2019 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductees

Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame will welcome its new members during its 49 anniversary gala at the Music City Center on October 14, 2019. 6 new members will join the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame this month.

The 2019 Inductees

1. Larry Gatlin

Larry Gaitlin is an American Country Southern gospel singer and songwriter. He performed 33 top-40 singles including those he recorded with his brothers. Born in Seminole in Gaines County, Texas, he was reared listening to country and Southern Gospel.

Larry was discovered by Dotie West when he was with the Imperials. He is best known for his songs “Broken Lady”, “All The Gold In California,” “Statues Without Hearts” and “Broken Lady.”

2. Dwight Yoakam

Dwight was born on October 23, 1956, in Pikeville, Kentucky but was raised in Columbus, Ohio. He moved to Los Angeles when his career in Nashville was not marketable. He worked hard to bring his brand of honky-tonk music. It was when he met Pete Anderson, who helped him launch his debut album, that he made a breakthrough. Some of his notable songs are “Guitars, Cadillacs,” “Fast As You” and “You’re The One.”

3. Sharon Vaughn

She is a Stockholm based American musician, songwriter, and producer. The song “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys” by Waylon Jennings was her first success as a songwriter. Vaughn also wrote for other artists like Willie Nelson, The Oak Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Tanya Tucker, and Kenny Rogers. She also worked with Swedish and Scandinavian Idols, songwriters and artists including Jay Smith, Agnes, Mutt Lange, Tony Nilsson, Vendela, Anders Hanson, and Emilia. Her other notable songs are “Y’all Come Back Saloon” (The Oak Ridge Boys) and “Lonely Too Long” (Patty Loveless).

4. Rivers Rutherford

Rivers Rutherford was born on June 17, 1967, in Germantown, Tenessee. He has been writing country songs since the 1990s. He wrote many songs that topped the charts including “If You Ever Stop Loving Me” by Montgomery Gentry, “When I Get Where I’m Going” by Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton, “Real Good Man” by Tim McGraw, “Living in Fast Forward” by Kenny Chesney, “Ladies Love Country Boys” by Trace Adkins, and “These Are My People” by Rodney Atkins.

5. Kostas Lazarides

Kostas was born in Thessaloniki, Greece and immigrated to Billings, Montana when he was 7 years old.

Kostas was discovered by Tony Brown in the 1980s. He also released a self-titled album on First American Records that same year. Some of his songs are “Timber, I’m Falling in Love” by Patty Loveless, “Blame it on Your Heart” by Patty Loveless,” Ain’t That Lonely Yet” by  Dwight Yoakam.

6. Marcus Hummon

He was born in Washington, DC on December 28, 1960. He moved to Nashville and released the album All in a Good Time in 1995. Hummon‘s notable songs are “Cowboy Take Me Away” Dixie Chicks,” Born to Fly” Sarah Evans, “Bless the Broken Road” Rascal Flatts. He also wrote for other artists like Tim McGraw, Wynonna Judd, Alabama.

To the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductees, congratulations, may your music continue to play!

Watch Jesse Labelle perform in the 2018 Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Press Conference: