As the long winter nights drag on, there's a little country light at the end of the tunnel as the Grand Ole Opry unveils the beginnings of its momentous 100th birthday celebrations. Kicking off the year with its annual winter retreat to its original home of the Ryman Auditorium,

Tuesday night in Nashville, Emmylou Harris invited famed Beatles drummer Ringo Starr to make his Grand Ole Opry debut in February.

Legendary Beatles drummer Ringo Starr was asked to make his Grand Ole Opry debut next month. Starr attended the Opry Tuesday night, where his friend and Opry member Emmylou Harris asked him on stage if he would come back again next month to play the Grand Ole Opry for the first time.

That’s right, after a recent show, Starr was surprised on stage by Grand Ole Opry member Emmylou Harris, who gave him the invite to play the Opry. “I’d love to,” Starr said. “It’s an honor and a pleasure. Thank you.”

On the heels of his new country album Look Up, the former Beatles drummer will play the Nashville institution in February