Dustin Lynch’s Crush Reba McEntire Surprise Inducts Him Into the Opry
Dustin Lynch was prepared to be inducted into the Grand Ole Opry family on Tuesday night (Sept. 18) — he got the good news last month that he'd be joining — but he had no idea he'd see his girl Reba McEntire.
McEntire was a hush-hush addition to the night's schedule, as she'd been brought in to surprise induct Lynch, who has a longstanding crush on her. It was business as usual when he took the stage, telling the crowd: "This is the second most nervous I’ve ever been on this stage. ... I don’t even know what to say right now so I’m just gonna shut up and get this party started."
The rising star launched into "She Cranks My Tractor" and an otherwise normal set, but his loss for words would return at the end of his performance when McEntire appeared onstage.
Both singers were gleeful as they embraced. "I know how you feel," McEntire told Lynch, whose smile spread from ear to ear. "Do you know that 41 years ago yesterday was the first time I got to sing on this stage?"
She went on to congratulate him heartily: "Here you are 41 years to the day and you get to be the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. I know this means a lot to you."
Watch Reba McEntire Give Nervous Dustin Lynch Some Expert Advice
The moment apparently meant a lot to McEntire as well, as she found herself getting emotional. "You've got me crying," she playfully accused Lynch. He himself was hardly dry-eyed, and accepted a box of tissues from McEntire to stem his tears.
"I told everyone before I came out here that I'm a crybaby. I get it from my dad," he joked. "I can't believe what just happened out here. Reba McEntire gave me a hug!"
"I know they're getting good at this cloning stuff," Lynch added. "If we could just clone us another Reba, the world would be a better place, right?"
Tuesday's show also included performances Luke Combs, Walker McGuire and more. Before his induction, Lynch was presented with a plaque celebrating 1 billions streams in music — also a surprise. His Billboard Country Airplay No.1 "Small Town Boy" accounts for more than 119 million of those streams on Spotify alone. He made his Opry debut in 2012, the same year he released a self-titled debut album that launched him into stardom with hit singles "Cowboys and Angels" (debut) and "She Cranks My Tractor." His current single is "Good Girl," from a year-old album.
Lynch revealed his crush on McEntire back in 2014, when he admitted to Taste of Country he'd like to give her a smooch under the mistletoe that holiday season.
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