Trace Adkins just celebrated his 20th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry but if it was up to him, he knows who should be next on the list. During his anniversary celebration, the 61-year-old suggests two acts, both which blur the country music genre lines, whom he deems more than worthy of the honor.
“Before I go tonight, I just want to say thank you to all the legendary entertainers that have been on this stage tonight,” Adkins said from stage (via CMT). “Gene Watson, a legend. Jason Crabb, one of the best singers that I’ve ever heard step up to a microphone. One of my favorite bands of all time, Exile.”
Adkins performed several of his hits throughout his celebratory performance, including “Songs About Me,” “You’re Gonna Miss This” and more, concluding by suggesting Crabb and Exile become the next members.
Photo Credit: Suzie Pennington
“By the way, I’ll just say this while I have the microphone in my hand: if I have to apologize for it I will,” Adkins said. “I think Jason Crabb and Exile ought to be members of the Grand Ole Opry. I think it’s a shame that they’re not. If you’ve got a problem with that, fire me. I’m starting a campaign, and I ain’t going to rest until they’re members of the Grand Ole Opry. Thank you all for coming out and sharing this evening with us. We love you!”
Adkins previously said that being an Opry member has been a guiding force in his life for the past two decades.
“For me, it means that I’m a better man than I would have been had I not been a member of the Grand Ole Opry because I take it very seriously… And I try to conduct myself every day, keeping in mind that I’m a member of the Grand Ole Opry,” Adkins said during his recent performance. “I represent this institution, and I don’t want to do anything that might disrespect my family at the Grand Ole Opry.
“It probably kept me out of jail more times than I would have gone,” he added with a laugh.
Courtesy of the Grand Ole Opry/Chris Hollo
For all that he has done throughout his very successful career, being a member of the Grand Ole Opry will always be his biggest accomplishment.
“It still is just as, if not more, important than it ever was,” Adkins previously told Everything Nash. “I love it. People ask me if I look back on my career, what’s at the top of my list of achievements? Being a member of the Grand Ole Opry is in the top five spots. And it’s weird because I didn’t do anything to deserve that. It wasn’t something that I achieved. It was just something that, for some reason, somebody bestowed this honor onto me. I didn’t do anything to really deserve it, but I’m so grateful and thankful.
“I now always keep that in mind, no matter what I’m doing or where I’m going, that I am a member of the Grand Ole Opry,” he added. “I’m a representative of that institution and that helps me to conduct myself appropriately.”
Adkins is currently on his Somewhere in America Tour. Find all of his music and upcoming shows at TraceAdkins.com.