Grand Ole Opry Touts ‘American Idol’ Winner As Budding Superstar

There’s no doubt that winning the title of “American Idol” in 2021 provided a significant boost for Chayce Beckham’s career. But to be dubbed a potential superstar by perhaps the most revered institution in country music … well, that’s next level validation.

On February 18 at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Beckham was one of seven artists named as the 2025 class for the Opry NextStage program. As reported by American Songwriter, Beckham was welcomed into the program along with Avery Anna, Dasha, Kaitlin Butts, Kashus Culpepper, Tigirlily Gold, and Tucker Wetmore.

“The Opry is a staple of country music and cowboy music and songs and stories,” Beckham said for American Songwriter. “This is something you wear as a badge on your chest, and you feel so proud you were able to get up there and sing. You think about wanting to become a member one day so you can come to play your songs for the rest of your life. This is as close as I can get to that right now.”

Chayce Beckham Welcomes Honor as ‘A Badge on Your Chest’

Country music superstar Jelly Roll – who announced this year’s class of rising stars along with Opry NextStage alum Riley Green and Grand Ole Opry members Pam Tillis and Ashley McBryde – told American Songwriter that it’s impossible to overstate the honor that these young artists received.

“I said this before, and I mean it,” Jelly Roll said. “There is no greater co-sign in country music than the Grand Ole Opry.”

As highlighted by Tecovas, the presenting sponsor of the Grand Ole Opry’s Opry NextStage program, NextStage was created in 2019 to support and showcase rising country music artists who are on the verge of breaking into the mainstream. Over the next 11 months, the Grand Ole Opry will provide the members of the 2025 class with performance opportunities, industry exposure, mentorship, and promotional support to help them grow their careers.

Opry NextStage Announcement Adds to ‘Big Moments’ in Chayce Beckham’s Young Career

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“I think this will definitely be one of those big moments in my career where I can look back and say, ‘Oh yeah, that might have been the start of something really awesome,’” Beckham said prior to his induction in a video posted to the Grand Ole Opry’s YouTube channel. “I’m looking forward to hearing, ‘You’re an Opry NextStage member,’ that’s pretty cool.”

Beckham has already made an impact on the country music scene. In early April of 2024, coinciding with the release of his debut album, “Bad for Me,” the first single from that album, “23,” became his first number one hit on country radio, topping the Billboard Country Airplay Chart. It was the same original song that Beckham had performed during his run to the “American Idol” crown, and it helped Beckham become only the fourth “Idol” winner to have a song land atop the list that specifically measures how often songs are played on the radio.