As the Grand Ole Opry celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, the revered country music institution is celebrating its essential role in country music.
What became the Grand Ole Opry launched as the WSM Barn Dance in 1925, and has broadcast as the longest-running radio show in U.S. history.
The Grand Ole Opry currently has 76 members — and for artists at any stage of their careers, from newcomers to those who have been in the spotlight for decades, entering the membership ranks at the Grand Ole Opry has stood as a coveted career milestone. Those invitation moments often mean tears and speeches of awe and gratitude from the artists who are extended the invitation to join the Opry’s ranks.
When Carrie Underwood was formally inducted as a member by Garth Brooks in 2008, he told her, “Nothing will last as long or be more important than this award right here tonight.”
Each year, the Opry’s management team extends membership invitations to a handful of artists. According to the Opry’s website, consideration involves a number of factors, including radio airplay, music sales, touring, and industry recognitions. But beyond simply career stats, the Opry also seeks “a musical and generational balance,” as well as those with a passion for country music, and commitment to the Opry.
“The decision to bring a new act into the Opry fold is a two-pronged one, based on a combination of career accomplishment and commitment,” the Opry’s website states. “But, really, it comes down to just one word: relationships. The relationships between performers and fans. The relationships Opry members have with each other, relationships that may last for decades. And, perhaps most importantly, the relationship between each artist and the ideal of the Grand Ole Opry.”
The Opry’s most recently inducted members are Lainey Wilson, Scotty McCreery, T. Graham Brown and Stephen Curtis Chapman (each inducted in 2024), while the Opry’s oldest living member is Bill Anderson who, at age 87, has been an Opry member since 1961. Beyond solely artists, those in Opry membership also include comedians such as Henry Cho and Gary Mule Deer (both inducted in 2023), and musicians such as Country Music Hall of Fame harmonica player Charlie McCoy, who has been a mainstay in Nashville’s recording studios for five decades, and who served as the music director for the television show Hee Haw for nearly two decades.
Below, we look back at 10 memorable moments of artists being invited to join the Grand Ole Opry.
The Oak Ridge Boys
The Oak Ridge Boys received in 2011, when Little Jimmy Dickens walked onstage, dressed as Oak Ridge Boys member William Lee Golden, complete with sunglasses and flowing beard.
“All my life I’ve wanted to be a little bitty Oak Ridge Boy,” Dickens told the Opry House crowd, before inviting the legendary vocal group and “Elvira” hitmakers to join the Opry as members.
Oak Ridge Boys member Joe Bonsall replied for the group, saying, “Jimmy, that’s the funniest thing we’ve ever seen, first of all. This is a brotherhood and sisterhood like any other. We’ve been friends of the Opry for a long time…we’ll get on our bus later and let this process, but I guess we have until Aug. 6 to let it sink in.”
The Oak Ridge Boys were inducted as members on Aug. 6, 2011, and during their induction were greeted with a video from President George H.W. Bush, who said, “I cannot think of any group or any person who deserves this honor more…I think of the Opry and the Oaks both as American icons — beloved from coast to coast and known around the world. I can’t think of a better union.”
Craig Morgan
Craig Morgan was invited to become a member of the Opry on Sept. 18, 2008, during a concert held for U.S. military members at North Carolina’s Fort Bragg. After performing a rendition of “Rose Colored Glasses” with John Conlee, Morgan was surprised when Conlee invited him to become an Opry member. Morgan quickly became emotional at the invite, holding back tears and quickly accepting, saying, “Oh, God, yes! I do love the Grand Ole Opry, and I gotta tell you, it’s cool to be invited right here.”
Conlee later formally inducted Morgan as an Opry member on Oct. 25, 2008.
Carrie Underwood
In March 2008, Randy Travis surprised Carrie Underwood onstage at the Opry, to become a member of the Opry. Clearly elated, Underwood quipped, “Let me think about it…yeah!” with a bright smile on her face.
Underwood’s fellow Oklahoma native Garth Brooks inducted her as a member on May 10, 2008.
Luke Combs
In 2019 — over a decade after John Conlee invited Craig Morgan to become an Opry member — both Morgan and Conlee (as well as Chris Janson) &t=59s at the Opry, as Combs made his 16th Opry appearance.
“What a career this guy is having, it’s incredible,” Conlee said. “The Grand Ole Opry wants you to know we just love you.”
“Well, I love the Grand Ole Opry,” Combs replied.
“How would you like to be the next member of the Grand Ole Opry?” Conlee, Morgan and Janson chimed in. Combs was quickly overcome with emotion, hugging Morgan, Janson and Conlee and wiping away tears with his shirt.
“Holy cow. Are you serious? Because if you’re not serious that would be really mean,” Combs quipped, still taking in the moment.
Combs was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry as a member on July 16, 2019. Among those who inducted Combs were Vince Gill, Joe Diffie, Craig Morgan and Chris Janson.
Charlie Daniels
In 2007, Martina McBride during his annual Christmas For Kids benefitin Nashville, and gave him an “early Christmas gift,” by inviting him to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
After wiping away tears, Daniels addressed the crowd, saying, “I cannot even begin to tell you folks — this is very emotional for me. When I was so young, when I first started listening to music, one of my first memories of music were happening right here, where I’m standing right now, when I listened to all the greats of country music sing over the airwaves at WSM when I was a kid… I never, ever in my wildest dreams… I never dreamed that this would happen. The first time I ever walked on this stage was with the Earl Scruggs Review back in the early ’60s, and I was so honored, I was just trembling almost — to walk on this stage, and to think that my name will now be added along with all those great, great names of people who are members of the Grand Ole Opry… I had no idea.”
Daniels was inducted as a member on Jan. 19, 2008, with Marty Stuart and Connie Smith among those inducting Daniels.
Darius Rucker
In 2012, while performing on the Grand Ole Opry, Darius Rucker was invited to join the Opry‘s membership ranks — with Opry member Brad Paisley getting in on the surprise. Rucker was told there would be an impromptu question-and-answer session to take part in that evening, and Paisley promptly stood up in the audience to ask Rucker the first question.
“This is funny,” Rucker quipped. Paisley first asked Rucker about his poker playing skills, then asked him the crucial question, “Would you like to be the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry?”
“Oh, you’re kidding me… yes, I would.” He repeatedly exclaimed “wow!” as Paisley joined Rucker onstage, hugging and high-fiving him.
Rucker was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry as a member on Oct. 16, 2012, with Vince Gill among those spearheading the induction celebration.
Little Big Town
In 2014, Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet were performing a three-song set on the Grand Ole Opry when Reba McEntire joined them during their performance of “Pontoon.”
Addressing the group, McEntire said, “I know the Grand Ole Opry is very important to y’all, because this is the first place you guys played together as a group in 1999. I have been asked to ask y’all: Little Big Town, would y’all like to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry?” The group’s members each enthusiastically accepted the invitation, with Fairchild saying, “Thank you, Grand Ole Opry! We will try to make you proud!”
Little Big Town was inducted into Grand Ole Opry membership on Oct. 17, 2014, and ushered into Opry membership by Little Jimmy Dickens and Vince Gill.
Scotty McCreery
In December 2023, Scotty McCreery was the Grand Ole Opry by none other than Country Music Hall of Famer Garth Brooks. Brooks surprised McCreery as a Opry Country Christmas concert was underway at the Grand Ole Opry. Brooks walked onstage carrying a wrapped giftbox, then handed the box to McCreery, with instructions to not open it until Christmas.
“This is a Christmas present to the Grand Ole Opry,” Brooks said, then inviting McCreery to become an Opry member. McCreery then shook his head in awe, quickly accepting Brooks’s offer.
“Holy cow,” McCreery exclaimed. “Yes, I would love to. I grew up listening to your records, Garth, and you’re a part of what made me want to do this for a living.” Speaking to the Opry audience that evening, McCreery said, “I didn’t think that dream would become a reality, but it is because of all of y’all sitting in this house tonight. God bless y’all.”
McCreery was inducted as a member of the Opry on April 20, 2024, by two more of his heroes, Randy Travis and Josh Turner.
Lainey Wilson
Last year, Lainey Wilson was surprised on a grand scale with her invitation to become a Grand Ole Opry member. When Wilson made a guest appearance on The Voice, McEntire used that moment to honor Wilson with the coveted invitation.
“Lainey I am so proud of you,” McEntire said, adding, “I’ve heard that I’ve inspired you in what you’ve done so far and I’m thrilled to death if I had anything to do with your career, ‘cause you are blowin’ it up.” She went on to say, “I couldn’t be more proud to be the one that helps you continue to bridge the gap between our generations… I’d like to be the person to invite you to be an official member of the Grand Ole Opry.”
“Holy moly!” Wilson exclaimed, hugging McEntire. “That’s a birthday gift right there, thank you so much.” Wilson, whose family was in the audience, also noted how her family took her to the Grand Ole Opry when she was nine years old, thanking them for supporting her dream.
Wilson was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on June 7, 2024, with Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood inducting Wilson.
Blake Shelton
Fellow country artist Trace Adkins played a big role in Blake Shelton’s Opry invitation. In September 2010, Adkins and the Opry made the most of Shelton’s signature sense of humor and, at the time, well-known and frequent use of Twitter (now X). That night, Shelton and Adkins performed a rendition of their hit “Hillbilly Bone” during a celebration held to commemorate the Grand Ole Opry’s grand reopening, after a massive flood in Nashville had damaged the Grand Ole Opry House.
Wrapping an arm around Shelton, Adkins then addressed the crowd, saying, “Y’all know how Blake’s famous for doing the Twitter thing, he’s always sending tweets. Well, the Grand Ole Opry sent Blake a tweet tonight.” Handing Shelton a phone, he said, “Here, look.”
The tweet read, “@blakeshelton, you’re invited to join the Grand Ole Opry. See you on 10/23/2010!”
Taking in the moment, “Shelton said, “I know a lot of guys that want this as bad as bad as I have wanted it. Forget them, for now. I don’t know what I ever did in the last year or so to finally turn Nashville’s head a bit, but whatever I did, man I’m loving this. This moment right here is hands down the highlight of my career.”
Shelton was inducted into the Opry on Oct. 23, 2010, introduced by Jeannie Seely and inducted by Adkins.
