Country singer Charlie Worsham is invited to join the Grand Ole Opry

Charlie Worsham has been invited to become the next member of the Grand Ole Opry, Saving Country Music reported on August 9, with MusicRow confirming the news the following day. The invitation came from Vince Gill on Friday, August 7, during a multi-night residency the two were playing together at the Ryman Auditorium, the Opry's former home. Gill surprised Worsham on stage after he performed his song "Wrap My Porch Around" from his new album Once Upon a Second Time Around, released the same day: "I've been asked by the Opry to invite Charlie Worsham to become the next member of the Grand Ole Opry."

Opry Executive Producer Dan Rogers said Worsham "has the utmost respect for decades-old music traditions" while "always looking toward tomorrow and making innovative music that opens doors to the future," adding that his "boundless talents and huge heart will have a forever home on the Grand Ole Opry."

Worsham called Gill "my North Star" in his on-stage response, referencing interviews the two had done together over the past year, and said he now intends to "go earn it. This is definitely the ultimate dream."

It was a full circle moment: Worsham made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 1997 at age 12 as a Junior National Banjo Champion from Grenada, Mississippi, and two years later was commended by the Mississippi Senate for his musical accomplishments. He graduated high school as a straight-A student before studying songwriting at Boston's Berklee College of Music, then spent several years in the band KingBilly before launching a solo career opening for Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift and Kenny Rogers.

Beyond his own catalog, Worsham has built a career as an in-demand session musician and side player, contributing to albums by Eric Church, Luke Combs and Chris Shiflett among others. He worked as lead guitarist in fellow Opry member Dierks Bentley's band, has toured with Old Crow Medicine Show, and is currently a member of Vince Gill's touring band, alongside 20 years in Nashville that Saving Country Music said have "definitely earned this Grand Ole Opry induction."

Worsham's invitation lands the same week as other milestones in MusicSuey's country coverage, including Violet Hensley's own Opry debut, remembered after her death at 109 and Stella Lefty's upcoming first turn on the Opry stage. It's the latest addition to award watch.