Tuesday night Selma, Alabama’s Asher HaVon representing Team Reba took the title prize on the finale of season 25 of The Voice. But that may not have been the biggest surprise of the night on the hit NBC music competition show.

Along with performances from each of the finalists, several guest artists took to The Voice stage including Jelly Roll, The Black Keys, Kate Hudson,Thomas Rhett, and fresh off her ACM Female Artist of the Year win, Lainey Wilson. The Louisiana native performed “Hang Tight Honey” off of her upcoming new album, Whirlwind, which is due out in August. After she finished the song, host Carson Daly brought Wilson to center stage before saying, “I want to turn it over to our queen of country Miss Reba to say a few words.”

McEntire stood up from her big red chair as she told Wilson how proud she was of her and began to walk up the stairs towards the famously bell-bottomed singer. Wilson has often said how much McEntire has influenced her career, as she had just stated in her ACM acceptance speech.

As the “Fancy” singer continued, she said “I’ve heard that I’ve inspired you and what you’ve done so far. And I’m thrilled to death if I had anything to do with your career because you are blowing it up.” Wilson responded, “just when I think you can’t get any cooler. You are so sweet” McEntire gave one of her signature laughs as she opened the little black box she carried on stage with her.

“I was so proud of you at the ACMs the other night and I couldn’t be more proud to be the one that helps you continue to bridge the gap between our generations. Keep ‘em all going,” she said as she uncovered what was in the box and Wilson began to understand what was happening. “I’d like to be the person to invite you to be an official member of the Grand Ole Opry,” McEntire said as the crowd cheered. Emotion immediately visible on Wilson’s face as she hugged her hero. “Holy moly!” she exclaimed through her tears.

Daly, standing with the two women said, “Lainey we know that this is like the highest honor to get as a country artist and so we just wanted to say congratulations on behalf of all of us at The Voice. We’re honored to be here tonight to be a part of this invitation for you to join the Opry from Reba.”

 

Her voice shaky with emotion, Wilson took a moment to acknowledge her family in the audience. “I will say they took me to Nashville when I was 9 years old and we went to the Grand Ole Opry and we saw Bill Anderson and Crystal Gayle, and Little Jimmy Dickens. I knew I wanted to play there. I wanted to do it.” She turned to McEntire and continued, “ And it is so crazy that you are asking me to be a member because I look up to you so much. I’m not talking about just musically but the way that you carry yourself and your work ethic. You inspire me ever day.”

Inside of the little black box that McEntire presented to Wilson was  a custom-made belt buckle reading “Opry” and “Lainey” with “2024” emblazoned on its reverse side.

NBC Universal

You won’t have to wait long to see Wilson join the Opry Family. Her induction will take place on Friday, June 7. If you would like to attend the show that night and cheer on the Yellowstone star, tickets are available at  Opry.com or by calling 615-871-OPRY or 800-SEE-OPRY.

Congratulations Lainey!

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