Carrie Underwood On Opry: ‘It’s Like Going To Church’
Carrie Underwood is heading back to the Grand Ole Opry next week during CMA Fest week (6/6) in Nashville for two shows. She recently celebrated her 15th Anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry with a two-show performance on May 13th. While she says it’s unbelievable she’s been a member for a decade and a half, it’s something that has always meant so much to her.
Carrie told us, “It’s hard to believe that it’s been fifteen years that I have been a member of the Grand Ole Opry, but it has always been just something that’s meant so much to me. I feel like I’ve been very blessed to take part in a lot of awards shows and things like that over the years, but kind of having this thing in my career that I feel like I was able to accomplish is just one of the most important things that I think I have ever done.”
She added, “I love the Opry. I love the family. I love that it signifies being a part of country music, and we call it the Mother Church, and we do so for very good reason. It is like going to church, and you can pay your respects to those that came before, those that are playing now, and whoever’s going to come later on. It’s just a really cool thing just being able to be a part of that family. I always love going to the shows, and you never know who’s going to be on stage, and you hear a lot of people doing what they love. It’s like singing in your living room. It’s very comfortable and relaxed and very sweet.”
Underwood made her Grand Ole Opry performance debut on June 10, 2005, just two weeks after winning American Idol. She was officially inducted into the Opry family on May 8, 2008, by fellow Oklahoman Opry member Garth Brooks.
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When Underwood celebrated her 15th anniversary of becoming an Opry member, she had a cake backstage. Also, she met a soap opera legend.
Carrie posted several photos to Instagram, including one of her standing next to a cake with several layers of cupcakes. She also posted a photo of herself and Suan Lucci in the Opry greenroom. And pictures of her performing on stage. She also snapped a photo of a special note her fan club “Care Bears” sent her with flowers and a donation to her C.A.T.S Foundation.
Underwood captioned the post, “Happy Anniversary to me!!! It’s been a magical 15 years of being an @opry member! It remains one of the greatest accomplishments of my career!!! Thanks to all who came out to celebrate! I truly feel honored…and loved!”
“Also, I met @therealsusanlucci tonight!!! What a sweet and gorgeous (and legendary) woman!” #GrandOleOpry #Nashville #CountryMusic.”
See that post here.
Five Country Superstars Who Are Not Opry Members
George Strait
Vince Bucci/Getty ImagesGeorge played the Grand Ole Opry show once, his debut performance on the stage in October of 1982. That was the first and last time, and no one really knows why. There is a theory that he could not make the Opry commitment to play the stage very much because he never lived in Nashville; he has always resided in Texas.
Kenny Chesney
Scott Gries/Getty ImagesKenny made his Opry debut in 1996. He has been on the Opry stage a handful of times and once when he paid tribute to George Jones singing his classic, “White Lightning.” These days it’s very rare to see Chesney on the Grand Ole Opry stage.
