Vince Gill walked out onto the Ryman Auditorium stage on August 7 and handed Charlie Worsham the invitation of a lifetime — membership in the Grand Ole Opry.
The moment carried extraordinary weight on multiple levels. August 7 marked exactly 20 years since Worsham relocated to Nashville, and it was also the release date of his new album, Once Upon A Second Time Around. The Mississippi-born singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has spent two decades building one of the most respected careers in Nashville, and the surprise invitation from one of country music’s legends made official what the industry has long recognized.
Gill said he was “beyond thrilled” to help Worsham “fulfill a dream,” and declared that the musician deserved the opportunity more than anyone. Worsham responded by shaking his head in disbelief before pulling Gill into a hug.
A Career Built on Craft and Collaboration
Worsham’s roots in country and bluegrass run deep. He won a junior national banjo championship at age 12 and performed on the Opry stage as a child — making his official induction a full-circle moment decades in the making. He released his debut album, Rubberband, in 2013 and has since worked as a collaborator and session contributor alongside Kenny Chesney, Luke Combs and Dierks Bentley. The industry has rewarded that versatility: Worsham was named CMA Musician of the Year and CMA Touring Musician of the Year in 2024, and has earned two ACM Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year honors.
New Album Marks Independent Chapter
Once Upon A Second Time Around, released August 7 through independent music company ONErpm, represents Worsham’s first full-length project outside of Warner Music Nashville. He previewed the record with “Wrap My Porch Around,” out July 3, explaining on Instagram that the song was inspired by Vince Gill’s High Lonesome Sound and his own desire to record both a country and a bluegrass version of the same track — a nod to the bluegrass roots he has carried throughout his career.
With a new album in the world and an Opry membership now secured, Worsham steps into the next phase of his career carrying both full creative independence and the institution’s highest honor.
