Rhett Akins was officially inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry family last night (on his birthday) by friends and Opry members Jamey Johnson and Jon Pardi. “This is the greatest night of my life,” Akins said at the top of the show.
Akins, kicked off the night with his 1996 chart-topper the “Don’t Get My Started.” The ACM Songwriter of the Decade and writer of 36 #1 country hits was joined by a line up of artists who have recorded his songs, including Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Jamey Johnson, Jon Pardi, and his son, Thomas Rhett.
Akins joined Pardi for “Dirt on My Boots, teamed up with Johnson for a performance of Merle Haggard’s “Ramblin Fever,” and later joined Bryan on “I Don’t Want This Night to End” and “Huntin’, Fishin’, and Lovin’ Every Day”, Thomas Rhett on “What’s Your Country Song,” one of the eight No. 1 hits Akins and Rhett have written together. He also returned to the stage to perform “Honey Bee” and “I Lived It,” two songs he penned for Opry member Blake Shelton.
After the memorable night of performances, Pardi and Johnson walked to the circle to officially induct Akins into the Opry family. As Johnson handed him the Opry member award, Pardi had the honor of saying, “Rhett Akins, you are now a member of the Grand Ole Opry.” Johnson added jokingly as the audience laughed, “Congratulations. It couldn’t have happened to a better guy … but it did. It happened to me.”
The entire cast for the evening was back onstage at the end of the night for a performance of his signature song, “That Ain’t My Truck” and a final performance of “Happy Birthday” with the crowd joining.
Akins was invited to join the Opry in June by Pardi, whose second career #1, “Dirt on My Boots,” was written by Akins.
