On Jan. 30, bluegrass duo Dailey & Vincent got an unexpected surprise during their 100th appearance on the Grand Ole Opry when Marty Stuart invited them to officially join the Opry.
Last night (March 11), the celebration continued as the duo was formally inducted into the Opry by members Jeannie Seely and Old Crow Medicine Show.
Comprised of Jamie Dailey (guitar, bass, vocals) and Darrin Vincent (mandolin, guitar, bass, vocals), the duo formed in 2007 and has earned a number of honors over their decade-long career, including multiple International Bluegrass Music Association awards and three Grammy nominations.
“I had the honor of introducing Dailey & Vincent for their first Opry appearance,” said Jeannie Seely. “I thought to myself that night, ‘I hope one day I get to see them become members of the Opry . . . because they epitomize everything the Opry is onstage and off.’”
“They honor the traditions and respect their elders, but most of all they entertain,” said Old Crow Medicine Show frontman Ketch Secor. “Tonight they join the ranks of country music’s greatest entertainers . . . Welcome Dailey & Vincent to the first family of country music.”
“We love the Grand Ole Opry. It’s in our DNA,” Dailey said as he and Vincent recognized family, friends and their band before closing the celebration with “I’ll Go to My Grave Loving You,” a hit by one of their musical heroes, The Statler Brothers.
Photos by Chris Hollo/Grand Ole Opry