For years the Country Music Hall of Fame was caught in the position where many deserving performers had died off before their turn for induction arrived. This was mostly due to the Hall’s practice of electing only one new member per year (and in at least one year, electing no one).
By the time the Hall of Fame opened up in 1961 with the election of Hank Williams, Fred Rose and Jimmie Rodgers, there was already a significant backlog of deserving inductees. Roy Acuff was the first living inductee in 1962 and then, inexplicably, no one was elected in 1963. Tex Ritter was elected in 1965 followed by Ernest Tubb. In 1966 and 1967 there were multiple members selected, then back to one a year unless there was a tie in the voting. In the early years, election of a comedian, producer or executive meant that no singing star would be elected.
Finally, in 1996 the CMHOF started consciously electing three new inductees per year, using categories to sort the candidates. In 2001, an attempt was made to clean up the backlog with induction of ten acts, including the grotesquely overdue inductions of Webb Pierce and the Louvin Brothers.
At this point the backlog is largely cleared up so it is time to assess those in more current memory. Here is my take on who should be inducted, in order of precedence:
- Connie Smith
The genre’s best female singer ever. Period.
- Jean Shepard
A true pioneer among country females. Unlike Kitty Wells , who stepped back into the traditional role after her initial success, Jean Shepard never gave in. Her Dreams of An Old Love Affair was the first concept album ever, and she was the prototype for Loretta Lynn and other feisty purveyors of in-your-face defiance.
- Jimmy Dean
Known today for his breakfast sausages, but was a pioneering television personality who brought country music to the attention of national audiences through his CBS television series in 1957-1958 and his ABC television series from 1963-1966. Jimmy introduced many acts to the American public, including Rowlf the Muppet. Along the way, Dean had several major country hits, including “Big Bad John” and “PT 109,” both of which were also major pop hits.
- Barbara Mandrell
A leading performer and television personality and a top flight musician who could play virtually any instrument and play it well.
- Reba McEntire
What more needs to be said about Reba.
- Ronnie Milsap
I’m not a big Milsap fan but the breadth and depth of his catalog reveals a supremely gifted performer capable of handling any genre of music. Fortunately, he chose Country Music as his area of concentration.
- Dallas Frazier
Probably the greatest songwriter not named Merle Haggard or Harlan Howard. I would rate him above any of the other country songwriters living or dead and his catalog is full of huge pop, country and R&B hits. “Alley Oop” or “Elvira” anyone?
- Hank Williams, Jr.
Hank is overdue for induction. So talented a singer and performer is he that even if he had merely continued as a straight-ahead mainstream performer, he would be worthy of induction as his early singles such as “Eleven Roses,” “Divorce or Destroy,” “Pride’s Not Hard To Swallow” and “Standing In The Shadows” still hold up today.
- Tanya Tucker
Very few female performers have left a legacy of great music as deep as that of Tanya Tucker. I would rate Ms Tucker over either Mandrell or McEntire strictly on their musical catalog (Tanya’s best songs blow the best songs of Reba or Barbara out of the water) . Her early records were American Gothic’s last stand.
- Ray Stevens
Normally I would not advocate comedians for the CMHOF (I think Rod Brasfield and Duke of Paducah were horrible mistakes), but Ray Stevens is so much more than merely a comedian — record producer, song writer, session musician and major pop and country music star. Ray’s songs ranged from the merely funny to biting satire and social commentary.
- The Oak Ridge Boys
The mighty Oaks started out as a gospel group and a very fine one. Along the way they appeared on records by Paul Simon and Johnny Cash before making the transition to major country music stars. Starting in the middle of 1977, they ran off a string of hits that ran for a dozen years, including some of the most memorable songs of the period including “Elvira”, “Fancy Free” and “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight”. Twenty-one of their records made it to #1 on one or more of the major charts (Billboard, Cashbox, Record World).
They continue to perform to this day. They have largely returned to their gospel roots, but are still capable of making good secular music, even if modern country radio can’t be bothered to play it.
All of the artists named above are still alive, as I feel the time to honor someone is while they can still appreciate the honor. Wynn Stewart and Jerry Reed both belong in, as does Skeeter Davis, but since they are no longer here, the urgency is gone.
There are two journalists worthy of consideration: Chet Flippo and Robert K. Oermann. I could also make an argument for John Morthland.
A great case can be made for Mac Wiseman–maybe the best bluegrass vocalist ever–and for the Osborne Brothers. I would be delighted to see Jimmy Martin inducted, but bluegrass has its own inner circle and all of these fellows are in it.
Wanda Jackson requires special consideration. I think the case for inducting her into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is much stronger than for her being in the CMHOF, however, I would not object to her being inducted into the CMHOF.
I can make a decent argument for Jim Ed Brown, Jack Greene, Crystal Gayle, and Anne Murray, but won’t at this time.
Future years will find us considering Gene Watson, Patty Loveless, Rodney Crowell, Randy Travis and countless others, but this is what the pecking order should be for the next few years.
Born 1952 - married since 1975. Been collecting country music since 1968, listening to it since quite small. Favorite artists Ernest Tubb, Webb Pierce, Merle Haggard, Connie Smith, Jean Shepard
Is Dave Haywood going solo? This and many other of country music's most pressing questions answered in the September edition of The 9513's world famous Mailbag!
Caroline Herring likes to sing songs about life in the South. No, not exactly like Justin Moore and Jason Aldean...
The 9513's resident historian Paul W. Dennis sits down for a chat with country music legend Gene Watson.
As much as we love girl singers, we love songs about girl singers even more. Here's just a few of the many tribute songs out there.
Step away from the river and up to a jukebox, because heartbreak is only temporary, but a good song about drowning yourself—like a diamond—lasts forever.
What do you think about music labels "testing the waters" with a single before providing access to an artist's entire album? 
What country artist, young or old, would you recommend as a must-listen artist to a newcomer on his/her journey through country music, and what would your essential song picks be?
59 Comments
RSS for comments on this post | Trackback URI for this post
September 25, 2008 at 9:47 am Permalink
That’s a mighty solid list. I’d give the Oaks the priority, though.
September 25, 2008 at 9:53 am Permalink
in general, i find posthumous appreciation/recognition one of the saddest cases of missed opportunity.
hence, i’d give preference to still active artists that managed the considerable achievement to count among the greatest of their genre, while they’re still fully able to enjoy it with their fans.
tanya tucker, reba, connie smith, hank williams jr. and ronnie milsap would be among my first picks.
September 25, 2008 at 10:25 am Permalink
Can’t argue with any of the names mentioned, but I’d add Dottie West to the list of those who are deserving of induction, but no longer with us.
September 25, 2008 at 10:44 am Permalink
Fascinating article and terrific list. This discussion develops from time to time, and it always sparks interesting conversation. The selections have been far from perfect in the past (George Morgan springs to mind), but I still use the Hall as the measuring stick of greatness, even in analyzing today’s stars and their future legacies.
I would induct Wanda Jackson into the R&R Hall, but not the CMHOF. I’d move the Oaks up on my list, too. I don’t think they receive quite the credit they deserve for their extended run and their terrific harmony work.
I had the pleasure of seeing Smith and Shepard at the Opry this past weekend. Both (especially Smith) would sing circles around many of today’s crop of singers.
September 25, 2008 at 10:55 am Permalink
Garth Brooks doesn’t even make your “sometime in the future” list? He certainly is as deserving as Gene Watson or (gag) Chet Flippo. I will say, a few years ago, it was downright criminal some of the artists overlooked by the Hall of Fame. (Brenda Lee before the Louvins, Carl Smith, Porter Wagoner or Webb Pierce?!) But, they’ve done a pretty good job of catching up the past few years.
September 25, 2008 at 11:46 am Permalink
Oh yeah! I want to change my vote: forget “sometime in the future,” Garth Brooks should be in the CMHoF right now.
I’m ready to defend this stance, should anyone care to fight about it.
September 25, 2008 at 12:06 pm Permalink
Chris, lay off the coffee, would ya?? ; )
September 25, 2008 at 12:24 pm Permalink
I’d say the Country Music Hall of Fame, with only 105 members after 47 years of inductions, errs on the side of too few, which is better than on the side of too many, which has made the Rock Hall a bit of a travesty. It should feel like an exclusive club, and artists should have earned the right to stand next to Hank, Monroe, Wills, Cash, Wills, Cline, Loretta and Hag.
I’ll add a few:
The Stanley Brothers
Billy Sherrill
Ferlin Husky (I heard him announced on the radio recently as a Hall of Fame member, but he’s not)
Kenny Rogers (like Milsap and Mandrell, maybe not the most artistically valid, but the hits and long-running status deserves it)
Cowboy Copas
Don Williams
Jerry Lee Lewis
Bobby Bare
Charlie Daniels
Hank Cochran
I’ll argue with Chris and say I think there should be a 20- or 25-year period between an artist’s introduction and their Hall of Fame induction. Garth should be the first of his generation to go in, but he shouldn’t be inducted before Hank Jr., Milsap, Mandrell, or Reba. He probably will be, though.
September 25, 2008 at 12:55 pm Permalink
Hall of Fames are such a weird american institution, like all star games.
September 25, 2008 at 1:06 pm Permalink
..and freedom.
September 25, 2008 at 1:08 pm Permalink
Very impressive list indeed. And I’ll second Chet Flippo and Robert Oermann. I have learned so much from those two individuals through their writings about the workings of the music business (Flippo) and the rich history of the music as it crawled out the hills and onto national stages (Oermann).
After seeing an interview with Oermann a little while back, I realize the man is a walking, talking, breathing encyclopedia of country music. Neither man’s contributions to this artform should be taken lightly.
September 25, 2008 at 1:32 pm Permalink
Of course, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame requires 25 years between an artist’s first recording and their induction. I’d like to see the CMHOF follow suit once they catch up (why they moved so glacially slow in the past is beyond me) so there is a certain order to the whole process.
M.C. is correct. Quite a few Halls throughout music and sports are bloated. I road tripped with a friend this summer and we saw the Baseball and the Rock and Roll Halls of Fame, and both institutions have that problem. The CMHOF is not perfect, but it could stand to open the gates just a tad more.
Garth Brooks belongs in the Hall of Fame, sometime between 2015-2020. His induction could coincide with his 178th comeback. I’d love to argue the Hall prospects of a number of ’80s and ’90s artists, but that’s another discussion for another time.
September 25, 2008 at 1:38 pm Permalink
first off…
..and freedom
word
now then….
great article, really informative and well done.
My two cents on things are as follow
this whole three inductions a year thing is a horrible idea. even one induction every year is silly. In the long term that assumes that a hall of fame worthy member will debut at the rate of one per year, which there is no objective reason to believe.
second, the hall of fame isn’t really for the artists, so the idea of making sure to induct them while they are living doesn’t mean much to me, the hall of fame is for the genre. By elevating the greatest artists, and attributing the glory and mystique that an induction to the “hall of fame” should attatch, the hall will assumably inspire upcoming artists to work at that level, thus helping to keep the genre healthy.
Which is why the statement
I’d say the Country Music Hall of Fame, with only 105 members after 47 years of inductions, errs on the side of too few, is shocking to me.
105 is a lot of people. 105? wow. too few?
The danger of a hall of fame in Nashville with close ties to the industry is that it quickly becomes a seasonal promotional opportunity and a way for an industry propped up around a compromised artistic genre to legitimize itself. The Hall of Fame is supposed to legitimize great country music, not pander to the whoever moved the most units in the “country” radio format.
and finally Chris N.
Garth Brooks huh? well let’s hear it. I like Garth, I have all his records, he was my first favorite country artist, even now I think he has a few really good country songs, but other than his sales numbers, what is hall of fame worthy about him?
September 25, 2008 at 3:26 pm Permalink
Almost single handedly launching Country Music into the period of its greatest commercial success, putting out the record tours (American and World), 4 CMA entertainer of the year, 6 ACM entertainer of the year, 19 #1 Singles, songwriters hall of fame… i could go on
September 25, 2008 at 3:37 pm Permalink
I’m with Crhis on Garth. I think he’s more “country” than people give him credit for. He’s who brought me into country music in the first place though, so I’m admittedly biased.
September 25, 2008 at 3:46 pm Permalink
I said
“but other than his sales numbers, what is hall of fame worthy about him?”
let’s see how you replied.
“Almost single handedly launching Country Music into the period of its greatest commercial success”
well that’s true, I think we refer to Garth as the “Father of Country Music” don’t we? Garth, and all other contemporary country artists benefit from the cache, fanbase, and infratructure that artists from the past laid out for them. Hank and Jones and a hundred others sowed it, Garth reaped it. Plus, this is a sales argument, which I reject out of hand.
“putting out the record tours (American and World)”
another commercial argument that has nothing to do with quality of music.
4 CMA entertainer of the year, 6 ACM entertainer of the year
we all know that who wins those is based LARGELY on who sells the most records/has the most commercially successful tour.
19 #1 Singles
this is fair to take into consideration, the next step would be to look at those 19 songs and see if they are, yaknow, any good.
songwriters hall of fame
I’m guessing that he made the songwriters hall of fame for the same reasons you are arguing he should make the country music hall of fame, namely, in commercial terms his popularity was unrivaled.
Here’s the thing, you can’t prove artistic merit with sales numbers. It’s well known that a lot of really terrible music has been incredibly profitable.
I think it’s silly to sit back and assume that we can’t tell if music is bad, mediocre, good, or great, and then say “well, since we have no way of knowing, I guess we’ll see what ‘the market’ has to say. let’s see, yup, this guy sold the most records, sold the most tickets, and was given the most rewards recognizing record sales by the trade organizations, he must be the best.”
September 25, 2008 at 3:48 pm Permalink
note, I can be convinced that Garth should make it, I think Garth is kind of rad, but it’s not sales numbers that will do it.
and whatever pros that are named for him, have to be balanced against the wholesale destruction of legitimate country music that accompanied his success.
September 25, 2008 at 3:53 pm Permalink
Ben, I’m not so sure you can be convinced.:)
September 25, 2008 at 3:56 pm Permalink
Nice article, Paul. I agree with most of your choices.
This doesn’t have anything to do with anything, but I think it’s pretty rad that you’re still using the word rad, Ben.
September 25, 2008 at 4:05 pm Permalink
Garth is also somewhat gnarly.
September 25, 2008 at 4:06 pm Permalink
Dude, I think rad is rad too.
September 25, 2008 at 4:17 pm Permalink
Ben–
The 105 people in the Hall of Fame reach back to the 1920s. A decent percentage of those 105 aren’t artists, but industry executives, record producers, songwriters, musicians, deejays, booking agents, concert promoters, and so on. To say there have been 105 people who have made indelible contributions to country music and its success isn’t a huge number. Compare it to any other Hall of Fame–music, sports, what have you–and you’ll see it’s likely the hardest Hall to crack of any of those entities. That’s a good thing, I’d say.
It’s only been 12 years now that the CMA has been electing three people a year. In two out of every three of those years, someone other than an artist–musician, executive, deejay, songwriter, etc–is inducted.
I’ve heard a lot of arguments about the CMHOF over the years, including that there are people who have been inducted who don’t belong. (I agree). But the argument that there are too many people isn’t one that’s I’ve eve heard raised, until now. Usually the argument focuses on those who aren’t in there yet that should be. That argument usually gets a passionate response, as it has here.
I’m also wondering how it has become a seasonal promotional activity for the country music industry? Hall of Fame induction isn’t even televised anymore, as the CMA removed the announcement of the new inductess off its television show. The winners get a short paragraph in the newspaper or a line on the CNN roll. How did electing Pop Stoneman, the Statler Brothers, Tom T. Hall and Emmylou Harris promote the contemporary country industry all? The only active entertainer in the group, Emmylou, isn’t a part of the mainstream industry at all at this point.
Also, your statement that the Entertainer of the Year award goes to the artist who sells the most records and tickets in that given year is just flat wrong. You can go through the list year by year, and more often than not, the person voted Entertainer will not be the person who sold the most. This year’s nominations support that: By your definition, Rascal Flatts would win this year’s award, as they’re the top record seller and second to Chesney in concert ticket sales. They weren’t even nominated. Neither were the next biggest record sellers: Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift.
September 25, 2008 at 4:21 pm Permalink
“Ben, I’m not so sure you can be convinced.:)
I totally can be. If I were on the Hall of Fame decision board or whatever, it’d be like “well, he’s the most commercially successful country artist of all time, and he’s not un-talented, and his stuff was rarely awful, of course it was rarely great….hmm….the thing is, he’s completely ridiculous and over the top a lot. and his music was super yuppie corporate music. Buck included him in the statue thing at the Crystal Palace though..hmmm…tough call”
see?!?! I’m on the fence man.
September 25, 2008 at 4:42 pm Permalink
M.C.
the 105 thing is a good point, it’s not unreasonable to think that 105 people have made hall of fame worthy contributions. and I think you’re right that this”
including that there are people who have been inducted who don’t belong. (I agree).
is the important thing, not the actual number of inductees.
I can’t illustrate that the hall of fame has been reduced to nothing more than a seasonal promotion opportunity, so I’ll withdraw that criticism of it.
“How did electing Pop Stoneman, the Statler Brothers, Tom T. Hall and Emmylou Harris promote the contemporary country industry all? The only active entertainer in the group, Emmylou, isn’t a part of the mainstream industry at all at this point.”
I’m certainly not claiming that the hof has lost all legitimacy. I think it still means something and they’ve done a lot to retain credibility. They’ve also done a lot to cede credibility.
By refusing to promote any hall of fame worthy artists for some time, the industry has put them in a tough spot. Do they go ahead and induct Alabama, Vince Gill, and George Strait (I know I know, everyone loves George Strait, not me man!), and down the line Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and down the line Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood, and down the line Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker?
I don’t know, it’s a tough spot for them.
Also, your statement that the Entertainer of the Year award goes to the artist who sells the most records and tickets in that given year is just flat wrong.
according to ACM here is the criteria
“This award is presented to the individual, duo or group who showed the most overall success in the country music industry during the preceding calendar year. The factors to be considered in arriving at this award include, but are not limited to, success at radio, sales of prerecorded music, success of music videos, live concert ticket sales, artistic merit, appearances on television, appearances in films, songwriting, writing and contributions to the country music industry.”
not the best artist. the most succesful. and the first four criteria? radio, sales, video airplay, ticket sales.
so there.
but all and all, a well reasoned response from you. you officially changed my mind about the 105 members thing.
September 25, 2008 at 5:08 pm Permalink
I actually wound up “working” all day instead of hanging out here and defending my opinion, but I’m sure I would have said something about Garth’s massive influence over the current generation of country artists, the way in which he triggered country’s explosion into the mainstream in the 1990s (which gave the genre a boost it hadn’t had in a long time), his support for other artists and songwriters, his role as an ambassador from country music to the rest of the world. And the sales, natch.
September 25, 2008 at 5:16 pm Permalink
Don’t call it a comeback, Rad’s been here for years…At least for us native 20-30 something left coast natives…
September 25, 2008 at 5:17 pm Permalink
Ben–
Me, well-reasoned? Can I get you to tell that to my kids?
I can agree with you that success is definitely important to the Entertainer award. I was just disagreeing that the artist with that year’s top ticket and record sales largely wins the award. That’s not always, or even regularly, the case, because respect, longevity and other intangibles go into why people in the industry vote the way they do. That’s why Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Ricky Skaggs and Alan Jackson, to name a few, won on years when they weren’t the top-selling artist. They were up there, but others sold more. So there’s an intangible in the mix, and that element probably changes from person to person.
September 25, 2008 at 5:36 pm Permalink
What are the qualification needed to be up for CMHOF
September 25, 2008 at 6:37 pm Permalink
That certainly is a loveley bunch of Pop Country acts you have listed, and it seem the CMHOF is following suit, however I prefer some of the pioneers who virtually invented certain country music genres. Such as Townes VanZandt, Gram Parsons, Doug Sahm and Billy Joe Shaver.
September 25, 2008 at 10:34 pm Permalink
Ferlin Husky, Jean Shepard, Connie Smith and Hank, Jr. should go in next.
I disagree with with Mr. Dennis on country comedians being the the Hall of fame however. How big was Minnie Pearl? She is in the Hall. You can’t think of the country music industry without thinking of Minnie Pearl (the “Queen of the Grand Ole Opry”). Rod Brasfield was a huge opry star in the 40’s and 50’s. I believe he was a well deserving Hall inductee. I also believe Archie Campbell and Stringbean should be in the hall. They made us al laugh every Saturday night on “Hee Haw”.
The Stanley Brothers, Mac Wiseman, The Osborne Brothers, Jim & Jesse..let’s face it the Bluegrass catagory has just been overlooked totally.
If I was on the nomination board I would even have to look at considering gospel songwriter Albert E. Brumley. Why? How many country artists were influenced by his songs? “I’ll Fly Away”, “Jesus, Hold My Hand”, “I’ll Meet You In The Morning”, “This World Is Not My Home”, “Turn Your Radio On”…i’ll stop there, the list is too long.
And yes I agree, Reba, Garth, Randy Travis, The Oaks, Tanya Tucker, Ricky Skaggs….soon…should all all go in very soon…they all deserve it.
They are way behind. Something is going to have to be done soon.
Since the CMA awards (which I will never watch again) is now only dedicating about 3 minutes of a 3 hour show to Country music’s highest honor, why not have a “Hall of Fame” show and concert on its own? Say 2 hours. That way they could have several multipal inductions every year.
September 25, 2008 at 10:44 pm Permalink
“… I would have said something about Garth’s massive influence over the current generation of country artists, the way in which he triggered country’s explosion into the mainstream in the 1990s (which gave the genre a boost it hadn’t had in a long time) …”
That’s a double-edged sword, though. I’m with Ben in that the boost Garth gave to the genre has led to the wholesale destruction of it that we are experiencing today. Garth raised commercial expectations to a level that were unsustainable, and in doing so, he inadvertently did a lot of damage to the genre.
September 25, 2008 at 10:52 pm Permalink
Razor X said he inadvertently did a lot of damage to the genre
I think that he did a lot of good an allowed for country to expand and be more listen to with acts like Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Taylor Swift so your “damage” has been a good thing for me.
September 25, 2008 at 11:13 pm Permalink
I approve of the 25 year rule for eleigibility as it does prevent “flavor of the week” inductions into the CMHOF. I have no problem with allowing “Lou Gehrig/Roberto Clemente” type exceptions to the eligibility rule.
I didn’t enumerate all of the future inductees – “countless others” almost certainly encompasses names such as Alan Jackson and Garth Brooks, may encompass Clint Black and Trisha Yearwood and who knows who else – it’s simply too soon to tell
I like both Cowboy Copas and Bobby Bare – solid journeyman performers – I think Bare may get in some day, and I would be delighted to see it. I doubt that Copas will get in. Dottie West may get in some day, too
I am not necessarily anti-comic – I simply think Brasfield and the Duke of Paducah were misguided selections, particularly at a time when there was such an extrewme backlog of deserving singers. The Duke was essentially a vaudeville performer (as was Doctor Lew Childre, not in the CMHOF but mentioned as a candidate in he past). Their connection to Country Music was tangential.
Brasfield was an Opry member for all of 9 years and if you think of him at all, it was in conjunction with Minnie Pearl. I would rather see Jerry Clower in the Hall. I suspect Jeff Foxworthy will get inducted some day
I really don’t see Townes Van Zandt , Gram Parsons or Doug Sahm going in – they were more significant to the world of rock music than to the world of county music. Billy Joe Shaver, however, is an interesting suggestion that I think has merit. Maybe someday …
September 26, 2008 at 12:03 am Permalink
I don’t think we can cast off the record sales of someone who has only been outsold by The Beatles. It is unlikely that someone can sell over 120 million albums without making music that mattered. Also, record sales and commercial viabilty don’t also have that much to do with tours, evident by the huge tours off Dave Matthews and Jimmy Buffett, who do sell many cds(but not record breaking amounts), but do not have large radio play. Also, CMT listed him as the #7 greatest man in country music history, well ahead of many people already in the Hall. Granted, this list is arbitrary, but still is an indication of his influence and importance. Whether you agree/disagree, like/dislike what his music was, what it became, or what it spawned, you can not deny his tremoundous influence in expanding the number of people at least delving into counntry music (and hopefully coming to appreciate the heroes of country that have been forever carrying the torch of country music and are now represented by the Hall).
September 26, 2008 at 1:42 am Permalink
If for only his sales numbers, Garth Brooks belongs in the Hall of Fame.
But he’s so much more than a platinum ceiling artist. Garth Brooks brought more listeners to country music than probably any number of artists in the last 50 years combined. And isn’t that what every artist – country or otherwise – aspires to? To reach as many people as possible with their music?
September 26, 2008 at 7:29 am Permalink
Well obviously I disagree. People here are just throwing names out left and right. Just because they some (or a lot) of Pop Country hits? I know the CMHOF is going to the Pop side as far as inductees, but I look at their overall contribution to country music, not how many times they were played on the radio. Granted Parsons had an influence on Rock, but go back and listen to his music. He’s country through and through. From The Shilos, International Submarine Band, his work with The Byrds, and his solo and duet work with Emmylou is a music history lesson. he virtually invented a genre on his own now known a Americana. And don’t forget two of the most influential artists in country music are in the Rock and roll hall of fame too. Bob Wills, and Hank Williams.
September 26, 2008 at 4:54 pm Permalink
No love for the Maddox Brothers and Rose?
September 26, 2008 at 10:39 pm Permalink
I love the Maddox Brothers and Rose – but you can’t put everybody into the CMHOF – in my estimation, they fall a bit short
September 27, 2008 at 3:22 pm Permalink
What about Kenny Rogers?
September 27, 2008 at 9:38 pm Permalink
Hey? Why not? Put everybody in. What the heck. It really doesn’t matter anymore. Lets drop out Hank and Merle, and put in Chesney and Urban.
September 27, 2008 at 10:21 pm Permalink
Johnny Horton! I believe his passing so many years ago has led to the CMHOF overlooking him as a pontential member.
September 28, 2008 at 1:20 pm Permalink
what about Keith Whitley, does his legacy not give him any thought for induction. Connie Smith deserves induction and so does everyone else on the list but so does Don Williams and Jerry Reed. Kenny Rogers also deserves this.
September 28, 2008 at 2:06 pm Permalink
I’m a big Keith Whitley fan, but honestly, I don’t think he had a big enough impact to warrant induction into the Hall of Fame.
November 4, 2008 at 1:13 am Permalink
Tayna Tucker should be in the Hall of Fame…..If Conway Twitty isn’t in it, then he should definitely be. FIRST AND FOREMOST…
THE GREAT TANYA TUCKER……
November 4, 2008 at 1:56 am Permalink
Conway Twitty was inducted years ago
Tanya Tucker is on my enumerated list.
Keith Whitley was a great singer, about on a par with another singer I like, Mel Street. I’m not advocating either for induction to the CMHOF although I’d rather listen to them than Alabama, Barbara Mandrell, Tim McGraw, Ronnie Milsap or anything Reba has recorded since 1992. Neither artist had a sufficiently substantial career to justify induction
I’m sure Kenny Rogers will go in some day. I regard much of his output as dreck, but it did sell well
Ferlin Husky falls just short in my opinion – two big hits (one a gospel classic) and a bunch of songs that made the top twenty, not a one of which 99% of the audience can name. He was one heck of an entertainer, however, a really funny fellow.
Bluegrass really has become a field separate and apart from Country Music. I’m okay with that. I like bluegrass and have a lot of it in my collection but have it sorted on shelves with folk music since the line between folk and bluegrass is thinner than that between bluegrass and country (that and I needed space on my country music shelves). When I listen to AKUS I am not hearing country music, I’m hearing folk music or (sometimes) shimmering pop.
Re: Gram Parsons – if he “virtually invented” the Americana genre, put him in the Americana Hall of Fame ! Truthfully, I don’t have much use for the Americana format – it’s far more rock than country. I drink my coffee black and prefer my country to be straight country, not watered down with rock, hip-hop, disco or whatever. I agree Parson’s vocals were (mediocre) country but his career was too short and his chief proponent Emmylou Harris, has been inducted. I am not in favor of inducting the Byrds, The Iggles, Poco, Pure Prairie League, CCR, Marshall Tucker or any of the other peripherally country acts
January 4, 2009 at 11:50 am Permalink
Ok Dennis, What about Wilf “Montana Slim” Carter? Will he ever go in? I’m not a big fan of his, but He was a Country pioneer from Canada. He was a star of the 30’s and 40’s, and performed up into the 1990’s. I read an article on him, which mentioned his consideration into the CMHF. Maybe the pre-WWII catagory?
January 4, 2009 at 9:39 pm Permalink
I visited the HOF yesterday. I find it amusing that various people who produced Jimmy Dean, or were discovered on the Jimmy Dean show are in the HOF…but Jimmy Dean is not. I guess Jimmy made someone mad along the way, but in the 1960’s, he WAS country music to millions of Americans, via his nationally televised ABC show. I guess they’re waiting for him to die. Unbelievable.
I agree wholeheartedly on Mandrell, Milsap, Jerry Reed, Ray Stevens and Hank Jr. The omission of those artists is an embarrassment to the Hall of Fame. They’re not in, and Emmylou Harris is. Huh?
January 19, 2009 at 8:43 am Permalink
In addition to those names mentioned above, my list would include:
The Wilburn Brothers
June Carter Cash
The Hee Haw Ensemble (Why not? At least, producer Sam Lovullo and co-star Roy Clark)
Fred Foster
Cowboy Jack Clement
Curly Putman (If the only song he ever wrote was The Green Green Grass of Home, I think he would deserve a place.)
The entire A-Team of session musicians. (At the rate of 1 every 3 years, and 8 more to go, it’s going to take another 24 years.)
I think that it can be argued that Ray Charles deserves a spot in the Hall, too.
There needs to be a second mass induction.
February 4, 2009 at 7:28 pm Permalink
Of the names mentioned, I think Bobby Bare, Jean Shepherd, Connie Smith and Ferlin Husky are the most qualified.
I’d like to add a couple,
MOON MULLICAN, a great, unique performer, extraodinarily popular in his time and all but forgotten in ours and JOHN D. LOUDERMILK whose songwriting has crossed genres but has left dozens of great country songs.
Thanks.
February 4, 2009 at 8:36 pm Permalink
Top seven acts still with us:
Jimmy Dean
The Browns
Connie Smith
Bobby Bare
Hank Williams Jr.
Oak Ridge Boys
Reba McEntire
Top seven acts no longer with us
Slim Dusty
Wilf Carter (Montana Slim)
Wilburn Brothers
Al Dexter
Dave Dudley
Johnny Horton
Jerry Reed
Others to consider include Johnny & Jack, Ferlin Husky (Simon Crum), Stonewall Jackson, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Osborne Brothers, Bill Mack, Garth Brooks.
Bluegrass acts such as Mac Wiseman & the Osborne Brothers must also be considered.
February 11, 2009 at 8:15 pm Permalink
Connie Smith the greatest female singer in the history of country music? No way. She’s been in the biz for 40+ years, and I can name only one or two of her songs (and I’ve been a country fan for 30+ years). She didn’t make a very big impact (except on Marty Stuart) or influence any of the female singers who came after her. She was simply one in a long line of pretty female singers with nice voices. That’s about it. Nothing remarkable about her. If there’s a “Grand Ol’ Opry” Hall of Fame, then she should be inducted into that.
And speaking of Halls of Fames, I’m against them. Way back in ‘61 when they started the CMHOF, what they should have done INSTEAD was just establish a museum to honor EVERYBODY. Why create an exclusive club that celebrates only the careers of a select few?
Because once you say, “Here’s a Hall of Fame and only a few of you can get in,” then you’d better be ready to back it up with a rigid set of criteria for induction. The fact that George Morgan, Johnny Bond, Bill Anderson, Porter Waggoner, and Homer & Jethro were inducted into the CMHOF is proof positive that they do not have rigid standards.
February 19, 2009 at 7:23 am Permalink
What about Don
the Don of country
the gentle one
March 8, 2009 at 6:41 pm Permalink
garth is good but let him earn his dues
March 15, 2009 at 11:59 am Permalink
I’d love to see Skeeter Davis and Dottie West inducted, both ladies drew people to country music that never listened to country music. I would have thought Dottie would have been a great choice since her young passing at 58 in 1991. Since Skeeter’s death in 200 at 72 from breast cancer, I keep hoping to see her inducted, but I get disapponited every time. I have every Lp by both ladies, plus autographed items. Both ladies, when you met them in person, talked to you like you were a long lost friend, you don’t get that access from the stars of today!
April 3, 2009 at 9:26 am Permalink
Reading the above, it’s obvious that much of the argument has to do with what is “country” and what isn’t. . .and who built their legacy on blurring the lines between rock/pop/country, thus making them culpable for the dilution of “country” over the last couple of decades. Who belongs and who doesn’t is subjective, but while I’m not a fan of Ronnie Milsap and Hank Jr., it sure it hard to discredit their contributions when people like Barbara Mandrell (who was RARELY “country” in her hits)and Alabama are inducted. However, their sales numbers and longevity don’t lie. What about Dwight Yoakam? One of the reasons why country radio didn’t play him on a sustained basis is that he was TOO honky-tonk. However, you cannot deny the quality of his work and all he has done to keep the genre alive. Randy Travis? He had a sustained career that didn’t go too “pop”. Rodney Crowell? An long-time artistic favorite who is still valid to this day and a prominent songwriter, to boot. These debates can go on forever, but it is readily apparent that adding more comedians or two-hit-wonders who have played the Nashville game of industry politics and still stick around the Opry years after their “moment” are not “qualifications” for a credible Hall of Fame.
May 9, 2009 at 1:41 pm Permalink
Hank Williams Jr shoud be inducted as soon as possible he should have been in the dang 70’s or 80’s after his career i mean how mnay people begin touring at the age of 14 yrs old. Go Hank Jr
May 16, 2009 at 4:33 pm Permalink
With the new categories established this year, Garth Brooks is eligible in the Modern category (20-45 years in national prominence.) There sure are a lot of others that are more deserving. Garth and Reba really expanded on Kenny Rogers’ formula – huge sales of “now” music that is easily forgotten in ten years because it lacks that “timelessness” that many of the members had about their music. I think that many artists with much smaller sales have produced a catalogue of interesting music that will still be a thrilling surprise for new fans in twenty or thirty years. Reba and Garth have to be members some day but will be like the big selling Vernon Dalhart or Alabama rather than the revolutionary and still very listenable Hank Williams, Carter Family or Patsy Cline. (Louvin Brothers, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, etc. etc.)
I would really like to see the New Carter Family (Mother Maybelle and her daughters – three new members for the price of one), Bobby Bare, Hank Jr., Johnny Horton, Johnny and Jack for veterans (and maybe Tanya Tucker if it takes her thatlong to get in).
For future membership there’s got to be Reba and Garth, of course, but also Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Earle and Rodney Crowell (thank God for the new Songwriter category), Patty Loveless, Randy Travis – some of these artsists aren’t my favorites but i acknowledge their influence. I also think from an influence point of view that Gram Parsons and Linda Ronstadt should get in – Gram’s music is much more country than a lot of what we hear today and he was the link between Country of the 40s and 50s and country rock of the 70s and 80s; Linda has sung all over the map but her country music (a good example is I can’t Help it if I’m Still in Love with You from Heart Like a Wheel but there is a whole string of marvelous country songs) honored the genre and was sung with love and dignity. Probably will be long time before that will ever happen.
Others to consider with smaller sales but big influence include Gail Davies and Vern Gosdin.
May 16, 2009 at 11:10 pm Permalink
Glad to see the discussion still going forward. I stand by my comment that Connie Smith is “[t]he genre’s best female singer ever. Period.”
She is not the most influential or biggest hitmaker (although if she hadn’t pulled the plug on her own career she might have been the biggest hitmaker). She has (or had, she’s lost a little over the years) the best voice. Even today, only Rhonda Vincent’s pipes can compare to what Connie Smith had 40 years ago. Reba, Trisha, Martina and Dolly are lightweights in comparison.
Bill Anderson was fully deserving of induction. Not only did he have scores of hit records, but songs he’s written continue to be recorded for major hits by today’s hot acts.
Australian legend Slim Dusty is almost completely unknown to American audiences. He is in the Australian equivalent to the CMHOF and rightly so. His influence on American Country Music is nil, as is that of Tex Morton or Gordon Parsons. I could make a better case for Frank Ifield, but as much as I like Ifield, he is far short of induction worthy
September 4, 2009 at 3:17 am Permalink
I think the next inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame should be these…
Garth Brooks
Reba McEntire
Randy Travis
The Oak Ridge Boys
Ricky Skaggs
Patty Loveless
Brooks&Dunn
Steve Earle
Leave a Comment