Carrie Underwood celebrated her 15th Anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry with a two-show performance this past Saturday (May 13th). While she says it’s unbelievable she’s been a member for a decade and a half, it’s something that has always meant so much to her.

Carrie made her Grand Ole Opry performance debut on June 10th, 2005, just two weeks after winning American Idol. Underwood’s love for the Opry started as a child as she grew up watching and listening to the show, dreaming of one day performing there and even becoming a member herself. The multi-GRAMMY®/CMA/ACM award winner was officially inducted in to the Opry family on May 8th, 2008 by fellow Oklahoman, Opry member Garth Brooks.

“It’s hard to believe that it’s been 15 years that I have been a member of the Grand Ole Opry, but it has always been just something that’s meant so much to me. I feel like I’ve been very blessed to take a part in a lot of awards shows and things like that over the years, but kind of having THIS thing in my career that I feel like I was able to accomplish is just one of the most important things that I think I have ever done,” says Carrie. “I love the Opry. I love the family. I love that it signifies being a part of country music, and we all it the Mother Church and we do so for very good reason. It is like going to church and you can pay your respects to those that came before, those that are playing now and whoever’s going to come later on. So, it’s just a really cool thing just being able to be a part of that family. I always love going to the shows, and you never know who’s going to be on stage and you hear a lot of people doing what they love. It’s like singing in your living room. It’s very comfortable and relaxed and very sweet.”

The Oklahoma native will return to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry for two shows on June 6th before heading back to Las Vegas to continue her residency at Resorts World June 21st.