Garth Brooks Surprises Jon Pardi At Grand Ole Opry Induction
It’s one thing to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry but when Garth Brooks surprises you in the circle, it takes everything to a new level of…
It's one thing to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry but when Garth Brooks surprises you in the circle, it takes everything to a new level of country.
Jon Pardi was officially inducted into the Grand Ole Opry family on Tuesday night (October 22) following his invitation and official Opry ask from Alan Jackson this past spring.
RELATED: Jon Pardi To Release His First-Ever Christmas Album
"Tonight I feel like I'll be one of those marks in that floor and I think that's a good feeling. There's a lot of marks on that floor. To just have one that represents me and my career and my family and my mind and what I think of country music and what I've tried to bring to country music over the years, I feel like that's what the circle will mean tonight for me," Pardi said.
The 38-year-old received an overwhelming surprise when Brooks joined him on stage to present him with his Opry award and even stood by his side for the acceptance speech.
“This is me and you joined in holy matrimony shared by our common love of country music,” said Brooks as he stepped into the circle with Pardi.
“It’s full circle to watch my hero, from flying around an arena in concert to right now,” said Pardi. “I love the Opry and being a part of its family. The future is so bright.”
Pardi, the first California native inducted into the Opry, performed a few fan-favorite tracks for the live audience in Nashville, including "Your Heart Or Mine" and "Last Night Lonely." Following his acceptance speech, he performed his No. 1 hit, "Head Over Boots," as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.
In other Opry news for the multi-platinum singer, songwriter, and producer, Pardi will also take part in the 'Opry Country Christmas' series of shows on November 26. Fans will get to hear holiday favorites as well as originals featured on his new album, Merry Christmas From Jon Pardi, to be released this Friday.
Pardi is currently out on the road for his headlining 2023 Mr. Saturday Night World Tour with opening acts Midland, Jackson Dean, Randall King, Ella Langley, and DJ Highmax on select dates.
Check out additional photos and videos now on the Backstage Country Instagram.
As we celebrate Carrie Underwood's upcoming 15th Anniversary as a member of Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, we look at twelve country music stars who have embraced all things Grand Ole Opry since their careers began and are now members of the Opry.
The Opry member list is not one that all country superstars are on. A handful of country stars never really caught on to the Opry tradition for whatever reason, including superstars like George Strait, Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, and Kane Brown.
Let's focus on the stars who love and cherish the history and tradition of The Grand Ole Opry.
RELATED: Carrie Underwood Celebrates 15 Years As An Opry Member
Carrie Underwood
Rick Diamond/Getty ImagesOpry Induction date - MAY 10TH, 2008 - Carrie's Opry dream came true on March 15, 2008, when Randy Travis surprised her on the Opry stage with an invitation to join the cast of the show. "Let me think about it," she said playfully before responding with an emphatic "Yes!" as she wiped tears from her eyes. She was introduced to the Opry by Country Music Hall of Famer Bill Anderson and Garth Brooks inducted her.
Garth Brooks
Shannon Finney/Getty ImagesOpry Induction date - OCTOBER 6TH, 1990 - Garth made his debut on June 24, 1989, and wept tears of joy on the occasion. He joined the show's cast a year later, with Johnny Russell inducting him, and he has called that night one of the proudest moments of his career.
Blake Shelton
Rick Diamond/Getty ImagesOpry Induction date - OCTOBER 23RD, 2010 - On his Opry induction night backstage, Blake said that records and awards don't mean as much to him as the Grand Ole Opry. He said, "This is the reason that you move to Nashville to me. This is what I wanted from the beginning."
Luke Combs
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesOpry Induction date - JULY 16TH, 2019 - Before becoming a member, Luke told us it was a big deal to him to play the Opry. He said, "It just seems like this thing that is unattainable, and it seems like something that you will never be able to do. I wish the Opry called me, but I was fighting for it from the start, and that was really something super important to me."
Brad Paisley
Rick Diamond/Getty ImagesOpry Induction date - FEBRUARY 17TH, 2001- When Brad was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2001, George Jones wrote him a letter that Paisley read to the crowd. It said in part, "I am counting on you to carry on the tradition and make folks sit up and listen to what good country music should sound like."
Ashley McBryde
Terry Wyatt/Getty ImagesOpry Induction date - DECEMBER 10TH, 2022- Garth Brooks invited her to join the Grand Ole Opry on GMA Live on TV as she cried in accepting the honor.
Kelsea Ballerini
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesOpry Induction date - APRIL 16TH, 2019 - Kelsea was inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member in 2019. At the time, she notably became the Opry's youngest member in its nearly 100-year history since being founded in 1925.
Keith Urban
Royce DeGrie/Getty ImagesOpry Induction date - APRIL 21ST, 2012 - Keith became a member of the Grand Ole Opry after being surprised by Vince Gill two weeks earlier with an invitation to join the Opry.
Darius Rucker
Terry Wyatt/Getty ImagesOpry Induction date - OCTOBER 16TH, 2012 - Darius told us a couple of years after his Opry member induction, "It will always be someplace special. It will always be my home now in Nashville. I just love it, and every time I walk in, I touch my plaque, and when I leave, I touch my plaque because that moment when Vince (Gill) inducted me was the first time I felt like I was part of country music."
Little Big Town
Rick Diamond/Getty ImagesOpry Induction date - AUGUST 12TH, 2022 - Opry member and friend Reba McEntire invited Little Big Town to join the Grand Ole Opry in 2014. As the group finished a three-song set with "Pontoon," Reba appeared from the side of the stage, improvising on the song's last few words and asking the question Karen, Kimberly, Jimi, and Phillip had been hoping to hear. "I know the Grand Ole Opry is very important to y'all, because this is the first place you guys played together as a group in 1999. I have been asked to ask y'all, Little Big Town, would y'all like to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry?"
Dierks Bentley
Jason Kempin/Getty ImagesDierks has always been a champion for the Grand Ole Opry and even introduced it to Elle King, who sang with him on the Opry stage in 2016. She recently made her solo debut on the Opry.
Carly Pearce
Terry Wyatt/Getty ImagesOpry Induction date - AUGUST 3RD, 2021- Grand Ole Opry member Dolly Parton extended the coveted invitation to Carly after 85+ appearances.
