The 1998 Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

The 1998 Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees were George Jones, Tammy Wynette, and Merle Haggard.

Introduction

The 1998 Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees are:
-Kitty Wells
-Johnny Cash
-Willie Nelson

The 1998 Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees

Loretta Lynn, Bill Monroe, and Hank Williams, Sr. were among the seven country music artists inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998. These three artists were among the most influential country music artists of their time.

Hank Williams

Hiram “Hank” Williams (September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American musicians of the 20th century, Williams recorded 35 singles (five released posthumously) that reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers chart, including 11 that ranked number one (three posthumously).

Jimmie Rodgers

Jimmie Rodgers (1897-1933) was the first nationally popular country music star. His records, which sentimentalized the lives of railroad workers, hoboes, cowboys, and other hard-luck characters of the American West, sold in the millions and had a profound influence on subsequent country music performers. He was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961.

The Carter Family

The Carter Family was an American country music group formed in 1927 by Alvin Pleasant “A.P.” Carter, his wife Sara Dougherty Carter, and Maybelle Addington Carter. They were the first vocal group to become country music stars. Their recordings of songs such as “Wildwood Flower”, “Can the Circle Be Unbroken”, and “Keep On the Sunny Side” have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and are considered country standards.

The original group consisted of A.P., his wife Sara, and Maybelle’s cousin Virginia Gunter. The Carters’ first recordings were made in Bristol, Tennessee, on August 1, 1927. One of these recordings, “Poor Boy”, was leased to Victor Records and became a surprise hit; it propelled the trio to national prominence. The group continued to perform and record into the 1930s and 1940s; though Sara Carter died in 1941, Maybelle continued to tour with various configurations of The Carter Family until her own death in 1978.

A.P.’s grandson Johnny Cash was also a member of The Highwaymen with Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, and Waylon Jennings; he too was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980.

Conclusion

The 1998 Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees are:

Kitty Wells – The first major female country star, Kitty Wells was known for her hits “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels” and “Making Believe.”

Hank Thompson – A pioneering honky tonk artist, Hank Thompson is best known for his hit “The Wild Side of Life.”

Lefty Frizzell – An influential country singer and songwriter, Lefty Frizzell is best known for his hits “If You’ve Got the Money I’ve Got the Time” and “Long Black Veil.”