Country Music Hall of Fame -- Who Belongs?
This is an interesting choice of inductees for the Country Music Hall of Fame: Ralph Emery in the non-performer category, Mel Tillis in the World War II to 1975 category, and Vince Gill in the 1975 to present category. All three are very deserving. But -– and this happens every year no matter who is announced as new inductees -– there will be a lot of carping about who all did not get in to the Hall. There are a heck of a lot of people who belong in the Hall of Fame and who may never make it.
Each year, an anonymous Country Music Association committee selects nominees and then the CMA membership votes to determine who will be elected. These three will expand the total members in the Hall to 101 people. That covers almost a hundred years of country music. So there are a lot of people left by the wayside. Who is your favorite non-member of the Hall of Fame who should be a member? You can see the current list on the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Web site.
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OutlawSteph says:
CLASSIC ERA: The Stanley Brothers, Jim and Jesse McReynolds
MODERN: Chris Hillman and the Desert Rose Band
-Stephanie
Linda says:
I don’t see how the CMA can justify inducting acts like Vince Gill when Hank Jr. is still not in. Doesn’t he qualify in both the classic and moderan eras as he’s been around since 1964?
Thomas says:
I still find it stunning (and wrote about it here) that Kenny Rogers is still on the outside of the Hall of Fame, looking in. And how is Ronnie Milsap yet to be inducted as well? The fact that these two giants of country aren’t yet in the HOF is absurd.
Paul W Dennis says:
Here’s the order in which new inductees SHOULD make it into the CMHOF (regardless of the artificial CMHOF categories)
01) Connie Smith - the best female singer ever
02) Jean Shepard
03) Tom T. Hall
04) The Statler Brothers
05) Emmylou Harris
06) Ronnie Milsap
07) Mac Wiseman
08) Dallas Frazier - probably the greatest songwriter not named Merle Haggard or Harlon Howard
09) Hank Williams Jr
10) Tanya Tucker
11) Reba
12) The Oak Ridge Boys
13) Barbara Mandrell
14) Don Williams
15) Wynn Stewart
16) Jerry Reed
17) The Osborne Brothers
18) Robert K, Oermann
19) Rodney Crowell
20) Ray Stevens
21) Jack Greene
22) Jerry Clower
23) Wanda Jackson
24) Stonewall Jackson
25) The Bellamy Brothers
26) Jerry Lee Lewis
27) Crystal Gayle
28) Kenny Rogers
29) Mickey Gilley
30) Randy Travis
31) Clint Black
32) Garth Brooks
33) Alan Jackson
Sugar says:
Congratulations to Vince Gill. He is deserving, it is his time now. Hopefully many of the other country greats listed above will have their day as well.
Linda says:
If they live long enough.
don says:
I don’t understand why they inducted someone like Vince Gill when you have someone like Jerry Reed who has done it all. He is a singer a song writer an actor a comedien and the second best guitar player ever[right after Chet].
tim leboeuf says:
i think it’s great these artist are being honored this year. but i wish the cma’s would recognize another artist who has great influenced a lot of people . chuck berry has influenced more people including country artist from around the world, he is in his 80’s now and it would be awesome for his carrer to be acknowledged on the cma’s and maybe even a tribute to him. thanks.
Lee says:
Vince Gill has done a lot for country music, much more than Hank Williams, Jr. I personally cannot see Chuck Berry in the HOF for country music. He was not a country singer. There are many great people who should have been and are not in the HOF. Remember you can’t put everyone in and there will always be your favorite who should have been there and weren’t, that is life.
Mel Tillis, Vince Gill, And Ralph Emery To Be Enshrined At The Hall — The 9513 says:
[...] Chet Flippo asks who among your favorites is not a member of the CMHOF, but should be? Paul W. Dennis wasn’t shy and listed thirty-three and even put them in the order that they should be inducted. [...]
Norma Noone says:
Congratulations, Vince! I have watched your career with the interest of a zealot since 1990 and am sighing with relief to know that the kind of monster regognition you deserve is finally yours. You have embraced music, living with it in the writing, playing, production and singing of the best body of work this sixty-year old music lover has ever experienced. Your most recent 4-CD set, “These Days” has won huge applause of music lovers across genre lines and proves your career is still in full swing! You have managed to set yourself apart in countless ways outside of the industry as well with an extrordinary, quiet, charitable, sense of you responsibility as a human being. I’m sounding much too serious here, to be talking about the guy that stands on a stage like standing in a livingroom and intersperses jaw-dropping musical moments with side-splitting story-telling. Bravo, Vince! None will be more proud than I to watch with millions as you are acknowledged as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Adam says:
Lee, you have no idea what you’re talking about. Off the top of my head I know Hank Williams Jr. has the following honors: 5 time Entertainer of the year, 4 Emmys, 1 Grammy, Charted Music in the last 5 Decades, Countless Video/Song/Song writing awards. He is far more qualified to be in the HOF than Vince Gill. The primary distinction is that Vince has always been a Nashville poster boy. He has always done exactly what the establishment wanted. Ever wonder why Hank Williams Jr. isn’t in the Grand Ole Opry? Come on, they take anyone that has marginal success. Research that one. Hank Williams Sr. was largely ignored by the Nashville Establishment in his final days, and he was even kicked out of the Opry. Hank Jr. has never gave a damn about pleasing the ACM, CMA, or the Opry. He clearly deserves to be in the HOF, and they are going to stick it to him as long as they can for not their poster boy image. Anyone who disagrees should do some research.
Paul W. says:
There are always going to be arguments about this one. Personal choices, and I ‘d like to think they’re genuinely deserving rather than merely being favourite acts as is often the case on lists like this: Charlie Poole, Fiddlin’ John Carson, carson Robison, the Blue Sky Boys (Bill Bolick will be 90 this year), the Stanley Brothers, Jean Shepard, the Statlers, Ray Charles, Emmylou, Hank Jr, Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, Charles K. Wolfe.
Levi H. says:
Hank jr is the best that there is you just can’t beat him.Everyone loves him and he is country music he sets the example for everyone in country music.
Should also think about Kid Rock he is one of the best too.
Laura says:
Can I add Roy Clark, Tom T. Hall, Charlie Rich, the Stanley Brothers, the Statler Brothers to the lists above? I agree with the other lists, by the way…
The Country Music Hall of Fame’s process for inducting people is convoluted and very closed!
I have been trying very hard to get Jerry Lee Lewis’ name put in as an inductee before his 60th Anniversary of performing in the Fall of 2009.
I am appalled that all of these wonderful entertainers have NOT been inducted! This is a travesty.
I fear that Hank Jr. is going to be blacklisted just as Charlie Rich and Jerry Lee have been blacklisted.
I just keep looking over the longer list that Paul Dennis left up above me and I keep shaking my head…
Unbelievable. Just UNBELIEVABLE!
jon says:
Vince Gill? C’mon, the guy is a great guitarist and performer and all, but I agree with the previous comment by Laura, putting him over Jerry Reed?!! In his prime, Jerry Reed was THE hottest guitar player on the planet, and I’m sure Vince would freely admit that Jerry could have blown his socks off. He used to rip Glen Campbell to shreds on Glen’s own tv show! Singer, songwriter, guitarist, had his own tv show, and movie star…Jerry and his roles and theme song in Smokey and the Bandit put country on the map! This is a travesty!!!!
Terry Wilgus says:
I have heard that the CMA Award show will not include the latest inductees to the Country Music Hall of Fame because they do not feel they can spare the time on national network to honor these newest members to the Country Music Hall of Fame. This is wrong. If we cannot spare the time to honor the people who paved the way for today’s artists, then we need to eliminate some of the newer stars’ performance time.
Remember when Alan Jackson protested the CMA Awards show asking George Jones to only sing a chorus of his song Choices? Remember what he did? He changed his own song to George’s song…and then walked off the stage and out of the building. I challenge the stars who have time on the show this year to band together and follow Alan’s actions ….protest this travesty, and show that you are real Country Music Fans, not just in it for the fame and fortune.
Russ says:
I cannot believe that Vince Gill is going to be inducted into the HOF at this time,maybe in 10 to 15 years.Where is:
Connie Smith
Jimmy Dean
Hank JR.
Charlie Daniels
John Anderson
Tom T. Hall
Statler Brothers
Johnny Paycheck
Jean Shephard
Bruce says:
I think that Billy Walker should be in, along with Jim Ed Brown and Justin Tubb. there are several sidemen that I can think of: Harold Morrison, Weldon Myrick, Don Helms and Buddy Charleton. It is joke that the Statler brothers are not in. the Wilburn Brothers and Osborne Brothers should be in as well.
Jeremy says:
Jerry Reed!! How is he not in the Hall of Fame? He is/was a triple threat: writer, singer, and guitar player (he wrote and played for Elvis for goodness sakes). Give the man his due, no one else does! None of those guitar magazines ever recognize him and that is a sin!
The others most deserving; Hank Jr. Charlie Daniels, Statler Bros., Kenny Rogers, Tanya Tucker, Connie Smith, Emmylou Harris, Alan Jackson, and Reba
Laura says:
I agree with some of the other posts. Hank Williams, Jr. should most definitely be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. I think it’s disgraceful how so many have been left behind, especially those who have been around for a long time, and new singers who are not as talented and not ‘country’ enough have been inducted.
joey says:
I recently was at The Hall of Fame Museum and I guess giving Wayoln his honor only after he was not long to this world should have taught us something. Oh the board probably believes justice is done because Hank Jr.’s name is enscribed on Waylons plaque. It is not! Hank Jr. next to Waylon did more for outlaw music his way, and should be recognized. At least in his lifetime!!!
Alisa Beatty says:
I want to add my voice to the cry for the Statler Brothers to be in the Hall of Fame. It’s incredible to me that Vince Gil (who I adore) got in before them or Tom T. Hall, Ronnie Milsap, Randy Travis, etc.
Hannah and Lola says:
We think that Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood should be in the Country Music Hall of Fame. because they are both young and very talented. Our favorite songs from Carrie Underwood are: before he cheats, jesus take the wheel, so small, and the more boys i meet. for taylor swift it is, tim mcgraw, teardrops on my guitar, our song, mary’s song (oh my my my), should’ve said no, and of course the outside.
Bruce says:
I see that they are going to announce on February 12 the 2008 inductees into Country Music Hall Of Fame. It should be interesting to see who gets in.
Cindy says:
Well, the Statler Brothers have finally been voted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Long, long overdue if you ask me!!
John says:
The Statler Brothers. The most awarded act in the history of “Country Music.” It’s about damn time!!!! Total respect to “Classic Country”. So called “new country artists” should show more respect to their elders. If it wasn’t for them, they wouldn’t have their cookie cutter careers of today.
Duke says:
Hawkshaw Hawkins AND Cowboy Copas derserve to be there because they had 20 years carears and put out some great music and their carears have been over shadowed by the fact that Patsy Cline died with them!
Duke says:
Jan Howard should also be there she has a great voice and has had a long carear!
Randy Burns says:
Nobody is mentioning Ferlin Husky. How can he not be in the Hall of Fame?
For more than 20 years, Husky was revered not only for his recordings and live performances, but his contributions in bringing country music to audiences that just didn’t listen to country music. He was a fixture on TV and the big screen. I just don’t understand. Why is he not in there?
Donald Sullivan says:
Al Dexter and Ted Daffan are two names that are glaringly absent from the Hall of Fame. Both were “honky tonk” type country singers/songwriters. Both were giants in their day (1940s-1950s) with songs that topped the charts in ALL fields of music. Just to name a couple, Dexter’s “Pistol Packin’ Mama” and Daffan’s “Born to Lose.”
Both should have been inducted years ago.
Wilford says:
Thank God Tom T Hall has been finally inducted and Emmylou Harris too
Now what about Jack Greene and Jim Ed Brown?
These legends are not going to be here forever…there is always time to put in one of today’s superstars, but time is running out for the greats from the past.
Like Johnny Russell and countless others.
What about Gram Parsons? Without Gram, there would be no Emmylou or 100s of other acts
Then see to it Rodney Crowell someday makes it
And why isn’t Harry Chapin in the rock and roll hall of fame, just for his charity work alone before he tragically died? Without Harry, Kenny Rogers would not have embarked on some of the same charity work later on.
Donald Sullivan says:
It’s said that a star must be associated with the Grand Ole Opry to be inducted, and maybe there’s something to that. Hank Williams was ignored by the “good ol’ boys” in Nashville until he got to be the biggest sensation of all time, too big to ignore.
Ferlin Husky, Al dexter, and Ted Daffan are mentioned above, and none are associated with The Grand Ole Opry. I’d be curious to know how many other stars mentioned above were not inducted because they didn’t kow tow to the good ol’ boy network in Nashville.
Lou Rouviere says:
Nashville is not country anymore its all about the money and who has the cutest ass and catchy little tune of no value………….David Allan Coe along with a host of others will not be inducted because they are real country, not plastic pop that gets fed to the pukers like pablum! Reinstate Hank Sr for starters and then work on the rest ……..IF YOU GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO DO THE RIGHT THING!
Donald Sullivan says:
The Duke of Paducah and Rod Brassfield were regular comedians on The Grand Ole Opry, not musicians. Both are in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Elvis was Rock and Brenda Lee was pop, yet both were inducted. (Both sang some country, but so did many other pop singers.)
There are others who don’t belong there, while a long list of greats continue to be ignored.
Lou Rouviere is right. They used to call it “hillbilly music,” but got too uppity for such a hick sounding name for the highly orchestrated music of today.
As far as I know, bluegrass remains true country hillbilly.
David B. says:
My votes in 2009 go for Jean Shepard, Ferlin Husky, Hank Williams, Jr. and Archie Campbell.
Jean Shepard was before Patsy, Loretta, Tammy, Dolly…etc… so really wasen’t she one of their influences?
Ferlin was during the classic erea of Faron Young, Don Gibson, Carl Smith, Ray Price, Jim Reeves…etc..(all of whom are Hall of Famers..) and his hits and influence was just as BIG
Hank, Jr. I agree is long overdue. He ruled the 80’s and help Country alive during that decade and brought a new fans to Country as well
There has not been a comedian go into the Hall since 1987. Who did we watch ever Saturday night for years on Hee Haw? Or hear on the opry for years? Archie Campbell that who…..he’s overdue..
I personally will not watch the CMA awards anymore because they have took the “highlight” of the night (Hall of Fame inductions) and pushed it into a “let’s get it over with” segment….it’s sick…
andrew fuller says:
I totally agree with the fact that HANK JR should be in next years (2009) induction to the Hall Of Fame. It is a shame that he isn’t already inducted. The Oak Ridge Boys are another group that is long overdue. For the “since 1975″ new catagory, John Anderson would be a natural fit for HOF induction, as well as Randy Travis. Other soon to be hopefuls for the HOF include: Bobby Bare, Jean Shepard, Roy Clark, Johnny Paycheck and the list goes on.
Jay Boyle says:
Who should be in the Country Music Hall of Fame that isn’t:
Many of the names listed in the above posts are worthy names, but how about these two men?
1. Johnny Horton. The Singing Fisherman’s honky tonk sound helped influence many of today’s stars, and his hit song “The Battle of New Orleans” was a country-pop crossover in 1959. Sadly, he was killed in a car crash at the height of his career in 1960.
2. Freddie Hart. The only man to have ever had a song (Easy Loving) be the Song of the Year in two consecutive years (1971 and 1972), a feat that will probably never be equalled. He had other hits as well, and was an excellent songwriter, an example being “Skid Row Joe” by Porter Wagoner.
Jerome Robideau says:
Hank Jr deserves to be in the hall of fame hands down.He’s done more for Country Music industry and inspired lots of top singers we listen to now{Alan Jackson,Kenny Chesney,Trace Adkins} to name a few.lets give him the recognition and be able to be by his dads side in the Hall of Fame.
Jerome Robideau says:
Vince Gill ahead of stars like Charlie Daniels,Hank Jr,Don Williams???????????? These are icons Jerry Redd deserves it more,Statler brothers all these people deserve it and should be inducted into hof.Vince Gill good singer but Hank Jr has inspired lots of big stars .
Kelly says:
With 40 #1 hits how is Ronnie Milsap not in the Country Music hall of fame????
Jim says:
I canot believe that HOF in country music are over looking some of the greatest performers and some who have really lived up to the country music tradition’s. I really have a hard time understanding that numbers of how many are in the HOF. If they deserve it why not put two in at a time or even three to catch up for deserving ones. It just blows my mind how much rubbing elbows with the brass bs plays in getting the honor to bestowed to the deserving artist. Listen to your listners for once!!!
jerry w. says:
i fail to understand why johnny horton is not in the hall of fame. the songs that he had like the battle of new orleans, sink the bismark, north to alaska, and many others were big hits in the late 50’s and early 60’s. his talent for writing and singing seems to be more than some who have made it. what wrong with these people who vote? also don’t forget other people like connie smith and jean shepard.
Bruce says:
They are going make their announcement on February 4. I am hoping that Jean Shepard, Connie Smith Or Jim Ed Brown get in. The Wilburn Brothers would not be a bad choice either. All of the above would be in pre 1975 category. For the post 1975 category, I would like to see Randy Travis or Alan Jackson. As far as sideman musician, I would like to see either Don Rich or Bashful Brother Oswald.
Don says:
I personally think John Denver and Keith Whitley belong in the Hall Of Fame.
Don says:
What about Red Sovine? He should be there.
Bruce says:
Roy Clark, Barbara Mandrell and Charlie McCoy are the 2009 inductees. I knew that Barbara and Roy both had a chance to be elected.I had not thought about Charlie McCoy. That being said, I do not have a problem with any of the selections.
Joe Newland says:
were is johnny horton
samuel smith says:
Emmy Lou Harris get in the Hall Of Fame before Jean Shepard? As does Barbara Mandrell? I’m not saying the contributions of those two performers are not worthy; I am saying Jean Shepard should have been voted in by at least 1985-1990. Her omission is absurd and in fact, shameful.
The Advocate says:
I agree with you all but what about “The Voice” Vern Gosdin, I believe he belongs in the country music hall of fame also.
The Advocate says:
What about the “The Voice” Vern Gosdin?
George Clark says:
Ronnie Milsap - Look at his hits he has had. Very deserving
JERRY says:
How in the world is Hank Jr. not in? I guess this is what happens when you wont kiss the nashville brasses backside
John F. Idol says:
These need to go in. The Wilburn brothers, George Hamilton 4th and Ronnie Milsap. They have been successful in country music longterm..