In the six years since Laci Kaye Booth placed fifth on season 17 of “American Idol,” she’s experienced huge highs and lows in her career, from having CMT name her one its 10 “Next Women of Country” in 2022 to losing her record deal later that year. But 2025 may wind up being Booth’s best year yet.
The acclaimed singer-songwriter has been crisscrossing the U.S. since January as the opening act for Parker McCollum’s “What Kinda Man” tour. But their February 22 show in Lincoln, Nebraska, was extra special for Booth, 29, as McCollum shocked her with the news that she’ll make her Grand Ole Opry debut on March 29, a huge rite of passage for country artists.
Captioning an Instagram video of the moment, which she posted the following morning, Booth wrote, “Holy (expletive)! My Opry Debut is happening. Thank you so much @parkermccollum for makin’ this so special.”
Crowd Goes Wild Over Parker McCollum’s Surprise for Laci Kaye Booth
During the Lincoln concert, McCollum pulled Booth onstage to sing the title song from her critically acclaimed 2024 album, “The Loneliest Girl in the World.” McCollum, who has four number-one country hits to his name, mouthed along with the words as she finished the song.
“One more thing Laci, before you go,” he said. “I really do love that song, and I wanted you to come up on stage and sing it. But I also wanted to tell you that on March 29th, you are being invited to make your Grand Ole Opry debut!”
Booth clutched her heart and bent over in disbelief as the crowd went wild, and McCollum shouted, “Yeah, y’all make some noise for Laci Kaye Booth!”
Fans and friends flooded her Instagram post with words of congratulations, including country superstar Lainey Wilson, who dropped two emoji in the comments: “❤️🙌”
Fellow “Idol” alum and rising country star Grace Leer wrote, “Omgggg!!! Yes yes yes!! No one more deserving ❤️”
Many fans wrote that they were brought to tears over the video, including one who wrote, “Been a fan since idol and I’m crying watching this! Congratulations!!!!!!!”
Another commented, “why am I crying? you deserve it so so much!!”
Laci Kaye Booth Has Appeared on ‘Idol’ Multiple Times While Navigating Her Wild Career
After “Idol,” Booth moved from her native Texas to Nashville in 2020 and signed her first record deal with Big Machine Records and its partner, 19 Recordings, which represents numerous “Idol” alum. She released her debut album in August 2021, featuring what she described as her “dreamy country” sound on eight tracks, all of which she co-wrote.
The album didn’t perform as well as hoped, and Big Machine dropped Booth from its label in late 2022. Though it was a devastating blow, she told Entertainment Focus that it wound up giving her more creative control over her sound.
A year later, Booth signed a talent deal with Red Light Management, Geffen Records and WME, according to Music Row, and released a new single called “Cigarettes.”
“I wrote this song at one of the lowest points of my career and life, with my dear friend and producer, Ben West,” she said in a statement. “It has sorrow, shame, grit and hope written all within it, and I hope the message that’s received from this is to learn from the hard (expletive), learn to let it go and let it make you better.”
Since placing fifth on “Idol” in 2019, Booth has appeared on the show multiple times. She and Season 17 winner Laine Hardy, with whom she became good friends on the show, performed together in 2022 and stopped by the auditions in 2023 to chat with star struck contestants and catch up with judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie.
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Country Star Parker McCollum Shocks ‘Idol’ Alum Onstage With Huge Career News