American Idol season 10 alum Lauren Alaina is the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Long time member of Opry, and a mentor to Lauren, Trisha Yearwood, walked on stage in the middle of the Roswell, Georgia native’s set. “I have a present for you!” said Trisha, “Hang on!”
After pointing out Lauren’s parents in the audience–Lauren had no idea that her father made the trip–she sprung the big question.
When Lauren saw her father, she realized something BIG was about to happen, and immediately began to tear up.
“This is like a wedding proposal. You have to say yes!”
“I have the honor of asking you on behalf of the Grand Ole Opry if you would please accept our invitation to become the newest member?” Lauren knelt crying before Trisha even got the question out, hyperventilating between sobs, she hugged Trisha who said, “This is like a wedding proposal. You have to say yes!”
“YES!” answered Lauren, who could barely keep it together to say a few words.
“I have not cried like this in a really long time, I guess I needed it” she said. “I’m not kidding, I was backstage and I was like, ‘Can you please tell the Opry the only thing I want is to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry.’ Then I snott-ed on stage over it.”
“I usually can say a lot,” said Lauren, “but I’m speechless.
Trisha, who fondly calls Lauren “Junior” described Lauren as “the real deal.” She pointed out that the 27 year old singer has played the Opry over 50 times. “This is a very special club to be in because you have to understand what the Opry means to be asked.”
And then….Lauren had to finish her set!
“I won’t be this happy when I get married!”
“Anyone [who’s] in country music has an undeniable respect for the Grand Ole Opry,” Lauren told The Tennessean backstage. “Just playing here was a huge deal to me from the beginning. To be a member? I’m gonna get mail here. I get a mailbox. I can’t believe I get a freakin’ mailbox.”
“I would choose being a member of the Grand Ole Opry over a Grammy because it’s such a respectable thing in the genre that I love, that was I raised on, that’s taught me everything about music.”
“I won’t be this happy when I get married,” Lauren joked.
What words can I use to convey what this means to me? The @opry is the most magical place on earth. It has been my biggest dream in my career to become an official member of the Opry family. Thank you @trishayearwood for asking me. Thank you @tmac2 for making it perfect. ?? pic.twitter.com/cA3ZVOu9J5
— Lauren Alaina (@Lauren_Alaina) December 19, 2021
Lauren made her Opry debut on June 10, 2011, just one month after the 16 year old placed second behind fellow country singer Scotty McCreery on American Idol season 10. She is the second American Idol alum to join the Opry. Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood was inducted in May 2008. Lauren’s induction ceremony will happen in early 2022.
Lauren dropped her third studio album, Sitting Pretty on Top of the World,last September. And, earlier this month, she released a memoir and self-help book, Getting Good At Being You. The singer is set to go out on a headlining tour in 2022.
