On another milestone night at the Grand Ole Opry, Suzy Bogguss became the country music institution’s latest member Friday night. Bogguss was inducted into the Opry by her friend Reba McEntire, who was celebrating the 40th anniversary of her own Opry membership. Opry member Trisha Yearwood also contributed to the celebration.
This has been a long time coming for Bogguss. She made her Opry debut on May 12, 1989, shortly after being named Top New Female Vocalist at the ACM Awards, and has performed at the Nashville institution many times over the years. She went on to win Grammys and CMA Awards and release hits like “Drive South” and “Just Like the Weather.”
Bogguss began her induction night by performing her 1991 hits “Someday Soon,” “Aces,” and “Outbound Plane,” after which Yearwood made a surprise appearance to congratulate her friend. “I love this woman,” Yearwood told the Opry crowd. “It’s really an honor to be here on such a special moment. To get to be here on the night you were invited and to be here tonight is just amazing.” Yearwood continued with praise for Bogguss: “Suzy Bogguss is one of those artists who doesn’t just sing songs, she lives them. Her voice, her heart, her commitment to the music have inspired so many, including me.”
Yearwood welcomed McEntire to the stage to proceed with Bogguss’ big moment. “This is so special, Suzy,” McEntire said. “This family is incredible. They are loving. Everybody in this building. This stage is very important to all of us dating many, many generations back. To be able to give you this trophy is very special to me, to everyone sitting here, and to everybody in this building watching.”
McEntire then joined Yearwood in showering their friend and peer with adulation, telling the audience, “Suzy Bogguss’s voice is like an angel’s voice. When she sings you know it. You know it when you hear it on the radio. I am so proud to give you this trophy that tells you that you are the latest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Congratulations!”
After expressing her gratitude and the sense of peace that came from being inducted into the Opry, Bogguss teamed with McEntire and Yearwood—plus fellow Opry members Terri Clark and Kathy Mattea—on a moving rendition of “Hey Cinderella.” McEntire took over the spotlight to close out the night, performing a string of her own hits including “I’m A Survivor,” “Happy’s Place,” and “Back To God” before welcoming the legendary “gal pals” back out to close the night with “Why Haven’t I Heard From You.”
