Tim McGraw started “sobbing” when he found out he was being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The 58-year-old country music star was announced as one of the newest members of the the Hall of Fame – alongside songwriter Paul Overstreet and bluegrass duo, the Stanley Brothers – and Tim admitted it came as a complete shock during what he thought was a routine business call with his management.
He told PEOPLE: “I’m listening with earpods, and they said, ‘Hey, Tim, somebody else is on the line’.”
When Country Music Association CEO Sarah Trahern joined the call, Tim had no idea why.
He explained: “She said something about the Hall of Fame, and I totally missed what she was saying. It didn’t register at all, so I stopped walking and I said, ‘Hold on. Somebody’s gonna have to explain this to me because I don’t understand what you’re saying.’ And she says, ‘Tim, we’re calling to tell you that you are going to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.’
“I just lost it right on the street in New York. I’m sure people were running in all directions from me when that happened. I was just sobbing on the street.”
One month later, when the official announcement was made in the rotunda of the Country Music Museum, Tim – who is married to fellow country music star Faith Hill – became overwhelmed once again.
He said: “I don’t know if I ever thought it would happen in my lifetime. I just had to stop in front of Merle Haggard’s plaque because he’s been my number one all time forever. And to stand there just for a brief second, I gave myself a moment to think that I’m gonna be hanging forever in the same room with Merle Haggard.”
However, he has no plans to slow down, despite reaching the pinnacle of his career.
He said: “I always feel like I can get better, and I feel like I’ve got a lot of runway left in my career, in my life, and so what this does for me is it makes me want to live up to it. It’s new juice, I guess. I’ve gotta prove I belong here now!”