NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (September 18, 2018) – The Grand Ole Opry officially welcomed Dustin Lynch as a member of the Grand Ole Opry tonight with the help of one of his mentors, Opry member Reba McEntire. Lynch made his Opry debut in 2012.
After Lynch had performed four of his hit singles, McEntire surprised him on stage, sharing, “We’re paving the way like Minnie, Roy, Porter, and all the greats before us paved the way for us. Congratulations and welcome to one of the best families in the world.”
Wiping away tears before McEntire returned to the stage with tissues, Lynch said, “I told everybody before I came out here I’m a crybaby, and I get it from my dad.” Thanking his friends, family, bandmates, and others who play a part in her career for sharing his dreams, he concluded, “This is one of those dreams right now. … Thank you for allowing us to live the dream.”
Backstage, Executive Vice President, BBR Group Jon Loba surprised Lynch with recognition of another career milestone, presenting the artist with a plaque certifying streams in excess of one billion.
Last month when Lynch was performing at the Opry, his friend and Opry member Trace Adkins walked out onstage and said, “We want people to be members of the Grand Ole Opry who will have a respect for this institution that it deserves, that it has earned for 92 years,” adding, “We think that Dustin Lynch is going to carry on in that proud tradition.”
Opry General Manager Sally Williams shared, “We are truly delighted to officially welcome Dustin into the Opry family. Since making his Opry debut, Dustin has forged a genuine, lasting relationship with the Opry’s members, staff, and audiences. He’s debuted would-be hits on our stage, while backstage he’s gotten to know some of his music heroes and helped welcome newcomers into the country music fold. As Dustin becomes our newest member tonight, we look forward to that relationship growing even stronger, and—as Trace Adkins noted when inviting Dustin to join the family last month—to Dustin carrying on the Opry’s proud tradition for decades to come.”
About Dustin Lynch:
Since releasing his PLATINUM-certified debut single, “Cowboys and Angels,” Lynch has "steadily built one of the most consistent recording careers in modern country music” (Billboard) with five consecutive #1s, three Top 5 albums, PLATINUM-level certifications and tours with the genre’s biggest names (Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, and Brad Paisley). Racking up over 238 million views on YouTube/VEVO, scoring one billion streams, soaring to #1 on the MTV Music Meter, and selling 4.5 million digital tracks, the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry brings a fresh combination of traditional influence and edgy intensity to the genre. Lynch’s “sexy” (CMT), “intoxicating” (Taste of Country) third studio album, CURRENT MOOD, debuted at #2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in Fall 2017. Produced by Brent Anderson, Mickey Jack Cones, Ross Copperman, Zach Crowell, and Will Weatherly, the boldly adventurous project features the GOLD-certified, #1 single “Seein’ Red” and PLATINUM-selling, multi-week chart-topper “Small Town Boy,” and aims to push the musical envelope even further. With accolades rolling in – including Billboard Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards, and CMT Music Awards nominations – Lynch made his mark with high–profile appearances on CMA Fest, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, ACM Awards, Good Morning America, TODAY, and many more. Realizing his longtime dream of creating a fashion line, Lynch has also branched out to launch Stay Country. The line of accessibly priced men’s and women’s shirts, hats, and accessories, all emblazoned with the distinctive Stay Country logo, can be found online at www.staycountryclothing.com.
About The Grand Ole Opry:
The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Humana®. Opry performances are held every Friday and Saturday of the year, with Tuesday night shows through December and seasonal Opry Country Classics shows on Thursdays. To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com. The Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn. Celebrating nine decades of entertainment, the Opry can be heard at opry.com and wsmonline.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP). For more information, visit opry.com.
