Charlie Worsham Invited to be New Grand Ole Opry Member
Multi-instrumentalist, solo performer, side player, and one of most overall likeable guys in Nashville will be the next member of the Grand Ole Opry. This was the news coming out of a Friday night (8-7) performance with Vince Gill, not at the Opry itself, but at the Ryman Auditorium where the Opry held court for decades, and Vince Gill was playing a multi-night residency with Charlie Worsham in his band.
After Worsham performed his song “Wrap My Porch Around” from his new album also released on Friday called Once Upon a Second Time Around, Vince Gill surprised him with the invitation. “I’ve been keeping this a secret for a long time,” Gill said. “What I get to do tonight is fulfill a dream for someone and this guy deserves this more than anyone I know. I’ve been asked by the Opry to invite Charlie Worsham to become the next member of the Grand Ole Opry.”
Worsham responded, “I’ve had the great privilege of having Vince as my North Star. We’ve had interviews together over the last year about the great music you are making. And I got to ask you about what you said when you went into the Hall of Fame, and your answer would be what I’m going to say. Now I’m going to try to go earn it … This is definitely the ultimate dream.”
It was a full “circle” moment for Charlie Worsham, so to speak. He made his very first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry at the ripe age of 12 as a National Banjo Champion from Grenada, Mississippi. He ended up going to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston before joining the band KingBilly, and then launching a solo career where he opened from major artists like Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, and Kenny Rogers.
But despite early praise and critical-acclaim, Charlie’s solo career has always seemed to take a back seat to his work with others. For a spell, he was a touring member of Old Crow Medicine Show. More recently, he was touring with Dierks Bentley and helping to fulfill the bluegrass side of Bentley’s sound. Worsham is currently considered a member of Vince Gill’s touring band. And that doesn’t even begin to delve into the immesurable credits Worsham has amassed as a studio musician playing on countless records.
Perhaps all of this has led him to being somewhat typecast as a side player. Though his records come with a lot of creative energy and a strong foundation of string-based roots, there’s also a pop sensibility to them that perhaps has both kept him at arm’s length from some of the more traditional-minded listeners, while not exactly earning him mainstream traction either.
But all of these reasons are what make Charlie Worsham such a solid pick as an Opry member. Though maybe to some of the aging legends he regularly plays with like Vince Gill, Worsham might feel like the new kid on the block still. But in truth he’s been in Nashville for 20 years, and has definitely earned this Grand Ole Opry induction, and probably many times over.
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August 9, 2026 @ 8:03 am
Excellent choice of Charle Worsham as the newest member of ‘The Grand Ole Opry;
Well deserved.
August 9, 2026 @ 9:23 am
One of the great tragedies of Nashville history was the mishandling of his radio career. Solid singles, a great voice, and the potential for excellent instrumental arrangements….and they poured it all down the drain pursuing drivel and “yeah girl” frat boys.
Charlie Worsham should have been a superstar.
August 9, 2026 @ 10:32 am
” … Now I’m going to try to go earn it … This is definitely the ultimate dream.”
You have already earned it, Charlie.
Now go have fun with it.
: D And, congratulations
August 9, 2026 @ 7:22 pm
Charlie is supremely talented and criminally underrated. There’s a reason he plays on the biggest artists’ albums, including Ella Langley. This is awesome!
August 9, 2026 @ 11:13 pm
Very handy that the invitation came the day Charlie put out his album. When I was preparing to speak to him for a forthcoming magazine interview (Country Music People, if I can be as gross as to plug it), I listened to his essential interview with Stephen Hogan. He reminded him that when he accepted his CMA Musician of the Year award, he opening by saying ‘I love making records’. It is about time the career sideman got his time in the spotlight. He truly is the heir to Marty Stuart, and the Deputy Mayor of Music City.
He also told me something about his friend Ketch Secor, but you will have to visit cmpcountry.com in a few weeks for that.
Big up Charlie Worsham, I say!
August 10, 2026 @ 10:35 am
oh good for him. Always wondered why this guy wasn’t a bigger star. maybe it’s because he’s actually able write good songs and sing them. Music Row hates artists who write better songs than the ones that come out of the cube farms.
August 10, 2026 @ 4:32 pm
Congratulations to Charlie, but if they’re inducting people based on being “nice,” playing on a lot of sessions, and touring with successful artists, then guys like Jon Randall and Brent Mason, etc., should already be members.
Charlie is super talented, and I’m sure he’s a good guy, but he had 1 top twenty hit thirteen years ago. It’s as if the folks running the Opry are clueless and just make random picks hoping something clicks with country fans. It could be worse, though, they could induct Jelly Roll…oh, wait.
August 10, 2026 @ 6:44 pm
Don’t hate on Jelly Roll. At least he is talented. With the drivel that passes for Country Music in 2026, I am surprised they haven’t inducted The Little Mermaid.
August 19, 2026 @ 1:55 pm
Hell yeah. When I moved to town for work, he opened a few tour runs. Monster player and exquisite singer. Caught a station inn solo show, with maybe the best Nashville band. Then I looked him up and found a ton of soft focus brutal pop country videos. I saw a real musician kinda playing the game. Fascinating story, glad he’s getting that type of recognition, and looking forward to what he has to say.