Exclusive: See Inside MaRynn Taylor’s Grand Ole Opry Debut

MaRynn Taylor is taking fans through her dream-come-true Opry debut with a video and self-penned diary that features 11 photos illustrating every step of her day, from getting glam-ready to stepping into the historic circle for the first time and celebrating the coveted occasion with her friends, family and team members.

On Friday, June 23, rising songwriter and Black River artist was welcomed on stage by country music great, Jeannie Seely, who was also the one to initially invite Taylor to make her Opry debut. This on-stage reunion between Seely and Taylor was followed by a release day performance of her new song, “01.” 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MaRynn Taylor (@marynntaylor)

A Dream Come True

Before moving into her next song, Taylor looked out into the crowd of 4,000 people, and with tears in her eyes, she took in this milestone moment and addressed the crowd.

“Hi, Y’all! I’m MaRynn. I am so overwhelmed and thrilled to be here. This has been such a dream of mine ever since I was little. I just love country music, as much as you probably do, and I’m so thankful that I get to be here.”

Accompanied by her guitarist and co-writer, Dan Wilson, and background vocals to her right, she went on to a high-energy delivery of her radio single “Make You Mine.”

“This next song is at Country radio right now, and I wrote it with Mr. Dan Wilson, who is standing right up here,” Taylor gushed. “Oh, this is just so special, and I’m so thankful I get to share it with y’all. This is called ‘Make You Mine.’” 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by MaRynn Taylor (@marynntaylor)

The audience was so enthralled that the performance resulted in a rare standing ovation, adding to the list of scrapbook memories that made her Opry debut complete. 

Once the curtain had fallen and the lights were brought up in the Opry House, Taylor got the chance to commemorate the night alongside family, friends, her record label and publishing company Black River, along with her management team, Jonas Group Entertainment. The intimate celebration featured cake and ice cream in the Grand Ole Opry’s in-house television studio and home to HEE HAW, Studio A.

Watch

The video was directed by Ben Oakes and produced by Oakes Creative. 

Keep reading to get an in-depth look at her full day through a series of heartfelt words and accompanying photos that captured the highlights from each moment leading up to her Grand Ole Opry debut. 

Photo Diary

Y’all. I feel so blessed. This dream I’ve had for a long time came true on June 23, 2023. I got to perform on the Grand Ole (freaking) Opry! Here are 11 (my lucky number) pictures from the best night of my life!  

I absolutely love getting my makeup done. I was mid-dance move in this pic at my label, Black River, as my makeup artist, Jossy Maness, probably wished I’d stay still. But I couldn’t, I was just so out of my mind happy! 

The feeling of walking into the backstage artist entrance of the Opry, knowing you are going to perform on that iconic stage, is a feeling like no other. So many artists have walked under this canopy, and I am so honored to be one of them finally!

I probably said, “IT’S CARRIE’S SHOES!” 11 million times. I’ve looked up to her for so many years, and to get to walk in her same footsteps backstage, it felt unreal. 

This is me at soundcheck, stepping into the iconic circle for the very first time. First of all, I couldn’t stop crying. Secondly, I couldn’t stop staring out into the pews picturing what it would look like with 4,000 people sitting out there. A few hours after this photo, I would find out what it looked like! 

It takes a team! Tanya, who’s in the chair, is helping me put on my gorgeous shoes ‘cause I couldn’t bend down at all, guys! I love this photo ‘cause it captured the chaotic moments and excitement of what’s about to happen!!

Speaking of shoes, we need to take a moment to appreciate this gorgeous pair from Betsey Johnson. They made my dogs look really good! My stylist Tiffany Gifford worked very hard to put my dream Opry Debut outfit together, and she definitely slayed!

About this time of the night, I was getting a little nervous. Putting on my Yun Yun Sun earrings and the last few touch-ups to make this look complete. There’s a lot of adrenaline and excitement in this picture, but I think the thing that mostly comes through in this picture is how thankful I felt.

This picture of me on stage in my dream Milla dress is special to me because I feel like I’m holding my heart, and I’ve always felt like the Opry is the heart of country music. I am definitely in my feels in this one. 

These three people are so gracious and kind to me. I’ve known Charlie since the very very beginning of my career. He and Bill Cody from 650 AM WSM’s “Coffee, Country, and Cody” have supported me nonstop. Jeannie Seely surprised me one morning when I was a guest on the show to tell me that I was gonna make my Opry debut! The night of, she introduced me as I walked on stage, and I gave her a big ole hug! Dan Rogers is the Vice President and Executive Producer of the Grand Ole Opry and a HUGE part of the reason I got to walk out on that stage in the first place. I’m so incredibly thankful for all of these three! 

PARTY TIME! Looking at all of these people who came to support me brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. When I moved to Nashville, I had nobody, and now I have a room full of people sharing and celebrating a huge milestone with me.  

These cakes were so good! They had strawberry, chocolate AND vanilla in there! Being surprised by them and having my name and Opry Debut on thee was pretty cool! I know I’ve said it, but I will never stop saying how thankful I am that I got to step into that circle. 

Thank YOU, Country Now, and to all of you who take time out of your day to scroll through my precious photos and watch the video from the best night of my life! Obviously, I like to talk about it, so hit me up on socials if you want to know more.