Every time Darrin Vincent of the bluegrass super group Dailey & Vincent performs on the WSM Grand Ole Opry it’s a special occasion. For 100 times he has stood on the stage made famous by Opry stars like Roy Acuff, Minnie Pearl, and Porter Waggoner, but this past Saturday when he and Jamie Dailey walked onto that circle where legendary country performers have sung, it was for a life-changing event. The three-time IBMA Entertainers of the Year were inducted into the prestigious country music club.
"I feel so unworthy to be here tonight because there’s so many other great players," Vincent said during a press conference prior to the March 11 induction. "Why the Lord and Opry chose us-- it’s a miracle. It’s a huge honor, and we’re so thankful."
Forty-nine-year Opry veteran Jeannie Seely and Old Crow Medicine Show conducted the formal ceremony, presenting each with awards for their new membership.
"I had the honor of introducing Dailey & Vincent for their first Opry appearance," Seely began. "I thought to myself that night, ‘I hope one day I get to see them become members of the Opry one day because they epitomize everything the Opry is on stage and off.’"
"They honor the traditions and respect their elders, but most of all they entertain," Old Crow lead singer Ketch Secor said. "Tonight they join the ranks of country music’s greatest entertainers. … Welcome Dailey & Vincent to the first family of country music."
"Tradition is our bedrock, and the Grand Ole Opry is one huge family that we love to be a part of," said Vincent. "Even before we were invited, we went around the world telling everybody to come to Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium because we love it. It’s part of our DNA growing up."
Vincent made his debut on the G.O.O. as a teenager with his family’s band, Sally Mountain Show, thanks to Opry star Charlie Louvin.
"Charlie not only said come to Nashville I’m giving you my position on the Grand Ole Opry, but it was the TV portion when they were filming it," Vincent remembered. "Our very first performance was on TV at the Grand Ole Opry. We liked to die! That’s a huge heart that he has, and I think that shows you the family here. They’re giving, loving, and embracing."
Later, Vincent spent 11 years playing the Opry with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder while Dailey performed there with Doyle Lawson and Quick Silver for nine years. When the two men formed their duo, it was the Opry where they made the new act’s debut on December 29, 2007.
"We were scared to death," Vincent recalls. "I was shaking."
"When Jeanie Seely brought us out for the very first time, it was just he and I with the mandolin and guitar. We were doing "By the Mark," our very first song that got us our record deal. We just bawled like two little girls after it was over. "
To mark Dailey & Vincent’s 10th anniversary, they returned to the Opry stage in December where Marty Stuart surprised them with a formal invitation to join.
"We have done a whole lot of crying and have been very emotional since December 30," Jamie Dailey said. "This is something that has touched our hearts forever," he added, choking up.
"We are very excited to welcome Dailey & Vincent into the fold," said Opry General Manager Sally Williams. "Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent have been proclaimed the best in their field across the board, winning awards and media acclaim for their songs, their musicianship, and their one-of-a-kind live performances. Over the past 10 years and more than 100 Opry visits, they’ve brought crowds to their feet both with country, bluegrass, and gospel standards as well as their brand new material. We look forward to Dailey & Vincent being active, beloved Opry members as the Opry looks toward the century mark and beyond."
Vincent, a Smithville transplant and husband of Smithville Elementary School Principal Julie Vincent, was brought to tears several times as the magnitude of the honor continued to hit him. While several members of his family were there to celebrate the momentous occasion, one important figure was missing.
"I wish my daddy could be here," Vincent said. "He went to be in heaven a couple of years ago. My daddy taught me everything about music," he said, his voice cracking. "And that’s why I love Ricky Skaggs so much. He’s like a second father to me. I know my family spent many, many nights listening to the Grand Ole Opry on WSM, and I know how important it was for my daddy. He would be so proud and honored for this moment. I wish that he could be here. I know he’s watching down in heaven."
