The following is the article written by Marcus K. Dowling that was posted online by The Tennessean:
Christmas came early for multi-platinum-selling country artist and American Idol winner Scotty McCreery. On Sunday evening, the 30-year-old North Carolina native with five No. 1 Billboard Country Airplay chart singles was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry Garth Brooks during the Opry's annual "Country Christmas" show.
"Merry Christmas," Brooks said after walking onstage and handing McCreery a wrapped gift. "This is a Christmas present to the Grand Ole Opry. We would love to invite you to be the newest member of the Opry." "Holy cow. Yes, I would love to," replied a stunned McCreery.
A longtime Brooks fan, McCreery noted to the crowd that as a frequent Opry performer who had not yet been offered membership, he "didn't think that dream would become a reality."
"When I got started doing this people asked, 'what are your goals,' I'd say 'one day I'd like to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry.'" McCreery then bent down and filled with emotion, touched the circle of wood in the Opry's center stage.
A professional performer for half of his life, the longtime fan of artists including Brooks, Ronnie Millsap, Randy Travis and Conway Twitty is an avowed classic country fan who told The Tennessean in 2021 that above all else, he loved to "tell stories through a country song."
His most recent hit, "Damn Strait," pines after a relationship primarily based around a shared love of "The Chair" performer's catalog. McCreery sings, "Damn Strait, I used to love your songs/ But now every time that one comes on/ My heart gets broke in half."
"We're thrilled to extend this much-anticipated invitation to our friend Scotty," said Opry Executive Producer Dan Rogers.
"Whether he's on the Opry performing his hits, putting his spin on some old favorites during a performance on one of our Opry Country Classics shows, or offering a holiday set as he did tonight, Scotty consistently delivers and is always at home on the Opry stage. It'll be exciting to hear the words' Scotty McCreery, you're a member of the Grand Ole Opry!' in the early days of 2024."
McCreery's induction date will be announced soon.
Brooks has been busy not just downtown at his new Friends in Low Places honky-tonk, but in ushering in a new era of male crooners as Opry members. Six weeks ago, chart-topping "Last Night Lonely" vocalist Jon Pardi was officially inducted into the Grand Ole Opry by Brooks.
McCreery's induction raises the total of Opry inductions since March 2020 to 13 Opry membership additions since Darius Rucker's January 2021 induction. Not since Willie Nelson and Connie Smith were among a septet of 1964-65 inductions have the Opry's cast numbers grown so significantly in such a brief period.
(I did send in a correction to Mr. Dowling as Darius joined the Opry in 2012, not 2021).
Some of the choices as to Opry members I have liked more than others. In my mind, this one is a home run. Scotty is a true country singer who many times has expressed his love of the Opry. I am very confident that, much like his American Idol friend Lauren Alaina, that we will see Scotty often at the Opry.
Congratulations to Scotty McCreery and I am looking forward to his official induction in early 2024.
Nat Hill IV
ReplyDeleteI just heard Bill Cody play the invitation from last night.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Byron. I think he may be a "show up regularly" true country artist.
I'm not good on using a phone.
My name is above. :)
We often hear how life comes full circle and on Saturday night, that became true once again. Lauren Alaina was inducted as a member and Scotty McCreery will now be inducted two years later reuniting them on the Opry stage making them "Opry siblings" for all time.
ReplyDeleteAs an American Idol fan, I watched and listened as Lauren and Scotty sang their way to the Top 2 with Scotty winning it all.
To think he would win a singing competition (and she placing second place, which is not a bad place to be either) and both being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. Who can even dream this big? It would be so great if they could get Josh Turner to induct him, since Scotty told of his being a fan of Josh when on American Idol and one episode Josh walked on stage surprising Scotty as he was singing Josh's “Your Man.” You may watch it on YouTube if interested or just as terrific if Lauren were to induct Scotty if Josh is unavailable.
I hope that at some point, Lauren and Scotty will get to the Opry stage and sing a few songs together just as Patty Loveless and Vince Gill did Saturday night … were Patty and Vince not stellar?
Congratulations to the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry ... Scotty McCreery! So happy for you … you now have an additional place to call home.
(Jeanene)