Neal McCoy To Become Latest Member of the Grand Ole Opry
He’s certainly paid his dues, and he’s definitely waited in line for his opportunity. Now Neal McCoy will be the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.
It happened Tuesday evening (9-22) at the Grand Ole Opry House as part of the evening’s Opry presentation. During a tribute to the great Charley Pride that included Pride’s widow Rozene and current Opry member Pam Tillis, Neal McCoy was formally invited to be the next official Grand Ole Opry member.
Tillis, speaking for Charley Pride, said to McCoy, “You know what I think he would say? He’d say Neal McCoy needs to become an official member of the Grand Ole Opry … So on behalf of Rozene, Charley Pride, and all of us at the Grand Ole Opry, Neal, what do you say?”
“I don’t even know,” Neal McCoy responded. “Oh my gosh, this is great. What a great night. What a great night to be invited!”
McCoy’s connection with Charley Pride isn’t coincidental. Neal’s big break in music came when he performed in a talent contest hosted by long-time Opry performer Janie Fricke, and won a spot opening for Charley Pride on tour. In 2013, McCoy released the album Pride: A Tribute To Charley Pride.
Neal McCoy minted two #1 singles back to back in 1993 and 1994 with “No Doubt About It” and “Wink.” This led to a total of eight Top 5 songs between 1993 and 1997. Though the hits stopped coming for McCoy after only half a decade, his career has seen significant longevity as one of country music’s greatest hustlers, putting on high energy and super entertaining shows well into his ’60s.
Neal McCoy is also well-liked among his peers, and known as a personable performer. He’s also somewhat famous for reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every single day for 3,912 consecutive days as of Tuesday morning, and for being one of country’s few performers of Filipino heritage.
The Neal McCoy pick for the Opry is hard to argue with, though like with any older performer who gets inducted, many will ask, “Why did it take so long?” McCoy’s induction comes at the age of 68.
Neal McCoy’s invitation comes after Rhett Akins was invited to become an Opry member in July, and Charlie Worsham was invited in August.
(photo: Chris Hollo)
September 22, 2026 @ 9:30 pm
Although he’s not very mainstream since Nashville is no longer airing, I’m really surprised they haven’t inducted Charles Esten, he’s played there like 200 times and isn’t a member
The way the Opry operates is very strange
September 23, 2026 @ 7:48 am
I agree! Charles has served the Opry so well and deserves to be in. It is a very weird operation. Just saw Suzy Bogguss in a great concert in Maine Sunday and she only became a member this year too.
September 22, 2026 @ 10:22 pm
There will be zero Neal slander allowed here… dude is a legend and a super nice guy. So awesome to see him get this honor!!
September 23, 2026 @ 8:23 am
Does he still tell his ass to take a knee during his shows?
September 23, 2026 @ 9:08 am
Though I appreciate your confidence thinking your going to win a decade-old argument by citing a 9-year-old song in the comments section of a country music website, it is a completely inappropriate place to bring it up, and will only result on spitting back and forths that resolve nothing. These are the kinds of comments I have incessantly asked people to respectfully refrain from.
September 23, 2026 @ 3:17 am
I like Neal his best song is easily If I Was a Drinking Man
September 23, 2026 @ 9:48 am
I go with “They’re Playing Our Song.” Honestly, I was confused when I saw his invitation to join the Opry and the praise for it here because I’d always thought of him an a pleasant, unexceptional pop-country performer of a period full of more exceptional (and more country) talents. But now I see that a lot of the praise is based on his politics. So I’ll just leave it at “Congratulations, Neal,” and leave it at that. I like country music by folks of all political leanings.
September 24, 2026 @ 1:49 am
The Opry of the last 40 years or so is just like Branson: a retirement pasture where artists graze when the rest of the world stops caring. In exchange for a modest paycheck, you play to a room full of geriatrics.
Nothing wrong with that, but it’s not a highlight of your career anymore. But if it is, your career was never much to brag about in the first place
September 24, 2026 @ 7:39 am
Is that why they inducted Jelly Roll and Charlie Worsham?
September 24, 2026 @ 8:25 am
Yes, their careers are over by now—yesterday’s news. Worsham is a fine picker and writer, but he’s not a household solo act. The less said about Nashville’s drooling over Jello, the better.
However, the Opry audience is not their audience, so it’s not the cash cow the Opry thought it would be.
October 3, 2026 @ 8:04 pm
On multiple fronts, including poor fit, too soon-ness and short sightedness, the Jelly Roll induction was probably the worst induction pick in Opry history. Can anyone recall a worst pick that I can’t?
October 3, 2026 @ 9:42 pm
Anthony: How about Chris Janson (2018) or Lauren Alaina (2022)?
September 24, 2026 @ 11:47 am
“In exchange for a modest paycheck, you play to a room full of geriatrics.”
This is completely false. People of all ages go to the Opry.
September 23, 2026 @ 5:20 am
Neal McCoy excellent choice. What about Moe Bandy being invited to be the next member of The Grand Ole Opry.
September 23, 2026 @ 6:32 am
is an 82 yr old man who lives a 7 hr drive from the Opry like Moe does, going to accept a membership, assuming he’s got to make regular appearances there, unless the money is way way better than what I presume they’re paying per each performance?
September 23, 2026 @ 5:13 pm
They don’t pay spit, they sell you the idea of exposure in what can be truthfully described as a musical hospice by which you may arrive at the logical outcome
[say it ain’t so, Joe]
September 23, 2026 @ 5:26 am
This was way overdue. He truly deserves it. Now, would love to see Darryl Worley next.
September 23, 2026 @ 6:26 am
So glad to see this.
September 23, 2026 @ 7:08 am
What an excellent choice!
September 23, 2026 @ 7:40 am
Neal was a regular at Jamboree in the Hills starting, I think, in 1999. He always played a high energy set. The crowds loved him. So happy to hear he’s becoming the newest member of the Opry. Well deserved.
September 29, 2026 @ 2:00 pm
He was a legend at Jamboree in the Hills and also at the Capitol.
September 23, 2026 @ 7:55 am
A great singer and a great American!
I also smile when “Wink” comes on the radio.
September 23, 2026 @ 8:23 am
I laugh when he tells his ass to take a knee.
September 23, 2026 @ 1:24 pm
McCoy loves America. Something that can’t be said for most entertainers.
September 23, 2026 @ 4:04 pm
It can’t be said for you.
September 23, 2026 @ 8:21 am
First Filipino in the country music hall of fame? I bet so.
September 23, 2026 @ 8:22 am
Saw him once at a concert that was part of a community event down the road from my house. Absolutely killer concert, he was out there to entertain, and entertain he did. Congrats to Neal McCoy.
September 23, 2026 @ 8:42 am
Twenty-years too late. He deserved this when he was having hits. It’s as if the people running the Opry have no clue what they’re doing and just throw out names in a desperate attempt to keep the institution relevant. Good for Neal, though.
September 23, 2026 @ 9:30 am
Neal deserves it! bout time!!!!
September 23, 2026 @ 12:16 pm
What a goddamned joke.
On the other hand, considering the current day’s Opry, he fits right in. No talent, no charm, no appeal—they suit each other.
September 23, 2026 @ 12:21 pm
You just told us all you’ve never seen Neal McCoy live.
September 23, 2026 @ 1:53 pm
Dude looks like Charley Crockett’s older brother.
September 23, 2026 @ 3:39 pm
In the second paragraph you mention Patty Loveless… But did you mean Pam Tillis?
September 23, 2026 @ 4:15 pm
Yes, brain fart on my part.
September 23, 2026 @ 5:37 pm
BTW, may I politely point out that Janie Fricke is not a member of the Opry but a frequent guest at it?
September 23, 2026 @ 6:40 pm
Man, of all the corrections I’m forced to make, this is the most surprising one. I would have put money down on Fricke’s membership. If she’s not in after being a mainstay for so many years, what are we doing?
September 23, 2026 @ 5:50 pm
Good for neal. I wasnt a huge fan but i think its great for him.
September 23, 2026 @ 6:45 pm
And . . what the hell is wrong with referencing Ernest Tubb’s song, “Filipino Baby?”
September 24, 2026 @ 8:01 am
You know what’s wrong with it. That’s the entire reason you made the comment. You made it because it’s wrong. And you won’t have to answer for it, because you’re posting under a pseudonym. I, Kyle “Trigger” Coroneos will have to answer for it. And the comment, just like many others, will be used to undermine all of the work I try to do here at Saving Country Music, like these comments have been for going on 20 years, so you can get a snicker. And you don’t give a shit because you have no respect for be or this out, or it’s mission.
So please, respect what’s going on here.
September 24, 2026 @ 9:52 am
WHAT THE HELL???? I challenge you to reveal to all what it is about the Ernest Tubb classic, “Filipino Baby,” that is the SLIGHTEST BIT OFFENSIVE. Do that, NOW!
What is your opinion of the song “Fraulein?” Does that song cause you to have a hissy fit as well???
September 24, 2026 @ 10:52 am
Hahahah this is the truly the best comment in the history of this site
September 24, 2026 @ 9:11 am
Charlie Nagatani, Jimmie Tokita, and Hank Sasaki—three Japanese gentlemen who could teach their American counterparts a thing or two about how to write and perform tried-and-true country music.
From the Philippines, you’ve got Sir Romeo Ogong and Dickie Thomas, who are just as good as your average ’90s Nashville country icon.
Why is the racial heritage even remotely relevant to this? McCoy never offended anyone, as far as I know.
September 24, 2026 @ 12:09 pm
Well deserved for Neal! Congrats!