“And I can’t find one empty chair, not bad for a girl goin’ nowhere…”
What a line.
And Ashley McBryde certainly had a packed house at her Grand Ole Opry induction last weekend, which was very emotional and full of several fantastic performances, including an encore of her “Bible And A .44” duet with Eric Church.
None other than her friend and mentor Terri Clark was on hand to formally make a tearful Ashley a member of the Opry, as well, saying:
“To me, the Opry is about family. It is a family. And my sister, you have earned your place at the table more than anybody I know.
And I know that I, along with all of your fans, and all of your peers, and your mom and your dad and your family, everybody that’s here tonight, have been patiently waiting to hear the words:
Congratulations Ashley McBryde. You are officially a member of the Grand Ole Opry.”
Ashley then addressed the crowd for the first time as a Grand Ole Opry member, saying in part:
“It is important what we do. And this moment is the biggest of my life.
And if it is your first time to be in the Grand Ole Opry, this is what it feels like every time you’re here. It looks like it’s made of brick and mortar but it is pure, pure love. That is what you’re experiencing here.
So thank you. I know what this means, I know what my responsibilities are. I take them seriously. And God bless country music.”
And not only did Terri have the honor of doing the formal induction, she and Ashley teamed up for an emotional and moving performance of Ashley’s beautiful song “Girl Goin’ Nowhere.”
It was co-written by Ashley and Jeremy Bussey, and included as the title track to her 2018 third studio album.
Towards the end of the song, during the line that goes “to this show right now and y’all sure look good out there,” Ashley paused when she started to cry, telling the audience at the Opry:
“I cried the last time I sang that line… you do look good!”
And she also had Terri finish the very last line of the song, as she got even more choked up and couldn’t finish it.
It was such a special and beautiful moment, and if there’s a more appreciative, humble and well-deserving artist of every amazing thing coming their way right now than Ashley, I don’t think I’d believe it…
Do yourself a favor and check it out, Ashley is everything I love about country music and so much more:
“Girl Goin’ Nowhere”
