Trace Adkins celebrated his 20th anniversary as an Opry member this week with a surprise performance with Exile, a hit-filled four-song set, a message from Blake Shelton and a large red velvet cake.

"Before I go tonight, I just want to say thank you to all the legendary entertainers that have been on this stage tonight," Adkins said. "Gene Watson, a legend. Jason Crabb, one of the best singers that I've ever heard step up to a microphone. One of my favorite bands of all time, Exile."

After Adkins performed "Kiss You All Over" with Exile, he went to the backstage green room for a piece of his celebratory cake and to pose for pictures with his commemorative 20th-anniversary plaque.

Then he headed back out front to sing some of his hit songs – including "Songs About Me" and "You're Gonna Miss This." The Opry played a congratulatory video message from Blake Shelton, where he joked, "I'm so happy that I could not be there."

Adkins is the one who invited Shelton to join the Grand Ole Opry in 2010.

Little Jimmy Dickens invited Adkins to join the hallowed institution in 2003 when he climbed a stepladder to ask the infamous question eye-to-eye with the towering singer. Ronnie Misap inducted Adkins later that year.

"For me, (being an Opry member)  means that I'm a better man than I would have been had I not been a member of the Grand Ole Opry because I take it very seriously," he said. "And I try to conduct myself every day, keeping in mind that I'm a member of the Grand Ole Opry and I represent this institution, and I don't want to do anything that might disrespect my family at the Grand Ole Opry. It probably kept me out of jail more times than I would have gone."

Adkins closed his set with the title track from his latest album, "The Way I Wanna Go," while a montage of photos from the past two decades of Opry moments were shown on the signature barn.

"By the way, I'll just say this while I have the microphone in my hand: if I have to apologize for it I will," Adkins added. "I think Jason Crabb and Exile ought to be members of The Grand Ole Opry. I think it's a shame that they're not. If you've got a problem with that, fire me. I'm starting a campaign, and I ain't going to rest until they're members of the Grand Ole Opry. Thank you all for coming out and sharing this evening with us. We love you!"