Lainey Wilson and Reba McEntire.
You can’t get much more legendary than that duo when it comes to country music, and fans of “The Voice” got to see an amazing moment between the two during Tuesday’s episode.
Wilson showed up on the show to sing her new single, “Hang Tight Honey,” and when she was through, Reba pulled out a stunner.
“You did a wonderful job and I have heard that I’ve inspired you and what you’ve done so far, and I am thrilled if I had anything to do with your career because you are blowing up,” McEntire told her. “I was so proud of you at the ACMs the other night, and I couldn’t be more proud to be the one that helps you continue to bridge the gap between our generations. Keep ‘em all going. I’d like to be the person to invite you to be a member, official member, of the Grand Ole Opry!”
That brought Wilson to tears as she embraced McEntire.
Wilson then said that her family was in attendance and told a story of them carrying her to Nashville when she was just 9 to see a show at the Opry.
“We saw Bill Anderson and Crystal Gale and Little Jimmy Dickens, and I knew that I wanted to play there,” she said. “I wanted to do it, and it was so crazy that you were asking me to be a member because I look up to you so much. I’m not talking about just musically, but the way that you carry yourself and your work ethic. You inspire me every day.”
She also took to X, formerly Twitter, with a follow-up post.
“Somebody pinch me,” she said while sharing the clip of the invite. “I’m going to become a member of the (Opry) on June 7! This is the moment little Lainey dreamed about ever since her first trip to Nashville. Thank you (Reba) & (The Voice) for the surprise of a lifetime.”