Trisha Yearwood officially welcomes Lauren Alaina as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Photo: Chris Hollo
Lauren Alaina was officially inducted as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry Saturday night (Feb. 12) by her friend and mentor Trisha Yearwood.
Yearwood surprised Alaina before their performance of Yearwood’s classic “Walkaway Joe,” introducing her husband Garth Brooks to the stage to play guitar for them.
“What I have gotten to observe in knowing you for the couple of years I have known you is how genuine you are,” Yearwood shared. “I think country music is in good hands. You are exactly the kind of artist that the Opry loves, and wants and looks for. Usually when someone gets inducted they say ‘it’s on behalf of all the members of the Grand Ole Opry,’ and I’m going to say that, but I also want to say every single person from the house band, to the crew, to who is parking cars, everybody tonight says how deserving you are and it’s about time. So on behalf of myself, all the members of the Opry, the crew and everyone who is associated with the Opry, you are now officially a member of the Grand Ole Opry, Miss Lauren Alaina.”
Lauren Alaina. Photo: Chris Hollo
“Ever since I was a little girl I dreamed of this moment,” said Alaina. “Both of my parents raised me with an appreciation for country music and all that it is, and all of the people who have come before me. I just want to say I promise to do everything I can to represent country music. I promise to represent this family well. I have felt like family here as long as I remember. Everyone at the Opry has always made me feel like family so for me to finally be officially in is the biggest dream come true of all time. Most little girls dreamed of their wedding; I dreamed of this. God Bless you guys and God bless country music.”
The Opry was the first major stage Alaina played just a week after she was named runner-up on Season 10 of American Idol, making her Opry debut on June 10, 2011. She has appeared on the hallowed stage more than 50 times since.
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