Over the past two decades, Blake Shelton has made his mark at the Grand Ole Opry. The country music star behind classics like “God’s Country” and “Home” performed at the historic venue for the first time when he was just 24 years old, and now he’s hosting NBC’s 100th anniversary event, Opry 100: A Live Celebration.
The Voice Coach alum was officially invited to become an Opry member nearly a decade after his debut. And just like when the Queen of Country Reba McEntire presented Lainey Wilson with her invitation during The Voice Season 25 finale, Shelton’s moment was just as memorable and emotional.
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Read on to find how and when Shelton was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry, a moment the country icon described as the “highlight” of his career.
On September 28, 2010, Shelton was asked to join the Grand Ole Opry with a tweet while he was on stage with Trace Adkins. After the country stars performed their song “Hillbilly Bone” at an event celebrating the Grand Ole Opry’s reopening after the venue was ravaged by a historic flood, Shelton was visibly surprised when Adkins told him to read a tweet.
“Hey, y’all know how Blake’s always sitting and he’s famous for doing the Twitter thing. You know, he’s always sending tweets,” Adkins said to the crowd as he had one arm around Shelton’s shoulders. “Well, the Grand Ole Opry sent Blake a tweet tonight. Here, look.”
As Adkins handed Shelton his phone to read the tweet, the crowd erupted in cheers as they saw a screen of the tweet that read: “@blakeshelton, you’re invited to join the Grand Ole Opry. See you on 10/23/2010!”
The Oklahoma native smiled and then gave Adkins a big hug. “Man, it takes a long time!” Shelton joked, referring to when he made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 2001.
“I know a lot of guys that want this as bad as I have wanted it. And, uh, forget them for now!” Shelton said with a laugh. “I don’t know what I ever did in the last year or so to finally turn Nashville’s head a little bit. But whatever I did, man, I’m loving this. This moment right here, hands down, is the highlight of my career. Thank y’all so much. Thank you, Grand Ole Opry.”
Less than a month later, Shelton was officially inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on October 23, 2010. “Tonight, for me, is the Nashville dream,” Shelton said at his ceremony. “This is what I wanted from the beginning — to make a mark in country music, and this is the ultimate one. You’re born knowing what the Grand Ole Opry is, but I don’t think you really understand the Grand Ole Opry until you’re here … This is the biggest thing that’s ever happened to me.”
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How to watch the Opry 100: A Live Celebration, hosted by Blake Shelton
Opry 100: A Live Celebration airs on NBC on Wednesday, March 19 from 8 to 11 p.m. ET and, and will be simulcast on Peacock.
Hosted by Shelton, the three-hour live TV event will feature performances from a long list of country stars, special appearances, and more.
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“Becoming a member of the Opry is a highlight of my life and career, and 15 years later, I still get that same feeling of reverence and excitement every time I walk out on that stage,” Shelton said in a statement. “The Grand Ole Opry has been connecting the country music family for 100 years, and I’m so proud to be part of this historic celebration.”
