Carly Pearce Looks Back on Dolly Parton's Invite to Join Opry and Calls It 'Most Iconic Moment of My Career' (Exclusive)

Carly Pearce is feeling sentimental as the Grand Ole Opry turns 100.

Speaking exclusively with PEOPLE at the Opry 100: A Live Celebration at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Wednesday, March 19, Pearce, 34, shares her favorite memory.

The "Truth Be Told" singer was invited into the Opry in June 2021 by Dolly Parton and calls the moment "iconic" — despite it not happening in the hallowed halls of the Opry House.

"Being invited by Dolly to be the newest member of the Opry four years ago is probably the most iconic moment of my career, but that actually didn't happen in this building," she says.

"When I got to announce to the crowd that it was during the pandemic. I got to tell the crowd I had a surprise and we got to play the video for them. That was probably my favorite."

Pearce, who released her Hummingbird deluxe tracks on March 14, also tells PEOPLE what she's been up to since. Some of it wasn't surprising. "I'm already halfway down with my next record," she says, adding that she did have some non-songwriting activities in mind.

"I love running, so I really enjoy just going on long runs outside. I know that sounds really lame, but that's a mental thing for me, so I'm looking forward to it," Pearce says, adding that she's hoping for some "patio wine things" as the weather gets nicer.

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Parton, 79, surprised Pearce in a video with her induction for the Opry. "When one of ours has a special moment, it's an honor to be part of that," Parton said at the time. "Carly is a real songwriter and bright heart – and I loved getting to ask her to do something so very special."

Pearce's official ceremony happened at the Opry in August 2021, where Trisha Yearwood properly inducted her.

"This is not a club that you can just join," Yearwood, 60, told Pearce. "This is a very special family that you have to be invited into, and when they ask you to become a member, it means they know that you 'get it.' You're doing something great, but you also get what came before."

Pearce was moved to tears during her induction and had been dreaming about joining the Opry since she was a child.

"My Mamaw and Papaw Pearce, I always told them that if I ever made it here, they would be front row," Pearce said in her acceptance speech. "And they didn't get to see that happen, but I really do genuinely feel like they're here with me tonight, and I know that this was as much my dream as it was theirs."

She called the evening "the best night of my life."