Luke Combs Officially Joins Grand Ole Opry Family

The momentum keeps building for country's newest superstar.

Written by Chris Parton
Luke Combs Officially Joins Grand Ole Opry Family
Opry members Vince Gill and Joe Diffie welcome Luke Combs to the family; Photo By: Chris Hollo/©Grand Ole Opry

Luke Combs was officially inducted into the Grand Ole Opry family Tuesday night (July 16), welcomed by Opry members Vince Gill, Joe Diffie and more.

It was an emotional moment for the red hot superstar-on-the-rise, who was surprised with the invitation just last month. After performing two songs, Gill and Diffie came out with the Gatlin Brothers, Chris Janson, Dustin Lynch, Craig Morgan and Mark Wills to present Combs his Opry Member award, and the hit maker was given a chance to say a few words.

“Here I am on stage with people I grew up listening to and people who have shaped me as an artist,” Combs said. “I just want to say thank you to you guys, thank you to the Grand Ole Opry, and thank you to the fans — without you all there is no country music, there is no Grand Ole Opry. Thank you so much for everything you guys do for making this possible for guys like us on this stage. I will never forget tonight!” 

Luke Combs was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry family by Opry members Vince Gill and Joe Diffie. Fellow Opry members The Gatlin Brothers, Chris Janson, Dustin Lynch, Craig Morgan, and Mark Wills joined them onstage to welcome their newest fellow member. Photo By: Chris Hollo/©Grand Ole Opry
Luke Combs was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry family by Opry members Vince Gill and Joe Diffie. Fellow Opry members The Gatlin Brothers, Chris Janson, Dustin Lynch, Craig Morgan, and Mark Wills joined them onstage to welcome their newest fellow member. Photo By: Chris Hollo/©Grand Ole Opry

Gill and Diffie both figure into Combs’ musical upbringing, since the first concert Combs attended was one of Gills and the youngster grew up singing Diffie classics like “John Deere Green.” Both artists had words of wisdom for the newest Opry member.

“This is what dreams are made of right here,” Gill said. “If you’ll come here and you’ll invest in the people and this stage, you’ll get back a hundred-fold what you ever give to this place.”

“I remember being asked to be a member of the Opry, and it was like a dream,” Diffie added.” And it still feels like a dream, even to this day. On behalf of myself and all the Opry members past, present, and future, Luke Combs, you are now officially the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry!” 

After graciously accepting the honor, Combs returned to the mic to deliver one more song — a super-appropriate solo version of the title track to his life-changing album debut, “This One’s for You.” Combs’ latest single, “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” is already inside the Top 5 on both Billboard’s Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, and he’s currently on the road for his first headlining run, the sold-out Beer Never Broke My Heart Tour.