The 2020-2021 Pauls Valley Opry Awards Show was one for the ages! The night was filled with wonderful music including a few Christmas tunes, the anticipation of announcing winners of awards, and honoring those who play essential roles in the survival of the Pauls Valley Opry. All of the guests at the Pauls Valley Opry happened to be previous award winners and the spirit of love filled the theatre.
We know it is always going to be a great night when Mary Alice Koehn is on the show. Mary Alice put a smile on our faces, got our toes tappin’ and hands clappin’ on the Emmylou Harris tune “Guess Things Happen That Way.” She schooled us all when she sang the Tammy Wynette super hit “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad.”
The “Pastor of the Pauls Valley Opry” Mike Deviney only gets better every time he’s on the show. An exceptional vocalist, singer-songwriter-musician, Mike knocked it out of the park during the December edition of the Pauls Valley Opry, getting everyone on their feet with the Tracy Lawrence hit “Can’t Break it to My Heart.” He rocked the house with the Travis Tritt version of “Take It Easy.”
The “Voice of the Pauls Valley Opry,” John Williams, was back doing a great job as emcee and as a featured guest. This guy is the total entertainment package – musician, songwriter, vocalist and comedian – and he was cookin’ on Saturday night! He raised the roof when he sang the George Strait classic “The Fireman.” Then he raised praises to the Lord with another George Strait song, “There’s A New Kid in Town.” We refer to Wiley Winters as the Pauls Valley Opry’s “Gentle Giant.” It is true, Wiley is big in stature, but if you could see inside this guy, you would see that he’s all heart. Wiley is a favorite at the Opry. He hit it between the uprights with songs like the Don Williams tune “Tulsa Time” and made the ladies swoon with the Conway Twitty hit “Don’t Take It Away.”
Missy Rude has won countless awards for her vocals and is a previous Hall of Fame award winner at the Pauls Valley Opry. Missy is a very versatile singer, and she stole our hearts with the Martina McBride hit “Heartaches by the Number.” She, then, got us in the Christmas spirit with Brenda Lee’s megahit “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” As an added treat, Wiley even came out and played the sax on this tune!
However, when Wiley came back and joined Missy on stage, we knew that we were going to witness something beautiful and memorable! Wiley and Missy sang “Mary Did You Know?” and the crowd was in awe. No one can do it any better than Missy Rude and Wiley Winters.
As always, the Memory Makers Band added a few songs to the night’s enjoyment. Thanks to Greg Griffin for filling in on bass guitar.
Most are aware that the Pauls Valley Opry has moved (at least temporarily) to Pauls Valley Junior High School. We want to sincerely thank Superintendent of Schools Mike Martin for allowing us to utilize this beautiful theatre and everyone at the school who helped us make the transition - Martha Graham, Travis Thompson, Drew Etheredge and Brian Morrison.
Thanks to all of the folks who advertise through the Pauls Valley Opry. Without them and YOU who come through the door, the Opry could not exist. Thank you for your support of local musical venues during these trying times.
There will not be a show in January, but we will be back on Feb. 5 at the Pauls Valley Junior High School, 302 North Willow, in Pauls Valley. We will welcome Anne Young, Gunner Shi Donham, April Davis, Randall Armstrong and Jae L. Stilwell, along with emcee John Williams. Also making their Pauls Valley Opry debut will be Michael Webb and Zach Mitchell. We’ll see you AT THE OPRY!
