Keith Urban Officially Joins The Grand Ole Opry

Just a week and a half asked being surprised with an invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry cast, Keith Urban was officially inducted tonight on the Opry stage in Nashville. Fellow Opry stars Trace Adkins and John Turner did the honors.

On stage after Urban had performed his hits “Days Go By” and “Without You,” Adkins presented him with his Opry Member Award and made membership official.

“Thank you very much! Yee haw! That is awesome!” Urban said. After thanking the Opry’s members, his parents (who “got me into country music and drove me around to all the gigs”), his wife and daughters, and his fans, among many others, Urban continued, “It’s a long way from Caboolture [Queensland, Australia] to the stage here at the Grand Ole Opry . . . and to stand in this circle is the most phenomenal thing. I just want to thank the Opry for this honor, but also the responsibility. This is a responsibility that I take deep to the heart of me . . . This once and for all shows the global popularity and reach of country music . . . I honor the history of country music, but I absolutely fully dedicate myself to the future of country music, as well. God bless you all.”

After the induction, Urban added his name plaque to the Member Gallery backstage at the Opry by using a pocketknife given to him by Opry member Marty Stuart. Later, during an after show reception, Urban used the same knife to cut the Fender guitar-shaped guitar cake.

 Footage of the induction can be seen at opry.com. Pictured, from left, are Grand Ole Opry VP/GM Pete Fisher, Adkins, Urban and Turner.