Keith Urban is set to become the latest member of the Grand Ole Opry after receiving a surprise invitation to join the country institution on Tuesday (10Apr12).
Fellow country singer Vince Gill presented Urban with an official invite and a Grand Ole Opry microphone stand in front of 16,000 fans at the All For The Hall benefit concert in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Better Life hitmaker marvelled at the stand and told the crowd he is looking forward to the induction ceremony - one of the highest honours for a country star.
He said, "I'm shocked. What a huge honour and how beautiful to have this happen tonight! I will always remember the first time I played the Opry.
"Seeing this stand... was an extraordinarily surreal moment. So this right here is just a whole other stratosphere! Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
The Australian star will be inducted into the Grande Ole Opry on 21 April (12).