Carly Pearce Officially Joins the Grand Ole Opry: ‘The Greatest Moment of My Life’

It’s official – Carly Pearce is the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.  The “Next Girl” singer was officially…

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Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

August 4, 2021

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Carly Pearce; Opry Induction; Photo by Chris Hollo, Grand Ole Opry

It’s official – Carly Pearce is the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry

The “Next Girl” singer was officially inducted into the hallowed country music institution on Tuesday evening (Aug. 3) by longtime Opry member Trisha Yearwood

Pearce was inducted after her official intro from her friend and fellow Opry member, Jeannie Seely

“Carly has all the obvious wonderful traits, but she has that one extra thing, determination,” Seely shared. “She has the sincerest dedication and strongest work ethic of anyone I’ve ever known in my life. And she never strayed from her path of wanting to be a member of the Opry.”

Pearce then took the stage to perform her chart-topping hit, “I Hope You’re Happy Now” as well as a duet with Trisha Yearwood on “How Do I Live.” 

Then, Pearce’s crowning moment came as Yearwood declared, “This is a very special place, and when you are invited it’s an invitation to the family. So, with much pride and joy, Carly you are now an official member of the Grand Ole Opry.”

Pearce gushed over the opportunity to join the Opry family and explained what it means to her. 

“What makes this family something special to be a part of is you can have hit records and sell out shows, but all of that can fade and this is something I will have forever,” she shared. “It’s a stage to sing on, a circle to stand in and a forever family. This is super special to me. All I ever wanted to do was sing country music. This isn’t another accolade or feather in my cap but a promise that I will do my due diligence to make sure the circle is never broken.”

After Pearce shared a performance of “Dear Miss Loretta,” she joined Yearwood and Seely for a performance of the Kitty Wells classic “Making Believe.”

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by c a r l y p e a r c e (@carlypearce)

Following her Opry induction, Pearce took to social media to share her excitement over the evening, calling it the “greatest moment of my life.” 

Carly Pearce was surprised with an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry in June by longtime Opry member Dolly Parton. 

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Lauren Jo Black

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.