Forty-five years ago today (Feb. 6, 1976) was a day of celebration for Ronnie Milsap: It was on that date that the singer-songwriter was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry, when he was just 33 years old.
Milsap became an Opry member just as he was beginning to dominate the charts. At the time of his induction, he was getting ready to release his eighth studio album and was climbing the charts with his 10th charting single, (I m a) Stand By My Woman Man, which became his sixth No. 1 hit. By the time he was invited to join the hallowed country music institution, the North Carolina native had already been a frequent guest on the revered stage.