Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe TODAY IN COUNTRY MUSIC (Oct. 2, 2001) Advertisement Merle Haggard and the Strangers' Okie From Muskogee was awarded a gold album in 1970 IT'S OPRY HOMECOMING MONTH The Grand Ole Opry, the world's longest-running live radio show, has proclaimed October "Opry Homecoming Month" as it welcomes back Opry members and its biggest fans. The month will be filled with special shows and events in and around the Opry House in celebration of its 76th Birthday. The Opry celebrates its birthday Oct. 12-13, with two shows both Friday and Saturday night including appearances by Opry members Bill Anderson, Little Jimmy Dickens, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Jeannie Seely, Ricky Skaggs, Ralph Stanley, Pam Tillis, Travis Tritt, Steve Wariner,The Whites and others. In addition to the four Opry performances Oct. 12-13, the Opry Plaza will be bustling with homecoming activities. Comedian T. Bubba Bechtol will host a Homecoming Picnic with music and special events beginning at 11:30a.m. Oct. 13. The Wildhorse Saloon will be have its barbecue, and as the picnic concludes fans will have a chance to buy a dessert baked by an Opry member during a Homecoming pie auction. Additional activities include a cake walk, strolling entertainment, a dunking booth with several Nashville celebrities and lots activities for children from 10 a.m. to 5:30p.m. Proceeds from selected activities will be donated to the Opry Trust Fund, which supports those in need in Nashville's Advertisement Country Music industry. Other Opry appearances in October include Opry members Charley Pride, Marty Stuart and Pam Tillis and special guests Gail Davies with the Jordanaires, Carolyn Dawn Johnson (debut Oct. 5), Ray Price, Allison Moorer and Rhonda Vincent. Throughout the month, Opry members will meet fans before each Opry show in the Grand Ole Opry Museum. The Opry also announces the return of its "Guest Announcer Series." Among those scheduled to come home to the music they love in guest announcer stints are Darrell Waltrip (Oct. 12), Bob Kingsley -- American Country Countdown (Oct. 13), R.L.Stine -- author of the children's book series "Goosebumps" (Oct. 20) and Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell (Oc. 27). MCBRIDE AND CLARK ON MOST WANTED LIVE Opry member Martina McBride will perform on CMT Most Wanted Live on Wednesday, Oct. 3. Terri Clark is scheduled for the Thursday, Oct. 11 show. CMT Most Wanted Live is open to the public free and broadcast live from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville daily at 6 p.m. ET. Advertisement CMA ON CBS The 35th Annual CMA Awards will be broadcast on Nov. 7 from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Opry members Diamond Rio will perform their hit single "One More Day" and George Strait, Brooks & Dunn, Toby Keith and Lee Ann Womack will perform new singles. Strait will perform his new single "Run" and Brooks & Dunn will sing "Only In America." Womack is scheduled to perform "Does My Ring Burn Your Finger" and Keith has selected "I Wanna Talk About Me." MUSIC CITY TRIVIA: Q.What artist is a native of Kingston Springs, Tennessee and was an EMT, paratrooper and member of America's most elite forces before getting into the music business? A.Craig Morgan. Coming Soon To The Opry Stage: Oct. 5: Rhonda Vincent, Carolyn Dawn Johnson (debut), Diamond Rio, David Ball, Craig Morgan Oct. 6: Rhonda Vincent, Carolyn Dawn Johnson (debut), Ray Price Oct. 12: Grand Ole Opry 76th Birthday - Steve Wariner, Brad Paisley, Travis Tritt Oct. 13: Grand Ole Opry 76th Birthday - Steve Wariner, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Ralph Stanley Oct. 19: Marty Stuart Advertisement Oct. 20: Allison Moorer Oct. 26: Confederate Railroad (debut), Charley Pride, Gail Davies w/the Jordanaires, Pam Tillis Oct. 27: Charley Pride, Gail Davies w/the Jordanaires Nov. 10: Trace Adkins, Clint Black Nov. 30: Joe Diffie Dec. 1: Joe Diffie Dec. 14: Jeff Carson Dec. 15: Tracy Lawrence, Jeff Carson For Opry tickets, log on to opry.com or call (615) 889-3060 or TicketMaster at (615) 255-9600. (Written by Dan Rogers at Opryland in Nashville and edited by UPI. If you have questions about the Music City Report, contact Dan at [email protected])