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Lauren Alaina celebrated four years since Trisha Yearwood surprised her with an invitation to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
Alaina, 31, said it “was the easiest ‘yes’ of my life,” apart from marrying her husband, Cam Arnold, on February 4, 2024. The “Those Kind Of Women” artist announced her engagement to Arnold on the historic Opry stage in November 2022. Alaina said in a post on Instagram on Thursday evening (December 18) that people often ask her “what my biggest career accomplishment has been and I always tell them about this moment. It was my daddy’s dream that he passed down to me and I’m so proud that he got to see me accomplish OUR dream. The circle is even more special to me today than it was 4 years ago. I love you, Grand Ole Opry.”
In December 2021, Alaina thought she’d received a pre-recorded message from Yearwood, but instead, Yearwood joined her on stage. The “She’s In Love With The Boy” icon said “I have the honor — you’re gonna make me cry — 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 of the Grand Ole Opry.”
Alaina tearfully said she “really did not expect this,” and hailed Yearwood “my hero. …I usually can say a lot, and I am speechless.”
“You are the real deal,” Yearwood told Alaina at the time. “You’ve played over 50 times. It’s obvious what this means to you. This is a very special club to be in so you have to understand what the Opry means to be asked. It’s such an honor. Country music is in good hands with you. Soak up every second!”
Alaina, who made her Opry debut in 2011 following her run on American Idol, officially became an Opry member in February 2022.
“Ever since I was a little girl I dreamed of this moment,” she said at the time. “Both of my parents raised me with an appreciation for country music and all that it is, and all of the people who have come before me. I just want to say I promise to do everything I can to represent country music. I promise to represent this family well. I have felt like family here as long as I remember. Everyone at the Opry has always made me feel like family so for me to finally be officially in is the biggest dream come true of all time. Most little girls dreamed of their wedding; I dreamed of this. God Bless you guys and God bless country music.”