It was a big night at the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday, September 10. Blake Shelton‘s wife, Gwen Stefani, and Season 18 winner of The Voice, Todd Tilghman — who was on Shelton’s team — both made their long-awaited Grand Ole Opry debut.

Shelton praised Tilghman ahead of his performance, for not only winning The Voice, but his tenacity on the show, which had to be altered due to the impact of COVID-19.

“In the fall of 2019, we were beginning to film Season 18 of The Voice,” Shelton shared from stage. “I think four coaches turned their chairs around for Todd. I begged. I got down on one knee. I begged him to pick me as his coach, and he did. Flash forward to spring of 2020, when we go into the live shows. He made it through to the lives, he made it through the battles, through the knock-out rounds. And then, there’s this thing that we had called COVID, hit. And we had to finish Season 18 of The Voice virtually. Literally, I don’t know if you guys remember or not.

“We were trying to do the show, from our houses on our laptop,” he continued. “We were rehearsing from our computers. It was a nightmare. Todd Tilghman won Season 18 of The Voice. And because of what COVID did for a couple of years there, this opportunity never came up for Todd. So I am more than proud and honored to be the person to introduce, for his Opry debut, ladies and gentleman, Todd Tilghman!”

Tilghman performed two songs, including his original “Home Wasn’t Built in a Day.” Shelton then returned to the stage to perform another song, before surprising the crowd with Stefani.

“So I told you all in the beginning that this is a very special night for me,” Shelton said. “It’s all about The Voice. And just like with Todd Tilghman, how long that performance had been coming.

“This next performance has been a long time coming also,” he continued, as “Nobody But You” began to play, and Stefani appeared on the stage. The couple also performed “Happy Anywhere” together.

Fellow The Voice alum  Jake Hoot also performed on September 10, along with Wendy Moten, Callista Clark, Natalie Grant, Kolby Cooper and Connie Smith.