Ashley McBryde earns 'a seat at the table' at Grand Ole Opry induction

On Saturday night, Ashley McBryde marked her 22nd appearance at the Grand Ole Opry in five years and her induction by Terri Clark as the 228th member of the show's cast in its 97-year history.

The reigning Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Musical Event of the Year award-winner noted that this -- more than any other moment in her 15-year Nashville career was "the most significant moment of [her] life."

McBryde was joined by her family and friends in attendance, including Country Music Hall of Famer Wynonna Judd.

Two months ago, Arkansas native McBryde appeared on CBS' "CBS Mornings" program to discuss her newly released and critically-acclaimed third album, "Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville." During her interview, she was interrupted by Garth Brooks virtually dropping into her segment from the Opry House.

"I thought he was going to ask me to do a show with him or something," noted in a Saturday evening press conference. "Then I realized what was happening."

"Miss Ashley McBryde, on behalf of the Opry and myself as an Opry member -- I'm gonna try not to cry -- we would love for you to consider becoming the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry," Brooks said.

"It would be the great joy and the great honor of my life," McBryde replied, humbled by the opportunity.

McBryde's night on Opryland Drive was not only notable for the deafening ovation she received from the 4000-plus fans in attendance. Moreover, it was for the night elevating and creating full-circle moments related to three career-redefining events, all occurring roughly a half-decade ago.

On April 13, 2017, McBryde was a decade into working in a "ten-year town." She had straightened her hair and altered her appearance to curry mainstream favor for her debut EP, "Jalopies & Expensive Guitars." Arguably, the release's most influential fan was Eric Church -- an artist for whom conventional niceties and wisdom are disdained bedfellows.

His calling her onstage during his concert at Chicago's Allstate Arena to perform the single "Bible and a .44" altered her career's trajectory.

A year prior, McBryde was not yet signed to Warner Music Nashville and writing songs for what would become her previously-mentioned debut EP, plus "Girl Going Nowhere," her top-ten country and crossover-successful album. Then, on May 16, 2016, Guy Clark -- a legendary singer-songwriter influence on McBryde with whom she hoped to one day share a cigarette, as she stated before taking the stage on Saturday night -- died.

While on her way to Q Publishing's offices for a co-writing session with Jeremy Bussey, she opened Instagram and saw that a friend had posted a photo of Clark with the caption, "thank you for teaching me how to write songs."

"Oh no," McBryde sighed when retelling the story. "Guy had passed."

Bussey's advice to McBryde, shaken by the news but still attending the writing session, proved invaluable.

"Let's write the song you'll sing for your Opry debut -- and in such a way that if Guy Clark had to listen to it, he wouldn't hate it."

That tune later became "Girl Goin' Nowhere."

Moreover, Terri Clark -- the person who presented McBryde with her membership trophy -- has a deep emotional connection to the "One Night Standards" vocalist.

McBryde told reporters on Saturday that she'd been a childhood fan of Clark's ("I bought her CD and put it in my six-CD changer") and considered her "a hero." Then, blinking back tears, she recalled how positive the experience they eventually shared in 2017 experience as song co-writers was.

They became friends who now frequently share advice and influence during late-night phone calls. Now, they occasionally write songs together over meals and enjoy time together as "siblings in another life."

Clark commented that McBryde knelt to kiss the Opry circle on that debut evening. "Right then we all knew you belonged here." Then, after telling her McBryde that she was impressed by her "reverence and respect for the music and artists of the Opry," she added that McBryde was "a perfect fit (for Opry membership)."

"My sister, you have earned your place at the table."

This followed the duo pairing for a take on the previously-mentioned "Girl Going Nowhere" that received a rousing standing ovation.

As well, McBryde -- in a memorable recall to her star-making moment -- then called Eric Church onstage to perform "Bible and a .44." A solo acoustic set from Church concluded the evening's show.

McBryde's induction marks the close of an unprecedented -- and likely growing -- two-year cycle of Opry membership additions since Darius Rucker's January 2021 induction. Not since a 1964-65 swing of seven inductions that included membership being granted to performers including Willie Nelson and the previously mentioned Smith being added to the cast have numbers grown so significantly in such a brief period.

"What a great night for country music and what a great addition to the Opry," said Opry Executive Producer Dan Rogers. "Watching Ashley on stage tonight, I think almost everyone in the room as well as those tuned in could feel a collective approving nod from those who have come before as well as the sense that the future is wide open for this new member and for this show edging closer to its landmark 100th year."

Grateful and humbled, McBryde summed up the evening's magnitude.

"[The Opry] looks like it's made of brick and mortar, but it is pure, pure love. That is what you are experiencing. Thank you. I know what this means. I know what my responsibilities are, and I take this very seriously. And God Bless country music."

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Ashley McBryde earns 'a seat at the table' at Grand Ole Opry Induction