Talk about a high-pressure performance.
Last night, March 10, marked the induction of the newest official 77th member of the Grand Ole Opry, Jason DeFord, also known as no other than Jelly Roll. During this momentous occasion in the 3-time Grammy award winners’ career, Jelly Roll was surrounded by some of his closest friends in country music to help celebrate.
Namely, his “Save Me” duet partner, Lainey Wilson, served as his official inductee for the night and also performed during the ceremony. The event also featured appearances from Ernest, Craig Morgan, and comedian Leanne Morgan. As the hit co-writer of Jelly Roll’s first big radio success, “Son Of A Sinner,” Ernest joined him onstage for an intimate performance of the track.
Reflecting on the significant event, Ernest took to social media this morning to share an even crazier purely-Nashville moment from the evening. What he describes in the caption of the video as “one of those …DANNNNG moments,” the singer-songwriter goes on to explain how one of his Opry traditions turned into one of the most nerve-wracking moments.
He starts the story time by sharing, “Anytime I play the Opry, I make sure to play at least one country golden classic. Last night I took the tall order upon myself to play, ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today.'” Now, while Ernest has played the 1980 George Jones classic in the past with one cover posted by him dating back to January 2024, this performance was a little bit different, far beyond the fact that he got to sing it in the center circle of the stage.
He continues on explaining, “When I was soundchecking with the band beforehand in the little nook backstage, I finished, I walked around the corner, and Miss Nancy Jones was standing right there– George Jones ‘ widow.” He noted that with tears in her eyes, she promptly hugged him and shared, “That song has always made me cry” (Me too, Nancy).
Not only was it a perfectly kismet encounter, but knowing that his performance moved Jones’ wife of 30 years to tears had to be a heart-stopping moment for the “Flower Shops” singer. Obviously in awe, he responded, “Oh my God, I’m so glad I didn’t know you were there the whole time, I would’ve been freaking out.”
Of course, that realization didn’t exactly calm his nerves. Ernest still had to perform the song once again, this time for real on the Opry stage, while being fully aware that Nancy would be watching from the side stage.
Luckily, Mrs. Jones offered the highest possible seal of approval: a thumbs-up. It’s moments like these that capture the magic of Nashville with instances that can really only happen under the roof of historic places like the Opry, where country legends and rising stars share the same stage.