Rhett Akins Joins the Grand Ole Opry Family on His Birthday
A star-studded celebration brought his songs to life, and ended with friends, family and fans singing “Happy Birthday” at the Opry.
The Best Birthday Surprise
Rhett Akins had plenty to celebrate on his birthday: he officially became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame member and ACM Songwriter of the Decade was welcomed into the Opry family by friends and fellow members Jamey Johnson and Jon Pardi. Akins opened the show with a song of his own, his 1996 chart-topper “Don’t Get Me Started,” before telling the crowd, “This is the greatest night of my life.”
A Hit-Filled Night With Friends
The celebration brought together artists who have recorded some of Akins’ biggest songs, including Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Johnson, Pardi and Akins’ son, Thomas Rhett. With 36 No. 1 country hits to his name, there was no shortage of songs to sing along to.
Akins joined Pardi for “Dirt on My Boots,” teamed up with Johnson for Merle Haggard’s “Ramblin’ Fever,” and shared the stage with Bryan for “I Don’t Want This Night to End” and “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day.”
Then came a special father-and-son moment: Akins and Thomas Rhett performed “What’s Your Country Song,” one of the eight No. 1 hits they’ve written together.
Akins also revisited two songs he wrote for Opry member Blake Shelton: “Honey Bee” and “I Lived It.”
“You Are Now a Member of the Grand Ole Opry”
After the music, Johnson and Pardi walked with Akins to the Opry circle for the official induction. Pardi delivered the words Akins had been waiting to hear: “Rhett Akins, you are now a member of the Grand Ole Opry.”
As Johnson handed Akins his membership award, he added a joke that got a laugh from the crowd: “Congratulations. It couldn’t have happened to a better guy … but it did. It happened to me.”
A Birthday Singalong to Remember
The night ended with Akins’ friends back onstage for his signature classic, “That Ain’t My Truck.” Then the crowd joined in for one more song: “Happy Birthday.”
Akins’ Opry invitation came earlier in the year, when Pardi surprised him with the news. It was a fitting choice: Pardi’s “Dirt on My Boots,” one of his biggest hits, was written by Akins. This time, the song helped bring the Opry family together to celebrate its newest member.
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