Jeannie Seely & Rhonda Vincent (Photo By: Chris Hollo)
Multi-award-winning bluegrass artist Rhonda Vincent was surprised on stage at the Grand Ole Opry tonight by Opry member Jeannie Seely with an invitation to become an official Opry member. Vincent had just performed her 2019 bluegrass chart-topper “Like I Could,” a tune co-written by Seely. She will be officially inducted into the Opry family March 24.
A truly flabbergasted Vincent reacted to the Opry invitation by twice asking Seely if she was serious. She then replied, “100% percent yes. Oh my gosh! I grew up listening to the Opry. Thank you dear God!”
Rhonda Vincent, Sharon White, Jeannie Seely, Cheryl White, & Connie Smitha (Photo By: Chris Hollo)
Following the invitation, Seely welcomed on stage several of the Opry’s women of country, including Sharon and Cheryl White, Connie Smith and soon-to-be inducted Opry member Vincent to perform “Those Memories” center stage in the Opry’s circle.
“Throughout her award-winning career, Rhonda has always made time to visit us at the Opry,” said Opry Vice President and Executive Producer Dan Rogers. “She is a force of nature on stage, and a friend to fellow artists and fans alike behind the scenes. Her songs have a home among the many styles of music we celebrate at the Opry for the rest of her career.”
About Rhonda Vincent: Bluegrass award-winner Rhonda Vincent began her professional music career at the age of five, playing drums with her family’s band, the Sally Mountain Show. She picked up the mandolin at eight and the fiddle at ten, performing with the family band at festivals on weekends. Rhonda struck out on her own, singing with the Grand Ole Opry’s Jim Ed Brown. Her opportunity eventually led to a deal with Rebel Records. Her work caught the attention of Giant Nashville’s president, James Stroud, who signed Vincent to record two contemporary country albums. After Giant, she signed with Rounder Records where her passion for traditional bluegrass music flourished. She made her label debut in 2000 with “Back Home Again’ recorded with her band, “The Rage.” She showcases her hard-driving, high-energy contemporary bluegrass on “The Storm Rage” in 2001, “One Step Ahead” in 2003, “Ragin’ Live” in 2005, “All American Bluegrass Girl” in 2006, and “Good Thing Going” in 2008. In 2000, Vincent won her first in a string of seven Female Vocalist of the Year Awards from the International Bluegrass Music Association. In 2001, she won the Entertainer of the Year Award. In 2011, Vincent released a collaboration album with Gene Watson titled Your Money and My Good Looks.
About the Grand Ole Opry: The Grand Ole Opry® is presented by Humana®. Opry performances are held every Friday and Saturday of the year, with Tuesday night shows February 4 through December, plus seasonal Wednesday shows and Thursday Opry Country Classics performances. To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com. The Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn. Celebrating nine decades of entertainment, the Opry can be heard at opry.com and wsmonline.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP). For more information, visit opry.com
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