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GRAND OLE OPRY 65th ANNIVERSARY (TV)

Summary

This televised special celebrates the 65th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry, the famous country music establishment in Nashville, Tennessee. The program begins with a montage of the concert's history, dating back to 1925, and its many famous guests and performers. All of the evening's guests assemble onstage and sing "Turn Your Radio On," and newest Opry member Clint Black then sings "This Nightlife." He introduces the Riders in the Sky group, and they perform "Texas Plains" and "Maybe I'll Cry Over You." Next, Black introduces Reba McEntire and Vince Gill, who perform "Oklahoma Swing." Backstage, several guests comment on their early memories of performing on the Opry stage and on its chaotic-but-organized nature. Ricky Van Shelton sings "Oh, Pretty Woman" and explains the history of the rockabilly genre, then introducing Eddie Rabbitt, who performs "747." Vince Gill sings "Ridin' the Rodeo," and Shelton introduces Carl Perkins, The Jordanaires and DJ Fontana, and they perform "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," "Don't Be Cruel," "Shake, Rattle & Roll" and "Blue Suede Shoes" with the help of Gill and Rabbitt. McEntire briefly sings Patsy Cline's "Sweet Dreams" and introduces Loretta Lynn, who performs "You Ain't Woman Enough to Take My Man," and Lorrie Morgan, daughter of Opry member George Morgan, sings "Paper Roses" and "Out of Your Shoes."

McEntire introduces Garth Brooks, who sings "If Tomorrow Never Comes," followed by the more upbeat "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House." McEntire sings "Rumor Has It," and footage is shown of the Opry's various comics, whose funny material contrasts the typically sad and winsome themes of country music. A square-dancing group performs onstage, and Ricky Skaggs sings "Uncle Pen" and talks about the Opry's traditions and roots. Patty Loveless sings "Some Morning Soon," and Skaggs pays tribute to Bill Monroe, who established a new genre of music with his group the Bluegrass Boys. He sings an original number, "Long Live the Kentucky King," and acknowledges Monroe in the audience. Roy Clark then sings "Out Behind the Barn" and then discusses the Country Music Hall of Fame, explaining that a reunion of some of the Hall's members recently took place. On a pre-recorded tape, Earl Scruggs, Minnie Pearl, Loretta Lynn, Roy Acuff, Chet Atkins, Bill Monroe, Little Jimmy Dickens, Grandpa Jones, Kitty Wells and Pee Wee King all sing "Let the Circle Be Unbroken" and then trade stories and jokes about their pasts. Dickens sings the funny "May the Bird of Paradise," and Jones and Scruggs compare their banjo techniques. They all comment on Wells' influence on female country singers, and she performs "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky-Tonk Angels." Atkins sings the '20s standard "There'll Be Some Changes Made," adding a lyric of his own creation, and everyone sings "Tennessee Waltz."

The Hall of Fame group then convenes onstage, singing a reprise of "Let the Circle Be Unbroken," and fans comment on their enjoyment of the Opry and their favorite musicians. Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers perform "The Prodigal Son," then introducing Holly Dunn, who sings "Daddy's Hands." Alan Jackson performs "Home," and another group, consisting of Dan Howard, Connie Smith, Jean Shepard, Bill Anderson and Nell McDaniel perform a number of gospel songs, including "Wings of a Dove," "(There'll Be) Peace in the Valley (For Me)" and "I Saw the Light." All of the guests then take the stage together again and close the program with "The Grandest Lady of Them All," referring to their beloved Opry. Commercials deleted.

Details

  • NETWORK: CBS
  • DATE: January 19, 1991 9:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:87844
  • GENRE: Specials
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Specials; Music; Country music
  • SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1991
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants

CREDITS

  • Tom Griscom … Executive Producer
  • Hal Durham … Executive Producer
  • Robert H. Precht … Producer
  • Brian Hughes … Associate Producer
  • Patricia Branan … Associate Producer
  • Steve Binder … Director
  • Donald K. Epstein … Writer
  • Chet Hagan … Writer
  • Jean Whittaker … Choreographer
  • Roy Acuff … Performer
  • Bill Anderson … Performer
  • Chet Atkins … Performer
  • Clint Black … Performer
  • Garth Brooks … Performer
  • Roy Clark … Performer
  • Holly Dunn … Performer
  • DJ Fontana … Performer
  • Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers … Performer
  • Vince Gill … Performer
  • Grandpa Jones … Performer
  • Dan Howard … Performer
  • Alan Jackson … Performer
  • The Jordanaires … Performer
  • Pee Wee King … Performer
  • Little Jimmy Dickens … Performer
  • Loretta Lynn … Performer
  • Nell McDaniel … Performer
  • Reba McEntire … Performer
  • Lorrie Morgan … Performer
  • Bill Monroe … Performer
  • Minnie Pearl … Performer
  • Carl Perkins … Performer
  • Eddie Rabbitt … Performer
  • Riders in the Sky … Performer
  • Earl Scruggs … Performer
  • Jean Shepard … Performer
  • Ricky Skaggs … Performer
  • Connie Smith … Performer
  • Ricky Van Shelton … Performer
  • Kitty Wells … Performer
  • Patsy Cline
  • George Morgan