience in and out, and WSM uses the last half hour of Fridays show to fill that time on radio, Stu Phillips did a medley of Hank Sr. songs and then T. Graham Brown did his two biggest songs, Tell It Like It Used To Be and Wine Into Water. What a way to bring another Opry show to a close.

Until next time, have a great week.

This week, George Jones visited the Opry. Here is just a little about George. One of the finest singers ever to record a country song, George Glenn Jones (b. 1931) has been moving fans to tears and laughter for over 40 years.

Born and raised in Texas, he first recorded for the Starday label in 1954. It was on Starday that his first Top Ten record, "Why Baby Why," appeared in 1955. Since then, Jones has compiled a record of over 75 Top Ten hits as a solo singer, in duets with his friends and with his former wife, the late Tammy Wynette. His last top ten song was way back in 1990 and was a duet with Randy Travis, A Few Ole Country Boys. The list of top 100 songs now is at 165.

Today's country stars nearly all point to Jones as an influence upon their music, yet he continues to thrill with his own incomparable voice, reminding all that he "don't need your rockin' chair." Jones was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1992.

I have heard it said that to own the complete George Jones collection, you would have over 450 albums/cd's released in the US and the UK alone. I have never met anyone that has that large a collection. This month George released a much anticipated Gospel Collection and has 52 tour dates scheduled through the end of this year.

When you attend a George Jones concert, you can expect sequined suits, cowboy boots, a steel guitar and fiddles. But there are a few things you won't see.
"Don’t expect no smoke rising from the stage or swingin’ on ropes, making me looking like an idiot. I’ve just come to sing some ol’ country music," Jones recently told a standing-room only crowd in Halifax, Canada.

According to the Tennessean, there will one heck of a yard sale of sorts. The event called, A Notable Event: The Celebrity Garage Sale and Auction, will be held at BMW of Nashville on Thursday and will benefit the Rochelle Center.

The center works with adults with developmental disabilities and senior citizens with Alzheimer's and hopes to raise $75,000 from the auction.

Some of the items up for sale are a dulcimer that Dolly Parton played, a bar traffic light from George Jones, that lets you know when the bar is open, an iron used by Suzy Bogguss and much more.

The Friday Opry was another memorable show, with Porter Wagoner, John Conlee, Stonewall Jackson, Mel McDaniel, Jack Greene and Bill Anderson performing some of their best songs. Bill did one of my favorites, a recitation of the Myra Brooks Welch poem, Touch Of The Masters Hand. Tammy Cochran, Jeff Bates, Vince Gill and Ronnie Bowman all did songs featured on their newest cd's.

Saturday there was country in the air at the Opry. Mel McDaniels had them on their feet and John Conlee made it clear, if you came for country, that's what you were gonna get. Craig Morgan did two great songs, God, Family and Country and Almost Home. Then Vince Gill came out and did a couple of songs, Little Liza Jane and Young Mans Town. Buck White and his daughters did Pins And Needles and that's what the audience was on. Then he took the stage, George Jones, to a thunder of applause and cheers. George did two songs from his new gospel cd, I Know A Man Who Can and Mansion Over The Hill. He was joined on the latter by Vestal Goodman. Then George did He Stopped Loving Her Today. The audience showed their appreciation with applause that went halfway through the commercial. Brad Paisley closed the tv portion with Loves Gonna Live Here Again.

Tonight's line-up was just full of great country music. Connie Smith, I Never Once Stopped Loving You. Josh Turner, Long Black Train from his still unreleased cd. Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver offered Blue Train and Hard Game Of Love. It just kept getting better and better.

Whispering Bill brought on the last half hour with Holly Dunn doing Daddy's Hands and the Riders In The Sky did Back In The Saddle Again and Hal Ketchum did Stay Forever. Bill made an announcement that our seven POWs had arrived at Ft Bliss, Tx which brought the Opry House audience to their feet and then Bill did Mama Sang A Song.

It was another great night at the Opry and I hope many of you got to listen in. I'll be looking for you again next week when Billy Currington, T. Graham Brown, Bill Anderson, Jeannie Seely, Jimmy Dickens, Jean Shepard, Blake Shelton and Kieran Kane are scheduled to be on. See you there.

Little Jimmy Dicken's 1959 tan Cadillac sold for $12,500 on Saturday at the Cars Of The Stars, across from the Opryland Hotel. That even included the pillow that Jimmy sat on when he drove. The new owner will be moving the car to Georgia, where he has a car museum. Two guys from Michigan bought a cream colored limo, used in Elvis Presley's funeral for $12,600. It will be added to the Cadillac that Elvis drove the day he died, they already own.

Walt Disney Records has released O MICKEY, WHERE ART THOU?, pairing country and bluegrass artists with Disney catalog songs. You'll find Collin Raye singing "Circle of Life" from "The Lion King," Elizabeth Cook covering "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," Stonewall Jackson doing "The Bare Necessities" from "The Jungle Book," and Ronnie Milsap performing "When You Wish Upon a Star." Other artists on the compilation include Sonya Isaacs, Robbie Fulks, and Charlie Louvin.

The Opry will be starting their Tuesday Night Opry April 15. These two-hour shows, carried by WSM AM and on-line, will run through December 16, and will provide a fun-filled alternative to the Opry's renowned weekend performances. (No show on October 21.) Check the Opry.com link to see the show line up. As you know, the 15th is tax day, and the United States Postal Service will be on hand out in front of the Opry House accepting returns until 10pm. The Opry will also be offering "tax relief" to persons mailing their tax returns at this location by offering discounts to Tuesday Night Opry shows and also chances to win Opry tickets and merchandise.

Fridays show was great. The Gibson Brothers  debut was outstanding and the audience really liked what they heard. Mel McDaniel did Baby Has Her Blue Jeans On and then had the audience on their feet with Stand Up. Mandy Barnett and Chalee Tennison both turned in great performances. Mike Snider had them rolling in the isles with his jokes. They all did a great job.
 
The Saturday show got off to a great start with Willie Nelson After Taxes (Jimmy Dickens) and Mel McDaniels and the lovely Connie Smith. The tv portion with Ricky Skaggs hosting had everyone out of breath. Ricky started it off with Black Eyed Susie. Then Steve Azar and Keith Urban came out to the delight of the younger set. Then Ricky sang with the Whites and had Urban do a number with him, Highway 40 Blues. Urban did okay keeping up with Ricky on this one. Jim Ed Brown slowed things down with Scarlet Ribbons and then had his granddaughter help him sing Pop A Top. Good Lord, the papers will be down on him in the morning. Hahaha. The best part I think was Craig Morgan, who did two great songs, When A Man Can't Get A Woman Off His Mind and Almost Home. Man that boy can sing a country song. Ricky Skaggs ended the show with Crossville.

If you haven't heard it yet, Billy Walker has a new CD out called, Thank You, Thank You Very Much and he did a song from it, I Saw Elvis At Wal-Mart. I think this CD will be available at Wal-Mart.

Have a great week, I look forward to having you all join us at the Opry next week.

On this past Wednesday Vince Gill hosted the 2nd Annual All Star Bluegrass Celebration. The show was taped for PBS and will be broadcast nationwide at a later date and believe me when you have Dr. Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, The Del McCoury Band, the Whites, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, Nickel Creek, Mountain Heart and Vassar Clements in the house, there is one thing and one thing only gonna happen. Bluegrass at it's best.

A collection country music stars' cars was auctioned off at the Music Valley Cars of the Stars Museum on Saturday, April 5 at 12 noon. Included in the auction was Johnny Cash's 1979 Cadillac, George Jones' 1979 T-Bird, and a 1934 Packard that belonged to Opry legend, Marty Robbins, among other star-related and vintage autos. The auction took place at the Cars of the Stars Museum, which has recently closed, at 2611 McGavock Pike, across the street from the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center.

Next weekend on the Opry stage will be the Gibson Brothers, Radney Foster, Craig Morgan, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Azar and Keith Urban. Hope you can join the fun.

Doyle Dykes was outstanding on the Friday Opry. He did two numbers, the second was a patriotic tribute and really had the audience on their feet. Jesse McReynolds and the Virginia Boys didn't leave them sitting very long with their bluegrass version of Midnight Train. Steve Wariner closed out the Friday Opry with just him doing Holes In The Floor Of Heaven and Carmelita.

Saturday the Opry was great. Steve Wariner, who played bass for Chet Atkins was joined on stage by Doyle Dykes, who played guitar with Grampa Jones, and they did a tribute to Chet and Grampa. Doyle was back later in the show and did the title cut from his last cd, Country Fried Pickin'. Pam Tillis did a wonderful job on a Patsy Cline song, written by Mel, "So Wrong". Trace Adkins did a few songs that pleased the younger crowd and then did a new song he dedicated to his kids, called "Then They Do". Connie Smith sounded so great doing "Cry, Cry, Cry".

Porter Wagoner was telling the audience how he had arrived in New York and was greeted by 30,000 screaming fans. He said you can verify that with Garth Brooks, he was right there with him. Good thing Porter wears the clothes he does. Hahaha

Have a good week and we'll see you at the Opry.

Gaylord Entertainment Company announced on Tuesday, its agreement to enter into a joint sales agreement for WSM-AM and to sell its two FM radio stations, 95.5 WSM-FM and 99.7 WWTN-FM, to Cumulus Media for $65 million in cash.

Proceeds from the transaction will be used to fund a portion of the construction of the Company's Gaylord Opryland Texas Resort & Convention Center, the renovation of the Grand Ole Opry House and other growth initiatives. The transaction is subject to customary FCC and antitrust review, and is expected to close early in the third quarter. The parties have entered into an agreement under which Cumulus will program and market WWTN-FM and WSM-FM between expiration of statutory antitrust waiting periods and closing of the transaction.

Gaylord and Cumulus Media have also announced a joint marketing agreement under which the two companies will work together to promote each other's entertainment assets. Cumulus Media has committed to carrying America's Grand Ole Opry Weekend, a two-hour weekly syndicated radio program to be distributed by Westwood One's radio network beginning this April, on its country stations.

Gaylord will continue to own its WSM-AM country music radio station. The company says it "remains committed to developing further this cherished icon of country music and key distribution channel for the Company's Grand Ole Opry content." As part of the joint sales agreement, Cumulus will manage national and local advertising sales for WSM-AM.

"This transaction is another step in our transformation as we sharpen our focus on our core businesses - Gaylord Hotels and the Grand Ole Opry," said Colin Reed, president and chief executive officer of Gaylord Entertainment. "The Grand Ole Opry remains our premier entertainment brand, and WSM-AM is an integral component of our strategy to extend the reach of this brand. Our partnership with Cumulus strengthens both of these assets by extending the reach of the Opry over the Cumulus network and providing a more efficient platform for operation of WSM-AM."

Whoa.... wait just a minute. First, Kellogs and Kotex are brands. WSM-AM  is a radio station. It ain't no brand. You don't burn it into the hind quarter of a cow. Second, this program that Westwood One will be carrying, "America's Grand Ole Opry Weekend" should not be confused with the Opry. This program will be taken from the Opry shows, but will feature only the new country artists and their performances on the Opry. Third, what does Cumulus taking over the advertising sales for WSM-AM mean? My guess is it means that we will lose those wonderful ads for "Tennessee Pride Sausage" and "Goo Goo's" and "Dickies" and "Tootsies Orchard Lounge" and yes, even "Gutter Guards". Who knows what they will be replaced with.

I'm sorry, let me get down off this soapbox 'brand' and get on with the important stuff.

As you have probably heard, Bill Anderson and his live in girlfriend have had some problems. The problem seems to have been over landscaping. Bill has claimed to be "the victim of unjustified domestic violence charges." At this point it's "Liars One, Believers Zero" and Bill is taking a "Time Out".

Look for Steve Wariner, Jennifer Hanson and Trace Adkins on the Opry next weekend. On April 11th/12th Radney Foster will be on stage along with the Gibson Brothers (a bluegrass band originally from upstate New York), Graig Morgan,  Ricky Scaggs, Steve Azar and Keith Urban.

Rhonda Vincent took the Opry stage and knocked their socks off with the title song from her new cd, One Step Ahead. If that wasn't enough, she and the Rage (Audie Blaylock, Kenny Ingram and Hunter Berry) let loose on the Pie County Breakdown.

On Saturday, Mountain Heart gave a fantastic performance, doing Mountain Man and then an instrumental, featuring Adam Steffey on the mandolin. Jeff Bates did his new single, The Love Song and one of the better country songs I've heard in awhile. My Inlaws Are Outlaws. This song has all thats good about a classic country song. Whiskey, outlaws and prison. Hahaha Next up was Dr. Ralph Stanley and Jim Lauderdale did a three song set, starting with She's Looking At Me and then Katie Daley. Ralph ended with The Girl From The Greenbriar Shore. Andy Griggs surprised many at the Opry with his very good version of an old Vern Gosdin song, If Your Gonna Do Me Wrong. It just goes to show, some of these new artists do know how to do real country and do it well.

Hope your there with us next week when the curtain goes up for another great Opry show.