'Crying Again': Lauren Alaina Relives Sweet Message From Trisha Yearwood

Lauren Alaina relived a special moment on a legendary stage in a throwback clip shared by the Grand Ole Opry on Friday (February 20).

During a recent show, the “Those Kind Of Women” artist received a commemorative scarf in honor of the Opry’s 100th anniversary. She also received a note from iconic singer-songwriter Trisha Yearwood. The Opry shared one clip of that moment on Instagram on Thursday (February 19), and Alaina said she’s “over here crying again,” as she reflected on that moment. “I’m so lucky to be part of this [Opry] family!” Yearwood wrote:

“Lauren, you have done more in your 31 years than most 80-year-olds I know. When I turned 17, I was dreaming of Nashville, but really just trying to get out of high school. When you were 17, you were releasing your first album and you’ve never stopped. You have a work ethic that is unmatched. Well, maybe except by Reba and Dolly. For me personally. I’m just proud to call you my friend. Since the day we met, we became instant pals, and I root for you at every turn. I’ve watched with pride as you’ve become a wife and a new mom, and I marvel at how you’ve continued to navigate your way through the country music industry as a leader, an inspiration to all those younger girls who look up to you, and you do it with humility, humor and grace. There are a lot of words I would use to describe you. Words like real, open, determined, loving, funny, kind, nurturing and brave. But to me, mostly you’re just ‘junior.’ With love, Trisha Yearwood.”

Alaina met Yearwood more than a decade ago, and the two country stars have remained friends since. Yearwood surprised Alaina by inviting her to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry in December 2021. Alaina was performing on the historic stage when the emotional moment happened. The former American Idol runner up said at that time that Yearwood is “my hero,” and she “could not have picked a more perfect person to ask me.” Yearwood inducted Alaina into the Grand Ole Opry in February 2022. Alaina reflected on that moment after receiving her commemorative Opry 100 scarf and hearing the note from Yearwood read aloud to the audience.

“I did not pay her to say that. But I should’ve. Can I get that printed up and signed?” Alaina said when she returned to the microphone in the throwback clip shared on Instagram on Friday. “Aww. She did that for them to read for tonight? I mean, that’s pretty cool. I could just quit after this show. That’s — I gotta go tell Rascal Flatts I’m not gonna make it to the rest of the tour. I’ve peaked! Wow.

“Trisha has been o good to me,” Alaina continued. “She asked me to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry, came out here and surprised me. And then — this is the kind of person that she is — she asked me that night if she could also come back the night that I was inducted and induct me. She asked me if that was OK. I was like, ‘you’re Trisha Yearwood. It’s OK. Please.’ And then she came out and brought her husband [Garth Brooks], and we got to play in the circle together. I don’t know if y’all know who her husband is, but look him up. He’s pretty cool. Just crazy. I’ve had so many amazing memories on this stage, and I am so grateful for my journey and all of my friends and all of my family here at the Grand Ole Opry. So, thank you for coming out tonight and celebrating country music in the middle of the week. I really appreciate you coming. This is such a special place. So, thank you for being a part of its journey and a part of my journey.”

Alaina is part of the star-studded lineup of the 2026 iHeartCountry Festival, along with Luke Bryan, Kane Brown, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Shaboozey, Dylan Scott, Russell Dickerson, Gretchen Wilson and Chase Matthew. iHeartRadio's Bobby Bones is returning as the event’s host. The show will take place on May 2 at Moody Center in Austin, Texas. Tickets to the show are available as of January 23. Fans across the country will be able to catch all the action as the 2026 iHeartCountry Festival will be broadcast live across iHeartCountry stations nationwide and the free iHeartRadio app on Saturday, May 2nd at 8pm ET/5pm PT (7pm CT).