Scotty McCreery Left Stunned After Garth Brooks Invites Him To Join The Grand Ole Opry
This is a dream come true for the North Carolina native.
Garth Brooks, Scotty McCreery; Photo by Chris Hollo, Courtesy The Grand Ole Opry
Scotty McCreery received the surprise of a lifetime on Sunday evening when Garth Brooks invited him to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.
McCreery was on stage performing as part of Opry Country Christmas when Opry member Garth Brooks appeared on stage with him.
Surprise Invitation
Brooks walked on stage carrying a beautifully wrapped present and handed it to McCreery.
“Merry Christmas. This is a Christmas present to the Grand Ole Opry,” Brooks explained and quipped, “I wrapped it myself!”
Brooks then warned McCreery, “Don’t open it. Not ‘til Christmas.”
Unsure of what to do, the North Carolina native acknowledged, “I’ll do whatever Garth Brooks says.”
Christmas Came Early
All jokes aside, Brooks revealed that McCreery’s gift “isn’t here yet.”
“Tonight is merely an invitation…On behalf of the Grand Ole Opry. And this is a Christmas present to the Grand Ole Opry. We would love for Scotty McCreery to be the newest member of the Grand Old Opry.”
The platinum-selling star appeared to be stunned.
“Holy cow. Yes, I would love to,” McCreery said from the stage. “I grew up listening to your records Garth and you’re a part of what made me want to do this for a living and didn’t think that dream would become a reality, but it is because of all of y’all sitting in this house tonight. God bless y’all.”
McCreery later continued, “When I got started doing this people asked, ‘what are your goals.’”
He Became A Bit Emotional
With his baritone voice noticeably cracking with emotion McCreery shared, “and I’d say ‘one day I’d like to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry.’”
As the news began to sink in, McCreery bent down and reached out to the wooden circle at the center stage of the Opry. This iconic spot has been graced by many of his idols and colleagues.
His wife, Gabi, and son, Avery, got to witness this pivotal moment from backstage. Following the show, McCreery reacted to the news on social media, writing, “I have not stopped smiling since last night.”
A date for Scotty McCreery’s Opry induction has yet to be announced.
Made His Opry Debut In 2011
Scotty McCreery made his Grand Ole Opry debut on June 10, 2011. This bucket list moment came just 16 days after the then-17-year-old was crowned the winner of American Idol season 10. He made his debut alongside American Idol runner-up, Lauren Alaina.
The news comes on the heels of a wildly successful year for McCreery, who was recently inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall Of Fame.
“If you know me, you know how much I love my home state of North Carolina,” McCreery proudly shared in a statement. “There are so many great musical talents from all genres that have come from our state, and I am honored to be inducted alongside them in the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.”
Additionally, he is currently climbing the charts at country radio with his latest single, “Cab In A Solo,” which has made its way into the Top 25. This buzzed-about single is expected to appear on the country star’s yet-to-be-announced new album, which is expected to drop next year.
In 2024, the chart-topping singer/songwriter will hit the road on his headlining Cab In Solo Tour. This upcoming tour will include Anne Wilson as direct support as well as Greylan James and Noah Hicks on select dates.
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.
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