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.

– – – – – – – –

If you found this article valuable, consider leaving Saving Country Music A TIP.