Rhett Akins Officially Joins The Grand Ole Opry
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The Opry family has grown yet again! Singer-songwriter Rhett Akins was officially welcomed into the Grand Ole Opry family on Tuesday night (Oct. 13).
Rhett Akins became the 76th active Opry member during a star-studded night of celebration.
Luke Bryan, Jamey Johnson, Jason Aldean, Jon Pardi, and Thomas Rhett were in attendance to help Rhett Akins celebrate his 57th birthday and his new Grand Ole Opry membership.
The official welcome comes roughly four months after Akins was invited to join the Opry by Jon Pardi. Pardi surprised the award-winning singer-songwriter during a ’90s Country Night performance on the iconic stage alongside his son, Thomas Rhett, and his daughter, Kasey Lee.
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“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,” Pardi told the crowd before turning to Akins. “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.”
Akins was overwhelmed by the invitation and fought back tears as he responded:
“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.”
Jon Pardi returned, along with Jamey Johnson, to do the official honors. They kept the ceremony simple by presenting Rhett with an Opry trophy and saying, “Rhett Akins, you are now a member of the Grand Ole Opry.”
Rhett followed it up with a performance of his 1995 song “That Ain’t My Truck” and was joined by Thomas Rhett, Jamey Johnson, Luke Bryan, Jon Pardi, and Jason Aldean to sing it. Thomas then closed the night by leading the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to his dad.
About Rhett Akins
Rhett Akins has 36 No. 1 country hits to his songwriting credit and has had songs recorded by artists such as Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Blake Shelton, and many more. He was named the BMI Songwriter of the Year in 2011 and 2014.
Akins was named Songwriter of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music in 2019 and is a seven-time CMA Triple Play recipient. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2021.
His songwriting success includes “Honey Bee” and “Boys ‘Round Here” recorded by Blake Shelton, “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day” by Luke Bryan, “Dirt On My Boots” by Jon Pardi, “Star Of The Show” recorded by Thomas Rhett, and more.
As an artist, Akins released two albums on Decca Records between 1994 and 1997. He had fourteen singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart, even topping the chart with his single, “Don’t Get Me Started.”
Watch Thomas Rhett’s Grand Ole Opry induction in the video below.
