Sara Evans is set to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry after an emotional moment during her performance on the iconic stage on Thursday evening (August 17). The “Born To Fly” superstar accepted her invitation in front of a sold-out crowd at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Downtown Nashville, Tennessee.
Evans’ show celebrated the release of Sara Evans Still Restless – The 20 Year Celebration, marking the 20-year anniversary of her 2003 album, Restless. Longest-serving Opry member and Country Music Hall of Famer Bill Anderson joined Evans on stage, along with Carly Pearce and Lady A, made up of Hillary Scott, Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley. Pearce performed “Suds In The Bucket” with Evans, and Lady A surprised her to present a Platinum plaque for the song. That’s when Anderson arrived on stage and asked Evans to become the next member of the Grand Ole Opry, to which Evans jokingly replied “no” at first, garnering laughs from the audience amid the applause.
“There is no way that I would say ‘no,’ first of all,” Evans said. “I’ve been waiting to be asked to join the Opry for a long time, and it’s always been a dream of mine. And I’m so honored that you’re here to ask me that question. Thank you. It means everything to me.”
Anderson. reflected on a performance Evans delivered in a small warehouse before releasing her first-ever album (which included his song “Walk Out Backwards,” and Evans delivered an a cappella rendition for Anderson at the Ryman). He said after Evans accepted the invitation: “Just think. I can tell the world that I popped the question to Sara Evans!”
Evans is set to be inducted into the legendary Grand Ole Opry on Saturday, October 7, as part of the Opry’s 98th Birthday Weekend, per a press release issued following Evans’ Opry invitation. Shortly after Evans, Jon Pardi is set for his Opry induction on October 24.
“I remember clearly watching Sara’s Opry debut live on television before I ever made the move to Nashville,” said Opry Executive Producer Dan Rogers. “Like nearly anyone about to take that stage for the first time, she was both thankful and overwhelmed, and she said in an interview minutes before her performance that to help with her jitters, she was going to pretend to be Patsy Cline. Watching as a fan at home, I thought that was a pretty incredible approach. More than 25 years later, I think she was once again tonight both thankful and overwhelmed. All of us at the Opry have appreciated her great performances every time she’s visited us and look forward to celebrating official Opry membership with her during what is going to be a great October Opry Birthday Weekend.”
Watch Anderson invite Evans to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry here: