True
Tears As True Legends Were Announced As Country Music Hall of Fame
Member-Elects
Nashville, TN, March 27, 2018.
Garth Brooks was crying, Trisha Yearwood
was crying and I doubt there was one dry eye in the ever-growing, unbroken
circle in the Rotunda, whether present or past.
It was at the yearly announcement of the
Country Music Hall of Fame’s Class of 2018, when it is revealed to the public
who the inductees are. Musicians and/or
business people that have made such an impact on country music and shared their
talents in such a way they are worthy of the highest honor there is for someone
who’s lived and breathed country music for practically all their lives.
This year’s press conference was hosted by
none others than Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks – the later was inducted in 2012.
Brooks called this day a “highly
anticipated day for celebration.”
The first Hall of Fame Member-Elect
announced was Johnny Gimble, who during his over fifty year career played with
everyone from Bob Wills to Carrie Underwood.
“All My Ex’s Live In Texas” by George Strait is a recording that comes
to mind when thinking of this year’s Recording and/or Touring Musician category
Inductee, who passed away in 2015, but the numerous recordings he appeared on
contributing to the furthering of country music’s sound is countless. Present to represent Bob Wills was his touched
by the moment son Cary and granddaughter and they even sang a song that Bob
Wills had written.
Dottie West was the next legendary name to
be presented to us and she is going to be inducted in the Veteran’s Era Artist
category. West was the first female
country artist to be awarded a Grammy®. It was for her “Here Comes My Baby”,
that she also had written. Before she
became a star, she had one of her songs recorded by Jim Reeves. Speaking of stars, Jeannie Seely – who West
helped in the beginning of Seeley’s career – held an emotional speech telling
us how Dottie loved lights and kept them shining in her home, and Seely said
now she’ll have “all the d*** lights in heaven shining for her.” Dottie West left this earth in 1991 after
trying to recover from injuries after a car accident she had on her way to
perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
Emotional did also Modern Era Artist category
Hall of Fame future member Ricky Skaggs get as he was thanking everyone that
had played a part in his life of music.
He talked about how his father had a radio playing that intrigued him as
little. He said: “My dad gave me the love for music, but my mom gave me the
love for Jesus.” Skaggs came to
Nashville to pursue a career when Emmylou Harris took a year off (Skaggs was
playing in her Hot Band at that time).
But his beginnings were in Kentucky, where he started learning to play
the mandolin at age five and already by the age of ten had appeared playing
with Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs.
The most emotional and tear jerking part of his speech though, was when
he started thanking his family The Whites, especially mentioning his wife
Sharon and his Father-In-Law Buck White whom Skaggs incontestably has a deep
and fond respect for.
After today’s announcement, the circle has
been extended by three more than deserving members-to-be, and that will make a
total of 136 later this year when the official medallion ceremony takes place.
Shelley Ridge for Country Music
International Magazine