Carrie Underwood performs onstage during Opry 100: A Live Celebration at Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium on March 19, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Grand Ole Opry)

Carrie Underwood Honors Her Country Music Hero In A Moving Performance

For 100 years, the Grand Ole Opry has featured some of the world’s greatest country music artists.

To celebrate this iconic century, the Grand Ole Opry has decided to host a star-studded celebration.

Some of the artists featured this year include Ashley McBryde, Post Malone, Reba McEntire, Randy Travis, Eric Church, Trace Adkins, Amy Grant, and many more.

Carrie Underwood Becoming A Grand Ole Opry Member

Among the artists performing is Carrie Underwood, who has been an Opry member since she was surprised by Randy Travis and invited to join on March 15, 2008.

This was three years after her American Idol win in 2005. During her performance, Randy Travis walked up behind her to surprise both her and the audience. At the time, he was at the height of his stardom, and the audience immediately stood in recognition of his presence.

Carrie Underwood was taken aback by their reaction and turned around to see Randy Travis, her expression reflecting shock.

He informed her that he had been chosen to officially welcome her into the Grand Ole Opry.

In response, she jokingly said, “Let me think about it,” before agreeing. As the moment sank in, tears welled in her eyes, and she began to cry.

Randy Travis embraced her and shared the official date when she would become a Grand Ole Opry member.

After the event, Carrie Underwood humorously noted that everyone had kept the surprise tightly under wraps.

Carrie Underwood Honored Randy Travis

In a beautiful full-circle moment, Carrie Underwood stepped on stage at the Opry 100 celebration wearing a stunning black dress, the same color she wore 17 years ago when Randy Travis surprised her by informing her that she would be an official member.

This time, the roles were reversed as Carrie Underwood honored Randy Travis with a heartfelt tribute.

Underwood began her performance with a short speech, expressing how she has looked up to Travis since she was a child.

“When I was a kid, my sister had a cassette tape of Randy Travis’s music. From the first time I heard him sing his traditional country voice and those songs, I was hooked, and I knew my sister was not getting that tape back. The first time I met him many years later, I cried—embarrassing! But it was so emotional for me to meet this man whose voice I’ve been singing to and along with my whole life. I could never have imagined that I’d be recording songs with him or that Randy would become my dear friend, or that he would surprise me on stage and invite me to join the Grand Ole Opry back in 2008. It means so much to me to be here tonight to celebrate the Opry and the amazing Randy Travis by singing two of my favorite songs of his.”

She then performed two of his greatest hits, starting with “Three Wooden Crosses.” During this performance, the camera captured the audience, revealing that many, including Randy Travis’s wife, Mary Davis, were brought to tears by the emotional moment.

Afterward, she sang one of Randy Travis’s biggest hits, “Forever and Ever, Amen.”

Near the end of the song, she walked out into the audience, allowing Randy Travis to sing the final “Amen.” This is a remarkable achievement, considering he suffered a stroke many years ago.

When she concluded her tribute performance, the entire audience gave her and the iconic singer a standing ovation.

Here’s a brief clip from the performance below.