The country legend surprised Wilson with the announcement during Tuesday’s finale of The Voice
Lainey Wilson has been having a phenomenal year, and it was made all the sweeter during NBC’s finale episode of The Voice on Tuesday evening.
After performing her latest single, “Hang Tight Honey,” which she debuted at the ACM Awards last week, country music legend Reba McEntire surprised Wilson with a special announcement.
Rising from her coach’s chair, McEntire joined Wilson on stage and told the star how proud she was of her. “You did a wonderful job and I have heard that I’ve inspired you and what you’ve done so far, and I am thrilled if I had anything to do with your career because you are blowing it up,” she said.
She continued, “I was so proud of you at the ACMs the other night, and I couldn’t be more proud to be the one that helps you continue to bridge the gap between our generations. Keep ’em all going. I’d like to be the person to invite you to be a member, official member, of the Grand Ole Opry!”
Wilson appeared shocked by the news and was soon moved to tears as the crowd erupted in cheers. “My family’s over here tonight. I will say they took me to Nashville when I was nine years old, and we went to the Grand Opry and we saw Bill Anderson and Crystal Gale and Little Jimmy Dickens, and I knew that I wanted to play there,” Wilson shared. “I wanted to do it, and it was so crazy that you were asking me to be a member because I look up to you so much. I’m not talking about just musically, but the way that you carry yourself and your work ethic. You inspire me every day.”
During an interview with Rolling Stone last year, before taking home the 2024 Grammy for Best Country Album, Wilson discussed country’s renaissance. “It is becoming pop culture. It’s like everybody, all of a sudden, is wanting a horse and wanting to wear a cowboy hat. You get on TikTok, and you see these kids wishing that they were country. And that’s cool,” she said. “It’s like, ‘Welcome to the party — where ya been?’”