Charlie Worsham Invited to Join the Grand Ole Opry by Vince Gill

Vince Gill surprised Charlie Worsham with an invitation to become a Grand Ole Opry member during a performance at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

Written by Amanda Tempel

Date Published: August 8, 2026

Last Updated: September 3, 2026

Charlie Worsham was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry on August 7, 2026, when Vince Gill surprised him with the invitation on stage at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

The milestone came exactly 20 years after Worsham moved to Nashville and on the same day he released his new album, Once Upon a Second Time Around.

The invitation happened during the fifth night of Gill’s six-show, sold-out Ryman residency.

After Worsham performed “Wrap My Porch Around” from the new project, Gill revealed he had been keeping a major secret.

“I've been keeping this a secret for a long time,” Vince told him. “What I get to do tonight is fulfill a dream for someone and this guy deserves this more than anyone I know. I've been asked by the Opry to invite Charlie Worsham to become the next member of the Grand Ole Opry.”

An emotional Worsham reflected on the influence Gill has had on his career, calling him his “North Star.” He recalled asking Gill about what he said when he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and borrowed that sentiment for his own milestone.

“Now I’m going to try to go earn it,” Charlie said, before adding, “This is definitely the ultimate dream.”

Is Charlie Worsham a Grand Ole Opry Member?

Charlie Worsham has been invited to become a Grand Ole Opry member, but he has not yet been officially inducted.

Vince Gill extended the invitation on August 7, 2026, at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. Worsham will officially become a Grand Ole Opry member at his induction ceremony.

The Grand Ole Opry has not yet announced Worsham’s induction date. Its official induction page currently allows fans to sign up to be notified when the date is confirmed.

When Did Charlie Worsham Make His Grand Ole Opry Debut?

Worsham’s history with the Grand Ole Opry began nearly three decades before his membership invitation.

The Grenada, Mississippi, native made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 1997 when he was just 12 years old and already a Junior National Banjo Champion. Two years later, the Mississippi Senate commended him for his musical accomplishments.

After high school, Worsham moved to Boston to study at Berklee College of Music before eventually making his way to Nashville. He spent several years as a member of the band KingBilly before launching his solo career.

Over the years, Worsham has built a reputation not only as an artist and songwriter, but also as one of Nashville’s most respected musicians.

His career has included opening for Brad Paisley, Old Crow Medicine Show, Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, and Kenny Rogers. He has also contributed his musicianship to recordings by artists including Eric Church, Luke Combs, Chris Shiflett, and others.

Worsham has worked as lead guitarist in Dierks Bentley’s band and is currently a member of Gill’s touring band. His musicianship has also earned him major industry recognition, including ACM Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year, CMA Musician of the Year, and a CMA Touring Award for Touring Musician of the Year.

“Charlie Worsham the artist and Charlie Worsham the human being often remind me of the Opry itself,” Opry executive producer Dan Rogers said.

Rogers praised Worsham’s respect for country music traditions, his willingness to look toward the future, and the versatility that allows him to move between country, bluegrass, and the sounds of his native Mississippi.

“I am thrilled his boundless talents and huge heart will have a forever home on the Grand Ole Opry,” Rogers said.

When Is Charlie Worsham’s Grand Ole Opry Induction?

Charlie Worsham’s Grand Ole Opry induction date has not yet been announced.

The Opry has created a dedicated Charlie Worsham induction page where fans can sign up to be notified when the date is confirmed.

Once the induction show is announced, ticket information is expected to be available through the Grand Ole Opry.

New Music from Charlie Worsham

Worsham’s Grand Ole Opry invitation came on the same day as another major career milestone.

His new album, Once Upon a Second Time Around, was released August 7, exactly 20 years after he moved to Nashville.

The project draws from the wide range of music that has shaped him, including the bluegrass he grew up playing in Mississippi, the guitar-driven rock of artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Tom Petty, and the storytelling traditions of artists and songwriters including James Taylor, Don Schlitz, Vince Gill, and Marty Stuart.

Two decades after moving to Nashville, Worsham is now preparing for another milestone: his official induction as a member of the Grand Ole Opry.