Spencer Crandall will never forget September 16, 2022. It was on this night that the rising star made his long-awaited debut on the Grand Ole Opry, fulfilling a dream that he had been working towards for years.

“Making my Grand Ole Opry debut surrounded by all of my family and friends was surreal,” shares Crandall. “When I moved to town six years ago, playing the Opry was always right at the top of my bucket list. To have done just that, especially as an independent artist, it means that much more. It was one of the highlights of my life and I’ll remember this night for as long as I live.”

The independent artist got emotional long before he took the Opry stage. Even receiving the coveted invitation brought Crandall, and his loved ones, to tears.

“There wasn’t a dry eye in the house,” Crandall told CMT ahead of his debut. “It was one of those moments, where I’ve worked really hard to get where I am. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like the work is paying off. It felt like every sleepless night, every bad song I’ve ever written, and every bad show I ever played was worth it. Certain moments are super validating and make you feel like you’re doing the right thing. It’s very humbling and so surreal to be part of what is one of the coolest traditions in country music.”

Crandall earned a standing ovation for his performance of “My Person” and “Made.” The singer-songwriter will release his next album, Western, on October 21. It’s been a lot of Crandall to take in, as he sees his years of hard work coming to fruition.

“I don’t have some billion-dollar budget. I don’t have a massive record label. I’m a kid of the internet. People who found me and loved on me, are the reason that I am where I am today,” Crandall reflected. “That’s a very different relationship. It’s something else when your fans are directly responsible for your successes. I feel so indebted to those people who take the time to pre-save, who take the time to come to a show, get a babysitter, and hotel. I just want all my fans to know that I’m so blessed. I just feel very grateful.”

Western is Crandall’s fourth studio album to be released. and perhaps his most personal. The record includes 18 songs co-written by Crandall, along with a cover of Shania Twain‘s “Still the One,” included as an ode to his parents’ lengthy marriage, and a masterful genre-bending cover of Justin Bieber’s “Anyone.”

“I think every great album should answer the questions: ‘Where are you from?” ‘Where are you now?’ and ‘Where are you going?’ … and I believe I have done just that with Western,”  Crandall said of his new project. “I strive to create songs and tell stories that impact people’s lives in a meaningful way, and to say I’ve put my entire heart into this album would be an understatement. My fans can expect the most vulnerable, energetic and authentic version of myself that I have ever put out, and I’m so honored that I get to tell these stories and share them with the world.”

Pre-order Western, and find music and tour dates at SpencerCrandallMusic.com.