The biggest artists in the Country Music Hall of Fame
Take a look at the stars who will go down in country music history
Election to the Country Music Hall of Fame is one of country music's highest honours. The Country Music Association (CMA) created the accolade to recognise significant contributions to the advancement of country music by individuals in both the creative and business communities. New members are elected annually by a panel of industry executives chosen by the CMA.
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum exists to preserve, celebrate, and share the important cultural heritage that is country music - with any visit to Nashville not complete without checking out the extensive exhibits on display. Check out some of the biggest names to join the honorary list through the years below.
The biggest artists inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame
Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline's career may have been cut short due to her tragic death at age 30, in 1963, but she remains the most popular female country singer in recording history. Cline's hit 'Crazy', penned by Willie Nelson, is the Number 1 jukebox hit of all time. Now a country music icon, her unique and impeccable vocal talent set the standard for country singers and inspired a generation of women including Loretta Lynn, Linda Ronstadt and Wynonna Judd.
Charley Pride
As one of country music's first Black superstars, Charley Pride's baritone captivated audiences and broke racial and cultural barriers. Pride's commercial success was primarily from the 1960s through to the 1980s, but his impact on country music is timeless. The 2020 recipient of the CMA's Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, Pride has inspired countless performers, showing that country music can be loved and performed by anyone, regardless of their skin colour. Sadly, in that same year, Charley sadly passed away aged 86.
Tammy Wynette
Tammy Wynette, alongside Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn, dominated the country music charts in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Wynette's music dealt with the difficulties of working women, raising children, and domestic life. The line between professional and personal blurred in her work, leaving a legacy of graceful style and country-grit.
Elvis Presley
He may be the King of Rock & Roll, but Elvis Presley was raised on country and gospel. Throughout his music, from his early beginnings touring with Johnny Cash and June Carter, to his superstardom, his country roots can be found in his records. One of the most influential performers of all time, his life and career have gone down in history.
Johnny Cash
'The Man in Black' overcame hardship and personal demons to reach superstar status in the late 1960s and continued to record - and be commercially successful - until his passing in 2003. One of the most recognisable country artists, his extensive discography burst the door to country music worldwide, and his raw honesty has impacted millions of music lovers.
Garth Brooks
When it comes to a once in a generation performer, Garth Brooks is the blueprint. His entertainer status, record breaking album sales and immense popularity, was integral in the golden era of 90s country. While others stuck to a neo-traditional sound, Garth Brooks embraced all influences and created concerts that rivalled the biggest pop and rock artists.
Hank Williams
The legend of Hank Williams is beyond what most artists with a short career and tragic ending can hope for. Half a century later, Williams is still referenced and revered in country music. He set the bar impossibly high for modern country songwriters, and wrote some of the best country songs around.
Reba McEntire
The most successful female artist of her generation - and most of the others, too - Reba McEntire is a country music treasure. Cited as an influence by almost every female country artist to follow in her wake, her songs embody the beauty of story telling, and the blend of genres that came together for country music's inception. With more than fifty Top 10 singles and more Number 1 country albums than any other female artist and the prestigious Kennedy Centre Honours for her lifetime of contributions to American culture, there's no one like Reba.
Loretta Lynn
When it comes to origin stories, it doesn't get more country than Loretta Lynn. Born in a one room cabin in the coal-mining hills of Kentucky, married at age thirteen and a mother of four by eighteen, she went on to become one of the most influential country music artists of all time. Not only did she break down barriers and paved the way for every female singer who followed in her footsteps, but she gave a voice to women in her songwriting. By speaking her truth with her unique voice and perspective, she will go down in history as one of the most powerful Southern storytellers.
Vince Gill
Equal parts talented musician and incredible vocalist, Vince Gill is one of the most critically acclaimed country music artists of all time. Having sold more than 26 million albums, his music has won the hearts of every true country music fan - including the late greats, Merle Haggard and John Prine. High praise, indeed. Having been a member of Western swing group the Time Jumpers for 10 years, from 2010, Vince later joined the legendary rock band Eagles in 2017.
Merle Haggard
With the exception of Hank Williams, Merle Haggard is arguably the most influential singer-songwriter in country music history. The California cowboy was a key figure in the Outlaw movement, alongside Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. His work often reflected his complicated life – his problems with the law, five marriages, six children and the complexities a life in the music business yielded. Merle was as country as country gets, proving you don't have to be from the South to be an icon in this genre.
Kenny Rogers
During his lengthy career, Kenny Rogers sold over 50 million albums in the United States alone. His duet with Dolly Parton, 'Islands In The Stream', is one of the most well known and beloved songs, and his versatility between genres meant that he may not be the first name you think of when you think of country music legends, but he certainly deserves his place in the hall of fame.
Emmylou Harris
14-time Grammy Award winner Emmylou Harris has enjoyed an impressive 50-year career as a leading figure in country music. She easily could have ventured into the folk and rock scene of the 60s and 70s, the heartache and loss she endured early in her career, seemingly helped her create the raw ballads that define country music. Not to mention that her Trio work with musical giants Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt was arguably one of the most important country collaborations.
George Strait
According to Eric Church: 'Any song sung by George Strait is country at its best', and nobody will argue with that. Dubbed 'The King of Country', the Texan cowboy has become synonymous with 'real country'. While blending genre lines has given us some of the genres most successful hits, Strait kept it country - and it paid off. One of the most successful artists of all time - regardless of genre - Strait's power comes from western swing, honky-tonk traditions and songs that will stick with you for a lifetime.
Alan Jackson
As a songwriter, recording artist, and performer, Alan Jackson brought traditional country music into the 21st century.​ A three-time Country Music Association (CMA) Entertainer of the Year and a Grand Ole Opry member since 1991, has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide and released 26 Billboard Number 1 country singles.
The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers were one of the most successful acts in popular music between 1957 and 1962 - with only Elvis Presley and Pat Boone having outsold them. Don and Phil Everly were the first consistently successful rock & roll act to come from Nashville. Together, they extended Nashville's sense of what was commercially possible. They took the country brother duet a step beyond their predecessors but the core of their sound remained country brother harmony.
Glen Campbell
A gifted singer and accomplished guitarist, Glen Campbell became an international superstar with a string of pop and country hits released in the 1960s and 1970s. At his peak, Campbell hosted The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, a CBS-TV musical variety show, from 1968 to 1972. He also starred in several feature films, including True Grit (1969) with John Wayne.
Dolly Parton
What would country music be without Dolly Parton? One shudders to think. The genre's biggest star came from humble beginnings in the Tennessee mountains, and has stayed true to her roots ever since. A pioneer for women in country music, Dolly Parton has done it all. From the cover of Playboy magazine to funding a COVID-19 Vaccine, starring in Hollywood movies and having her own theme park, Dolly Parton IS country music. Her songwriting defies logic by being of the highest quality, and existing in the thousands. She wrote 'Jolene' and 'I Will Always Love You' on the same day - and if that's not legendary talent, who knows what is.
Willie Nelson
Singer-songwriter Willie Nelson is synonymous with "outlaw country". After doing away with the music industry conservatism of Nashville in the 1960s and 70s, he has gone on to write some of the most popular and memorable country songs of all time. Adding to his already impressive list of achievements, Nelson joined forces with Johnny Cash, Jennings and Kristofferson to form the country supergroup the Highwaymen.
The Carter Family
And who can forget The Carter Family - A. P. Carter, Sara Dougherty Carter and Maybelle Addington Carter. Engraved into the Country Music Hall of Fame itself are the words: Will The Circle Be Unbroken? Popularised by the Carter Family, the song has become almost a slogan for country music. If you trace country music's lineage, it comes back to Maybelle, Sara and AP all those years ago. Country music's first band, they took old gospel hymns and hill songs and helped craft the genre we know and love today.
The Judds
Inducted into the honourable Country Music Hall of Fame in 2023 were none other than 'Mama He's Crazy' legends The Judds - comprising of Wynonna and Naomi Judd. The mother-daughter duo achieved worldwide fame with huge hits such as 'Why Not Me', 'Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Old Days)' and 'Young Love (Strong Love)', with their six studio albums making them one of the most successful acts in country music history. From signing their first recording contract with RCA Nashville in 1983, the duo won five Grammy Awards for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, as well as nine Country Music Association awards over their years, before the sad passing of Naomi Judd in April 2022 - just one day before their Country Music Hall of Fame induction. Following her mother's death, Wynonna rescheduled their 'Final Tour', and continuing under the name The Judds, she toured with artists such as with Martina McBride, Kelsea Ballerini, Ashley McBryde, Faith Hill, Brandi Carlile, Little Big Town, and Trisha Yearwood.
Tanya Tucker
Another 2023 inductee was Tanya Tucker 'Delta Dawn' icon Tanya Tucker. Scoring her first Number 1 hit at just 13 years old in 1972, it's no surprise Tanya went on to become one of the biggest country singers of all time - providing us with countless more hits, including the likes of 'Romeo' with Billy Ray Cyrus, 'What's Your Mama's Name?' and 'Mustang Ridge'. Receiving her first Grammy Award in 2020, having countless CMA Award nominations, and with her latest album release, 'Sweet Western Sound', being in 2023 - the critically acclaimed collaboration with Brandi Carlile - it's fair to say her subsequent induction to the honorary list was highly-anticipated and much deserved.
Toby Keith
Serving as one of the most recent inductees, joining the esteemed Country Music Hall of Fame in 2024, is Toby Keith - famed for huge country hits such as 'As Good As I Once Was', 'Should've Been a Cowboy' and his collaboration with The Doobie Brothers 'Long Train Runnin'. From his 1999 breakthrough track 'How Do You Like Me Now?!', Toby enjoyed an incredible career, with saw numerous 4x Platinum albums, with worldwide sales of over 40 million, countless Number 1s and multiple award nominations and wins, before his tragic passing in February 2024. Toby's memory lives on in the world of country music, with fans all over the world continuing to enjoy the offerings of his 19 studio albums, two Christmas albums and five compilation albums.
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