After two decades of shaping Nashville’s sound as a top-tier musician, songwriter, and solo artist, we profile Charlie Worsham as he celebrates two hard-earned career milestones.
Meet the Grand Ole Opry’s newest member, Charlie Worsham
Charlie Worsham has received countless plaudits in his twenty-year career. He’s been honoured as the ACM Acoustic Guitar Player of the Year, the CMA Musician of the Year, and as CMA Touring’s Touring Musician of the Year.
However, his biggest achievement eclipses even those accolades. On the 20th anniversary of Worsham’s move to Nashville, he was on the legendary Ryman Auditorium stage with his friend and mentor Vince Gill. During the fifth of six sold-out residencies at ‘the Mother Church,’ Gill thrilled the crowd – and his friend – by inviting his protégé into the most prestigious country music community.
“I’ve been keeping this a secret for a long time. What I get to do tonight is fulfil a dream for someone and this guy deserves this more than anyone I know. I’ve been asked by the Opry to invite Charlie Worsham to become the next member of the Grand Ole Opry!”
– Vince Gill
Worsham’s emotion at the news shone through. He explained: “I’ve had the great privilege of having Vince as my north star…I got to ask you about what you said when you went into the Hall of Fame, and your answer would be what I’m going to say. ‘Now I’m going to try to go earn it.'”
“This is definitely the ultimate dream”
– Charlie Worsham
Despite this announcement being two decades in the making, Worsham is no stranger to the Opry stage. In fact, the Mississippi native first graced the stage aged just 12 as the Junior National Banjo Champion in 1997!
Two years later, he was commended by the Mississippi Senate for his musical accomplishments. The straight-A student earned a place at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, then joined the band KingBilly before going solo.
He’s opened for Opry members over the years, including Brad Paisley and Old Crow Medicine Show as well as Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert and Kenny Rogers.
Alongside his strong solo career, Worsham is a songwriter, a producer, and also a respected session musician for artists like Eric Church, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, and Chris Shiflett.
Worsham’s Grand Ole Opry family membership will become official later in 2026.
Once Upon A Second Time Around: embracing independence
After such a respected career path, it made sense for Worsham to release his first album as an independent artist.
“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate 20 years in Nashville than with the release of Once Upon A Second Time Around. This record is the culmination of two decades of making music with friends, becoming forever embedded in the Nashville Country Music community. It’s a record that could only be made by me, at this moment in time. These songs tell a story of fatherhood, marriage, and living a dream with all the ups and downs that come with an authentic life.”
– Charlie Worsham
Already acclaimed by The Tennessean, Music Row and Goldmine Magazine, the new record encompasses Worsham’s formative bluegrass, rock and country influences. There’s even a duet with Lainey Wilson.
Worsham worked with trusted collaborators percussionist Jerry Roe, bassist Rich Brinsfield, guitarist Kris Donegan, co-producer Jaren Johnston, and executive producer Josh Van Valkenburg at studios including Sound Emporium, Sony Tree Studio A, Pinebox Studios, Querencia Sound, and The House.
Years Go By
Now freed from commercial expectations and the pressure of trends, he teamed up with acclaimed songwriter and collaborator Stephen Wilson Jr. for the single Years Go By. Fittingly, given how momentous 2026 has proved to be, it’s about the passage of time, gratitude, and the moments that shape us.
“I’m well aware what it means to have the chance to collaborate with Stephen Wilson, Jr. in this moment. To me, he’s an old pal who was patient enough for the world to catch up to him, and I love cheering him on through this rocket ship moment. This song was born over a Zoom writing session that turned into two dads talking about life, fatherhood, and the passage of time. You’re gonna love how our voices blend, but be sure not to miss how our guitar-picking hands blend too.”
– Charlie Worsham
Wrap My Porch Around
Worsham honoured his musical heritage by releasing two versions of his single, Wrap My Porch Around, one being a bluegrass version accompanied by The Travelin’ McCourys.
Happily, the story of the song connects back to his Opry-inviting friend and mentor, Vince Gill.
“Wrap My Porch Around is one of the most autobiographical songs on the new record, and it felt like the perfect candidate to represent both my love of modern country music and my love of bluegrass. Of course, I pulled a page from the book of Vince Gill. It was his example, recording two versions of High Lonesome Sound, that inspired me to do the same with Porch. In a full-circle moment, we cut the bluegrass version at Vince’s house. I didn’t even pull my dreadnought out of the case that day, opting for one of Vince’s old D18s.”
– Charlie Worsham
Worsham credited another influence too: “I always took note of the way Dierks [Bentley] mixed “the kick ass with the bluegrass” and often featured heroes like Bryan Sutton, Sam Bush, or more often than not, The Travelin’ McCourys on the last track on his records…keeping a good tradition alive is, to me, one of the most forward-thinking things you can do in country music.”
Once Upon A Second Time Around Tracklist
- Powers That Be (Charlie Worsham, Jaren Johnston, James McNair)
- Whiskeysippi (Jon Nite, Andrew DeRoberts, Drew Parker)
- Wrap My Porch Around (Charlie Worsham, Jesse Frasure, Jaren Johnston)
- Blue Collar And A Purple Heart (Charlie Worsham)
- They Never Do (feat. Lainey Wilson) (Lainey Wilson, Jason Nix, Dallas Wilson)
- Grass (Charlie Worsham, John Osborne, Jesse Frasure)
- Family Man(Matt Rogers, Ben Stennis, Josh Jenkins)
- Years Go By (feat. Stephen Wilson Jr.) (Charlie Worsham, Stephen Wilson Jr.)
- Once Upon A Second Time Around (Charlie Worsham, Jay Knowles)
- Good Hurt (Jon Nite, Walker Hayes)
- Pencil ‘raser
- Wrap My Porch Around (feat. The Travelin’ McCourys) (Charlie Worsham, Jesse Frasure, Jaren Johnston)
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