Trace Adkins Celebrates 20 Years At The Grand Ole Opry – ‘Thank You To All The Legendary Entertainers’

The country music star Trace Adkins celebrated 20 years of being a member of the Grand Ole Opry last week with a surprise performance with the band Exile.

Adkins Celebrates Opry Anniversary

“Before I go tonight, I just want to say thank you to all the legendary entertainers that have been on this stage tonight,” Adkins said, according to CMT. “Gene Watson, a legend. Jason Crabb, one of the best singers that I’ve ever heard step up to a microphone. One of my favorite bands of all time, Exile.”

Adkins began by performing “Kiss You All Over” with Exile before going backstage to enjoy a piece of his celebratory cake. When he returned to the stage, he sang other hit songs of his like “Songs About Me” and “You’re Gonna Miss This.”

Adkins was invited to join the Opry by Little Jimmy Dickens in 2003, and Ronnie Misap inducted him later that year.

“For me, (being an Opry member)  means that I’m a better man than I would have been had I not been a member of the Grand Ole Opry because I take it very seriously,” Adkins said. “And I try to conduct myself every day, keeping in mind that I’m a member of the Grand Ole Opry and I represent this institution, and I don’t want to do anything that might disrespect my family at the Grand Ole Opry. It probably kept me out of jail more times than I would have gone.”

Adkins Concludes His Set

Adkins ended his set with a performance of his hit song “The Way I Wanna Go” while a montage was played showing his best Opry moments.

“By the way, I’ll just say this while I have the microphone in my hand: if I have to apologize for it I will,” Adkins stated. “I think Jason Crabb and Exile ought to be members of The Grand Ole Opry. I think it’s a shame that they’re not.”

“If you’ve got a problem with that, fire me,” he concluded. “I’m starting a campaign, and I ain’t going to rest until they’re members of the Grand Ole Opry. Thank you all for coming out and sharing this evening with us. We love you!”

Related: Trace Adkins Takes Huge Stand For US Troops – Slams NFL Anthem Kneelers

Adkins Stands By Trump

Aside from being a talented performer, Adkins has been one of the few celebrities to have the guts to publicly stand behind the former President Donald Trump. When asked about his support for Trump in a 2022 interview with Bill Maher, Adkins defiantly replied, “I ain’t asking forgiveness for s***.”

“He was always good to me,” Adkins added of Trump, according to The Hill.

Adkins competed on “Celebrity Apprentice” in 2008 and in 2013, finishing as the runner-up during his first season and winning his second.

“It was the most stressful thing I’ve ever done,” Adkins said. “If you go on there and try to win, which I wanted to win for my charities.”

Full Story: Country Star Trace Adkins Won’t Back Down From Supporting Trump: ‘I Ain’t Asking Forgiveness For S***’

Check out this full interview in the video below.

Adkins is one of the most talented country music stars alive today, so there’s no doubt that he belongs in the Grand Ole Opry. We’d like to wish him a very happy anniversary, and we hope that he enjoys many years in the Opry to come!