Suzy Bogguss was officially inducted into the Grand Ole Opry during an emotional night on Friday (Jan. 16), highlighted by performances from her longtime friends and fellow ’90s country icons Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, Terri Clark, Steve Wariner and Kathy Mattea, who previously surprised her with the invitation to join the Opry during an induction ceremony in October 2025.
Bogguss opened her induction night with a standout three-song set that included her signature hits “Someday Soon,” “Aces,” and “Outbound Plane,” all Top 10 songs from her 1991 album, Aces, which went on to earn her the prestigious CMA Horizon Award in 1992. The crowd erupted in thunderous applause and offered several standing ovations throughout her performance.
Trisha Yearwood then surprised her and the sold-out audience when she entered the stage to praise Bogguss. “I love this woman. It’s really an honor to be here on such a special moment and to get to be here the night that you were invited and to be here tonight is just amazing. Suzy Bogguss is one of those artists who doesn’t just sing songs. She lives them as you’ve witnessed tonight. Her voice, her heart, her commitment to the music have inspired so many, including me. In just a few moments, we’ll witness Suzy take her place among the members of the Grand Ole Opry.”
Country music legend Reba McEntire, who was celebrating the 40th anniversary of her own Opry induction that night, was on hand to welcome Bogguss by presenting her with the trophy recognizing her as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.
“This is so special, Suzy. This family is incredible. They’re loving. Everybody in this building is… I’m crying,” an emotional McEntire said. “This circle’s very important, very special to all of us dating back, many, many generations. And to be able to give you this trophy is very, very special to me and everybody sitting here, everybody in this building watching. Suzy Bogguss’ voice is like an angel’s voice. When she sings, you know it, you know her voice. You hear on the radio, that’s Suzy Bogguss. And I am so proud to give you this trophy that tells you, you are the latest member of the Grand Ole Opry. Congratulations.”
Bogguss was speechless and overcome with emotion as Reba McEntire handed her the trophy. “I can’t even express it to you. And you know me that I talk a lot and I can’t find words. But I do want to say to you that this place is so special,” the 69-year-old country hitmaker began. “Honestly, I have always been nervous up here. Tonight, sitting in the circle, I feel so calm. It’s like being in the eye of the hurricane or something.”
“Nothing makes me happier than being in a room full of people that love music as much as I do… There’s just no greater feeling than to know that you guys somehow were moved by my songs, and you want to sing along with me,” Bogguss continued. “I’m so proud to be a part of [the Opry].”
She added, “I feel like you guys have decided that I can be a cast member and that I can have my own personality here and be my own person. You feel like you get to be yourself when you get on the stage. So I just want to say thank you so much to the Opry. You guys, thank you for including me in this amazing cast and the past cast. I feel a lot of pretty special spirits in this room right now. I was lucky enough to get to be here with some of the real greats starting here in 1989 and feeling welcome from the very first time that I stepped into this circle.”
To close out her induction celebration, Bogguss invited her “gal pals” Terri Clark, Kathy Mattea, Reba McEntire, and Trisha Yearwood to join her for a special performance of “Hey Cinderella.”
In addition to receiving her Grand Ole Opry member trophy, Bogguss was also welcomed into the Women of Country dressing room backstage at the Opry, where she personally got to hang up her own photo on the wall, and installed her member plaque alongside her fellow Opry members.
Suzy Bogguss was officially inducted three months after her longtime friend Kathy Mattea surprised her with an invitation during Mattea’s own Opry induction, the first time in Opry history that an invitation and induction happened on the same night.
Platinum-selling, CMA and GRAMMY Award–winning singer/songwriter Suzy Bogguss has been a beloved fixture at the Grand Ole Opry for more than three decades, first making her Opry debut on May 12, 1989.
For more information about Suzy Bogguss, visit her official website.
