July is a big month for new and returning seasons on RFD-TV. The new schedule boasts returning classic TV gems not seen in decades, including the popular celeb-studded bluegrass series “WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour.” In addition, the July schedule boasts several returning season premieres including “Presleys’ Country Jubilee” which recently celebrated a 50-year anniversary. Additional season premieres include “The Jimmy Dean Show,” “Cookin’ Outdoors with Johnny Nix,” “Rural Heritage,” “Larry’s Country Diner,” “Country’s Family Reunion,” “The Penny Gilley Show,” and “Heart to Heart Classics” with Stan Hitchcock.
“We’re continually working to freshen up our schedule with great content,” said Jeremiah Davis, RFD-TV’s VP of programming. “Rural Americans are loyal viewers of RFD-TV, and we’re confident they’ll love the new roster of 2017 shows as much as we do.”
New Programming Premieres Include:
WoodSongs - Premieres Friday, July 7th at 6:00 p.m. ET
“WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour,” is a global production that airs on radio and television networks around the world and brings together both musicians and music lovers to celebrate the traditional American experience through song. The series features an eclectic array of popular artists from genres of folk, blues, country, jazz, new-age, and rock. Season one guests include songwriter Jewel, Southern rock band The Kentucky HeadHunters, banjo great Bela Fleck, The Mavericks, genre-busting Michael Martin Murphey and bluegrass super group the Earls of Leicester. Past artists have also included Imelda May, the Indigo Girls, Amy Grant, Kenny Loggins, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Pink Martini, Judy Collins, Joan Osborne, Janie Fricke, Neko Case, Lee Ann Womack, John McEuen, Jakob Dylan, and Peter Frampton among others.
Returning New Seasons Include:
The Jimmy Dean Show - Premieres Sunday, July 2nd at 7:00 p.m. ET (encores on Fridays at 6:30 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. ET)
Go back to a time when names such as Buck Owns, Hank Williams Jr., Roy Clark, and George Jones had yet to fall into the category of Legend a couple of newbies named Jim Henson and Frank Oz operated a future Muppet, and co-host, Rowlf the Dog. Considered cultural yeast due to the fact many unknown guests would go on to become icons in their own field. “The Jimmy Dean Show” is a fun-filled, family-oriented musical romp from the mid-1960s, Tune in and experience “The Jimmy Dean Show”, right here on RFD-TV.
Cookin’ Outdoors with Johnny Nix - Premieres Monday, July 3rd, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. ET
There’s just something about a campfire that invites you in. Each week the folksy Alabama native delights foodies with his southern charm and culinary skills, guiding viewers through the process of cooking everything outdoors. Whether it’s peach cobbler or a bacon-wrapped stuffed turkey breast, it’s all cooked right over a campfire. Nix has been perfecting his open fire cooking techniques for more than 25 years, which began when he and his wife Wanda started camping and trail riding with their horses. It’s the cast iron lover’s dream show chock full of recipes, cooking techniques and topped off with his signature phrase “Y’all eat yet?”
Rural Heritage - Premieres Tuesday, July 4th, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. ET (encore Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. ET)
“Rural Heritage” profiles the farmers and ranchers that leverage tools, techniques, and resources that farmers of yesteryear used to grow and cultivate crops. “Rural Heritage” features stories of people who use self-sufficient and back-to-the-land living, natural farming methods, and draft animal power to show how these men and women successfully compete with their larger more tech-savvy neighbors who employ expensive modern machinery and rely on chemical fertilizers and insecticides to grow their crops.
Larry’s Country Diner - Premieres Thursday, July 6th, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. ET (encore Saturdays at 11:00 p.m. ET)
The popular cast of this unique variety show returns with new episodes and toe tappin’ musical guests with July episodes featuring guest stars Rhonda Vincent, Daryle Singletary, Shane Owens, Ashley Campbell, and Carl Jackson
Country’s Family Reunion - Premieres Friday, July 7th, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. ET (encore Saturdays at 12:00 a.m. ET)
“Country’s Family Reunion” continues with new episodes of “Kickin’ Back,” along with back to back episodes of Grand Ole Time featuring The Whites with Ricky Skaggs, Jack Greene, Jeannie Seely, Moe Bandy, Dallas Frazier, Rhonda Vincent, Johnny Carver, B.J. Thomas, Larry Gatlin, Jim Ed Brown, Jan Howard, Colin Raye, Jimmy Fortune, Don Wayne, John Conlee, Neal McCoy, and Jim Glaser.
The Penny Gilley Show - Premieres Friday, July 7th, 2017 at 3:30 p.m. ET (encore Saturdays at 7:00 a.m. ET)
“The Penny Gilley Show” is a weekly half-hour country music variety show with host Penny Gilley, taped at the historic Palace Theater in Grapevine, Texas. The show features regulars Mike Walker, a singing impressionist from Branson, Missouri, B.B. Secrist, the rocking piano player performing in the Jerry Lee Lewis style, Rocky Gribble and the Grapevine Opry Band, and Penny’s longtime fiddle player Bonnie Riley. “The Penny Gilley Show” features different guests each week such as Charlie Pride, Mickey Gilley, Johnny Lee, Red Steagall, Roy Clark, Ronnie Milsap, and other country legends. Gilley, he has logged over 300,000 miles performing in Branson, MO and around the world entertaining our troops after her song, “The Line Drawn in The Sand,” caught the attention of General Schwarzkopf during Desert Storm. She has performed all over the world including Iraq, Kosovo, Bosnia, Kuwait, The United Emirates, Japan, Germany, and has completed eleven tours to Korea. Join Gilley, the sweetheart of country music, every week for great music and fun, with lots of class, glitz, and glamor.
Heart to Heart Classics - Premieres Friday, July 21st, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. ET
Stan Hitchcock is back on with 14 never-before-seen on RFD-TV episodes! The veteran country music performer and founding executive for CMT draws upon his musical heritage in this 30-minute conversation program where he sits with the stars and legends of country, gospel, western, and bluegrass to talk and play the music that has shaped their lives.
For the full program schedule click, HERE.