Old Time Radio Westerns Podcast: "Somebody Loves You" (Ernest Tubb) | Grand Ole Opry (02-21-52)
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Release Date: November 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode transports listeners back to a classic night at the Grand Ole Opry, originally aired on February 21, 1952. Digitally restored for exceptional audio quality, the show centers on legendary country star Ernest Tubb—the "Texas Troubadour"—as he hosts a rollicking, music-filled half hour. The episode exemplifies the warmth, humor, and musical prowess of vintage radio, featuring star performances by Ernest Tubb, Johnny & Jack with the Tennessee Mountain Boys, the Crook Brothers, Tommy Sosby, the Carter Sisters (with June Carter), and Moon Mullican.

Listeners are treated to heartfelt country ballads, toe-tapping square dances, comedic banter, and nostalgic advertising vignettes that capture the spirit of 1950s American life.

Key Segments & Highlights

1. Opening & Introduction (04:40)

• The Martha White's Grand Ole Opry show kicks off, celebrating "the South's standard of quality for all purpose home baking for 54 years."
• Host Ernest Tubb receives a warm welcome and sets the musical tone.

2. Ernest Tubb Performs “Somebody Loves You” (05:05)

• Ernest Tubb opens the musical program with a smooth rendition of the heartfelt ballad “Somebody Loves You.”
  • Quote (Ernest Tubb, 05:10):
    “Somebody loves you each hour of the day. When you're around, dear, or when you're away. Somebody loves you, sweetheart, can't you see? And that somebody is me.”
• The performance showcases Tubb’s signature style—simple, sincere, and emotionally resonant.

3. Introduction of Guests & Lineup (06:13)

• Ernest enthusiastically introduces the night's guests:
  • Johnny & Jack with the Tennessee Mountain Boys
  • Tommy Sosby
  • The Carter Sisters with Mother Maybelle
  • Moon Mullican
  • The Crook Brothers

4. Johnny & Jack and the Tennessee Mountain Boys: “I Can’t Tell My Heart That” (06:40)

• The duo delivers a soulful performance about heartbreak and denial, blending harmonious vocals with classic country instrumentation.
  • Quote (Johnny, 07:22):
    "I can’t tell my heart that you are no good. I’d give this world if only I could. You cheated, you lied, you left me flat. Yes, it’s true, but I can’t tell my heart that."

5. Vintage Martha White Flour Commercial (08:54–11:42, recurring)

• Throughout the show, lively, jingle-filled commercials tout Martha White’s Self Rising Flour.
  • "Goodness gracious, it’s good!"
• Emphasizes its time-saving benefits and guarantees "higher, lighter, better biscuits every time."

6. Crook Brothers: Square Dance Instrumental “Buff Creek” (12:20)

• Traditional old-time square dance led by lively fiddle and banjo, accompanied by a spirited caller.
  • Memorable Moment (Caller, 12:50): "Swing her high and swing her low, round and round and on you go! Meet that partner, swing her halfway round and right back the other way!"

7. Tommy Sosby: “Till I Waltz Again With You” (14:15)

• Tommy Sosby serenades with the romantic, wistful “Till I Waltz Again With You,” demonstrating vocal warmth and emotional appeal.
  • Quote (Tommy Sosby, 15:10):
    “Let no other hold your charm. If my dream should all come true, you'll be waiting for my arms.”

8. Comedy Interlude: Ernest Tubb and June Carter (17:13)

• June Carter joins Ernest for playful banter about her misadventures in ice skating and roller skating.
  • Quote (June Carter, 17:45):
    “I've ice skated all week and don't know a bit more than I did when I started… I had one coat and two cushions.”
• Ernest and June's back-and-forth showcases genuine chemistry and the homespun humor that embodied classic Opry broadcasts.

9. Carter Sisters (June, Helen, Anita): “Kaw-Liga” (18:45)

• The sisters harmonize on this Hank Williams hit about a lovelorn wooden Indian.
  • Quote (Carter Sisters, 19:31):
    “Poor old Kaw-Liga, he never got a kiss, poor old Kaw-Liga, he don’t know what he missed.”

10. Moon Mullican: “Jambalaya (On The Bayou)” (21:07)

• Moon Mullican brings a Louisiana flavor with rollicking piano and vocals on this Cajun classic.
  • Quote (Moon Mullican, 21:18):
    “Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and a filé gumbo—tonight I’m gonna see my ma chère amie-o. Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou!”

11. Ernest Tubb: “Dear Judge” (24:27)

• Tubb performs this emotional ballad about a child’s plea during a custody hearing—a moving story-song with a moral heart.
  • Quote (Ernest Tubb, 24:36):
    “Dear Judge, can’t you make them see that Mom without Daddy, or Dad without Mommy, would only mean heartbreak to me?”

12. Johnny & Jack: “Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes” (26:08)

• Another infectious country number, urging faithfulness and love across distances.
  • Quote (Johnny & Jack, 26:38):
    “Don’t let the stars get in your eyes, don’t let the moon break your heart. Love blooms at night, in daylight it dies…”

13. Closing and Farewell (28:10)

• Ernest Tubb thanks everyone and invites the audience back for the next show (“starring Carl Smith”).
• Final promotional plugs for Martha White’s array of products.

Notable Quotes

• Ernest Tubb (Opening, 05:10):
  “Somebody loves you, sweetheart, can't you see? And that somebody is me.”
• June Carter (Comedy, 17:45):
  "I've ice skated all week and don't know a bit more than I did when I started. I had one coat and two cushions."
• Carter Sisters (Singing, 19:31):
  “Poor old Kaw-Liga, he never got a kiss, poor old Kaw-Liga, he don’t know what he missed.”
• Moon Mullican (Performance, 21:18):
  “Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou!”
• Ernest Tubb (Ballad, 24:36):
  “Dear Judge, can’t you make them see that Mom without Daddy, or Dad without Mommy, would only mean heartbreak to me?”

Timestamps of Key Segments

| MM:SS | Segment | |-------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:40 | Grand Ole Opry/Martha White Show Introduction | | 05:05 | Ernest Tubb – “Somebody Loves You” | | 06:13 | Guest Lineup Introduction | | 06:40 | Johnny & Jack – “I Can’t Tell My Heart That” | | 12:20 | Crook Brothers – Square Dance “Buff Creek” | | 14:15 | Tommy Sosby – “Till I Waltz Again With You” | | 17:13 | Comedy: Ernest Tubb & June Carter | | 18:45 | Carter Sisters – “Kaw-Liga” | | 21:07 | Moon Mullican – “Jambalaya (On The Bayou)” | | 24:27 | Ernest Tubb – “Dear Judge” | | 26:08 | Johnny & Jack – “Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes” | | 28:10 | Closing and Martha White product pitches |

Overall Tone and Experience

The episode radiates nostalgia, warmth, and country charm, with an abundance of live music, playful jokes, and authentic Southern hospitality. Martha White commercials, woven throughout, evoke memories of simpler times and home baking.

Listeners are immersed in the genuine musicality and humor of Opry legends, making this an essential listen for fans of traditional country music and vintage radio.

For first-time listeners, this episode encapsulates the magic of classic Grand Ole Opry—a blend of music, storytelling, and community that remains timeless.