Vince Gill invites T. Graham Brown to join Grand Ole Opry

T. Graham Brown — for four decades a favorite of country music's radio dials and stages like the one on 2804 Opryland Drive — has finally been asked to join the Grand Ole Opry.

Opry member Vince Gill — a contemporary of Brown's whose single "I Still Believe in You" hit No. 1 in the genre six years after the bluesy-vocal loving Georgia native's "Hell and High Water" topped the charts in 1986 — made the invite on Tuesday afternoon in front of a live SiriusXM studio audience as Brown welcomed Gill as the guest for a taping of his SiriusXM "Live Wire" program, debuting Apr. 6 at 10 p.m. ET on SiriusXM's Prime Country, channel 58.

After Gill made his invitation, Graham, stunned, noted that the achievement was something he'd wanted for quite some time and was "the greatest thing."

"I'm so proud of the Opry. I'm just so proud to be there every time. I've never taken it for granted. It's just amazing."

"They love you," Gill replied.

"That's a special place, and you'll be a valued part of that place. I didn't mean to make you cry. Congratulations!"

Brown has played the Opry over 300 times since his 1986 debut there.

The Country Music Association award-winner (for George Jones' 1993 hit "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair" with Gill, Mark Chesnutt, Garth Brooks, Travis Tritt, Joe Diffie, Alan Jackson, Pam Tillis, Patty Loveless and Clint Black) and respected Christian artist has a peerless catalog of solo hits and well-crafted songs including 1990's era Tanya Tucker duet "Don't Go Out" and 1998's "Wine Into Water," which was later recorded by Loretta Lynn.

Brown's voice isn't just familiar to Christian and country music.

While achieving acclaim in Music City, the University of Georgia graduate was a pitchman and vocalist for Taco Bell's "Run For The Border" TV campaign for over four years in the 1990s. His work with brands including McDonald's, Burger King, Hardee's, Coca-Cola, Dr. Pepper, 7-Up, Almond Joy, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Ford, Dodge and Harrah's Casinos supported his initial Nashville rise and expanded his horizons as his stardom grew.

"T. Graham Brown feels like family every single time he walks through the backstage doors of the Grand Ole Opry House," said Dan Rogers, Opry executive producer.

"He adds a special spirit and a great performance to every Opry show he's part of. It's not lost on me that immediately after having been invited to join the Opry at the SiriusXM studios, within minutes he was on the road to the Opry for yet another performance, adding to his 300+ count of Opry appearances."

Brown's induction date will be announced soon.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vince Gill invites T. Graham Brown to join Grand Ole Opry