The Circle Gets Bigger: Grand Ole Opry Invites Its Newest Member

The Grand Ole Opry Extended Their Latest Invite

The Grand Ole Opry’s Saturday night broadcast on August 9th featured performances by Kathy Mattea, Charlie McCoy, John Conlee, Mandy Barnett, Hayes Carll, Madeline Edwards, Gary Mule Deer, and Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers.

According to WSM Radio, it was the 5,197th live radio broadcast of the Saturday Night Grand Ole Opry show.

During Kathy Mattea’s set, Charlie McCoy snuck onstage with a bouquet of roses. She quite literally stopped singing when she saw him standing to her left.

“Oh! Charlie? You just turned my speaker off!” she said with a laugh.

“I’m so sorry to interrupt,” McCoy said. “But, I brought you a little [something.] But I want to ask you a question. How would you like to be the next member of the Grand Ole Opry?”

Mattea covered her mouth with her hand in surprise before saying, “Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes,yes, and thank you!”

“Oh my gosh,” she said, standing in the iconic Opry Circle as she received a standing ovation from the adoring audience.

Mattea took to Facebook later that evening to express her gratitude once again.

“WELL….I just experienced a night I will never forget!,” she wrote. “Thank you Grand Ole Opry, for making ALL of us feel like family, whether we are members or not! And for inviting me back to play, over and over again thru the years….and thank you to my friend, fellow West Virginian, and legendary musician, Charlie McCoy, for bearing roses and an invitation I am honored to accept!!!”

Watch the video below to see her invite.

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Who Is Kathy Mattea?

Kathy Mattea is a country and bluegrass singer from South Charleston, West Virginia. She is known for charting over 30 songs on Billboard‘s Hot Country Songs chart with four going No. 1.

Her No. 1 hits include Goin’ Gone,” “Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses,” “Come from the Heart,” and “Burnin’ Old Memories.”

“Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses” earned Mattea the ACM Award for Single of the Year and Song of the Year in 1988, as well as Single of the Year at the CMA Awards.

The following year, she won Female Vocalist of the Year at the CMAs and ACMs and Song of the Year for “Where’ve You Been” at the ACM Awards. “Where’ve You Been” also won her a Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Her other Grammy Award was for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album for her Christmas album Good News.

Throughout her career, Mattea has collaborated with some legendary artists including Dolly Parton, Michael McDonald, Tim O’Brien, Guy Clark, Alison Krauss, her husband, Jon Vezner, and more.

Congratulations to Kathy Mattea, who will officially become a member on Saturday, October 11th!