Carrie Underwood just celebrated her 15th anniversary of being a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Underwood was joined for the special Opry show by Michael Ray and Deana Carter, among others.
“Tonight I am honored to be celebrating my 15-year anniversary of being a member of the Grand Ole Opry,” Underwood said from stage. “I do want to thank my fans for sending some nice flowers, and making a donation to my foundation. I’ve had so many incredible moments over these 15 years, memorable, wonderful. Some of the best moments I’ve ever had on stage have been on this stage.”
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 Susan Lucci tonight!!! What a sweet and… pic.twitter.com/cUXIdYi0Td
— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) May 14, 2023
Underwood then played “I Told You So,” the song she sang the night she was invited to become a member by Randy Travis. Travis joined her on stage that night to issue the invitation, after she sang the song he first released in 1988.
“I was singing that song, ‘I Told You So,’ and when the song was over, the crowd just kind of kept clapping,” Underwood recalled to host Natalie Stovall after performing the country music classic hit. “I was like, ‘I thought I did an okay job, but they’re standing up now.’ I didn’t know why, and I started getting a big head for just a split second. And then I turned around and Randy Travis was behind me. The crowd was not clapping for me. I’ve always loved him. I’ve always looked up to him. I think he’s just amazing. So the fact that he was the one to ask me was very special.”
Garth Brooks inducted Underwood into the Grand Ole Opry on May 10, 2008.
“I can’t imagine what you’re feeling right now. I cried like a baby the whole time,” Brooks said at the time (via CMT). “You will be rained with awards from the CMA, ACM, Grammys and all that stuff. Nothing will last as long or be more important than this award right here tonight. Congratulations.”
Underwood closed out the night by performing her new song, “Out Of That Truck,” from her forthcoming new album, and her 2006 hit, “Before He Cheats.”
“I feel like musically, we wanted ‘Out Of That Truck’ just to feel like … I’m gonna use the word ‘rock’ super loosely,” Underwood said when the song was released. “We wanted it to be driving, and guitar-heavy. It’s not an aggressive song at all, so we didn’t want to push it there, but we just wanted it to move and have some energy. I have an affinity for guitars, so it was one of those wanting it to take you somewhere, and you can sing along with it.”
Underwood will return to the Grand Ole Opry along with The Oak Ridge Boys, Josh Turner, Bill Anderson and Lainey Wilson, among others, on June 6 for two back-to-back shows to help kick off CMA Fest.
She will resume her REFLECTION: The Las Vegas Residency in June. Find “Out Of That Truck” and all of Underwood’s music and upcoming shows at CarrieUnderwoodOfficial.com.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Schmidt Relations / Chris Hollo
