- Rhett Akins has been invited to join the Grand Ole Opry.
- Jon Pardi surprised him onstage on Sunday, June 28.
- Rhett has more than 36 No. 1 country songs to his name.
Rhett Akins will be the next member of the Grand Ole Opry. The songwriter and “That Ain’t My Truck” hitmaker was invited to join the revered institution on Sunday night (June 28) during an “Opry Celebrates ’90s Country” event.
Jon Pardi did the honors, recalling how he met Rhett when he first moved to town and they wrote together, and what a privilege that was. “Rhett has always been somebody who’s been a mentor, and taught a lot to me about how to write songs, how to be a co-writer,” Jon began, reminding the Opry crowd that Rhett has more than 30 No. 1 hits to his name (36, to be exact). Then, he spoke directly to his buddy, dropping the bomb:
“You’ve always been family to me, but I’m here to invite you to be part of a different family. Rhett Akins, I’m here to invite you to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry.”
Rhett seemed to know something was happening, but this particular announcement caught him off guard. He was visibly touched, removing his hat and wiping away tears that had formed in his eyes as his family joined him onstage. That group included his son, fellow country hitmaker Thomas Rhett.
“He is country music,” Jon further told the crowd. It was Rhett’s turn to talk next, but he had to compose himself first, even dropping to a knee inside the iconic Opry stage circle. He was at a loss for words when he took the mic — unusual for an entertainer.
“All I do every day is write words, and I can’t think of any words right now except, ‘Thank you Lord Jesus,’” he began, still choked up. “I have been listening to the Grand Ole Opry since I was a little kid with my grandparents. Anytime they’d ask me to play, if I was in Alaska, I’d fly home immediately. I love country music with all my heart and all I ever wanted to do was meet Hank Jr. Meet George Strait. I never dreamed I’d be in this circle right here with Bill Monroe, Minnie Pearl, Roy Acuff, Garth and Alan … and Jon Pardi.”
“This is just unbelievable,” he concluded.
Rhett has a long history with country music. He’s been churning out hit songs since the ’90s, both for himself as an artist and for others, including big stars like Blake Shelton (“Honey Bee,” “Boys ‘Round Here”) and Luke Bryan (“I Don’t Want This Night to End,” “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day”). He’s been heavily recognized for it, too: In 2011 he was crowned Songwriter of the Year by BMI, then Songwriter of the Decade at the 2020 ACM Awards. He’s also a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and a seven-time CMA Triple Crown award winner. This special award is only given to songwriters who write three No. 1 hits in 12 months’ time.
Rhett Akins will be formally inducted into the Grand Ole Opry during a ceremony later in the year, date to be announced.
Amanda Hensel Jermstad is a skilled writer based in Austin, Texas. She spent 14 years as Editor-in-Chief of Taste of Country, where she led coverage of the artists, stories and trends shaping country music. With a career deeply rooted in the genre, Amanda has built a reputation for sharp editorial insight and authentic storytelling. Outside of work, she’s a proud mom of three.
