Suzy Bogguss is the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Bogguss was inducted on Friday, January 16, by Reba McEntire.

“This is so special, Suzy,” an emotional McEntire said through tears. “This family is incredible. … This circle’s very important, very special to all of us, dating back many, many generations back. And to be able to give you this trophy, is very, very special, to me and everybody else sitting here, everybody in this building watching.”

“Suzy Bogguss’s voice is like an angel’s voice,” she adds. “When she sings, you know it. You know her voice. You hear it on the radio, and that’s Suzy Boggus. And I am so proud to give you this trophy that tells you that you are the latest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Congratulations.”

What Suzy Bogguss Says About Being a Grand Ole Opry Member

Bogguss admits she is still in awe that she was invited to become a member of the Opry.

“I can’t even express it to you. And you know me, that I talk a lot and I can’t even find words,” Bogguss said of her induction, after officially becoming a Grand Ole Opry member. “But I do want to say to you that this place is so special.  Honestly, I have always been nervous up here. Tonight, sitting in the circle, I just feel so calm. It’s like being in the eye of the hurricane or something. But nothing makes me happier than being in a roomful of people that love music as much as I do. It’s so fantastic.

“And watching your lips move to the songs, how awesome is that?” she continued. “There’s no greater feeling than to know that you guys somehow were moved by my songs, and you want to sing along with me. The Opry is an amazing place that you obviously come here from all over the world, all over the country, every place. And you work hard to get here, to get to your country soul, and just feel a part of it. But the energy that comes between you and us, the musicians, this amazing crew, that’s only part of it.”

Bogguss goes on to acknowledge all of the people who work behind the scenes to make the Opry such a special place.

“I am so proud to be a part of [the Opry],” Bogguss concludes. “I feel like you guys decided that I can be a cast member, and that I can have my own personality here, and be my own person. You feel like you get to be yourself when you get on this stage. So I just want to say, thank you so much to the Opry. Thank you for including me in this amazing cast, and the past cast. I feel a lot of pretty special spirits in this room right now. I was lucky enough to get to be here with some of the real greats starting here in 1989 and feeling welcome from the very first time that I stepped into the circle. So, thank you all so much.”

Bogguss was invited to join in December by her good friend, Kathy Mattea, after Mattea was inducted. The evening also included performances by Mattea, Terri Clark, Trisha Yearwood, and Steve Wariner.

Photo Credit: Grand Ole Opry / Danielle Piazza