The Country Music Hall of Fame was created in 1961, by the
Country Music Association. This is the highest honor in the country
music industry, and recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the
country music industry throughout their careers.
The first Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened in 1967 and operated until 2000. The new building located in downtown
Nashville, Tennessee opened it's doors in May, 2001.
The first members to be elected were Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose and Hank Williams. Roy Acuff was next to join this elite group in 1962, followed by Tex Ritter in 1962 and Ernest Tubb in 1964. 1966 was a good year for new members including; Eddy Arnold, James R. Denny, and Uncle Dave Macon. In 1967 Red Foley, J.L. Frank, Jim Reeves, and Stephen H. Sholes all received the award. Bob Wills in 1968, and Gene Autry in 1969 were the last two recipents of this honor in the 1960's. There were 14 new members added in the 1970's including: Chet Atkins, Patsy Cline, Jimmie Davis, Merle Travis, The Carter Family, and Bill Monroe.
The 1980's saw 20 new inductess including; Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Roy Rogers, and Loretta Lynn. Of the 21 new members in the 1990's some of the most include; Tennessee Ernie F Ford, Buck Owens, George Jones, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Elvis Presley. Since 2000, there have been 16 new members notably; Charley Pride, The Everly Brothers, Waylon Jennings, The Louvin Brothers and Porter Wagoner.
Being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame is of course an achievement of a lifetime for all it's members.
Complete listing by year of induction:
- 1961
- Jimmie Rodgers aka "America's Blue Yodeler"
- Fred Rose
- Hank Williams Sr. - first hit "Move It On Over"
- 1962
- Roy Acuff - aka "The King of Country Music"
- 1964
- Tex Ritter - aka "America's most beloved cowboy"
- 1965
- Ernest Tubb - aka "The Texas Troubadour"
- 1966
- Eddy Arnold - aka "The Tennessee Plowboy"
- James R. Denny
- George D. Hay
- Uncle Dave Macon
- 1967
- Red Foley- aka “Ramblin' Red Foley”
- J.L. Frank
- Jim Reeves - aka "Gentleman Jim"
- Stephen H. Sholes
- 1968
- Bob Wills
- 1969
- Gene Autry - aka "America's Favorite Cowboy"
- 1970
- Bill Monroe - aka "The Father of Bluegrass"
- Orignal Carter Family
- 1971
- Arthur Edward Satherley - aka "Uncle Art"
- 1972
- Jimmie H. Davis- biggest hit "You Are My Sunshine."
- 1973
- Chet Atkins - known as ""The man who saved country music"
- Patsy Cline
- 1974
- Owen Bradley
- Franke "Pee Wee" King
- 1975
- Minnie Pearl- aka "Ms. Pearl"
- 1976
- Kitty Wells- aka "The Queen of Country Music"
- Paul Cohen
- 1977
- Merle Travis- best known song "Sixteen Tons"
- 1978
- Grandpa Jones
- 1979
- Hubert Long
- Hank Snow- aka "The Singing Ranger"
- 1980
- Connie B. Gay
- Original Sons of the Pioneers
- Johnny Cash- aka "The Man in Black"
- 1981
- Vernon Dalhart
- Grant Turner
- 1982
- Lefty Frizzell
- Marty Robbins best known song "El Paso"
- Roy Horton aka "The Singing Fisherman"
- 1983
- Little Jimmy Dickens
- 1984
- Floyd Tillman
- 1985
- Lester Flat & Earl Scruggs
- 1986
- Wesley H. Rose
- Whitey Ford- aka "The Duke Of Paducah"
- 1987
- Rod Brasfield
- 1988
- Roy Rogers- aka "King of the Cowboys"
- Loretta Lynn- aka "The Coal Miner's Daughter"
- 1989
- Cliffie Stone
- Hank Thompson
- Jack Strapp
- 1990
- Tennessee Ernie Ford
- 1991
- Felice and Boudleaux Bryant
- 1992
- Frances Williams Preston
- George Jones
- 1993
- Willie Nelson
- 1994
- Merle Haggard- aka "The common man's poet"
- 1995
- Jo Walker-Meador
- Roger Miller
- 1996
- Patsy Montana
- Buck Owens
- Ray Price
- 1997
- Harlan Howard
- Brenda Lee
- Cindy Walker
- 1998
- George Morgan
- Elvis Presley
- E.W. "Bud" Wendell
- Tammy Wynette
- 1999
- Johnny Bond
- Dolly Parton
- Conway Twitty
- 2000
- Charley Pride
- Faron Young
- 2001
- Bill Anderson
- The Delmore Brothers
- The Everly Brothers
- Don Gibson
- Homer & Jethro
- Waylon Jennings
- The Jordanaires
- Don Law
- The Louvin Brothers
- Ken Nelson
- Webb Pierce
- Sam Phillips
- 2002
- Bill Carlisle
- Porter Wagoner
source: http://www.halloffame.org/hall/hist/