 | JOHNNY CASH Feb. 26, 1932 – Sept. 12, 2003
(elected 1980) Called The Man in Black for his wardrobe and dark presence. Songs "I Walk the Line," "Ring of Fire" and "A Boy Named Sue" established him as one of the most influential artists in all music. Hosted "The Johnny Cash Show" on primetime TV and won nine CMA Awards. |
 | CONNIE B. GAY Aug. 22, 1914 – Dec. 4, 1989
(elected 1980) Radio broadcaster and artist manager credited with coining the term Country Music to replace hillbilly music. A successful manager and businessman and the founding President of CMA. |
| ORIGINAL SONS OF THE PIONEERS Hugh Farr, Dec. 6, 1903 – March 17, 1980
Karl Farr, April 25, 1909 – Sept. 20, 1961
Bob Nolan, April 1, 1908 – June 16, 1980
Lloyd Perryman, Jan. 29, 1917 – May 31, 1977
Roy Rogers, Nov. 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998
Tim Spencer, July 13, 1908 – April 26, 1974
(elected 1980) America's premier western singing group. "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," "Blue Prairie," "Way Out There," "Happy Rovin' Cowboy" and "A Cowboy Has to Sing" are some of their famous songs. |
| VERNON DALHART April 6, 1883 – Sept. 14, 1948
(elected 1981) A prolific singer of "hillbilly music" in the early 20th century. His first record, 1924's "The Prisoner's Song/The Wreck of the Old '97," became Country Music's first million-seller. Other hits include "Golden Slipper" and "The Death of Floyd Collins." |
 | GRANT TURNER May 17, 1912 – Oct. 19, 1991
(elected 1981) Announcer on the Grand Ole Opry for 47 years. Began radio career at 16 and later joined WSM radio in 1944. Recorded four duets with Helen Carter. |
 | LEFTY FRIZZELL March 31, 1928 – July 19, 1975
(elected 1982) Influential singer whose hits include "If You've Got the Money, I've Got the Time" and "I Love You a Thousand Ways." A favorite of Country Music star Merle Haggard, who called him "the most unique thing that ever happened to Country Music." |
 | ROY HORTON Nov. 5, 1914 – Sept. 23, 2003
(elected 1982) A successful music publisher and well-known songwriter. Penned "Mockin' Bird Hill," "Hillbilly Fever" and "Address Unknown." Worked for Peer- Southern Music for more than 40 years. |
 | MARTY ROBBINS Sept. 26, 1925 – Dec. 8, 1982
(elected 1982) Entertainer whose hits include "A White Sports Coat (and a Pink Carnation)," "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife," "Singing the Blues" and "El Paso." Renowned as a charismatic stage performer. |
 | LITTLE JIMMY DICKENS Dec. 19, 1920
(elected 1983) The 4-feet-11-inch charismatic radio broadcaster and performer known for novelty songs "I'm Little but I'm Loud," "Country Boy," "Take an Old Cold Tater (and Wait)" and "A-Sleepin' at the Foot of the Bed." |
 | RALPH SYLVESTER PEER May 22, 1892 – Jan. 19, 1960
(elected 1984) Pioneer in recording, publishing and artist management. Discovered The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. Coined the term hillbilly music. Credited for revolutionizing the way the industry controlled copyrights. Formed Peer-Southern Music Publishing Company in 1928. |
 | FLOYD TILLMAN Dec. 8, 1914 – Aug. 22, 2003
(elected 1984) A premier singer-songwriter in the 1930s and '40s. Biggest hits include "Slippin' Around," "I Love You So Much It Hurts," "It Makes No Difference Why" and "Each Night at Nine." |
 | FLATT AND SCRUGGS Lester Flatt, June 19, 1914 – May 11, 1979
Earl Scruggs, Jan. 6, 1924
(elected 1985) Innovative musicians who played with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys before forming the Foggy Mountain Boys. Members of the Grand Ole Opry who recorded the theme song of "The Beverly Hillbillies," "The Ballad of Jed Clampett." |
 | BENJAMIN F. FORD May 12, 1901 – June 20, 1986
(elected 1986) Known as the Duke of Paducah and "Whitey" Ford, a leading Country comedian of the 1930s to the mid-1950s. Starred on the Grand Ole Opry's NBC radio segment in the 1940s. Producers of the TV show "Hee Haw" bought his joke library to use in their program. |
 | WESLEY H. ROSE Feb. 11, 1918 – April 26, 1990
(elected 1986) Song plugger and producer. Joined the Acuff-Rose music publishing company in 1945. Brought songs by writers including Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, Don Gibson and Mickey Newbury to the attention of recording artists. Helped form CMA. |
 | ROD BRASFIELD Aug. 22, 1910 – Sept. 12, 1958
(elected 1987) A top comedian during the 1950s on the Grand Ole Opry stage and TV. Known as The Hohenwald Flash, he starred alongside Andy Griffith in the 1957 film "A Face in the Crowd." |
 | LORETTA LYNN April 14, 1935
(elected 1988) A voice for strong women in the 1960s and '70s. Her straightforward writing style produced hits "Fist City," "Don't Come Home a Drinkin' (With Lovin' on Your Mind)," "You Ain't Woman Enough (to Take my Man)" and signature song "Coal Miner's Daughter." Won nine CMA Awards including first female Entertainer of the Year in 1972. |
 | ROY ROGERS Nov. 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998
(elected 1988) The top western movie star of the 1940s. Only person to be inducted twice into the Country Music Hall of Fame, once for his solo career and again as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers. Known as the King of the Cowboys. |
 | JACK STAPP Dec. 8, 1912 – Dec. 20, 1980
(elected 1989) Program Director of WSM from 1939 to 1957. Founder of Tree music publishing company in 1951. Credited with diversifying the Grand Ole Opry and one of the founders of CMA who helped establish the annual CMA Awards. |
 | CLIFFIE STONE March 1, 1917 – Jan. 17, 1998
(elected 1989) TV star, singer, comedian, emcee and bassist. Worked behind-the-scenes as a producer, talent scout, song publisher and manager; his most famous client being Tennessee Ernie Ford. Produced more than 14,000 TV and radio shows. |
 | HANK THOMPSON Sept. 3, 1925 – Nov. 6, 2007
(elected 1989) Scored 29 Top 10 hits between 1948 and 1974, including "Green Light," "Whoa Sailor" and "The Wild Side of Life." Made a successful foray into TV and became one of the first Country artists to perform in Las Vegas. |