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“You’ve always been family to me … but I’m here to invite you to be a part of different family,” said Jon Pardi on Sunday, June 28, as he stood on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. “Rhett Akins, I’m here to invite you to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry.”
From there, Rhett Akins immediately lowered his hat, and put his hand over his eyes as he teared up.
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The crowd, there for ’90s Country Night at the Grand Ole Opry, went wild, applauding and cheering for the artist and songwriter known for songs like “That Ain’t My Truck,” “Don’t Get Me Started,” and “Kiss My Country Ass.”
Watch Rhett Akins Respond To Invitation To Become A Member Of The Grand Ole Opry
Rhett Akins had just finished performing his ’90s Country Night set when the invitation to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry was extended to him by Jon Pardi, whose hit “Dirt On My Boots” was co-written by Rhett Akins.
Pardi then embraced Akins, whom he had lovingly referred to as “Rhettro” when he first walked up onstage.
During that embrace, Akins was joined onstage by his son, Thomas Rhett; Thomas’ wife, Lauren Akins; his own wife, Sonya; and their 6-year-old, Brody, who was sporting a Willie Nelson t-shirt and a cowboy hat.
Asked to speak on what the invitation means to him, Akins stepped into the Circle of the Opry and kneeled down.
Standing up at the microphone, he then said, “Wow. All I do all day is write words, and I can’t think of any words right now, other than ‘thank you, Lord Jesus.’”
Continuing, Akins said, “I’ve been listening to the Grand Ole Opry since I was a kid with my grandparents, and watching it when it used to be on TNN, and playing here — any time they ask me, if I was in Alaska and they asked me to play, I’d fly home immediately, you know?”
Akins then said:
“I love country music with all of my heart, have since I was a kid. All I ever wanted to do was just meet Hank Jr., you know? Meet George Strait. I never dreamed that I would be here in this Circle right here with Bill Monroe, and Minnie Pearl, and Roy Acuff, and Garth [Brooks] and Allen [Reynolds], and Jon Pardi.”
Turning to Pardi, Akins then said he hoped to continue writing music with him, saying, “You need some more dirt on your boots, pal.”
After thanking his family, he then told the crowd, “I love country music. God bless y’all, thank you so much. I’m a member of the Grand Ole Opry.”
A date has not yet been announced for when Rhett Akins will be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.
Watch Rhett Akins get invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry, here:
Artists Congratulate Rhett Akins
In the comments on the Grand Ole Opry’s Instagram, several country artists chimed in, offering messages of congratulations to Rhett Akins for this milestone at the Grand Ole Opry.
“Yessir!!!” wrote Dustin Lynch, whose songs “Mind Reader” and “Small Town Boy” were co-written by Akins. He added, “Much deserved brother!!”
ERNEST wrote a series of clapping emojis.
Darius Rucker, frontman for Hootie & the Blowfish, said, “Welcome to the family my friend.”
Terri Clark wrote, “Congrats Rhett !!!”
Jake Owen wrote, “So well deserved.”
Conner Smith wrote, “This is incredible. So well deserved.”
Raelynn wrote, “So sweet!! The best in the business!!!”
See more, here:
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Revisit the 1995 music video for “That Ain’t My Truck,” here:
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