Dierks Bentley to join Opry

NASHVILLE, July 27 (UPI) -- Dierks Bentley has been invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry, making him the youngest member of the venerable Nashville institution.

Bentley will be formally inducted during a ceremony Oct. 1 at the Opry house, the Opry announced in a news release Wednesday.

Country star Marty Stuart broke the news to Bentley Tuesday night, when he walked onto the stage during Bentley's House of Blues concert in Los Angeles and asked: "Will you do it ... will you marry the Grand Ole Opry?"

Dierks replied: "Hell yeah!"

Bentley's most recent CD, "Modern Day Drifter," debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country chart.