Thomas Rhett has taken to social media to share a heartwarming homage to his father, Rhett Akins, following Akins’ invitation to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

In the touching post, TR explains that it's been a longstanding dream of his dad's to become a member of the Opry, and at long last, on Sunday, June 28th, Jon Pardi finally extended the invitation for Akins join the most hallowed family in the country music world.

TR gushes, “I don’t have many words except for the fact that my dad has had a dream to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry since he was boy. He is a country music encyclopedia”.

The ‘Die a Happy Man’ hitmaker fondly adds, “There may be people out there that know it and have studied it extensively, but for people I know directly in my life, my dad knows it and loves it more that anyone I’ve ever known. He’s such a purist with music. He misses the days that people listened to records all the way through and didn’t just listen to the 20 second tik tok clip. He lives and breathes Hank sr, Merle haggard, Waylon Jennings and all the above. Dad I’m so proud of you. I love you. You deserve this! Can’t wait to celebrate this huge accomplishment”.

TR and Akins have collaborated a number of times over the years, with the duo co-writing hits like ‘What's Your Country Song’, ‘Look What God Gave Her’, ‘Half of Me’ and more.

TR regularly cites Akins as one of his biggest influences as a songwriter, and it was evident when Akins was surprised on the Opry stage just how proud Rhett was of his beloved father.

After Pardi delivered those magical lines, “You've always been family since the beginning. But I'm here to invite you to be a part of a different family”, Akins was visibly moved, with his family - including Rhett - then joining him on-stage for the special moment.

As well as being a hugely prolific songwriter, penning smashes such as Luke Bryan's ‘Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day’ and Jon Pardi's ‘Dirt on My Boots’, Akins is a revered artist in his own right, enjoying chart success in 1995 with ‘That Ain't My Truck’.

With Akins being a fixture of the country landscape for almost three decades now, this coveted invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry feels long-overdue, and we're just glad to see the Georgia native getting the recognition he deserves on country's most historic stage.