Vince Gill Shocks T. Graham Brown With Invitation To Join Grand Ole Opry
Brown was left speechless and began to cry.
Vince Gill, T. Graham Brown; Photo Courtesy of The Grand Ole Opry
Vince Gill just surprised T. Graham Brown with an invitation to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and the unexpected moment left Brown in a puddle of tears.
Vince Gill Invites T. Graham Brown To Become A Member Of The Grand Ole Opry
On Tuesday afternoon, during a live recording of T. Graham Brown’s Live Wire for SiriusXM, Gill told Brown, “I was asked to come here by the Opry to invite you to become the next member.”
Brown was left nearly speechless over the unexpected invitation and didn’t initially believe Gill was telling him the truth.
“Aww boo…no,” he shouted.
Gill clarified, “Maybe you’ll sing that song, on that night.”
Realizing that this dream was in fact becoming a reality, Brown was overcome with emotions and began to cry.
Watch The Emotional Moment
“They love you,” Gill said in reference to to the Opry. “It’s a special place and you will be a valued part of that place.”
Brown was left without words and got up out of his seat to hug Gill.
“I didnt’ mean to make you cry,” Gill said.
Gill Says It Was All A “Set Up”
The “One More Last Chance” singer then revealed that the entire day was “all a set up.” He began to laugh and tole Graham, “Every question you asked me today, I lied like a dog!”
Opry member Mark Wills was one of the first artists to share their excitement over welcoming Brown to the Grand Ole Opry family, writing, “A HUGE congrats to my friend T. Graham Brown on being invited by Vince Gill to join our Grand Ole Opry Family. His addition is so welcomed!”
Fans Declare, “It’s About Time”
Fans also reacted to the news on social media. One Instagram user declared, “About damn time,” while another shared, “He’s so appreciative! I love this! So deserving!”
T. Graham Brown has yet to release an official statement regarding his Opry invitation and a date for his Opry induction has yet to be revealed. Hours after the surprise invitation, Brown opened up the Grand Ole Opry show.
Where Is T. Graham Brown From?
The 69-year-old is originally from Arabi, Georgia. He relocated to Nashville in 1982 and began singing jingles for corporate companies (his voice has been heard in advertising campaigns from McDonald’s, Disneyland, Coca-Cola, and more). Two years later, in 1984, he signed to Capitol Records to begin his career as a recording artist.
His debut single was “Drowning in Memories,” which became a Top 40 single. His next release, “I Tell It LIke It Used To Be,” proved to be a chart success, climbing all the way to No.1.
Shortly after, he followed up with more hits, including the self-penned track “Hell And High Water,” marking his first-ever No.1 song. Success continued with subsequent releases like “I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again” and “Don’t Go To Strangers,” all of which soared to the top of the charts.
He later raked in No.1 hits gospel and blues, proving his talent could cross genres.
How Many No.1 Singles Does T. Graham Brown Have?
In all, T. Graham Brown has released 15 studio albums and charted more than 20 singles on the Billboard charts. Brown has collaborated with artists such as Vine Gill, The Beach Boys, Tanya Tucker, Jason Crabb, The Oak Ridges Boys and more.
To this day, he maintains a busy touring schedule, gracing prestigious stages like the Grand Ole Opry and appearing on television shows such as Larry’s Country Diner and Country’s Family Reunion. He also appears in the new film, A Nashville Wish, alongside Lee Greenwood.
T. Graham Brown’s unmatched talent and charisma have solidified his status as one of today’s most cherished and iconic performers.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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