Months After Completing Breast Cancer Treatment, Country Singer Makes Emotional Grand Ole Opry Debut on Opry Goes Pink Night

Jillian Cardarelli just had a night to remember. The country singer made her Grand Ole Opry debut on Opry Goes Pink night, which is put on annually amid Breast Cancer Awareness month.

The timing was particularly noteworthy for Cardarelli, as she was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer earlier this year.

Andrea Canning, a Dateline correspondent and friend of Cardarelli, was on to introduce the singer to the stage for her special night.

“Usually when I introduce someone, there’s a dramatic pause, some ominous music. There’s a mystery to solve,” Canning joked. “But tonight, there is no mystery about why I’m here. I am here because of the incredible talent of my dear friend Jillian Cardarelli. It is such an honor to introduce her.”

After giving a rundown of Cardarelli’s career accomplishments thus far, a visibly emotional Canning officially welcomed her to the stage.

“I’m gonna cry,” she said. “Making her Opry debut tonight, please welcome the most amazing woman, Jillian Cardarelli.”

Jillian Cardarelli Makes Her Grand Ole Opry Debut

With that, Cardarelli began her inaugural set by performing “Leave Me Tennessee.” Afterwards, she spoke about getting to achieve her life-long dream.

“I am beyond honored to be here tonight,” she said. “This has been a dream of mine since I can remember. There hasn’t been a time where this wasn’t my dream.”

Cardarelli continued her speech by opening up about her own experience with cancer.

“I’ve had quite the journey this past year. I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer this past May,” she said. “At that time, I didn’t even know what my future was going to look like, let alone being able to be here tonight making my Grand Ole Opry debut.”

After pausing to take in cheers from the crowd, Cardarelli informed them , “I’m really, really happy to say that I’m standing in this circle tonight cancer free.”

Indeed, back in August, Cardarelli shared a video of herself ringing the bell after undergoing 19 rounds of radiation.

Months later, on the Grand Ole Opry stage, Cardarelli ended her set by performing “Happily Even After,” a song she penned before her diagnosis, but one that gained a new meaning following it.

“I wrote this song long before I had cancer, because you know what? Life is hard and it can throw us some serious curveballs,” she said. “It may not end up like we had it imagined in our head picture perfect. So no matter what you’re going through, grief, illness, heartbreak, or just a really tough season, just know that while you might not get the happily ever after that you imagined, I know first-hand that you can have a happily even after.”

Jillian Cardarelli Reflects on Her Cancer Journey

Cardarelli earned rapturous applause from the crowd following her performance. She went on to reflect on the experience with Opry host Kelly Sutton.

“It was just unbelievable to stand in the circle in country music’s most iconic venue… To step in there was truly incredible,” Cardarelli said. “On a night like tonight especially, it’s hard to put into words, because you work so hard.”

“There’s highs and lows, and that’s the beauty of life and the beauty of any journey,” she continued. “After going through what I went through this past year, it’s just makes it all that much sweeter.”

Given that the concert was put on in partnership with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to raise funds for and awareness about breast cancer, Cardarelli made sure to speak on that issue.

“Know your bodies and advocate for yourself. I was only 33 years old when I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer. Not to scare anybody, but just know your body and advocate. Be an advocate,” she told the crowd. “You are the CEO of your own health.”

Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

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