Country star surprised during Ryman show

CMA and ACM Award-winning artist Sara Evans was invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry tonight (Thurs, Aug 17th) by the Opry’s longest-serving member, Country Music Hall of Famer Bill Anderson. The pair was joined by Opry members Lady A and Carly Pearce. Evans was surprised onstage during her sold out concert at the Ryman Auditorium celebrating the release of Sara Evans Still Restless – The 20 Year Celebration – which commemorates the 20th anniversary of her platinum-selling, ACM nominated album Restless, released in August 2003. Following an Evans/Pearce collaboration on “Suds In The Bucket,” Pearce introduced Lady A to present a Platinum plaque for the song. Immediately after that surprise presentation, Lady A’s Hillary Scott welcomed Anderson to the stage.

Anderson took the stage and recalled how he had gone to see Sara perform in a small warehouse showcase before her first album was released because she had included his song “Walk Out Backwards” in her. project.

“It’s a long way from that warehouse to selling out the Ryman,” Anderson said. He went on to say he had two questions for her, beginning by jokingly asking if she would sing “Walk Out Backwards.”

Evans didn’t miss a beat, immediately kicking into an a capella version of the tune. As she finished, Anderson asked his second question. “The second question is from me and Lady A, Carly, and a bunch of other people. Would you like to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry?”

Evans acknowledged she’d hoped for Opry membership for many years and tearfully accepted. Thanking her mom in the audience for pushing her and her siblings to perform as they were all growing up, Evans said to the crowd, “God is so good.”

Evans will be inducted into the Opry on Saturday, October 7th as part of the Opry’s 98th Birthday Weekend.

“I remember clearly watching Sara’s Opry debut live on television before I ever made the move to Nashville,” said Opry Executive Producer Dan Rogers. “Like nearly anyone about to take that stage for the first time, she was both thankful and overwhelmed, and she said in an interview minutes before her performance that to help with her jitters, she was going to pretend to be Patsy Cline. Watching as a fan at home, I thought that was a pretty incredible approach. More than 25 years later, I think she was once again tonight both thankful and overwhelmed. All of us at the Opry have appreciated her great performances every time she’s visited us and look forward to celebrating official Opry membership with her during what is going to be a great October Opry Birthday Weekend.”

Later this year, Restless is receiving a 20th anniversary reissue with its first-ever vinyl release through Vinyl Me, Please. Restless, her certified platinum fourth studio album, is pressed on fruit punch vinyl at Memphis Record Pressing. The 2 LPs will arrive in a widespine, direct-to-board and foil-stamped jacket.

Evans has been a staple on country radio and the Opry stage since emerging in the mid ’90s. She has earned five No. 1 hits, two of which she co-wrote, including “Born to Fly” and “No Place That Far,” along with “Suds In The Bucket” and “A Real Fine Place to Start,” the latter of which spent two weeks at the top of the country charts.

She’s won numerous accolades, including the Academy of Country Music’s Female Vocalist of the Year and the Country Music Association’s Video of the Year for “Born to Fly.”

Earlier this year, Evans partnered with Nashville-based CeleBriDy Brands to develop Born to Fly CBD by Sara Evans. As a child, Evans suffered a horrific accident, leading to severe pain and PTSD issues that have quietly plagued her throughout her life. Having finally found relief through CBD products, she has created a premium product line to give hope and healing to others as well.

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