Special Opry Evening Filled With Milestones For Dustin Lynch, Trace Adkins, Dillon Carmichael

Trace Adkins with Dustin Lynch. Photo by Chris Hollo for Grand Ole Opry

Dustin Lynch became the latest artist invited to join the Grand Ole Opry family Tuesday night (Aug. 21) during a momentous set of Opry shows that also saw Trace Adkins celebrating his 15-year Opry anniversary and Dillon Carmichael making his debut on the revered stage.

Adkins invited Lynch to become an official part of the Opry family, remarking, “Being a member of the Grand Ole Opry is at the top of my list of achievements in my career and always will be. We want people to be members of the Grand Ole Opry that will have a respect for this institution that it deserves, that it has earned for 92 years. We think that Dustin Lynch is going to carry on in that proud tradition.”

“Thank you! I wish you weren’t so big. I wanted to pick you up, but I couldn’t!” responded a thrilled Lynch, who will officially be inducted as an Opry member on Sept. 18.

Earlier in the evening Opry member Eddie Montgomery introduced his nephew Dillon Carmichael for his Opry debut appearance, with Carmichael’s mom Becky Montgomery performing backing vocals during his performance. The night was doubly special for Carmichael, who had once worked in security at the Opry but had not allowed himself to step inside the Opry’s famed circle of wood center stage until his official debut.

Longtime Opry Entertainment Group President Steve Buchanan also celebrated his retirement during the evening with remarks by Opry member Vince Gill along with friends, family and Opry members during a backstage reception.

Pictured: Trace Adkins with UMG Nashville ‘s Mike Dungan. Photos by Chris Hollo and Rachael Black for Grand Ole Opry

Pictured (L-R): Garth Brooks, Jeannie Seely,Steve Buchanan, Sally Williams & Trisha Yearwood. Photos by Chris Hollo and Rachael Black for Grand Ole Opry.