In honor of the Grand Ole Opry’s 100th anniversary in 2025, Carrie Underwood reflected on a milestone moment she shared with country legend Randy Travis.
Underwood made her debut on the historic Opry stage two decades ago, shortly after she’d won American Idol and launched her career in music. About three years later, in March 2008, Travis surprised Underwood with an invitation to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
“It still blows my mind,” Underwood said in a clip shared on Instagram on Friday (December 5), as she reminisced on the emotional surprise. “I still get excited [when I watch it] because it is that important, and that’s one of the things that I love about the Opry, is that it honors our tradition, it has the biggest stars in country music today, and then every time you come you get to see somebody that is just on their way. All of those things colliding in one place — no other genre of music has this, and it’s amazing.”
Underwood performed “I Told You So” by Travis on March 15, 2008, when Travis “surprised her by walking out on the stage, unannounced, inviting her to become the newest member of the Opry,” the Opry previously posted. Garth Brooks inducted Underwood into the Opry in May 2008. March 15 also marks the day the Grand Ole Opry held its final show at the historic Ryman Auditorium before moving to its current location. The move took place in 1974.
Underwood shared a special moment with Travis during the star-studded Opry 100: A Live Celebration event earlier this year. It was a “moment (that) left us all in tears,” Travis said as he shared the clip of Underwood’s performance of “Forever and Ever, Amen.” Watch Underwood reflect on her most memorable Grand Ole Opry moments here: