Lainey Wilson Becomes A Grand Ole Opry Member

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Lainey Wilson inducted as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry

Grammy, CMA and ACM winner Lainey Wilson was officially welcomed into the Grand Ole Opry family Friday night (June 7) by Opry members Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.

Trisha Yearwood presents the Opry member award to Lainey Wilson. Photo: Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry

“We are honored to be here tonight. There can never be too many women at the Grand Ole Opry,” Yearwood said when doing the honors. “I have had the chance to know you Lainey just a little bit and what I know and the biggest compliment I think I can pay you is that ‘you get it.’ You know what it means to love country music. You love the Grand Ole Opry and that’s really what it’s all about. I will tell you this, I know this, when I think about the future of country music, I know with you in it we are going to be okay.”

Brooks added, “I would say I’m so happy for you, but I’m so dang happy for the Grand Ole Opry. I really am. It’s just really rare that you find somebody at your age that already gets it. So I’m going to tell you, if it’s up to you, which I think it will be, your career is going to be as long as you want. There’s going to be highs. There’s going to be lows. The awards they give you now and you continue to receive will fade in time. The one thing that will continue is this family right here. Welcome to it.”

Yearwood ended by bringing Wilson in to the circle saying, “on behalf of all the Opry members past and present, welcome as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry, Lainey Wilson.”

Opry members Trisha Yearwood, Jeannie Seely, Lainey Wilson, Terri Clark and Mandy Barnett. Photo: Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry

“Honestly, it feels like the biggest night of my life,” an emotional Wilson said. “We have had a crazy couple of years and all the awards and everything but this right here feels like the highest honor for me. It feels like the stamp of approval from everybody that stood right here. That just lights another fire under my butt.”

Wilson brought her entire family to the stage to stand in the circle with her saying, “I want my family to be up here because this is theirs too. They have worked so hard for me to have opportunities.”

Wilson performed earlier in the evening with Opry member Terri Clark, who was celebrating her 20th anniversary as a member. The two performed Clark’s “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” before Wilson joined another music icon, Wynonna, on Tom Petty hit “Refugee.” She then performed some of her own hits, including “Things A Man Oughta Know,” “Heart Like A Truck” and “Watermelon Moonshine” as well as new songs “Dreamcatcher” and “Hang Tight Honey.”

At a backstage party, numerous Opry members and friends were on hand to share their congratulations. Among those sharing video messages were Bill Anderson and Crystal Gayle—both of whom played the Opry the night Wilson visited the show as a nine-year-old—as well as Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll and Dolly Parton.

“When I see Lainey on the Opry stage, I know without a doubt I’m looking at an important part of the Opry’s future,” said Dan Rogers, Opry executive producer. “What a phenomenal Opry additon and what a great night.”

Wilson was invited to become a member of the Opry by member Reba McEntire live on The Voice. The multi-Platinum and reigning CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year made her Opry debut on Valentine’s Day in 2020.

LB Cantrell
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