Three New Members
The COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME (CMHOF) formally welcomed three new members yesterday (10/22), as ALAN JACKSON, DON SCHLITZ, and the late JERRY REED were officially inducted during the annual MEDALLION CEREMONY held at the HALL OF FAME in NASHVILLE. A highlight of the event was the appearance of LORETTA LYNN, herself a CMHOF member since 1988. It was LYNN’s first public appearance in NASHVILLE since suffering a stroke earlier this year (NET NEWS 5/8). She was there at JACKSON’s request, as veteran members of the HALL officially welcome new inductees.
Before LYNN took the stage to recall her first meeting with JACKSON, LEE ANN WOMACK, ALISON KRAUSS, and GEORGE STRAIT paid musical tribute to him. BOBBY BARE inducted REED, following a who’s-who of musicians paying homage to the late guitar virtuoso — a list that included STEVE WARINER, TOMMY EMMANUEL, JOHN KNOWELS, RAY STEVENS, and JAMEY JOHNSON, who played REED’s signature hit, “East Bound And Down.”
VINCE GILL introduced SCHLITZ after teaming up with ALOE BLACC for the “The Gambler,” the SCHLITZ tune made famous by KENNY ROGERS. Also performing on SCHLITZ’s behalf were MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER, CHARLIE WORSHAM, THOM SCHUYLER, FRED KNOBLOCH, and JELLY ROLL JOHNSON. The ceremony was wrapped up with everyone in attendance joining in to sing “Will The Circle Be Unbroken,” the traditional finale of the CMHOF MEDALLION CEREMONY.
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