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/

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