Kathy Mattea Invited to be Next Grand Ole Opry Member
It was just over a week ago that the country music world mourned the loss of “Miss Country Soul” Jeannie Seely, and a week to the day that the Grand Ole Opry remembered the woman that holds the all-time record for appearances on the Opry stage with 5,397.
Now country music’s oldest institution is making sure the legacy of country music women continues on well into the future, surprising Kathy Mattea with an invitation to become the Opry’s next member during Saturday night’s (8-9) Opry presentation.
“Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and thank you!” was Mattea’s response after fellow West Virginian Charlie McCoy posed the question. McCoy came out on stage while Mattea was singing her iconic “18 Wheels and A Dozen Roses” with a dozen roses in his hand. He then switched Mattea’s speaker off, disrupting the performance.
“I’m so sorry to interrupt,” McCoy said, “I want to ask you a question. How would you like to be the next member of the Grand Ole Opry?”
“Oh my, I’m here to tell you, I will not forget this night. Ever. Ever. Ever,” Mattea said later. You can watch the moment HERE.
Of course country fans know Kathy Mattea well after her major run in the late 80’s into the early 90’s, minting four #1 singles, and a pretty incredible string of 15 Top 10’s, turning songs like “Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses” into bonafide standards. But when the big radio hits gave out, she didn’t give up, she just kept on doing her thing, and is considered invaluable to the roots scene in Appalachia.
In fact, in 2021, Mattea was named the newest host of West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s long-time show Mountain Stage. Now she will have another major point on her resume: Grand Ole Opry member.
Kathy Mattea will officially become a member when she returns to the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday, October 11th.
August 9, 2025 @ 11:13 pm
I remember when she was the leading lady in country music. “Time Passes By” is an amazing song.
August 11, 2025 @ 6:26 pm
My sister and I were on a tour of Nashville from Indiana and we were there that night. What a special thrill!!!
August 10, 2025 @ 12:04 am
Pretty good choice on the Opry’s part.
August 10, 2025 @ 1:09 am
I suppose I just assumed she was already a member. I am surprised she wasn’t and that it took the Opry so long. Great choice.
August 11, 2025 @ 10:28 am
I thought the same thing when I was listening to the stream Saturday night – “she wasn’t already?” Very happy for her.The 455 Rocket rides again!
August 10, 2025 @ 5:44 am
Yes, indeed! Much deserved.
Growing up, Kathy Mattea was the “local girl done made it.” So much pride for her in this region as a musician, writer, and ambassador.
“Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses” has to be a top 50 all-time country song. I stopped listening to her regularly after Love Travels (1997) as her music turned to Folk and then Americana and Country radio started chasing low-hanging fruit. But, Mattea roared back onto the scene and reclaimed her birthright with 2008’s superb Coal which got ahead of this Appalachian resurgency of country music from this region we are currently experiencing.
August 10, 2025 @ 7:07 am
I was shocked to see a post about this on Instagram. How was she not a member years ago?! Made me wonder how many artists I assume are members and aren’t, but should be. What are the deciding factors? I’m sure you’ve posted about how they decide in the past. And what was their reasoning for making her a member now after all these years? Her song ‘Where Have You Been’ makes me cry every time. Such a great song.
August 10, 2025 @ 7:35 am
The Opry probably deserves fair criticism for taking so long to induct someone like Kathy Mattea. But ultimately, I’m sure there is a specific number of living members they’re trying to stay at, and not go above or below that number. During the tenure of the current Opry manager Dan Rogers, I’ve been really happy how he’s finally finding the places for people like Charlie McCoy, Jamey Johnson, Kathy Mattea, T Graham Brown, Steve Earle, etc., and most all of his picks have been very solid. In my brain, I tie the pick of Kathy Mattea directly to the death of Jeannie Seely. That opened up a spot in the roster, and they wanted to fill it quickly with a woman who they know will be hanging around the Opry for the long haul, is highly respected by her peers, and will be there as a mentor for younger women for years to come. Kathy Mattea is a great pick.
August 10, 2025 @ 5:30 pm
Wow! Could you speak more on the “living member limits” & why that’s even a thing? I’m ecstatic for Kathy but saddened that it’s ridiculously late. The unseasoned newbies that get inducted make me think very little of this “honor” as they pass over artists that paved the way for the lucky & green.
August 10, 2025 @ 7:48 pm
I do not know if there are any hard and fast “living member” limits, but I’m sure they want to keep the Opry membership at a manageable level so it feels more like a family as opposed to just an honorary title. My deeper point is it usually takes someone virtually retiring or passing away for the Opry to decide it’s time for a new member. If they were inducting 20 members a year, the honor would lose its magic.
August 10, 2025 @ 4:22 pm
One of the saddest songs I’ve ever heard.
August 10, 2025 @ 7:19 am
Congrats to Kathy! It is well deserved. Trigger, is the clip you shared what the Opry provided to the media, or is there a publicly-accessible way to watch the live video of the Opry and not just listen to WSM’s broadcast? (As we all know, the YouTube/Facebook “Opry Live” is just months-old edits of old performances).
August 10, 2025 @ 7:38 am
Yes, I got that link via my contact at the Opry with permission to share it. I’m sure at some point it will end up on YouTube or social media from the Opry in a more sharable form. Women of Americana posted it to their feeds, but I don’t like to rip and share other people’s videos, any more that I like people to do that with mine. It is frustrating how austere the Opry is with their video. It’s 2025.
August 10, 2025 @ 8:57 am
The fact they clearly video record every Opry yet refuse to broadcast it live on Opry social media is maddening. I get that live broadcasting is way more complicated and stressful than prerecorded streaming (especially since “Opry Live” ditched the “live” aspect shortly into its lifespan), but at this point, the Opry is just hoarding history. The Opry may be afraid of hurting attendance or of music rights issues, but people would be even more eager to attend in person with better online access to it.
August 11, 2025 @ 10:32 am
I used to listen to Opry archives on the WSM smartphone app, but they took them down a year or two ago. I assumed it had to do with copyrights, but I’d love to re-listen to some of those old shows.
August 10, 2025 @ 7:40 am
Congrats,Kathy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Long overdue honour and I wish you were still active.
August 10, 2025 @ 7:47 am
A great pick though like others, i thought she was probably already one. She was one of the few female country singers i really liked but had a fairly short run on radio. At least nowadays its easier to still listen to keep up with your favorites as they get replaced by the latest.
August 10, 2025 @ 8:48 am
Big fan of Kathy’s since the first time I saw her on TNN in 1985 and still a fan today. Well deserved.
August 10, 2025 @ 1:31 pm
Just 30 years late
August 10, 2025 @ 9:18 am
Well-deserved and a class act. So happy for her.
August 10, 2025 @ 10:23 am
Exceptional career – she deserves all the flowers, Kathy and Lee Ann on the radio all the time kept lots of us engaged. Her cover of five and dime is slick, I raised a herd of gearhead genZ girls 455 rocket banging in the shop, and coal was a most welcome refuge from some horrible music in the aughts.
If you drive by this comment and are Appalachian American , or adjacent, give the new Rachel Baiman record a spin… there’s a free Vivian Leva ep right there and it’s a sorta sweet surprise.
August 10, 2025 @ 11:12 am
Congratulations Kathy! I was fortunate to have worked with Kathy at T.G.I. Friday’s on Elliston Place in Music City, way back when she was first making a name for herself. She was a pleasure to work with and I’ve always enjoyed her songs and talent.
Kathy use to pull her beautiful hair up and over to the side into a long ponytail, which was then pulled through a Patsy Kline 45 record. Servers during this business period were encouraged to be true to themselves and wear what made them feel unique and special. She was definitely that then and continues to be a truly gifted person.
I also had the honor of working for Gaylord Entertainment as a Special Event Sales Manager, and loved working in and around the Grand Ole Opry too. What a great decision to include Kathy as the newest member of the Opry! Although I no longer live in TN, I would love to be there on October 11th to see her inducted into this Hall of Fame!
August 10, 2025 @ 11:45 am
I can’t believe it’s took this long to actually get a Superstar like Kathy Mattea into the Grand Ole Opry. She should’ve been inducted 20 years ago at least. When so many undeserving newcomers are inducted before a very well known and very respected talent such as Kathy and a well deserved superstar has to take a backseat to those newcomers is a shame and the opry should be ashamed of themselves.
August 10, 2025 @ 1:34 pm
Congratulations to Kathy on becoming the next new member of the Opryland. When is Steve earl,s induction
August 10, 2025 @ 3:52 pm
September I believe. Was lucky enough to be at the Opry when Vince Gill invited him in April. Unfortunately can’t make the induction because of work.
August 10, 2025 @ 1:41 pm
How on earth could she not already be a member? With some of selections the last few years this is too long coming .
August 10, 2025 @ 1:59 pm
Kathy Mattea–Now?
I’d have expected to read that she was kicked out of the Opry. Like they did to Holly Dunn.
August 10, 2025 @ 3:07 pm
My late wife and I followed Kathy Mattea for a long time, even seeing her at the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival. When my wife passed my son and I with several of his friends did a Celebration of Her Life. Among the songs we did were 2 by Kathy Mattea, one being I’ll Take Care of You, 2 by Kate Wolf and one by Jimmy Dale Gilmore. About time she was recognized for all the great songs she did. Bill
August 10, 2025 @ 3:10 pm
Gotta wonder why it took this long, she’s a class act. Congrats to you Kathy.
August 10, 2025 @ 3:19 pm
Coal and Calling Me Home are two of my favorite albums ever and basically (for me) one of the greatest non-double album double albums. So glad to see that packed house.
August 10, 2025 @ 3:29 pm
What a joke.
How demeaning.
August 10, 2025 @ 7:20 pm
I’m not sure what you mean, why is this demeaning? That it took them so long?
August 10, 2025 @ 4:08 pm
I really don’t mind the wait because if Mattea would have went in during 80’s or 90’s we wouldn’t be talking about her today.
Maybe the Opry could become a place for country artists past their prime to get an encore, a renewed interest, an introduction to a new generation.
August 10, 2025 @ 7:54 pm
We’ve gone from “Well deserved!” to “It’s about time!” to “Why did it take so long?” to now, “Screw the Opry, it’s an insult to even give it to her at this point.”
The Opry has a dubious history with honoring deserving legends. But I’ve been very happy with the tenure of Opry Manager Dan Rogers, and trying to turn over a new leaf. The only real contemporary pick he’s made recently is Lainey Wilson, who I take no issue with at all. As opposed to that, it’s been almost all legends he’s picked. Yes, Mattea could have gone in years ago. But like you said, this puts her name out there once again, just like landing the gig on Mountain Stage. Artists like Mattea, they’re playing the long game. Approach your career with integrity, and the flowers will come.
August 10, 2025 @ 4:51 pm
Oh, I am so happy for her. Kathy should have gotten this honor decades ago. She definitely deserves to be part of the Opry.
August 10, 2025 @ 5:41 pm
Are you Big Bear or Little Bear ?
August 10, 2025 @ 7:26 pm
There is justice in this world after all. On Friday afternoon I was on a long drive and pulled up a couple of her early albums (back when she was singing a lot of Tim O’Brien songs) and thinking, man, these sound fresh and relevant and great decades later. “18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses” isn’t just a love song, it’s a song about working-class dignity that the bro-country hat dudes couldn’t even comprehend. (Then again, maybe a world where a truck driver can afford a Winnebago in retirement doesn’t exist anymore.) Way back before I got married and had kids, after a bad breakup in my 20’s, the songs “Late in the Day” and “Life as We Knew It” were an internal soundrack for a while. Really great news, now she has to tour a little more. She was playing the City Winery about 40 minutes from my house a few years ago and we had babysitting all lined up. . . .and my kid got sick. So come back Kathy!
August 10, 2025 @ 8:21 pm
Hi again, one more question. Are these Opry invitations staged or was she genuinely surprised? I’m guessing it’s staged, because how cringe it would be for everybody if they invited someone onto the Opry and the answer was “nah I’m good.”
Also, agree with the point above about the Opry really should release more video. I really think that would make more people want to see it live. But I guess it’s’ like so many sporting events, blacked out in your area unless you cough up the $.
Just checked her website. . . damn, playing 90 minutes from me in Sept, but on a night I can’t go. In the past year Dwight Yoakum and Mary Chapin Carpenter have played two miles from my house, on nights I can’t go, and now this. The country music gods are anti-semitic is the only possible explanation,
August 10, 2025 @ 9:17 pm
I don’t think the Opry invitations are “staged” per se. But they’re definitely vetted to the point that anyone who’s asked has let it be known they want in. I remember Jamey Johnson jawing off on stage years before they inducted him. And I’m sure certain people in an artist’s orbit are made aware so they can be prepared. But it’s kind of like a surprise party.
August 15, 2025 @ 10:41 am
I find it very had to believe Steve Earle ever let it be known he wanted in. In fact, I was surprised when he accepted. He has softened over the years, though. Either way, I’m glad he’s going in. I don’t think the honor will boost his or Kathy’s careers in any significant way at this point, but better later than never.
August 15, 2025 @ 11:02 am
I was completely taken off guard by the Steve Earle invitation. But according to Byron Fay and other Opry experts, he’d actually been doing a lot of the behind the scenes work and has been performing a lot more often recently to the point where they weren’t surprised by the pick at all. Since Earle lives in Nashville, and has had trouble keeping a band behind him (he’s recently been using Reckless Kelly), I think The Opry makes for an easy, steady local gig for him.
August 11, 2025 @ 6:43 am
Seems to be a semi-surprise in many instances.
Though I’m quite sure–I’d be willing to bet–that one that was a COMPLETE surprise (for the “inductee”) was when Vince Gill invited T. Graham Brown. Brown was literally in tears, and I don’t think he’s that good an actor. Also, there was no need to discuss it in advance because they knew that Brown desperately wanted in.
August 14, 2025 @ 12:36 pm
To be fair, a lot of artists wait until late in their careers to become Opry members because they don’t want to commit to making regular appearances when they are touring and at their commercial peaks. Charley Pride, Emmylou Harris, Gene Watson, Crystal Gayle, Sara Evans and T. Graham Brown are just a few examples of artists who joined long after the hits stopped coming.
August 15, 2025 @ 11:17 pm
Well deserved. Really like her music. Her song Here’s Hoping, is one of my favorites by a female artist! I’d love to catch a show of hers someday.
September 4, 2025 @ 8:41 am
this is well deserved. she’s been a fave of mine since childhood. i saw her live for the first time back in June and she was great.