Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees – Who Will Make the Cut?

The Country Music Hall of Fame is set to announce its newest inductees soon – but who will make the cut? We take a look at the top contenders and make our predictions.

Introduction

The Country Music Hall of Fame was created in 1961 to recognize country music’s greatest performers and producers. The original Hall of Fame members were Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose, and Ernest Tubb. Williams, Rodgers, and Rose were inducted posthumously. Twelve people have been inducted each year since the Hall’s inception.

The Country Music Association (CMA) and Museum Board of Officers and Trustees select the new Hall of Fame members. To be eligible for induction, an artist must have achieved significant national prominence in country music and must have demonstrated longevity with a career that has had a profound influence on the development of country music.

The announcement of the annual class of inductees is usually made in early May during CMA Music Fest week in Nashville. The formal induction ceremony is typically held during CMA Awards week in November.

Criteria for Induction

In order to be eligible for induction, an artist must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of induction. The nominees are decided by a special voting body called The Recording Academy. This select group is made up of music industry professionals who have shown “unusual and outstanding achievements in the field of recorded music and music videos”.

Once the nominees are selected, they are then voted on by the general public. The top five artists, as voted by the public, will then be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Previous Inductees

The Country Music Hall of Fame was created in 1961 by the Country Music Association, with the first induction ceremony taking place in 1964. A total of 164 performers have been inducted since then, with 97 being inducted posthumously. The most recent crop of inductees were announced in 2019, with Brooks & Dunn, Ray Stevens, and Jerry Bradley being welcomed into the fold. But who will be next? Here are some of the frontrunners for induction in 2020:

Alan Jackson
One of the most successful country artists of all time, Alan Jackson has released more than 60 singles, including 35 that reached Number One on the Billboard country charts. He is a member of the Grand Ole Opry and he has been nominated for multiple Grammy Awards.

Tanya Tucker
With a career that spans more than 50 years, Tanya Tucker is one of the most enduring country music stars. She has released more than 20 studio albums and has had singles that reached the top of both the country and pop charts. She was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2007.

Marty Stuart
Marty Stuart is a singer, songwriter, and musician who has been active in country music since the 1970s. He has released 19 studio albums and has been nominated for five Grammy Awards. He is also a member of the Grand Ole Opry and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005.

Possible Inductees

Now that the Country Music Hall of Fame has been around for over 50 years, there are a lot of potential inductees. Who will make the cut? Here are a few possible inductees:

-Hank Williams: One of the most influential country music artists of all time, Hank Williams is a no-brainer for the Hall of Fame. He had a profound impact on both country music and popular music, and his songs are still popular today.

-The Everly Brothers: Another influential country duo, the Everly Brothers helped to shape the sound of country music. They had numerous hits in the 1950s and 1960s, and their influence can still be heard in country music today.

-Patsy Cline: Patsy Cline was one of the most popular and successful country music singers of her time. She had a string of hits in the 1950s and 1960s, and her career was cut short by her untimely death in 1963. Nevertheless, she left a lasting impression on both country music and popular culture.

-Willie Nelson: A true icon of country music, Willie Nelson has been making hit records for over six decades. He is also an accomplished songwriter, and his songs have been recorded by some of the biggest names in country music. In addition to his musical accomplishments, Nelson is also known for his activism, particularly in support of farmers and Native Americans.

Conclusion

So, who will make the cut? We’ll have to wait and see. The Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony is held every year in Nashville, Tennessee.