 | CHARLEY PRIDE March 18, 1938
(elected 2000) The most successful African American Country artist. Had 29 No. 1 hits, including "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone," "All I Have to Offer You is Me" and "Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'." Won CMA Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year in 1971 and Male Vocalist again in 1972. |
 | FARON YOUNG Feb. 25, 1932 – Dec. 9, 1996
(elected 2000) A successful honky tonk artist who captivated audiences with his colorful personality from the 1950s through the '70s. Hits include "If You Ain't Lovin' (You Ain't Livin')," "Hello Walls" and "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young." |
 | BILL ANDERSON Nov. 1, 1937
(elected 2001) Singer-songwriter. Penned 37 Top 10 hits, including "Still," "Tip of My Fingers" and the 2005 and 2007 CMA Song of the Year for "Whiskey Lullaby" and "Give It Away," respectively. Nicknamed Whisperin' Bill for his singing style. Host of several TV shows as well as appearing for three years on ABC's "One Life to Live." |
 | THE DELMORE BROTHERS Alton Delmore, Dec. 25, 1908 – June 8, 1964
Rabon Delmore, Dec. 3, 1916 – Dec. 4, 1952
(elected 2001) One of the first and greatest brother duos in Country Music. Their recordings "Brown's Ferry Blues," "Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar" and "Blues Stay Away from Me" are standards. |
 | THE EVERLY BROTHERS Don Everly, Feb. 1, 1937
Phil Everly, Jan. 19, 1939
(elected 2001) One of the most successful acts in Country and pop with a string of hits including "Bye, Bye Love," "Wake Up Little Susie," "Cathy's Clown" and "All I Have to Do is Dream." The brothers are known for steel-string guitar playing and close harmony singers. |
 | DON GIBSON April 3, 1928 – Nov. 17, 2003
(elected 2001) Singer-songwriter. Released more than 80 charted records between 1956 and 1980. Penned "Sweet Dreams," "Oh Lonesome Me" and "I Can't Stop Loving You," which has been recorded by more than 700 singers. |
 | HOMER AND JETHRO Henry (Homer) Haynes, July 27, 1920 – Aug. 7, 1971
Kenneth (Jethro) Burns, March 10, 1920 – Feb. 4, 1989
(elected 2001) Known for song satires and dry comic delivery. Had huge hits with "Baby, It's Cold Outside," "Tennessee Border No. 2" and "The Battle of Kookamonga." |
| WAYLON JENNINGS June 15, 1937 – Feb. 13, 2002
(elected 2001) Part of the Country Music Outlaw movement. Played bass for Buddy Holly. The 1976 album Wanted: The Outlaws became the first Country album to be certified Platinum. Hits include "Good Hearted Woman" and "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" with Willie Nelson. Won four CMA Awards. |
 | THE JORDANAIRES Hoyt Hawkins, March 31, 1927 – Oct. 23, 1982
Neal Matthews, Jr., Oct. 26, 1929 – April 21, 2000
Gordon Stoker, Aug. 3, 1924
Ray Walker, March 16, 1934
(elected 2001) Arguably the most famous back-up singers in music history, fusing gospel, R&B and Country harmonies. Appeared on recordings for Patsy Cline, Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley and hundreds of others. |
 | DON LAW Feb. 24, 1902 – Dec. 20, 1982
(elected 2001) Producer and head of Columbia Records' Country division in the 1950s and '60s. Guided the careers of Johnny Cash, Lefty Frizzell, Johnny Horton, Ray Price, Carl Smith and more. |
 | THE LOUVIN BROTHERS Charlie Louvin, July 7, 1927
Ira Louvin, April 21, 1924 – June 20, 1965
(elected 2001) Started performing as a duo in 1942 and were a vastly influential harmony duet to other acts including Emmylou Harris and The Everly Brothers. Hits include "When I Stop Dreaming" and "Hoping That You're Hoping." |
 | KEN NELSON Jan. 19, 1911 – Jan. 6, 2008
(elected 2001) Producer and record executive. Helped construct the Bakersfield sound with Merle Haggard and Buck Owens. Molded the careers of Ferlin Husky, Jerry Reed, Jean Shepard and more as head of Capitol Records' A&R department. |
| SAM PHILLIPS Jan. 5, 1923 – July 30, 2003
(elected 2001) Founder of Sun Records. Signed and produced Johnny Cash,
B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley,
Charlie Rich and more. |
| WEBB PIERCE Aug. 8, 1921 – Feb. 24, 1991
(elected 2001) A mainstay on the Country charts in the 1950s. Hits include "That Heart Belongs to Me," "Back Street Affair," "Wondering" and "Slowly." Known in later years for his flashy style and guitar-shaped swimming pool. |
 | BILL CARLISLE Dec. 19, 1908 – March 17, 2003
(elected 2002) Singer, comedian, guitarist and songwriter. Known as "Jumpin' Bill" for his energetic performance style. Had hits with "Too Old to Cut the Mustard," "No Help Wanted" and "Knothole." |
 | PORTER WAGONER Aug. 12, 1927 – Oct. 28, 2007
(elected 2002) Known for his rhinestone-studded stage clothes. Hosted a TV variety show for more than 20 years. Hits include "Misery Loves Company," "The Carroll County Accident" and "Please Don't Stop Loving Me" with Dolly Parton; they won three Vocal Duo of the Year CMA Awards. |
 | FLOYD CRAMER Oct. 27, 1933 – Dec. 31, 1997
(elected 2003) A legendary pianist who popularized the slip-note technique.
Played on albums by Chet Atkins, Elvis Presley, Boots Randolph, Jim Reeves and others. Also had his own hit with the instrumental "Last Date." |
 | CARL SMITH March 15, 1927 – Jan. 16, 2010
(elected 2003) For each year between1952 and 1973, he had at least one record climbing the Country charts. "Are You Teasing Me," "It's a Lovely, Lovely World," "(When You Feel Like You're in Love) Don't Just Stand There" and "Hey Joe!" are among his hits. |
 | JIM FOGLESONG July 26, 1922
(elected 2004) Producer and record label executive who headed the Nashville offices of Dot Records, MCA Records and Capitol Records. He is credited with helping many acts get their start including Suzy Bogguss, Garth Brooks, Mel McDaniel and Tanya Tucker. |
 | KRIS KRISTOFFERSON June 22, 1936
(elected 2004) A prolific songwriter and actor. Penned hits "Me and Bobby McGee," "Help Me Make it Through the Night," "For the Good Times"and the 1970 CMA Song of the Year "Sunday Morning Coming Down." Has appeared in more than 50 feature films. |
 | ALABAMA Jeff Cook, Aug. 27, 1949
Teddy Gentry, Jan. 22, 1952
Mark Herndon, May 11, 1955
Randy Owen, Dec. 13, 1949
(elected 2005) More than 30 singles at the top of thecharts. Hits include "Song of the South," "Can't Keep a Good Man Down" and "Dixieland Delight." Won nine CMA Awards including three Entertainer of the Year trophies. |
 | DEFORD BAILEY Dec. 14, 1899 – July 2, 1982
(elected 2005) Grand Ole Opry performer. One of Country Music's first African American stars. Nicknamed The Harmonica Wizard for his instrumental prowess. |
 | GLEN CAMPBELL April 22, 1936
(elected 2005) A noted session guitarist before scoring his own hits and hosting the TV variety show "The Glen Campbell Good-Time Hour" for four seasons. Country and pop hits include "Gentle on My Mind," "By the Time I Get To Phoenix" and "Rhinestone Cowboy." Won Entertainer and Male Vocalist of the Year at the 1968 CMA Awards. |
 | HAROLD BRADLEY Jan. 2, 1926
(elected 2006) Musician who can be heard on many hits including Patsy Cline's "Crazy," and Roy Orbison's "Only the Lonely." Toured with Ernest Tubb and later produced Eddy Arnold. Built Nashville recording studio with his brother Owen in 1955. |
| SONNY JAMES May 1, 1929
(elected 2006) Guitarist and fiddler. Known as the Southern Gentleman, his gracious manners and genial personality endeared him to millions. Had a No.1 crossover hit "Young Love." Between 1953 and 1983, had 72 chart records including 16 consecutive No.1 hits such as "It's the Little Things" and "My Love." Hosted first CMA Awards with Bobbie Gentry. |
 | GEORGE STRAIT May 18, 1952
(elected 2006) One of Country's most influential and successful artists. Signed with MCA Nashvhille in 1981 and began a remarkable succession of more than 50 No. 1 hits including "Fool Hearted Memory" and "Write This Down." He's sold more than 60 million albums and starred in the 1999 film "Pure Country." Known as the King of Country Music with more than 20 CMA Awards. |
 | RALPH EMERY March 10, 1933
(elected 2007) Popular radio and TV broadcast personality. Career spans 50 years and includes stints at WSM-AM radio in Nashville, TV show "Pop! Goes the Country" and The Nashville Network's talk/variety show "Nashville Now." |
| VINCE GILL April 12, 1957
(elected 2007) One of the most awarded Country artists in the past two decades. Wrote and recorded hits including "When I Call Your Name," "Look at Us," "I Still Believe in You" and "Go Rest High on That Mountain." Has won 18 CMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year in 1993 and 1994. |
 | MEL TILLIS Aug. 8, 1932
(elected 2007) A gifted songwriter and entertainer known for his famous stutter. No. 1 hits include "I Ain't Never," "Good Woman Blues" and "Southern Rains." Also wrote hits for Bobby Bare, Webb Pierce and Kenny Rogers among others. Won CMA Entertainer of the Year Award in 1976. |
 | EMMYLOU HARRIS April 2, 1947
(elected 2008) Started as a folk singer in the '50s and hit it big in Country Music in the 1970s. Learning a new Country-rock sound from mentor Gram Parsons, she scored 27 Top 10 hits, including seven No. 1s, three CMA Awards and is frequently sought as a collaborator with artists from diverse musical genres. |
| THE STATLER BROTHERS Harold Reid, Aug. 21, 1939
Phil Balsley, Aug. 8, 1939
Lew DeWitt, March 8, 1938 – Aug. 15, 1990
Don Reid, June 5, 1945
Jimmy Fortune, March 11, 1955
(elected 2008) Built a more than 30-year career based on musical skills, showmanship, professionalism, and business acumen. No. 1 hits include "Bed of Rose's," "Elizabeth," "My Only Love" and "Too Much On My Heart." Record for most CMA Vocal Group of the Year Awards with nine. |
| TOM T. HALL May 25, 1936
(elected 2009) Dubbed "The Storyteller" by Tex Ritter. Along with a successful recording career that resulted in 11 No. 1 hits, wrote many hits for other Country artists, including "Harper Valley P.T.A." (Jeannie C. Riley), "P.S. I Love You" (Johnny Mercer) and "Little Bitty" (Alan Jackson). |
 | ERNEST V. "POP" STONEMAN May 25, 1893 – June 14, 1968
(elected 2009) Patriarch of the legendary Stoneman Family. First hit was "The Titanic" in 1925. Was the inspiration for the landmark "Bristol Sessions." After the Depression, formed a band featuring several of his children. The Stoneman Family won the 1967 CMA Vocal Group of the Year Award. |
 | ROY CLARK April 15, 1933
(elected 2009) Musician, actor and beloved TV host. An accomplished guitar, fiddle, and banjo player, but was better-known for 25-year stint on the TV series "Hee Haw." Won seven CMA Awards including 1973 Entertainer of the Year. |
 | BARBARA MANDRELL Dec. 25, 1948
(elected 2009) A consummate entertainer and multi-instrumentalist. Racked up huge hits, including "Sleeping Single In a Double Bed," "Crackers" and her signature, "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool." First artist to win CMA Entertainer of the Year in successive years ('80-'81). Also won two Female Vocalist of the Year Awards. |
 | CHARLIE McCOY March 28, 1941
(elected 2009) Harmonica virtuoso and respected session musician. Played on hundreds of familiar Country songs, including "Orange Blossom Special," "He Stopped Loving Her Today," "Take This Job and Shove It," "Delta Dawn" and many more. The two-time CMA Instrumentalist of the Year served as "Hee Haw" music director for 18 years. |