T. Graham Brown Inducted as Member of the Grand Ole Opry

Grammy-nominated artist T. Graham Brown was inducted as the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry on Friday, May 3rd, by Opry member Vince Gill. They were joined onstage by Opry members John Conlee, The Isaacs, Don Schlitz, Jeannie Seely, and Mark Wills, who all wanted to participate in the induction and welcomed Brown to the family.

“As great as this night is for you, you have to know it is equally as great to us,” said Gill. “I brought all the other members out to the stage to be a part of this for you tonight because you are now a part of our family. And the family that goes on here is way deeper than any hit song you’ll ever have. Congratulations and welcome.”

“Hallelujah! I’m going to try not to cry,” Brown said before thanking God, the fans, the Opry staff, his wife Sheila, and his son Acme, who played drums in the band for him tonight.

During his performance, Brown performed several of his biggest hits, including “I Tell It Like It Used To Be” and “Darlene,” and he brought the crowd to its feet as Jimmy Fortune joined him on “Wine Into Water.” 

In February, Brown was surprised with the invitation by Gill in front of a live SiriusXM studio audience during a taping of his SiriusXM show 'Live Wire.' 

The CMA award-winner, who has toured extensively since the early 80s, has performed on the Opry more than 300 times. Brown’s signature hits include the bluesy “I Tell It Like It Used To Be,” “Hell And High Water,” “I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again,” “Don’t Go To Strangers,” and “Darlene” as well as his gripping “Wine Into Water,” which introduced him to the Christian audiences. “Wine Into Water” has gone on to be recorded by over 100 artists, including the legendary Loretta Lynn, on her critically acclaimed project, 'Full Circle.'

T. Graham Brown recently announced a brand new studio album titled ‘From Memphis to Muscle Shoals,’ which will be released Friday, August 2nd, through Warner Music Group-ADA. The album is available for pre-order now and is packed with legendary collaborations, including Bettye Lavette, Delbert McClinton, Dwight Yoakam, Eddie Floyd, Little Anthony, Randy Houser, Sammy Hagar, Sam Moore, Tanya Tucker, Wynonna, and Zach Williams. The first single off the new album, "The Dark End of the Street," features Country Music Hall of Famer and GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Tanya Tucker. Pre-order/pre-save 'From Memphis to Muscle Shoals' and listen to the new single HERE.

T. Graham Brown’s Upcoming 'I Tell It Like It Used To Be Tour' Dates:

MAY 10 - Guin Square / Guin, Ala.
MAY 18 - Keeping’ It Country Farm / Waynesville, OH
MAY 31 - Governor’s Gun Club / Kennesaw, Ga.
JUN 05 - Country For A Cause / Nashville, Tenn.
JUN 09 - CMA FEST on Chevy Vibe Stage / Nashville, Tenn.
JUN 15 - Lincoln Jamboree / Hodgenville, Ky.
JUN 22 - Polk County Commerce Center / Livingston, Texas*
JUL 04 - Dade County Fair / Trenton, Ga.*
JUL 06 - Royston Amphitheater / Royston, Ga.
JUL 13 - Iconic Fest / Brainerd, Minn.
JUL 25 - Three Forks Ranch / Savory, Wyo.
AUG 06 - Nashville North U.S.A. / Fall Creek, Wisc.
AUG 10 - Sugar Creek Casino / Hinton, Okla.
AUG 17 - Old Dominion Barn Dance / Hopewell, Va.*
SEP 21 - Depot Days Festival / Newbern, Tenn.
SEP 28 - Salt Fest / Grand Saline, Texas
OCT 05 - Coyote Country Store / Gail, Texas
OCT 26 - Homochitto River Festival / Meadville, Miss.
*Co-Headline with T.G. Sheppard

Tickets for the I Tell It Like It Used to Be Tour are on sale now at TGrahamBrown.com

About T. Graham Brown:

The inimitable T. Graham Brown began his musical journey in 1973 while attending the University of Georgia in his hometown of Athens. After moving to Nashville in 1982, the Grammy-nominated, CMA Award, Diamond Addy Award For Excellence in Advertising, and back-to-back Prism Award-winning chart-topper honed his skills as a songwriter after signing with EMI Publishing Company. At the same time, he began to sing songwriter's demos, and the writers and producers began to hear the power and soul in his singing and his dynamic ability to interpret words and music through a perfectly pitched voice. The Nashville music business knew his was a talent to be reckoned with. Within two years of arriving in Music City, Capitol Records signed him to an exclusive recording contract and what would become a long list of albums that took country music by storm. He has also recorded for Warner Brothers and Sony and now has a recording relationship with Sony Red and a retail partnership with Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores. Simultaneously, he started a long and successful career singing advertising jingles. He was the "Face and Voice" of Taco Bell's wildly successful "Run For The Border" T.V. campaign for over four years. His wide range of vocal ability could also be heard on national music ads for McDonald's, Burger King, Hardee's, Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper, 7-Up, Almond Joy, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Ford, Dodge, Harrah's Casinos, and dozens more. He has hit the Billboard, Cash Box, and Christian Music Charts 35 times with hits such as "I Tell It Like It Used To Be," self-penned "Hell And High Water," and "Darlene." He also wrote the multiple award-winning song "Wine Into Water," which has been recorded a hundred times by artists worldwide. Most recently by country superstar Loretta Lynn on her latest critically acclaimed album, "Full Circle." As a recording artist, songwriter, performer, and producer, Brown has scored multiple number-one songs in the country, blues, and gospel fields. Over the years, "His T-Ness" has recorded with many other artists. His duet partners have included Grammy winners The Beach Boys, Tanya Tucker, Vince Gill, George Jones, Delbert McClinton, Jason Crabb, Brad Davis, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Michael McDonald, Steve Cropper and Leon Russel. Brown's latest album and first gospel effort is the Grammy-nominated, critically acclaimed "Forever Changed." "He'll Take Care Of You," the first single from that project, a duet with Vince Gill, became a gospel hit. T. Graham Brown has performed on the iconic stage of the Grand Ole Opry hundreds of times and maintains a busy touring schedule all over the U.S. and Europe. He'll tell you with a grin, "I've got a band and a bus, and I'll keep taking the music to the people as long as God lets me. It's what I love to do!"

For more information, visit tgrahambrown.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, with Tuesday night shows February 4 through December, plus seasonal Wednesday shows and Thursday Opry Country Classics performances. 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 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

Photo credit: Chris Hollo