Mark Wills Welcomed As Newest Member Of Opry

Photo: Chris Hollo for the Grand Ole Opry

Mark Wills became the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry last Friday night (1/11) during a sold-out performance at the Ryman Auditorium. Craig Morgan, a 10-year Opry member, officially welcomed Wills to the Opry family.

“It’s a great honor to be a part of this family as the cornerstone of our format and I’m proud to be here to welcome you,” said Morgan. The longtime friend jokingly added, “And I love knowing I will forever be embedded in your mind as part of your memory from tonight!”

“I thought many, many times what it would be like to have a good friend be the one who would induct me as a member of the Opry,” shared Wills. “Craig, you are a hero of mine and I will forever be indebted to you.”

“Vince Gill said it so well when he invited Mark to join the family last month, citing Mark as being one of the Opry’s great supporters and a proponent of what the Opry stands for,” said Sally Williams, SVP, Programming and Artist Relations/Opry General Manager. “We are glad to call him family, and look forward to Mark entertaining Opry audiences and sharing his passion for the Opry for years to come.”

Also appearing on the show was Carlton Anderson, who made his Grand Ole Opry debut. Among those set to perform on the Opry in the coming weeks are Bobby Bones, Vince Gill, Chris Janson, Dustin Lynch, William Michael Morgan, Eric Paslay, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, and more.