I wake up and forget that it's my 16th birthday. I forget, because all I can think about is the fact that I will be playing on the Grand Ole Opry stage in 10 hours. The 14 happy birthday texts and 108 facebook notifications quickly remind me. Thank you for those, by the way.

Now I'm with my aunt, mom, and cousin driving to the Grand Ole Opry, laughing at the 24 MPH speed limit signs and getting thoroughly lost trying to find the parking lot, even though we've been there a million times.

I'm checking in backstage and my name is on the list, which gives me chills. When he tells me what dressing room number I'm in, my face looks like a 5 year old on Christmas morning. Number 17, by the way. Next to John Anderson. No big deal.

As more people arrive, I begin to wonder why I'm not nervous.

That's all anyone is asking me.

"Are you nervous?" 

"I don't really know what I am." 

I'm doing my hair and redoing my makeup, and Linda Davis walks in my dressing room. She's one of the most beautiful, genuine people I've ever met. 

She tells me happy birthday and gives me a box with the most adorable, sparkly bracelet I've ever owned. I can't believe that Linda Davis just gave me a birthday present. It matches my shirt perfectly. 

But why am I not nervous?

I'm in the hallway and Chuck Wicks arrives.

"Are you nervous?" He asks, of course.

"I don't think so. I probably will be."

"The first time I played the Opry, I was in my dressing room thinking, 'Oh, I got this. No problem.' No nerves. As soon as I got backstage I almost threw up. So good luck!"

"Thanks, Chuck, for those words of encouragement."

Now I'm nervous.

Actually, I'm scared.

I'm scared because no matter how often you tell yourself that it's just another performance, you would have to be stupid to actually believe that.

It's not. It's the Grand Ole Opry.

I'm backstage. The Whites are playing. I can't believe I'm watching The Whites from backstage. One song left, and then I'm up.

I drag Dani Flowers to the corner and say, "Pray. Now."

She takes my hand and does just that. The best prayer I could've asked for. 

But it doesn't shake the nerves.

I'm holding the mic on stage right and my manager is whispering words of encouragement into my ear. Chuck is giving me a thumbs up, Lex (my producer) is filming me, Dani and her brother are mouthing "good luck", and Mike Snider is introducing me on stage.

Deep breaths, one foot in front of the other.

I walk on stage, hug Mike and accidentally punch him in the chin, which wasn't exactly in the plans. 

I look down at the circle and momentarily lose my breath. 

Somehow, I sing both songs without forgetting the words, passing out, or dying of a heart attack. So that's good.

I thank the audience and turn around to leave. Mike comes running out and tells me to wait a second.

Then...Little Jimmy Dickens wheels this adorable birthday cake out on a table with candles lit and a big "16!" on the front. 

The Whites sing me happy birthday. I want to cry. But I have mascara on and another show in 2 hours, so I just open my mouth really wide and hug Little Jimmy Dickens instead.

I blow out the candles and make a wish. I would tell you what I wished for, but that's against the rules. 

Little Jimmy kisses my hand. I'm in love.

We walk off the stage arm in arm and I hear my friends screaming, which makes me smile.

Chuck is waiting offstage to take a picture and tweet it. I love technology.

I'm not nervous anymore. Now I'm just elated.

I take my friends in behind the curtain on the side of the stage...close as you can get to backstage without actually being backstage. I attack Maggie in a bear hug and then profusely apologize...she was just in a car accident and was sore. But you can understand how that may have slipped my mind in that moment.

The second show is a blur. I met Charlie Daniels and he was nicer than I even hoped for. 

My friends and I then met up at Steak and Shake, 'cause it's the only place open at like midnight. I laugh at the irony of my having just played the Grand Ole Opry and then meeting my high school friends, all of us worried about being out past legal curfew. 

I get home at far too late an hour, and I relive every moment of the day over and over and over and...

It was magical. A dream come true, plus some.

I won't forget that as long as I live, and thank you so much to all of you who came to share it with me or listened on the radio or wished me good luck...you all helped make my 16th birthday the best I've ever had.

I didn't get a new car...but I figure I got something a little bit cooler ;)

I love you.

Infinite x's and o's,

Jordyn

PS --- Thank you to Sony and Taryn for the birthday cake...way to top off the night.