T. Graham Brown Becomes Grand Ole Opry Member
T. Graham Brown becomes a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry
T. Graham Brown was officially inducted as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry over the weekend by Opry member Vince Gill.
Pictured (L-R): Don Schlitz, John Conlee, The Isaacs, Jeannie Seely, Mark Wills, Sheila Brown, Vince Gill and T. Graham Brown. Photo: Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry
Also on hand to celebrate Brown’s big moment were Opry members John Conlee, The Isaacs, Don Schlitz, Jeannie Seely and Mark Wills, who all wanted to be a part of the induction and welcome Brown to the family.
“As great as this night is for you, you have to know it is equally as great to us,” says Gill. “I brought all the other members out to the stage be a part of this for you tonight because you are now a part of our family. And the family that goes on here, is way deeper than any hit song you’ll ever have. Congratulations and welcome.”
“Hallelujah! I’m going to try not to cry,” Brown said before thanking God, the fans, the Opry staff, his wife Sheila and his son Acme, who played drums in the band for him during his performance.
Brown sang several of his biggest hits during the milestone show, including “I Tell It Like It Used To Be” and “Darlene,” and he brought the crowd to their feet as Jimmy Fortune joined him on “Wine Into Water.”
He was surprised with the invitation to become an Opry member by Gill in front of a live SiriusXM studio audience during a taping of his SiriusXM show Live Wire in February. The CMA award-winner has toured extensively since the early ’80s, and has performed on the Opry more than 300 times. Brown’s signature hits include the bluesy “I Tell It Like It Used To Be,” “Hell And High Water,” “I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again,” “Don’t Go To Strangers,” “Darlene” and “Wine Into Water,” which has been recorded by over 100 artists including the legendary Loretta Lynn on her project, Full Circle.
