Reba McEntire invited Lainey Wilson to join the Grand Ole Opry during the finale of NBC’s “The Voice” earlier this week.
The country music veteran extended the invitation to become the next member of the Grand Ole Opry after the current ACM Entertainer of the Year finished playing her new single, “Hang Tight Honey.”
“Lainey, I am so proud of you. You did a wonderful job. I have heard that I’ve inspired you and what you’ve done so far, and I am thrilled to death if I had anything to do with your career, ’cause you are blowing it up,” Reba said.
She added, “I was so proud of you at the ACMs the other night, and I couldn’t be more proud to be the one that helps you continue to bridge the gap between our generations, keep ’em all goin.’ I’d like to be the person who invites you to be an official member of the Grand Ole Opry.”
The invitation was followed by an emotional scene of both the artists hugging each other, and a tearful Wilson telling Reba, “My family’s over here tonight, and I will say, they took me to Nashville when I was nine years old and we went to the Grand Ole Opry, and we saw Bill Anderson and Crystal Gayle and Little Jimmy Dickens, and I knew that I wanted to play there, I wanted to do it.”
“It is so crazy that you’re asking me to be a member ’cause I look up to you so much,” she continued. “I’m not talking about just musically, but the way that you carry yourself and your work ethic, you inspire me every day.”
McEntire also presented the Louisiana native with a gift, a custom-made belt buckle reading “Opry” and “Lainey” with “2024” emblazoned on its reverse side.
Wilson is set to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on June 7.
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