The newest member of the Grand Ole Opry is Chris Janson.  Janson received the invitation to join the longest running radio show in the world from Kieth Urban at a recent Janson concert.  Janson was inducted into the iconic country music “Mother Church” last Tuesday night.  Bestowing the honors on Janson last Tuesday evening, Opry member Garth Brooks officially inducted the Perryville, Missouri native into the institution.

Janson has been on the country music scene for several years.  He moved to Nashville to follow his dream of being a country music singer.  Janson says that the two things he wanted most in his career were to “be on the radio and be on the Grand Ole Opry.”

Janson started off playing at the historic Tootsie’s Bar on Music Row just down from the Ryman Auditorium.  Janson said that he would watch his heroes leaving the winter-time Opry shows which are still held in the old Ryman Auditorium, and dream of standing on the stage at the Opry.

Janson has been paying his dues for a several years.  He played a lot of dives and honky-tonks and also played here in Chattooga County at the Chattooga County Agricultural Fair.  Before being invited to join the Opry he had already been playing as a guest artist.  In fact, he played the Opry stage over 200 times before being invited by Keith Urban to join.

In a recent article, Rolling Stone Magazine, explains why Chris Janson is a natural choice to join the Opry.

You can read the Rolling Stone article here.

Anyone who has ever seen Janson electrify the stage will know that he is the “real-deal”.  In an interview with AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio before his appearance at the Chattooga County Agricultural Fair almost five years ago, Janson talked about his deep love of not only country music, but the history of country music.  Janson said of his appearances on the Grand Ole Opry that he wants to be “the second-coming of Roy Acuff”, whose love and dedication to the Grand Ole Opry stretched out over a 60-plus year career.