On Nov. 1, 2024, Steven Curtis Chapman became the beneficiary of an honor no other Christian artist has ever received before: He was the first Christian artist to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. Across a nearly century-old legacy, the Nashville institution has become synonymous with the highest pinnacle in country music. Since its inception in 1925, the Grand Ole Opry stands as the longest-running consecutive radio show in the world, broadcast on WSM each week. While anyone from any genre can be invited to perform on the hallowed platform, whose centerpiece includes an iconic circle constructed from wood taken from the Ryman Auditorium — the Opry’s original home — membership is an elite status bestowed upon artists who exhibit a deep reverence for the roots of country music, display a rare loyalty to the Grand Ole Opry audience and possess the kind of longevity required to keep the sacred show’s spirit alive for generations to come. On Friday, Chapman became its 239th member among a class of upper echelon that features names like Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, Bill Anderson and Reba McEntire. To maintain his lifetime membership, the decorated artist will perform regularly each year on the variety-style show that boasts high caliber musicians representing country, gospel, bluegrass and more.
The night of Chapman’s induction, the Grand Ole Opry donated $5 from every ticket sold to Show Hope, the adoption care ministry Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, founded in 2003. While the entire evening marked one massive milestone for Chapman and his family, here are five (of many) unforgettable moments from Steven Curtis Chapman’s Opry induction we’ll remember for a lifetime.
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When He Became the First Christian Artist to Be Inducted Into the Grand Ole Opry
Among his numerous notable achievements — which include five GRAMMYs®, 60 Dove Awards and 50 No. 1 songs — Chapman is the first Contemporary Christian Music artist to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry. An honor normally reserved for country royalty, Chapman’s induction comes after an estimated 50 performances on the coveted stage across a career that spans four decades. At a press conference prior to the evening’s show, the Grand Ole Opry’s senior VP and executive producer Dan Rogers told media that Chapman’s genre of music was secondary to his character. He went on to explain the invitation was offered to the beloved artist because everyone from fellow artists to the Opry staff simply enjoyed being around him. In recent years, the legendary show has widened the breadth of its musical scope to showcase a number of Christian artists — ranging from Matthew West and Brandon Heath to Crowder and Katy Nichole. “[The Grand Ole Opry] has done a masterful job of continuing to stretch their arms out and embrace different genres,” Chapman remarked. “This is a stage full of laughter and tears. It’s the essence and the heartbeat of music at its best.”
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Following a trio of songs from Chapman that included “Cinderella” and showcased his storytelling abilities — an undeniable hallmark of country music — Lady A’s Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott officially inducted Chapman into the Opry family, presenting him with a small statuette amidst a series of kind affirmations. “You inspire us with your integrity and your authentic faith,” an emotional Scott shared. “You radiate a deep love of music and an even greater love of Jesus every time you step into the circle.”
When He Realized His Dad’s Lifelong Dream of Singing at the Opry
Chapman’s dad owned a music store in Paducah, Kentucky, during the singer’s formative years. His father was also a gifted guitarist and songwriter with aspirations of making it big in country music. Chapman says his dad would travel to Nashville and sit in the parking lot of the Ryman Auditorium, roll his windows down, and listen to the night’s performance, because he couldn’t afford a ticket to the show. While Chapman’s father, Herb, Sr., eventually set aside his musical dreams, he’s since had the opportunity to stand in the iconic Grand Ole Opry circle alongside his son multiple times, including during the Nov. 1 induction, when he and Chapman’s brother, Herb, Jr., joined the prolific lyricist onstage to sing “My Redeemer Is Faithful and True,” a selection from Chapman’s 1987 debut, “First Hand.”
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When He Reminisced About His Early Years at Opryland USA
Chapman was performing multiple shows a day at Nashville’s former theme park, Opryland USA, when he received the call to appear on country music’s most revered stage. The then 19-year-old asked, “Are you sure you have the right Chapman?” wondering if they really wanted his brother, Herb, who Chapman says “was the better singer; I was the guitar player.” After being introduced by Roy Acuff at an afternoon matinee, Chapman performed the George Jones classic, “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” a song he sang every day in the Opryland show. During his Opry debut, however, nerves prevailed, and the Kentucky native forgot nearly all the words, later exiting the stage with embarrassment. During his Nov. 1 induction, he sang the Jones hit as a tribute to that earlier flub.
Following Chapman’s official induction, family, friends and industry colleagues gathered backstage for a reception that was Opryland themed, a testament to the early days that got him here. The woman who taught him to clog in the Opryland show was even in attendance, as was the man who delivered Chapman’s demos to Bill Gaither, opening the door for his first songwriting cuts. Wait staff clad in Opryland T-shirts served cotton candy, chocolate-dipped marshmallows and popcorn; while memorabilia and photographs of Chapman performing at Opryland USA adorned the tables scattered throughout the room.
When He Performed “Grand Ole Opry Stage” For the First Time
Admitting he can be long-winded, instead of a lengthy acceptance speech, Chapman chose to do what he does best and express his feelings through song. He wrote a ballad specifically for the occasion, which he performed on the stage’s grand piano. Across the autobiographical “Grand Ole Opry Stage,” Chapman recalled car rides with his dad and brother where they would tune in to a static-filled broadcast of the Opry. The heartfelt original ended with Chapman acknowledging the full-circle moment of becoming an Opry inductee himself, singing: “We’ve all been invited to that unbroken circle of that Grand Ole Opry stage.” He then transitioned into well-known spiritual “May the Circle Be Unbroken,” on which his entire family joined him, with four generations of Chapmans taking the stage alongside Ricky Skaggs, T. Graham Brown, The Isaacs, The Whites, Russell Dickerson and Lady A.
When He Joined His Sons to Sing One of His Favorite Songs
Being the man of the hour, Chapman handpicked the Nov. 1 Opry lineup, which began with Opry member Ricky Skaggs — who extended the initial Opry invitation to a surprised Chapman this summer — and ended with performances from rising entertainer Russell Dickerson and Opry members Carly Pearce and Lady A. Prior to Chapman’s performance slot, however, his “favorite band on the planet” warmed up the stage with a brief two-song set. Colony House — comprised of Chapman’s two sons, Caleb and Will, as well as Parke Cottrell and Scott Mills — dedicated their original, “Waiting for My Time to Come,” to their “pops.” Caleb, who fronts the outfit, wore a vintage SCC T-shirt, noting it was the day after Halloween and quipping, “I just wanted to be an SCC fan.” Chapman then joined the four-piece for his request, the anthemic “Moving Forward,” which Colony House easily transitioned into the chorus of signature Chapman hit “Dive,” with both generations of Chapmans smiling from ear to ear.
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Backstage, Chapman expressed his pride for his sons and the rest of Colony House, who made their Opry debut in 2023. Caleb and Will played in their dad’s touring band for five years before striking out on their own. While their sound leans alternative rock, Chapman says his boys have been inspired by classic country artists, including Roy Orbison, Glen Campbell and Johnny Cash. “They have a lot of Tennessee in their music,” he offered, adding that while he’s incredibly proud of their talent, “I’m most proud of their hearts as men, dads and husbands.”
