There are a number of bluegrass acts performing this weekend on the Grand Ole Opry. If you will be near your radio – and are within the huge WSM radio footprint – or close to your computer, you can catch some top bands live tonight (11/28) and tomorrow as well.

Tonight’s show will include performances from Dailey & Vincent, The Whites and Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press. On Saturday night, The Whites are back, along with Melonie Cannon (with Randy Kohrs), and Jesse McReynolds & The Virginia Boys.

The Friday Opry is broadcast from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. (EST) and the Saturday show runs from 8:00 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. Both shows are available over the air on WSM AM 650, on XM channel 11 (XM Nashville), and simulcast worldwide via online streaming at wsmonline.com.

The Whites have received a lot of honors and awards during their career, including two Grammy Awards. This last Saturday, they received another honor, they were inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.

The ceremony took place at the Hall of Fame Theater in Carthage, TX. Ralph Emery served as the emcee for the event.

They weren’t alone as this year’s inductees also included country star Buck Owens, and singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury.

Here’s a bit of information about The Whites, from the press release.

Daddy Buck White began his musical journey in the Texas dance halls not long after the end of World War II. Retiring in the early 1960’s to raise a family with wife Pat, he moved his brood to Arkansas. In a matter of months, Buck and Pat were makin music again, forming a band called The Down Home Folks. Oldest daughters Sharon and Cheryl soon joined in and the family began performing at bluegrass festivals around the country. The 1970’s brought the White family’s move to Nashville and Pat White’s retirement to stay home with youngest daughters, Rosie and Melissa.

Changing the name of their band to reflect their family ties, The Whites turned their attention to country music in the 1980’s, enjoying a succession of Top 20 hits on Billboard’s country chart, culminating in their induction as members of the Grand Ole Opry in 1984. The Whites have continued to entertain and inspire audiences world-wide with their unique blend of bluegrass, country, and gospel music. In 2001, they were honored with ‘Album of the Year’ GRAMMY and CMA awards for their contribution to the soundtrack of the smash hit movie O Brother, Where Art Thou?, a film in which they also appeared. In 2008, The Whites earned GRAMMY and Dove awards for Salt of the Earth, a gospel collaboration with Ricky Skaggs. They may not use the name anymore, but Buck, Sharon, and Cheryl White are still creating music that’s as good and as real as everything conjured up by the phrase “down home folks.”

The Gospel Music Association has announced the nominees for the 2008 Dove Awards, and their bluegrass categories are chock full of familiar names.

The awards will be announced at the 39th Annual Dove Awards on April 23 in Nashville, TN.

The Bluegrass Recorded Song of the Year nominees are:

• He’s In Control from Austins Bridge by Austins Bridge; Justin Rivers, Mike Kofahl, John Ramsey (writers); Daywind Records
• I Will Find You Again from Lifetimes by Little Roy Lewis, Earl Scruggs, Lizzy Long; Wayne Haun, Joel Lindsey, Cindi Ballard (writers); Vine Records
• Love Will Be Enough from Salt of the Earth by Ricky Skaggs & The Whites; Janis Ian, Paul Overstreet (writers); Skaggs Family Records
• Salt of the Earth from Salt of the Earth by Ricky Skaggs & The Whites; Jim Rushing, Ronald Scaife (writers); Skaggs Family Records
• The Key To Heaven from Flyin’ High by The Lewis Family; Caleb Collins, Lyn Rowell (writers); Vine Records

In the Bluegrass Album of the Year category, we have:

• God’s Masterpiece – The Marksmen; Mark Wheeler (producer); Rural Rhythm Records
• Lifetimes – Little Roy Lewis, Earl Scruggs, Lizzy Long; Wayne Haun, Kevin Ward (producer); Vine Records
• Salt Of The Earth - Ricky Skaggs & The Whites; Ricky Skaggs & The Whites (producer); Skaggs Family Records
• Tell Someone - Kenny & Amanda Smith Band; Kenny & Amanda Smith Band (producer); Rebel Records
• Where No One Stands Alone – Paul Williams & The Victory Trio; Paul Williams (producer); Rebel Records

Congratulations and best of luck to them all!

When you watch televised awards shows, you always hear about “awards presented earlier in the day.” Well, that is when the niche music awards are presented, including ones of particular interest to readers of The Bluegrass Blog.

The 2008 Grammy Award for the Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album goes to Salt Of The Earth, from Ricky Skaggs & The Whites.

Congratulations, guys.