NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (Oct. 17, 2014) – The critically acclaimed Grammy_®-winning vocal group Little Big Town (Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman and Jimi Westbrook) were formally inducted into the Grand Ole Opry this evening by Opry members Little Jimmy Dickens and Vince Gill. The group had been invited to join the Opry on October 3rd by Opry member and friend Reba McEntire. The night marked a major milestone for the group whose first-ever public performance together was on the Opry in 1999.

The group opened its set with a performance of its hit “Bring it On Home,” hearkening back to its Opry debut. On that night, as the members recalled backstage, they had been accompanied by only a borrowed guitar. After the group’s performance of the smash “Boondocks,” Dickens and Gill took the stage along with Opry Vice President and General Manager Pete Fisher to present the group with its Opry Member Award.

“The word ‘family’ really means something out here. It really does,” Gill said to the group. “You’ll make friends like I have with this man right here,” he continued, nodding to Dickens. “You’ll be so be blessed by the friends you’ll make out here, and they’ll last your entire life. Welcome to the family, and remember to come here as often as you can.”

After the group shared its thanks to the Opry, family members, friends, and others who’d helped make its Opry dream come true, the members invited Gill to join them on their final song of the night, the Kris Kristofferson classic “Why Me.” “Welcome them home!” Gill cheered before a standing ovation sold out audience.

Backstage, group members reflected on having grown up with the Opry and on its importance to their music. “This feels like the biggest moment of our lives and our career,” Schlapman said.

“I’m so excited about sharing this moment with the band,” Fairchild added. “We’ve been through the highest of highs together, and this is sure to be the highest. This is as good as it gets.”

Sweet reflected on everyone at the Opry having embraced the group over the years. “It feels like home,” he said. “It’s family.”

“There’s nothing like walking those halls backstage,” added Westbrook, later sharing amazement with the other members that the group’s name would be added to the Opry Member Gallery at the Opry House backstage entrance.

About Little Big Town
Critically acclaimed Country group, Little Big Town – consisting of members Karen Fairchild, Phillip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, and Jimi Westbrook – first entered the music scene more than 15 years ago with hits such as “Boondocks,” “Bring It On Home,” “Good As Gone” and Grammy-nominated single “Little White Church.”  The quartet’s fifth studio album Tornado was released on September 11, 2012 and debuted at the top of the Billboard Country Chart where it stayed for five consecutive weeks.  The album has been certified Platinum with sales of more than 1 million copies and features #1 hits “Pontoon” and “Tornado.”

Collectively, the group has earned more than 25 award show nominations and has taken home the award for ACM Top New Vocal Group, CMA Single of the Year (“Pontoon”), CMA Vocal Group of the Year (2012 and 2013), ACM Vocal Group of the Year, ACM Video of the Year (“Tornado”), a Grammy Award for Best Country Group/Duo Performance (“Pontoon”) and an Emmy award (Outstanding Original Song-“Good Afternoon”).

Little Big Town recently completed their sixth studio album working again with producer Jay Joyce. The first single off of the new album entitled “Day Drinking” is quickly climbing the Country radio charts.  The album, entitled Pain Killer, is set for release on October 21.

For more information on Little Big Town please visit www.littlebigtown.com.

About the Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry_® is presented by Humana_®.  Opry performances are held every Friday and Saturday of the year, and the Tuesday Night Opry continues through December 16.  To plan an Opry visit, call (800) SEE-OPRY or visit opry.com. The Opry presents the best in country music live every week from Nashville, Tenn.  Celebrating nearly nine decades of entertainment, the Opry can be heard at opry.com and wsmonline.com, Opry and WSM mobile apps, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and its flagship home, 650 AM-WSM. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP).  For more information, visit opry.com

LBT (becoming Opry members) OC: …way, you know? :54
PHILLIP: “My first feeling is it just feels like a family, and I feel like we’re being welcomed into a small family. It’s not like everyone’s invited as members of the Opry. It’s a small group of people, and it’s such an honor. I have such good warm feelings when I think about coming to play the Opry. It feels like home. It’s like family when you come here. It’s heartwarming.” JIMI: “It is. There’s nothing like walking these halls through here. From the very first time we ever came in here, it’s magical. You walk through and see all those pictures and the history and the tradition.” KAREN: “We feel a responsibility for that, to keep it going.” JIMI: “It means something. It really does.” KAREN: “And to preserve that reverence. I think it’s serious, you know? And we feel a great responsibility to carry on the tradition. It feels super serious in the most amazing way, you know?”

LBT (full circle moment) OC: (Phillip) …borrowed guitar. :14
PHILLIP: “This is so full circle for us. This was the first place that we ever played in front of human beings in a public way. We didn’t have a band. We didn’t have any musicians, just us, and here we are tonight.” JIMI: “And one borrowed guitar.” [laughs] PHILLIP: “Yes! One borrowed guitar.”

LBT (Opry best night) OC: …for sure. :31
“It’s incredible that a band that stepped on this stage for the first time and then got a record deal then lost a record deal, then got a record deal, then lost a record deal,  and then had a great record and then the label folded, and then made another record. It’s such a crazy story. We’ve had babies together and all these incredible moments. So, standing up here tonight, I know we’re gonna look down at each other and it’s gonna be as good as it gets, for sure.”