Finally: Jamey Johnson Invited to Be Grand Ole Opry Member
Yes!
It has been a very long time coming. But justice has finally has been served, and everything is right in the country music world as Jamey Johnson has finally been invited to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Invited during Saturday night’s Opry presentation (3-19) by friend and mentor “Whispering” Bill Anderson, Jamey Johnson’s loyalty to country music and to the Opry has officially been reciprocated.
As Jamey Johnson was performing in a songwriting round with “Whispering” Bill Anderson and Buddy Cannon, “Whispering” Bill grabbed the center stage mic, made reference to the fact that Johnson made his first Opry appearance 17 years ago, and how it was Anderson who had introduced him. Since then, Johnson has made half a dozen guest appearances or so each year.
“You have made a lot of guest appearances. But the management, the staff, and the people at the Opry told me tonight to tell you that this is your last guest appearance,” Anderson said, as the the crowd and Johnson woke up to what was happening.
“I’ve been kicked out of a lot of places in my life,” Johnson responded.
“You’re not going to be a guest anymore,” Anderson assured. “The next time Jamey Johnson’s on this stage, he’s going to be the newest member in the Grand Ole Opry.”
Jamey Johnson’s invitation is the latest quality move by the Grand Ole Opry under the management of Dan Rogers. Along with inviting more loyal Opry performers, and more traditional country and bluegrass acts, the Opry has been bestowing more debuts recently, as well as offering more diversity in a resurgence of country music’s oldest and most storied institution.
An Opry invitation is something Jamey Johnson has been wanting for many years. In 2018, and once again while appearing with Bill Anderson on the Opry stage, Johnson joked, “I was just talking to Bill Anderson over there on the side and I said, ‘I’m gonna come out here and make this announcement tonight.’ I’d like to announce that I’m the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.”
This pronouncement from Jamey was met with a roar of applause from the Opry audience. But then Johnson cut in.
“I would like to announce that, but it’s not true. I’ve signed my part of the contract. If we can get them to sign their part it’ll be a done deal,” Johnson said. “We’re working on it. We’re getting there. 13 years now I’ve been playing this ol’ Opry.”
It took four more years, but it finally happened. A respected performer and songwriter across the board in country music, Johnson’s later career has been devoted to keeping the old songs, songwriters, and traditions of country music alive. And now he will officially be a part of the oldest country music tradition of all, and for life.
Congratulations, Jamey.
Welcome to the family, @jamey_johnson ♥️ pic.twitter.com/QxHSlfYO9C
— Grand Ole Opry (@opry) March 20, 2022
Woogeroo
March 19, 2022 @ 8:53 pm
Sweet… props to Johnson.
Ty Roberts
March 19, 2022 @ 8:59 pm
Good for him even though he hasn’t recorded any new music in 25 years.
Cookietown
March 20, 2022 @ 8:01 am
I’m sure you’re exaggerating when saying that, Ty, but the fact is that Jamey’s written and recorded more songs in his past (and doesn’t need to write a single other song to deserve that honor!)! He fell on icy concrete and injured his head a while back, I read. Thankfully, it didn’t change any of the talent that man has! God Bless the REAL Country musicians and singers!
Phil57
March 20, 2022 @ 9:45 am
Uh, actually he has recorded quite a bit of original material during the last 25 years. I think you need to go to his Wikipedia page.
Phil
March 20, 2022 @ 10:37 am
I think you are referring to Bill Anderson not making any new music. Jamey Johnson has made a lot of new music for himself as well as other famous artists.
Kevin Smith
March 21, 2022 @ 4:20 am
Jameys last album was the tribute to Hank Cochran from 2012. Thats a decade with no new albums. So when you say hes made a lot of new music, are you referring to his guest appearances on others records, like Blackberry Smokes latest? A bit of a stretch to call his handful of duets, a lot of new music. For the record, ive given up any notions of there ever being another JJ album released. Everytime hes asked about it, he gets prickly and changes the subject.
But good for him on the Opry membership.
Tommy D. Evans Sr.
March 21, 2022 @ 10:36 am
I listen to country music as well as rock music . Jamey Johnson and Cody Jinks sing about things we can all relate to . I don’t think either one has a song that I can’t relate to or don’t like.
Eric
March 20, 2022 @ 7:17 pm
Makes sense since he looks like a Wizard from some mystical mountain.
Alannah Allbrett
March 21, 2022 @ 10:54 am
Show us your picture Eric, so we can all chime in on how you look.
jim bob
March 23, 2022 @ 10:45 am
i need something happy in my life. i don’t even care about new music. he did a great duet with Terry Bradshaws daughter, and he flies planes like Bruce Dickinson.
BRO country
March 19, 2022 @ 9:30 pm
Congratulations to Jamey and well deserved. Hopefully this will inspire him to write some new stuff. I could sure use some new Jamey Johnson music right about now.
Johnny Law
March 20, 2022 @ 2:27 am
Well deserved! Congrats Jamey!
Huntermc6
March 20, 2022 @ 3:53 am
Finally! Took them long enough. Congrats Jamey!
Hans Rosen
March 20, 2022 @ 5:20 am
This is so well deserved! He is keeping country music alive. Singin’ and helping other artists in their careers! I’ve followed him since “Beer Song” was played on WSM Opry Star Spotlight where Jamey was guesting many years ago!
Wayne hartung
March 20, 2022 @ 8:05 am
Congratulations Jamey Johnson you deserve this so much!
Country Charley Crockett's Butter
March 20, 2022 @ 6:56 am
If a Whispering Bill announces an Opry invite to a full house audience, did anyone hear it?
Opry execs: “Sorry Jamey Johnson, we have no audio recording evidence that such an invite occurred. Bill whispered it too aggressively “
Sheryl
March 20, 2022 @ 7:59 am
Congrats Jamey! You deserved this a long time ago!
strait county 81
March 20, 2022 @ 9:35 am
Too bad it doesn’t mean as much anymore with some of the Trash they put in as members.
Almost as laughable as Martina criticizing country radio this week.
CountryKnight
March 20, 2022 @ 12:00 pm
What did Martina say?
strait county 81
March 20, 2022 @ 1:27 pm
She don’t listen to current country cause it’s not what she wants to hear😂😂. All the pop influenced songs she’s put out to try to be accepted should have never said anything.
CountryKnight
March 20, 2022 @ 5:31 pm
Yeah. She is not the one to be delivering that criticism. She helped the pop domination at the radio.
Like Carrie Underwood, she never met a song that she didn’t oversing.
hoptowntiger94
March 20, 2022 @ 9:47 am
I’m thrilled for him. I thought he earned a chair on the Farm Aid board with Willie, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews. But, they wanted a woman a gave it to Margo Price last year. Being a member of the Grand Ole Opry is a great consolation prize.
VernTobyTrace
March 20, 2022 @ 9:54 am
“Hustlers shooting 8 ball throwing darts at the wall.. feeling damn near 10 feet tall, here she comes lord help us all.. old tw’s girlfriend done slapped him out his chair.. poor old boy it aint his fault its so hard not to stair at that honky tonk .. badonkadonk ‘ brilliant. the best song he ever wrote and delivered brilliantly by Trace Adkins. tHIS ALONE GETS him into the Opry in my op[inion
Wayne Brazeau
March 20, 2022 @ 10:28 am
My wife and I saw Jamie in Valdosta Ga about 20 years ago and meet Jamie after the show. We were in the front row last night and was proud to see Jamie get what he deserved, and I was close enoght to yell it out so he could here it. Good job brother.
truthtalker
March 28, 2022 @ 11:40 pm
and yet you can’t spell his name.
CountryKnight
March 20, 2022 @ 11:59 am
He looks like an Old Testament patriarch.
Even those guys have released albums more recently than Jamey.
Countryfan68
March 20, 2022 @ 12:53 pm
So happy forJamey. Maybe we will get some new music some day.
Gracie
March 20, 2022 @ 3:58 pm
Congratulations to Jamey! Absolutely, justice has been done, it is hard to even believe. This could not have happened to a better man.
Kayla Allison
March 20, 2022 @ 9:25 pm
Awesome news!! I can remember when I heard “In Color” for the first time. It was one of the songs that made me really fall in love with country music.
Daniel Heberle
March 21, 2022 @ 3:09 am
Country music at its best! Saw him in Syracuse NY a few years ago. Congratulations Mr.Johnson.
CJ STONE
March 21, 2022 @ 12:53 pm
It’s about time! Congrats Jamey!
I don’t know what the Opry standards nowadays are because they invite everybody and their grandma to join – they need to remember their roots!
I sure like the title of this site Saving Country Music!