“What are you doing, get in here!” Parton told the gobsmacked Pearce. “I just want to tell you how proud I am of you,” the country icon said while grabbing Pearce’s hand. “Did you know she started singing at Dollywood when she was 16 years old? You do remember don’t you? And I know that they told me that you have been on the Grand Ole Opry 80 times you’ve performed? How’d you do that? Like 80 times?”
“Oh my goodness, I’m just trying to follow in your footsteps,” the flustered Pearce said.
“You should be a member of the Grand Ole Opry, what’s wrong with them?” Parton wondered, as Pearce seconded that emotion. “Well, I came here today to tell you you are now an official member of the Grand Ole Opry!”
Pearce, as you might imagine, was overwhelmed, doubling over and covering her mouth as she cried through the surprise announcement for Parton, who has been an Opry member for half a century. The “I Hope You’re Happy Now” singer — who made her Opry debut in 2015 as an unsigned artist — will be inducted on Aug. 3.
See the special moment below.
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