Hank Williams, Jr. leads the newly announced Country Music Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020. The country icon will be introduced at the Country Music Institute in 2020 alongside Marty Stuart and songwriter Dean Dillon, the Country Music Association announced in a press release on Wednesday morning (Aug. 12).
Williams will be entered in the Veterans Era Artist category, while Stuart will be entered in the Modern Era Artist category. Dillon will be entered into the Songwriter category, which is assigned every three years in rotation with the Recording and / or Touring musicians and non-performing films categories.
Williams began his career as a performer more in the vein of his father, Hank Williams, before making a dramatic turn in both music and imagery, and became in his own right a superstar with a string of hits that included “Family Tradition,” “” All My Rowdy Friends (Have Arranged Them), “” A Country Boy Can Survive, “” Dixie on My Mind “and more.
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“Bocephus has been watching this for a while. It’s a bright spot in a difficult year, “Williams says.” I’m making Top 10 records for 56 years. I fell off a mountain and tried to rediscover myself as a truly individual artist and one who emerges from the shadows. stepped up from a very famous man … one of the greatest.I have to thank all those happy friends who, year after year, still stand up for me.It is an honor to carry on this family tradition.It becomes a lot appreciated. ”
Stuart has long been one of the most respected modern traditionalists in country music. His hits include “Hillbilly Rock,” “Tempted.” “Burn Me Down” and “This One’s Gona Hurt You (For a Long, Long Time)”, a collaboration with Travis Tritt.
“It’s the ultimate honor in country music,” says Stuart. “I’m so honored to be inducted into this class and I’m honored to be inducted alongside Hank Jr. and Dean Dillon. I love these people. To be officially inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame is more than words. I are usually not a loss of words. “
Dillon has written songs for Kenny Chesney, Vern Gosdin, Toby Keith, Keith Whitley and more, but is best known for his long association with George Strait, for whom he has written timeless hits, including “The Chair”, “Unwound, “” Ocean Front Property “and more.
“I was just speechless,” Dillon admits to hearing about the honor. ‘Try to enjoy the words I just heard. My life flashed before my eyes. You could kill me with a feather. ”
“I could not be more enthusiastic to welcome Dean, Marty and Hank Jr. into the unbroken circle and honor this venerable milestone,” said Sarah Trahern of CMA Chief Executive Officer. ‘I’m sad that we can not personally toast this class in the Country Music Hall of Fame, but I hope this news can bring some fun and reason for celebration in this time that our world is upside down. In particular, our hearts go out to Hank and his family after the recent loss of his daughter, Katherine. ”
The Hall of Fame will formally inaugurate the Class of 2020 at a ceremony to be announced.
Here are all 139 Country Music Hall of Fame members:
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