Watch Reba McEntire Surprise Lainey Wilson With Grand Ole Opry Invitation

Reba McEntire surprised reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson during the season finale of The Voice on Tuesday night (May 21). Wilson received her invitation to become an official member of the historic Grand Ole Opry.

The Voice Carson Daly invited McEntire to say a few words when Wilson took the stage with a fiery performance of “Hang Tight Honey,” the latest track to release from her upcoming album. Wilson recently announced Whirlwind is due on August 23. McEntire expressed how proud she feels of Wilson, particularly after the 59th ACM Awards on May 16, which took place at the world headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys at The Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas. McEntire hosted Country Music’s Party of the Year, and among other awards, Wilson scored the Entertainer of the Year victory. That also meant she earned the coveted Triple Crown award, which an artist qualifies for after winning in the New Artist of the Year category (Male, Female or Duo/Group), Artist of the Year category (Male, Female or Duo/Group), and Entertainer of the Year category. Wilson “is the first woman to achieve the ACM Triple Crown Award in three years,” the Academy of Country Music previously noted.

“Lainey, I am so proud of you,” McEntire said when she joined Wilson on stage during The Voice finale. “You did a wonderful job, and I have heard that I’ve inspired you in what you’ve done so far, and I am thrilled to death if I have anything to do with you career because you are blowing it up. I was so proud of you at the ACMs the other night, and I couldn’t be more proud to be the one that helps you continue to bridge the gap between our generations (and) keep them all going. I’d like to be the person to invite you to be a member, (an) official member, of the Grand Ole Opry.”

Wilson’s jaw quickly dropped, and she exclaimed, “holy moly,” into the microphone as the audience erupted with applause. The Baskin, Louisiana-born singer-songwriter gestured to her family in the crowd and reflected on her first visit to Nashville. Wilson was 9 years old when she and her family went to the Grand Ole Opry for the first time. She knew immediately that she wanted to perform on that stage someday. During a previous interview with iHeartCountry, Wilson reflected on that visit to the Grand Ole Opry, watching Little Jimmy Dickens, Phil Vassar, Crystal Gayle and Bill Anderson perform. Wilson said at that time that she had “an overwhelming feeling” she would become a country artist.

“I knew that I wanted to play there. I wanted to do it,” Wilson said during The Voice finale, turning to McEntire. “And it is so crazy that you are asking me to be a member because I look up to you so much. I’m not talking about just musically, but the way that you carry yourself, and your work ethic. You inspire me every day.”

“Somebody pinch me,” Wilson has since added. “This is the moment little Lainey dreamed about ever since her first trip to Nashville.” She thanked McEntire for “the surprise of a lifetime.”

Wilson is set to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry on Friday, June 7. The show will also feature Terri Clark, Meg McRee, Mark Wills, Wynonna and more to be announced, per the Opry. That’s the same weekend as CMA Fest in Nashville, the longest-running country festival in the world. Wilson will take the main stage at Nissan Stadium that weekend, along with Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Cody Johnson, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce and Keith Urban, to name a few. Wilson’s Opry invitation puts her in the same category as some artists who have become staples in the genre over the years, including McEntire, Garth Brooks, Luke Combs, Alan Jackson, Barbara Mandrell, Martina McBride, Jon Pardi, Dolly Parton, Carly Pearce, Darius Rucker, Scotty McCreery, Blake Shelton, Randy Travis, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood and many more.