Rhett Akins Invited to Become New Member of the Grand Ole Opry
Better him than his son. But it’s really hard to feel one way or another about the Grand Ole Opry choosing songwriter and performer Rhett Akins as its newest inductee. Nonetheless, he will be the next Grand Ole Opry member when he’s formally inducted later this year.
Though some might best know Rhett Akins from his brief stint as a pretty popular country music performer in the mid ’90s with hits like “That Ain’t My Truck” and “Don’t Get Me Started,” his inconsistency at minting hits for himself turned into a very consistent career of minting hits for others, and he now has thirty six #1 songwriting credits to his name from folks like Brooks & Dunn and Joe Nichols, to Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan.
As a member of the “Peach Pickers” with fellow hit writers Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip, it’s not an unfair accusation to say that Rhett Akins helped seed country music with a few Bro-Country selections through that era. He is also the father of pop country performer Thomas Rhett.
The Opry invitation was bestowed on Monday, June 29th by Opry Member Jon Pardi, who snuck into The Opry and surprised Akins. Jon Pardi had a hit with the Akins-penned “Dirt On My Boots.”
“Rhett has always been somebody who has always been a mentor and taught a lot to me about how to write songs, how to be a co-writer. He has over 30 No. 1’s,” Jon Pardi said, clearly nervous in the moment (see below). “You’ve always been family to me, but I’m here to invite you to be part of a different family. Rhett Akins I am here to invite you to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.”
Rhett Akins nelt down in the Opry’s hallowed circle at center stage and said, “All I do everyday is write words and I can’t think of any words right now except, ‘Thank you Lord Jesus. I have been listening to the Grand Ole Opry since I was a little kid with my grandparents. Watching it when it used to be on TNN. Anytime they’d ask me to play, if I was in Alaska, I’d fly home immediately. I love country music with all my heart and all I ever wanted to do was meet Hank Jr.. Meet George Strait. I never dreamed I’d be in this circle right here with Bill Monroe, Minnie Pearl, Roy Acuff, Garth and Alan…and Jon Pardi. This is just unbelievable.”
Rhett Akins was joined on the stage by his family, including son Thomas Rhett.
This Opry invitation feels like worthy recognition for the artist who wrote and sang “That Ain’t My Truck” in 1995. But it feels a little dubious for the guy who wrote “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day” for Luke Bryan in 2015. Were there more worthy names who could’ve earned this distinction before Rheyy Akins? Of course. But it’s also a rather conventional pick, and Akins will be able to sing hits from the Opry stage that he wrote, and will be immediately recongnizable by a wide audience.
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July 1, 2026 @ 11:12 am
I’ve long since given up trying to figure out who gets chosen and why. I know a lot of big names (George Strait for example) have turned down membership because of the performance requirements, but they don’t really enforce those anymore, do they?
I don’t really like this pick, but don’t hate it either. I mean, after inducting Jelly Roll, they really have nowhere to go but up.
July 1, 2026 @ 2:45 pm
The Opry certainly has changed, from its Glory Years, when performers needed the Opry, to modern times, when it is the Opry needing the performers. Membership isn’t meant to be a “Country Hall of Fame” of career greatness. Akins was chosen primarily to replace Don Schlitz, who passed away unexpectedly several months ago. I don’t know how often you listen to Opry performances, but Schlitz became one of the Opry’s more popular acts in the last few years. The majority of the audience probably had no clue who he was, and then he’d come out and put on a funny, engaging show that wound up with everyone singing along to all those old hits they had no idea Don Schlitz wrote. I think the Opry wants to re-create that using Akins. I don’t know if it will work out or not, but that’s my take on it.
July 1, 2026 @ 8:35 pm
“Modern times” being the last 60-plus years. Ray Price, Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Charley Pride, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, Glen Campbell, Tammy Wynette, Kenny Rogers, Wille Nelson, Waylon Jennings et al didn’t need the Opry to establish or certify them as major country music stars.
July 1, 2026 @ 11:13 am
Good for him.
July 1, 2026 @ 11:17 am
Ha, yes. Better him than his son.
July 1, 2026 @ 11:34 am
Here’s how I look at it. Rhett Akins is someone they can probably book 20 times a year or more to perform. I doubt he has much of a touring schedule. He had a couple of signature hits in an era everyone today longs for that he can play every time. This isn’t inviting Luke Combs or Blake Shelton and hoping they drop in once every 5 years. He’ll consistently be there.
July 1, 2026 @ 11:54 am
Exactly, reminds me of when they picked Mark Wills. And he’s there all the time and has tons of respect for the Opry as an institution and country music. I see nothing wrong with the pick.
July 2, 2026 @ 6:53 am
Good point. He’ll be there helping fill the roster a bunch of nights. He’s got the radio hits for big stars that people generally like and he won’t offend anyone. It seems like the kind of person that will be welcome there if the Opry gets bought by some private equity shithole.
July 1, 2026 @ 12:27 pm
Billy Strings needs inducted.
July 2, 2026 @ 5:17 pm
He’s not a corporate creation, so he will likely be overlooked, but I agree with you.
July 1, 2026 @ 12:34 pm
::shrugs:: He seems like a good guy. He will have more respect for this honor vs some of the more recent invites/prospects.
July 1, 2026 @ 2:55 pm
That’s a solid acceptance speech, especially after being surprised and giving it on the fly. Good for him.
July 1, 2026 @ 4:41 pm
No offense to Rhett Akins, but the Opry has really gone downhill with their member invitations recently. Search for a list of country stars who are not members, and then compare that to some who are. It’s completely laughable at this point.
July 1, 2026 @ 5:39 pm
I believe that Kathy Mattea and Suzy Bogguss were made members in the last year. Solid, top-notch picks. Those two should have been there a while ago. At least in those two instances, that is not going downhill with your selections.
July 2, 2026 @ 7:33 am
Those were both solid picks. Unfortunately, the Jelly Roll pick was so bad, it overshadowed them.
July 2, 2026 @ 5:15 pm
“I believe that Kathy Mattea and Suzy Bogguss were made members in the last year. Solid, top-notch picks.”
Yep solid, top-notch picks decades ago, not in the last year.
July 1, 2026 @ 4:49 pm
Well, at least it is a songwriter getting the invite.
July 1, 2026 @ 8:50 pm
The Opry is renown as a venue for performers, not songwriters.
July 1, 2026 @ 5:18 pm
And how about Charles Esten who has played the Opry a lot? Deserving!
July 1, 2026 @ 5:19 pm
190 times for Charles Esten!
July 2, 2026 @ 5:14 pm
An actor who also plays music. No.
July 1, 2026 @ 10:42 pm
I see Alan Jackson’s retirement has been postponed.
He will be on “A Capitol Fourth” this Friday. As will Trace Adkins and Carly Pearce.
July 2, 2026 @ 5:05 pm
It’s a previously recorded performance from 2021.
July 2, 2026 @ 5:13 pm
It’s almost as if the folks running the Opry don’t have a single clue when it comes to country music. Akins hasn’t had a hit as an artist in three decades, making this thirty years too late. No offence to Rhett, I hope he enjoys his moment, but this, like most Opry inductions, is a head scratcher.
July 3, 2026 @ 6:31 am
Where is Thomas Rhett today ?
July 3, 2026 @ 9:20 am
Any specific reason wasn’t Ray Price wasn’t in the Opry?
July 3, 2026 @ 10:54 am
A lot of the Texas guys just couldn’t meet the performance requirements. Ray spent much of his later life living in East Texas.
July 5, 2026 @ 12:46 pm
The Opry sure knows how to pick them. /s