Image Courtesy Grand Ole Opry/Chris HolloLittle Big Town was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry Friday night. Opry members Vince Gill and Little Jimmy Dickens were on hand to welcome the group into the Opry fold. The quartet started their performance singing “Bring It on Home” with just an acoustic guitar. They then performed their breakthrough hit, “Boondocks,” and closed out their set singing Kris Kristofferson‘s “Why Me.”
Backstage before their performance, Little Big Town reflected on how much the Opry has meant to them over the years. Their first public performance ever took place on the show in 1999, and band member Kimberly Schlapman‘s grandparents could only pick up the Grand Ole Opry radio broadcast on their car stereo. Since Kimberly had no idea when they were going on, her grandparents had to sit in the car for hours waiting to hear Little Big Town.
Kimberly said Friday night, “My papa had to go to the bathroom. So, he went into the bathroom, and, of course, we came on. So, my grandmother laid down on the horn — just laid down on it. And my papa comes out pulling up his pants trying to make it to the car. He made it in time.
She added with a laugh, “He’s in heaven with his pants on, I’m sure, watching tonight.”
Grand Ole Opry member Reba surprised Little Big Town onstage at the Opry earlier this month to extend the membership invitation. She walked out unannounced singing the “motorboating” line of “Pontoon” during LBT’s set.
Group member Karen Fairchild said, “We’ve replayed Reba singing ‘motorboating’ over and over and over. I don’t know if anything could ever beat that.”
The Opry induction kicked off a big week for Little Big Town. Their new album, Pain Killer, is coming out Tuesday featuring the hit single, “Day Drinking.”
LBT’s Phillip Sweet commented before their Opry appearance, “I feel like more people are gonna hear the music than ever before, and I really am proud that they’re gonna hear this record. I think we’re so honestly proud of it. It’s all Little Big Town.”
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