Ashley McBryde Receives an Earned Grand Ole Opry Invitation
This week, country music lost one of its most iconic performers in history after the 90-year-old Loretta Lynn passed away. Among so many other accomplishments and roles Loretta Lynn played in her life and her career, one of the most significant ones was being a long and devoted member of the Grand Ole Opry, making her debut on the show in 1960. Now we know who will be taking Loretta’s place among the Opry membership, and the timing couldn’t be better, and the distinction more deserved.
Ashley McBryde will be the next member of the Grand Ole Opry. Announced very awkwardly and unconventionally on the CBS This Morning TV show Thursday morning (10-6), she was invited by Garth Brooks via satellite link. Ashley McBryde was in the television studio in New York, being interviewed for her excellent new album Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville when Garth Brooks was piped in from the Grand Ole Opry House to make the invitation.
“It would be the great joy, and the great honor of my life. Thank you Garth,” McBryde responded.
“It’s the longest-running family in country music history,” Garth said. “You belong in it. We need you. You will make us stronger for decades to come. I love you, congratulations, it couldn’t happen to a sweeter person.”
Only on #CBSMornings, two-time Grammy-winner @garthbrooks just surprised singer-songwriter @AshleyMcBryde with an invitation to join the "longest-living family in music history," at the @opry! pic.twitter.com/c9S7A9EDfH
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) October 6, 2022
But despite the awkward pauses, Garth’s crocodile tears, and Gail King’s awkward interruptions, it was still an important moment for Ashley McBryde. Usually such invitations transpire on the Opry stage itself during a performance. Perhaps both the Opry and McBryde’s team felt being on national television would make for a more prominent moment.
Though other names could definitely be bandied about for performers who deserve this honor, Ashley McBryde most certainly makes a smart and deserving pick from the current class of mainstream country artists. Her conceptualized album Lindeville just released last week proves this with the type of incisive and impactful songwriting, and country-sounding accompaniment that is helping to turn the tide for major label country music.
Ashley McBryde has also earned this invitation by being part of multiple “moments” on the Grand Ole Opry itself, helping to illustrate why it’s not just another stage and another radio program, but that the moments mean more when you’re standing within the hallowed circle. McBryde singing her song “Girl Goin’ Nowhere” during her Grand Ole Opry debut on June 16th, 2017 was about the perfect Opry moment.
Along with being a Grand Ole Opry member (pending proper induction), Ashley McBryde has been a highly awarded artist, despite her lack of juggernaut sales. She was named the CMA New Artist of the Year in 2019, and has been nominated three times for Grammy Awards.
“There’s Grammys, and there’s being a member of the Grand Ole Opry, [they] are the two greatest things that could ever happen to you as an entertainer,” McBryde said. “I’ve always said I will earn it. This is a pretty surreal moment.”
And earned it she has. If the Grand Ole Opry was going to pick someone from the current crop of mainstream artists, Ashley McBryde is who deserved it the most.
October 6, 2022 @ 8:16 am
Oh I thought it was sweet and made me tear up a little. Don’t let your old heart turn to stone, Trig 🙂
October 6, 2022 @ 8:27 am
Oh I’m not saying it wasn’t an emotional moment. I just could have done without Gail King’s yammerings, and it wouldn’t have felt as awkward at times if it had been done on the Opry stage. That said, years ago this kind of thing would have done in a handshake backstage.
October 6, 2022 @ 11:40 am
Gayle King was just another anchor at Channel 3 in Hartford, CT, until her old friend Oprah became queen of everything superficial and tear-jerking. Her presence at today’s TV event was 10 times more irritating than Garth’s.
October 6, 2022 @ 1:58 pm
You good bro?
October 6, 2022 @ 8:18 am
Couldn’t agree more. I watched it live this morning. Opry invitations always make me tear up, but this one seemed extra special because Ashley deserves it sooo much. And then they surprised Ashley even more by revealing that her mom was in the studio too…I fell to pieces.
Brava, Ashley. Get it girl.
October 6, 2022 @ 8:36 am
Love to see it. Ashley is incredible. Both musically and, as far as I can tell, personally.
And her new album is fantastic. Probably given it a dozen spins at this point. Have to imagine it’ll be a candidate for AOTY. Been some good ones this year, but this being a passion project makes it even greater.
October 6, 2022 @ 9:40 am
Could not agree more. I can’t stop playing it. The imagination and creativity just comes right into your mind through the speakers. AOTY consideration for sure.
Congrats to Ashley for this well deserved honor!
October 6, 2022 @ 8:55 am
Obviously I’m good with her being a member but man does cringe Brooks have to cry or almost cry everytime he’s in a interview ?
October 7, 2022 @ 9:32 am
In the 90’s and early 00’s I was, maybe, the biggest Garth fan in the world. His comeback album had some fairly good songs on it, but, MAN, has he gone downhill since then. The “Aw shucks” schtick he’s always had doesn’t work too well when the music sucks. It’s hard for me to listen to ANY of his music, now. That’s a shame.
On the plus side….Ashley ABSOLUTELY belongs in the Opry! Glad she’s where she should be.
October 6, 2022 @ 9:05 am
Not bad for girl going nowhere.
October 6, 2022 @ 9:45 am
The Grand Ole Opry is officially back on track; their last several additions have been phenomenal choices. Congratulations to Ashley!
October 6, 2022 @ 1:57 pm
You got yourself a good girl?
Because I’ve got it good, girl.
October 6, 2022 @ 9:50 am
That Girl Goin Nowhere performance at the Opry gives me goosebumps every time.
MUCH deserved. Congrats, Ashley.
October 6, 2022 @ 9:56 am
Well deserved. Congratulations, Ashley! ????
October 6, 2022 @ 1:34 pm
Really thought Jon Pardi would be next
… Dude is always overlooked when it comes to honors/awards..
October 6, 2022 @ 1:43 pm
Nice, I think i can almost start saying I’m a fan of country music without needing to add a disclaimer.
Also, that new Dropkick Murphys album of Woody Guthrie songs rips freakin hard. Especially the duet with Evan Felkner
October 6, 2022 @ 1:55 pm
I hate these invites being staged for TV. Same thing happened with Lady A’s invite…
Such invites should be intimate and special…. Not televised for a “reaction” like its a Superbowl game…
“ASHLEY MCBRYDE, YOU JUST GOT INVITED TO JOIN THE OPRY AS ITS NEWEST MEMEBER. WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO NEXT???”
—- “I’M GOING TO DOLLYWOOD AND THE BOBBY BONES SHOW”
????
October 6, 2022 @ 5:31 pm
A great addition and invite, of course with the exception of the fake crybaby. Welcome aboard Ashley.
October 7, 2022 @ 5:33 am
Garth cried?
October 6, 2022 @ 9:56 pm
The Opry has suffered the same fate as the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, it has become a joke. So many artists get overlooked in favour of flavour of the moment and political reasons. It’s great for Ashley, but the Opry’s legacy was long ago tarnished.
October 7, 2022 @ 9:37 am
Who are the artists that should be members of the Grand Ole Opry? I would like to know.
October 7, 2022 @ 3:09 pm
Jelly Roll has appeared often on the opry stage lately… He could be invited next ?!
October 8, 2022 @ 9:34 am
Let him at least record a full country album first!
October 9, 2022 @ 9:02 am
Miranda Lambert. Why hasn’t she been invited?
October 10, 2022 @ 10:30 am
That question I’d pay to know the answer to. It’s insulting that she has not been invited. Do the “voters” have an axe to grind when it comes to Miranda? He talent and boost to country music can’t be denied.
October 12, 2022 @ 7:20 am
I guess overrated Miranda just cares about her paid for cm awards and her Las Vegas shows. ???? Miranda doesn’t care about the Opry. She said it in interviews.
October 12, 2022 @ 7:41 pm
Blake’s in partnership with the Opry with his Ole Red restaurants. Blake just played the Opry with his wife Gwen. Miranda said in interviews she has no interest in being a member of the Opry. Google it. If you want to be a member you have to want it and perform there. ????????
October 12, 2022 @ 7:16 am
It’s because Miranda has absolutely no respect for the Grand Ole Opry. Miranda chose to hardly ever perform at the Opry. It’s not a priority for her. You can’t be a member if you never perform. Little ms. phony country Miranda would rather perform in Las Vegas than the Opry.???? I read her LV show is awful and tickets aren’t selling. You can’t buy into the Opry the way overrated undertalented Miranda buys her cm awards. ????
October 12, 2022 @ 7:40 am
Has Blake performed at the Opry with any regularity…recently? I don’t know. He’s still a member. Many members don’t appear there as they are asked to do when they are invited to join. Barbara Mandrell never performs there anymore…and is still a member. I realize she has “retired”. But the late Holly Dunn was tossed out supposedly due to lack of performing when she moved out of state and quit performing. Different rules for different folks I guess.
October 13, 2022 @ 1:37 pm
Elizabeth Cook has guested, what, over 400 times? When Garth went into the Hall of Fame, he said that there were a lot of people ahead of him in line. Elizabeth should have been inducted into the Opry a LOOOOONG time ago.
October 7, 2022 @ 12:15 am
Way to go Ashley! She and I discussed (at Storme Warren’s bash at BMI) that we must have had the same
teacher that tried to use a hammer on our dreams.
Thank God Ashley didn’t listen and neither did I.
October 8, 2022 @ 8:18 am
If I could invite a person to join the Grand Ole Opry it would be Kathy Mattea. Besides being from West Virginia, my home state, she has performed at the Opry many times. Oh, I remember. She hosts “Mountain Stage” so she may have a problem performing her performance obligations. Still would like her to be a member.
October 8, 2022 @ 8:20 am
Wrong message I was responding to. It was Country Charley Crockett’s Butter I was responding to.
October 7, 2022 @ 7:09 am
Well deserved.
October 7, 2022 @ 5:17 pm
I thought this was awesome, yes some interruptions, but Ashley deserves this. She has worked hard, written some incredible music and puts on one hell of a show. Congratulations buddy!!
October 8, 2022 @ 5:49 pm
Well deserved.
Also, sorry (off topic) – did you all know that Herschel Walker loves Gone With the Wind. He quotes it (or tries to):
“I dunno nothin bout bortin no babies”
October 8, 2022 @ 5:56 pm
Sorry to be responding to myself like a weirdo, I don’t know a ton of her music but I know enough that she’s great. Didn’t want to seem like I was being purposefully disrespectful.
I’m just crazy. Not insane.
October 9, 2022 @ 6:26 am
Are you JB Smooth, the comedian ?
October 10, 2022 @ 5:13 pm
No, I am not he. But I like to think that whatever modest lingual cleverness I may have I owe to country music especially.
October 11, 2022 @ 11:53 am
I think Willie and Strait should be asked first, but they probably wouldn’t fulfill their mandatory performances, but I guess Garth doesn’t fulfill his, either. I wonder if this presentation/invitation stood in the stead of one of his appearances? 🙂
September 19, 2024 @ 6:58 pm
Sure can learn a lot from them comments, long as you don’t mind movin a ton a gravel t get an ounce of coal.