Rascal Flatts Invited to Join Grand Ole Opry

When Rascal Flatts showed up at the Grand Ole Opry on Tuesday night (September 27), they were prepared to play a short set and leave. But when Vince Gill came onto the stage, the trio was understandably confused -- they had no idea that they were being asked to become the prestigious Opry's newest members.

"We had absolutely no clue. No clue!" Jay DeMarcus told reporters, according to the band's record label. "And the only thing that was a little bit weird to me was that I told my wife to stay home. I said, 'Just stay home, we're only doing three songs. It's just a short segment.' And she showed up right before we went onstage, but she was just like, 'Ah, I put the baby to bed and the nurse is there, so I just came on out.'"

He continues, "That was the only thing that was a little weird, but I had no clue. Even when Vince came onstage I thought he was just messing around with Joe Don, bringing him his guitars."

While the Flatts were clueless about the Opry's plans to induct them, country music fans think it's been a long time coming. After all, the group has nearly 30 Top 20 singles in their career, including at least 10 No. hits -- not to mention the plethora of awards. Rascal Flatts will stand tall for their official induction into the Opry on October 8, and DeMarcus said he can't wrap his head around how things have come together.

"All I could think about was being a little kid sitting in the nosebleed section of the Grand Ole Opry," he said, comparing his experience as a child to standing on the stage as an adult. "Really, the first thought in my mind was, 'I cannot believe that I used to come here on family vacations and watch the Opry with my mom at the very top.' To be on the stage, and then to be asked to be a member of the Opry, it had all come full circle. I think it just hit me, the flood of emotions, all at once, and it was tough to keep it together."

Watch the Rascal Flatts Get Invited to Join the Opry