Reba McEntire; Photo Courtesy of Chris Hollo via Grand Ole Opry
Reba McEntire celebrated her 40th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry on Friday, January 16, after inducting Suzy Bogguss as the newest member of the Opry.
Trisha Yearwood introduced the legendary singer/songwriter’s performance, saying, “Tonight has been full of milestones and this one is extra special. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Opry membership for a woman who defines what it means to be a Grand Ole Opry member. Reba has shaped country music and so many of us who have followed in her footsteps and have been lucky enough to walk along beside her. It’s impossible to say how many country artists she’s inspired, and it’s not just about the music, it’s about the person she is. I’m telling you, she’s exactly who you want her to be. I’m proud to be her friend.”
Yearwood then paid tribute to McEntire in celebration of her “incredible career and her four decades as part of the Opry family.” She then performed “How Blue” with Mica Roberts from The Opry Band before welcoming McEntire to the stage for her show-stopping performance.
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The 70-year-old country music icon kicked off her four-song set with “I’m A Survivor” and “Happy’s Place,” the theme songs from the TV series Reba and Happy’s Place, both of which starred McEntire.
“I’m very proud to be here tonight to help honor Suzy. What a great institution the Grand Ole Opry is,” McEntire told the crowd.
Following her first two songs, Grand Ole Opry host Kelly Sutton interrupted her to present her with a special custom scarf designed by Manuel Cuevas for Opry members in celebration of the Opry’s 100th anniversary. The custom scarf was inspired by the signature tapestry hanging at the artist entrance of the Opry.
Sutton then recited a heartfelt letter that her “Opry sister” Trisha Yearwood wrote in honor of McEntire’s 40th anniversary of being an Opry member as the “Fancy” singer listened from the center of the sacred Opry circle.
“There are people in your life who mean what they say and say what they mean. Those people are rare, and you’re lucky if you get to call one of them a friend,” the letter began. “Reba, you’re that friend to many. I’ve watched you welcome new artists like me in 1991 to this wonderful and challenging business. But more than that, I’ve watched you really be a friend to all of us.”
Yearwood’s note continued, “You don’t just say we ought to get together sometime. You actually give out your phone number, you follow up, you make a plan, and then you show up. Reba Freaking McEntire. You make time for trips, for dinners, for fun group texts and a hug through tears when we need it. Yes, you are larger than life, but you’re also as real as we all want you to be. How lucky country music is to have you in their corner and how lucky I am to call you my friend. I love you, Reba. XOXO, Trisha Yearwood.”
The letter brought Reba McEntire to tears and put a big smile on her face. “Oh my gosh, that’s so special. Wow. What a night. This is great. And I’ve got to say, and I want to say none of this would happen without the grace of God,” McEntire added.
She then went on to introduce her performance of “Back To God” with an emotional statement. “You know, my faith is a huge part of who I am. And it’s that faith that gets me through those times in my life where I don’t know how to deal with stuff. And it seems like the world is in a weird place right now, but one thing I’ve learned in my 70 years being on this earth is that the best thing I can do is give all my troubles and my worries ‘Back To God,’” she continued before going into her performance of the powerful track from her 2017 project, Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope.
To close out her set, the country music icon welcomed her friends and fellow Opry members Suzy Bogguss, Terri Clark, Kathy Mattea and Trisha Yearwood for a jaw-dropping performance of “Why Haven’t I Heard From You.” The performance included McEntire, Bogguss, Clark, Mattea and Yearwood singing and dancing together, prompting a massive sing-along with the capacity crowd before the curtain shut, ending the show that will go down in history as one of the best the sacred Nashville stage has ever witnessed.
Reba McEntire was officially inducted into the Opry family on January 14, 1986. For more than 40 years, McEntire has been a staple of the Grand Ole Opry, first stepping onto its stage at age 22 on September 17, 1977.
