Two of Jon Pardi's favorite country singers played a role in him becoming the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry.
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During Pardi's Stagecoach Festival performance back in April, Alan Jackson invited Pardi to join the family circle.
"I moved to Nashville chasing a dream at 22 years old, and now I'm here and I love you guys and I love country music," Pardi said in response to the offer.
Fast-forward to Tuesday night (Oct. 24) and Pardi's induction. Garth Brooks got the honor of presenting Pardi with his member trophy.
"This is me and you joined in holy matrimony shared by our love of country music," Brooks aid during the Opry broadcast. "Are you prepared for this? Because now we got each other's back."
Pardi got emotional over sharing a milestone career moment with a childhood favorite.
"It's full circle to watch my hero, from flying around an arena in concert to right now," Pardi said. "I love the Opry and being a part of its family. The future is so bright."
Pardi's induction comes over a decade after he rode a limo with his mother to his long-awaited Opry debut.
"Tonight, I feel like I'll be one of those marks on that floor," he said, referencing the hallowed Opry House stage. "And I think that's a good feeling. There's a lot of marks on that floor. And to just have one it represents me and my career and my family and my mind and what I think of country music and what I've tried to (bring) to country music over the years. I feel like that is what the circle is going to mean tonight for me, of being nervous. Every time I get into the circle now, I get to kind of feel like nervous and a part of it."
Pardi's induction made history in a surprise way. He's the first Opry member born in California, the state that brought us Merle Haggard and the Bakersfield Sound.
