Skip navigation

Current DateTime: 01:21:28 12 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 24355697
Carrie Underwood invited to join Opry
By: The Associated Press | 21 Mar 2008 | 07:28 PM ET
Text Size
‘Idol’ winner will be inducted into long-running country show on May 10

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Carrie Underwood will become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry after she was invited Saturday to join the long-running country music show.

Randy Travis extended the invitation as Underwood finished “I Told You So,” a Travis song that Underwood recorded on her latest album.

Her official induction will be May 10.

The former “American Idol” winner sold 7 million copies of her debut album “Some Hearts” and shot to superstardom almost overnight with hits including “Before He Cheats” and “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”

Her follow-up album, “Carnival Ride,” came out last fall and has produced two No. 1s: “So Small” and her current single “All-American Girl.”

Underwood said backstage that the invitation was a complete surprise.

“I felt like I just won something amazing all over again,” she said. “The Opry has meant so much to me growing up, seeing people perform and wanting to do that.”

Underwood, 25, becomes the latest young hitmaker to become an Opry member in recent years, joining Brad Paisley, Josh Turner and Dierks Bentley.

The Opry, established in 1925, is the longest continuously running radio show in the country. Legends such as Hank Williams Sr. and Patsy Cline were once members of the cast, and contemporary stars including Alan Jackson and Martina McBride are part of today’s show, which airs every Friday and Saturday night on WSM-AM.

Opry management says artists are invited to join based on their commitment to the show, as measured by the frequency of their guest appearances, and their overall contribution to country music.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Tools:
Print EmailAdd This share icon
  • digg share

CNBC HIGHLIGHTS

  • CNBC is blogging a talk given by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates to students at Columbia University.
  • They may have wrecked their company or saved our economy. Tell us what you think.
  • Big pharma embraces social media, but how much should a tightly regulated sector say on Facebook or Twitter?
  • A European dating site finds lovelorn singles from one country to be consistently uglier. Which is it?
  • Contributor David Pogue looks at two of the latest efforts to perfect the digital pocket camera.
  • PepsiCo is ramping up its onsite health facilities for workers.
ADD COMMENTS
Remaining characters


Current DateTime: 01:20:29 12 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29778428

Current DateTime: 11:27:46 12 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779196

Current DateTime: 11:27:47 12 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779199

Current DateTime: 01:00:12 12 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779198
  Data is a real-time snapshot  *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes
Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis

© 2009 CNBC, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.
A Division of NBC Universal
Thomson ReutersThomson Reuters