Revisiting the Country Music Hall of Fame’s History

The Country Music Hall of Fame, as we all know, is like a holy ground for all the country music legends we’ve come to love and adore. There, we commemorate some of their greatest moments in music history either through iconic items they’ve owned, albums they released or songs they sang that moved people in more ways than one. Launched way back in 1961, it was erected in a humble setting at the Tennessee State Museum.

As such, it has been every country musician’s dream to be featured within the walls of the prestigious Country Music Hall of Fame. Some of the very lucky artists who’ve achieved such a respected status include George Jones, Hank Williams, songwriter Bobby Braddock, and pianist Hargus “Pig” Robbins.

Each year, a new list of country artists are inducted each year into the museum. The selection for which artist to feature next is decided by an anonymous group of industry leaders, with the Country Music Hall of Fame itself having no vote over who gets to be chosen next. The latest singers inducted for 2017 include Alan Jackson, Jerry Reed, Don Schiltz, Loretta Lynn, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill.

Previous members inducted are listed below:

·        1961

Jimmie Rodgers

Hank Williams

Fred Rose

·        1962

Roy Acuff

·        1965

Ernest Tubb

·        1966

Eddy Arnold

Uncle Dave Macon

Jim Denny

George D. Hay

·        1967

Red Foley

Jim Reeves

Joseph Lee Frank

Stephen H. Sholes

·        1968

Bob Wills

·        1969

Gene Autry

·        1970

The Carter Family

Bill Monroe

·        1971

Arthur E. Satherley

·        1972

Jimmie Davis

• 1973

Patsy Cline

Chet Atkins

·        1974

Pee Wee King

Owen Bradley

·        1975

Minnie Pearl

·        1976

Kitty Wells

Paul Cohen

·        1977

Merle Travis

·        1978

Grandpa Jones

·        1979

Hank Snow

Hubert Long

·        1980

Johnny Cash

Connie B. Gay

Sons of the Pioneers

·        1981

Vernon Dalhart

Grant Turner

·        1982

Lefty Frizzell

Marty Robbins

Roy Horton

·        1983

Little Jimmy Dickens

·        1984

Floyd Tillman

Ralph S. Peer

·        1985

Flatt and Scruggs

·        1986

Wesley Rose

The Duke of Paducah

·        1987

Rod Brasfield

·        1988

Loretta Lynn

Roy Rogers

·        1989

Hank Thompson

Jack Stapp

Cliffie Stone

·        1990

Tennessee Ernie Ford

·        1991

Boudleaux and Felice Bryant

·        1992

George Jones

Frances Preston

·        1993

Willie Nelson

·        1994

Merle Haggard

·        1995

Roger Miller

Jo Walker-Meador – industry figure

·        1996

Buck Owens

Ray Price

Patsy Montana

·        1997

Brenda Lee

Harlan Howard

Cindy Walker

·        1998

Elvis Presley

Tammy Wynette

George Morgan

1. W. “Bud” Wendell

·        1999

Dolly Parton

Conway Twitty

Johnny Bond

·        2000

Charley Pride

Faron Young

·        2001

Waylon Jennings

The Louvin Brothers

Webb Pierce

Everly Brothers

Don Gibson

Sam Phillips

Delmore Brothers

Bill Anderson

Homer and Jethro – performers, radio personalities

Don Law – music exec and producer

Ken Nelson – producer

The Jordanaires

·        2002

Porter Wagoner

Bill Carlisle

·        2003

Floyd Cramer

Carl Smith

·        2004

Kris Kristofferson

Jim Foglesong

·        2005

Alabama

Glen Campbell

DeFord Bailey

·        2006

George Strait

Harold Bradley

Sonny James

·        2007

Vince Gill

Ralph Emery

Mel Tillis

·        2008

Emmylou Harris

Tom T. Hall

The Statler Brothers

Ernest V. “Pop” Stoneman

·        2009

Roy Clark

Barbara Mandrell

Charlie McCoy – harmonica player, session musician

·        2010

Don Williams

Jimmy Dean

Ferlin Husky

Billy Sherrill – producer and music arranger

·        2011

Reba McEntire

Bobby Braddock

Jean Shepard – singer and personality

·        2012

Garth Brooks –

Connie Smith

Hargus “Pig” Robbins – piano player

·        2013

Bobby Bare

Kenny Rogers

Cowboy Jack Clement – songwriter and industry figure

·        2014

Hank Cockran

Ronnie Milsap

Mac Wiseman

·        2015

Jim Ed Brown and the Browns

Grady Martin

Oak Ridge Boys

·        2016

Charlie Daniels

Fred Foster

Randy Travis

In 2001, it was given a $37 million funding for renovations for providing over 10 years of service to the industry. The location for the new and improved Hall of fame and Museum for country music was just a few blocks away from Lower Broadway’s buskers and honkytonks and soon became a landmark in Nashville for its glitzy and standout piano-inspired architecture.

Which artist do you think will make it to the next list of inductees for the Country Music Hall of Fame?