2025 Country Music Hall of Fame Picks & Predictions


It’s that time of year again to consider who might be the newest inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. A secret committee commissioned by the CMA (Country Music Association) is going over their final ballots and whittling down the names to the few who will make it into one of country music’s most hallowed institutions.

Unlike other Halls of Fame, the Country Music Hall of Fame tries to keep the institution distinguished by letting only a few names in each year. This way a bad name never slips through the process, hypothetically. This has also caused a glut of good names being left out in recent years, creating consternation in itself. But it also keeps the Hall of Fame honor exclusive and distinguished.


The Rules

The Country Music Hall of Fame inductees are selected through a committee process appointed by the CMA. Since 2010, the selection process has been split up into three categories. 1) Modern Era – Eligible for induction 20 years after they first achieve “national prominence.” 2) Veterans Era – Eligible for induction 40 years after they first achieve “national prominence.” 3) Non-Performer, Songwriter, and Recording and/or Touring Musician active prior to 1980 – Rotates every 3 years. If there is a tie in voting in any category, two names can be selected, as we saw in 2021.

With a musician James Burton selected in 2024, and songwriter Bob McDill selected in 2023, it would be a non-performer selected in 2025, meaning a label executive, media personality, or someone else considered instrumental to country music.

Another important rule to note is that no candidate is eligible for the Hall of Fame a year after they pass away. This is to avoid sympathy votes in the aftermath of an artist dying, so check the 2024 In Memoriam List for those who would be ineligible. In recent years, this has accelerated artists being inducted before they die to avoid the one year penalty, and to honor them while they’re still living.

READ THE FULL HALL OF FAME RULES


Potential Modern Era Inductees

The Modern Era category definitely feels quite “modern” these days with performers who are still very much active in the mainstream constituting legitimate contenders for the Hall of Fame—Kenny Chesney, Shania Twain, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, and more. Dwight Yoakam and Clint Black feel like old timers in the category. They also should be the top contenders.

• Last Year’s Modern Era Inductee: Toby Keith
• Saving Country Music Prediction: Kenny Chesney or Dwight Yoakam
• Saving Country Music’s Pick: Dwight Yoakam

Dwight Yoakam: You’d think with 25 million records sold, Dwight Yoakam should definitely be considered for Hall of Fame distinction. But being based in California as opposed to Nashville may put him a bit out of the purview of voters, which is always an important factor. Yoakam’s greatest contribution beyond the solid sales numbers comes is the influence he had in country music in his time, and that he still wields today over generations of performers. Dwight Yoakam made country music cool to millions, just like Hall of Famer Buck Owens and other Bakersfield legends did in their time.

Dwight’s also not showing any signs of slowing down, and has earned additional stripes as a country music ambassador through his acting career. Having just released his first original album in 10 years with 2024’s Brighter Days, there would be no better time to celebrate his career with this deserved distinction.

Alison Krauss: There may be no other single performer who did more for spreading the love and appreciation for bluegrass throughout the ’90s and 2000s than Alison Krauss. The solo albums, the work with Union Station, the collaborations with Robert Plant and others have made her one of the most critically-acclaimed artists of our generation, with enough commercial success to also make her a household name.

Krauss has won 27 Grammy Awards, putting her only behind Beyoncé, Quincy Jones and classical conductor Georg Solti as the most-awarded artist in Grammy history. She has also received 42 nominations. This includes a Grammy win for the all-genre Album of the Year Rising Sand with Robert Plant. Krauss was also critical to the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack, and is a National Medal of Arts winner. Krauss most certainly has the resumé to be a Hall of Famer, and no better time to finally mint the award than the year she’s reuniting with Union Station for a massive tour and album.

Clint Black: If it wasn’t for his career’s disappearing act, his name would be a no brainier for the Hall of Fame. Instead, Clint Black’s impact is commonly overlooked, and unfairly so. Nobody was more successful in country music in the ’90s decade than Clint Black, save for Garth Brooks. A whopping thirteen #1 singles including his first four consecutively, and a total of 29 Top 10 hits puts Clint Black in an elite class in regards to stats. Clint Black also kept it (mostly) country, and was always seen as a good guy in the industry.

When Clint Black’s wife Lisa Hartman had their first child in May of 2001, he decided to take three years off to enjoy his young family. Aside from “Spend My Time” in 2003 that peaked at #16, the rest of Clint’s singles all stayed outside the Top 40 after the hiatus. “It ended up not being a smart career move, but it was a real smart dad move. … I wouldn’t go back and try to do anything for my career in exchange for that,” Black says. It shouldn’t cost him a Hall of Fame induction either. He should join his fellow “Class of ’89” member Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson in the Hall of Fame.

Tim McGraw: McGraw never had that consecutive string of years when he was the biggest thing in country music like other Hall of Fame inductees, but he has shown a longevity in his career that few others have matched. McGraw’s had 27 #1 hits in a span covering over 20 years. This includes some universally-recognized hits like “Don’t Take The Girl,” “Live Like You Were Dying,” and “Humble and Kind” written by Lori McKenna. McGraw also won the CMA’s Entertainer of the Year in 2001.

Similar to other Modern Era hopefuls, the question is if Tim McGraw is still considered a current artist, while other artists who’ve been patiently waiting their turn (i.e. Dwight Yoakam) continue to be passed over. McGraw is getting in, but voters may wait a couple more years before making it official.

Kenny Chesney: Though it may feel like Kenny Chesney is more of a current artist than a Hall of Fame candidate, he was officially eligible for the Hall of Fame now 10 years ago. Chesney released his first major label album with BNA in 1995, and had two Top 10 singles, “Fall In Love” and “All I Need to Know.” With 4 out of 5 CMA Entertainer of the Year Awards between 2004 and 2008, 32 #1 hits, and over 30 million albums sold, Chesney’s resume for the Hall of Fame is undeniable.

Consider this: Kenny Chesney has been country music’s only active and consistent stadium draw for going on 20 years. From the mid to late aughts before Taylor Swift came onto the scene, Chesney was far and away the biggest artist in country music. Possibly the only thing keeping Kenny Chesney back is that he feels like a current artist as opposed to an aged-out performer that deserves to be venerated. But there’s no denying Kenny is getting in, and if not this year, then in the next year or two.

Shania Twain – Make no mistake about it, Shania Twain will be in the Country Music Hall of Fame some day. During her era, nobody was a bigger commercial success except for Garth Brooks. With over 100 million records sold, she is the best-selling woman in country music of all time, and one of the best selling music artists in all of music, period. She is the undisputed queen of country pop. And though traditionalists love to shake their angry little fists at her for ushering in the pop era of country, her influence is undeniable.

Something to always consider when talking about the Hall of Fame is proximity to voters. As a Canadian who also keeps a residence in Switzerland, Shania may not be in the best position to lobby for her spot in the rotunda. But in 2022 she was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Country Music Hall of Fame is sure to be next on her list.

Travis Tritt: Since two of his brethren from the “Class of ’89” are in (Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson), as well as his “No Hat” buddy in Marty Stuart, Travis Tritt will start to be much more heavily considered in the next few years. There’s probably still a few names ahead of him, and since his commercial career cooled off somewhat quickly, his induction ceremony may still be some years away. It also probably doesn’t help that Travis Tritt has been one to speak about the ills of the country music industry, which may draw the ire of some voters. Tritt is also divisive politically.

And why not consider Tritt, with two Grammy Awards, four CMAs, five #1 singles, and 19 Top 10’s? Travis Tritt helped put the drive into country, both sonically and commercially.

The [Dixie] Chicks – As the winner of the 2000 CMA Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year for Fly, a four-time winner for Vocal Group of the Year, along with 10 total CMA wins, The Chicks are definitely legitimate contenders for the Hall of Fame sooner than later. Some folks forget that before their cancellation in 2003, they were the biggest act in country music. They’ve sold 33 million albums, and are the best-selling all-woman band and best-selling country group since Nielsen SoundScan began recording sales in 1991.

The fact that history looks back at how their career was destroyed due to the comments of Natalie Maines about the Iraq War as a blight in country music certainly influences their chances of eventually being recognized by the Hall of Fame. It would be a way to help make it right, even if the group these days is not especially “country” anymore.



Other Potential Modern Era Inductees:

Keith Urban – Some bigger names are going to have to get in before Urban is considered a serious contender. But with 22 No. 1 singles according to Billboard, he’s probably getting in at some point. Urban’s also been heavily involved in the “All for the Hall” fundraising events for the Hall of Fame over the years, likely earning him some champions in the ranks of voters.

Steve Wariner – With a surprising nine #1 singles throughout the 80’s, Wariner is not one of those flashy characters that immediately jumps out at you as a Hall of Fame contender, but he quietly put together a Hall of Fame-caliber career. He’s also a guy who hangs around the right places in Nashville to make sure selection committee members don’t forget about him, so don’t be surprised if his name pops up as an inductee.

Martina McBride: With five #1 songs, and twenty Top 20 singles, Martina McBride has comparable numbers to other recent Modern Era inductees and current candidates. But it isn’t just the numbers when it comes to Martina. It’s the voice, and the emotion it carries that makes Martina McBride a viable Hall of Fame candidate.

Trisha Yearwood: It’s the timeless songs, and how Yearwood was one of the most important women throughout the ’90s that makes her an eligible candidate for the Hall of Fame. Her debut single “She’s In Love with the Boy,” is a bonafide country music standard, and one of five #1’s she enjoyed. Her 1991 self-titled album became the first debut female country album to sell one million copies, and has since gone double platinum.

Lorrie Morgan – With 6 millions records sold worldwide and 40 charting singles, she’s a contender for the future for sure. Morgan helped get her former husband Keith Whitley in, so she clearly has the ear of voters.

John Michael Montgomery – Few assembled as memorable of a list of hits in the ’90s as John Michael Montgomery. “I Love the Way You Love Me,” “Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident),” “I Swear,” “I Can Love You Like That,” and “Be My Baby Tonight” all hit #1, and deservedly so from one of the era’s most passionate singers.

Faith Hill, Tracy Lawrence, and Brad Paisley are some other names that are officially eligible.


Potential Veterans Era Inductees

The last couple of years, both the Veteran’s Era inductees felt like Shoo In’s with Hank Williams Jr. and Tanya Tucker. Both felt like they had waited well past their time to be inducted. Now with both of them out of the way, the field feels much more open, though the list of deserving inductees perhaps has never been so long.

• Last Year’s Inductee: John Anderson

• Saving Country Music Prediction: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Vern Gosdin

• Saving Country Music’s Picks: Johnny Horton, Maddox Brothers & Rose, The Stanley Brothers

The Maddox Brothers & Rose – The Maddox Brothers & Rose set the very foundations for country and rock music in America, along with The Bakersfield Sound and California Country at large. Their flamboyant stage dress inspired by the cowboys of the silver screen directly sparked the Nudie Suit craze in country music that is still en vogue today, and directly inspired Elvis Presley’s stage costumes. Rose Maddox was also one of the very first successful women in country music, and opened up the role of women as country entertainers for generations to come.

If groups like The Jordanaires and The Sons of the Pioneers are in The Hall, certainly The Maddox Brothers & Rose should be. Their worthiness for the Hall of Fame was underscored in the 2019 Ken Burns country music documentary where the group was featured prominently.

Vern Gosdin – Think of all the incredible voices that have graced country music over the decades: the intrinsic pain found in the singing of George Jones, the uncanny pentameter of John Anderson, the caramel tone of Dwight Yoakam, or Johnny Cash, who sounded like God himself. And of course, let’s not forget the angelic sounds of Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and Dolly.

But there’s only one artist in the history of country music who is unarguably referred to simply as “The Voice.” That’s how revered the singing of Vern Gosdin is. Despite his 19 Top 10 hits and multiple #1’s—and a consensus behind the conclusion by fans and fellow artists alike that he’s one of the best singers in the history of country music—Gosdin is one of those characters who seems to be continuously overlooked in country history. Luckily though, there is finally some buzz that Vern is being seriously considered for the Hall of Fame.

Johnny Horton – Horton is one of the most recognizable country artists from the ’50s and early ’60s. But since he died in 1960 in an automobile accident, he never had the opportunity to fulfill the promise of his career. Nonetheless, many believe that what Johnny Horton contributed before he passed was Hall of Fame worthy, similar to Keith Whitley and Patsy Cline.

Horton’s greatest contributions were his historical songs that have gone on to become mainstays of the American music songbook. “The Battle of New Orleans” won the 1960 Grammy for Best Country & Western Recording, won the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 2001, and was named one of the RIAA’s “Songs of the Century.” Other songs like “Sink the Bismark” and “North to Alaska” hold great historical significance. Horton is already a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, and the Louisiana Hall of Fame.

Ralph Stanley / The Stanley Brothers – Ralph Stanley and The Stanley Brothers continue to be a glaring omission in the ranks of Hall of Fame members. Ralph Stanley was a seminal figure in the emergence of bluegrass in both the original era, and during its second wind after the success of O Brother Where Art Thou. Universally beloved inside Nashville and beyond, a former Grand Ole Opry member, and a powerful name to represent the bluegrass side of country, Ralph Stanley would be a strong pick few would quibble with, and is well past due.

Ralph Stanley started his musical career with his brother Carter Stanley who passed away in 1966. The two brothers spent two decades together as performers. The Stanley Brothers as a pair would probably be how they are inducted as opposed to Ralph Stanley alone. This is what the family of both Ralph and Carter have been advocating for.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – From folk rock at their inception, to bluegrass revivalists in the ’70s, to country radio hitmakers in the ’80s, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band have just about done it all, and in a way that has been revered and wildly influential throughout music. Jerry Jeff Walker may have written “Mr. Bojangles,” but it was the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band that popularized the song and had a hit with it in 1970.

The band perhaps released their pinnacle contribution to country with 1972’s Will The Circle Be Unbroken. The landmark album saw appearances by country and bluegrass legends such as Roy Acuff, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Mother Maybelle Carter, Jimmy Martin, and many more. The album became like a road map for many folk and rock fans to find their way into country, as well as a bridging together of two generations of performers.

With their recently-announced farewell tour, now would be as good a time as any to induct them into the Hall of Fame.

June Carter Cash – Though one of the most famous daughters and wives in country music is already in the Hall of Fame in spirit with the induction of The Carter Family in 1970, there seems to be a big push to put June Carter Cash in individually for her contributions to country music outside of the legendary family band. This push has perhaps been bolstered by a recent Grammy-nominated documentary on the late country singer.

June Carter Cash does not have the kind of gaudy numbers other candidates boast. She only released four solo albums, though released four more as collaborations with her husband Johnny Cash. But June Carter has all the intangibles that often go into a successful Hall of Fame candidate. She is part of country music’s First Family, and was the face of the Carters for generations.

Lynn Anderson – Lynn Anderson was the singer of 12 country music #1’s, and known as the “Great Lady of Country Music.” Anderson also performed on over 40 albums over her career which resulted in over 50 Top 40 hits. Beyond the chart hits and awards, she also helped break down barriers for women in country. “(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden” was a huge crossover success, and in 1974 Lynn was the first country female to sell out Madison Square Garden.

Though the hits began to slow down for Lynn Anderson later in life, she never did, continuing to perform and make appearances as a country music legend. Though she was never inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, her name always seemed to be in the mix when the finalists were being considered, and it deserves to be.

Jimmy Buffett – Though Jimmy Buffett only ever scored one official #1 hit, this is a significantly misleading stat compared to the host of signature songs Buffett accrued over his career, and the ultimate success and impact he had with them. Despite the lack of radio play beyond “Jimmy Buffett

Margaritaville,” or a proper genre to call his home, Jimmy Buffett scored nine Certified Platinum albums over his career, and an additional eight Certified Gold albums. This includes the whopping 7X Platinum Songs You Know By Heart Greatest Hits compilation, which as the name implies, includes songs that many people in the United States know front to back.

Perhaps the stat that’s the best summation of Jimmy Buffett’s career is that he was one of music’s few billionaires. Sure, a lion’s share of that billion was built off of his Margaritaville resorts, restaurants, and licensing deals. But you don’t make that happen unless a song you wrote resonates so wide that it becomes an indelible part of American culture. This is what Jimmy Buffett did.

Johnny Paycheck: Johnny Paycheck (real name Donald Eugene Lytle) was never a hit machine. He only had one #1, but it was a massive one in “Take This Job and Shove It”—which might be one of the most recognized country songs of all time. “She’s All I Got” was also a big hit. But similar to inductees like Keith Whitley and Marty Stuart, it is the intangibles, and the work with others that make Paycheck Hall of Fame worthy. While playing bass and steel guitar for George Jones, it’s said that Paycheck helped influence George’s singing (though some dispute this). Johnny Paycheck is synonymous with country music, and seems like a glaring omission in the Hall of Fame. 

As other guys with checkered pasts have seen their musical legacies supersede these concerns and finally see induction, it has moved Paycheck further up in contention to the point now where he’s been rumored to have made it as one of the finalists for consideration over the last few years. If Jerry Lee Lewis can get in, so can Paycheck. 

Linda Ronstadt: It could be easy to cast off Linda Ronstadt as a legitimate candidate for being a country artist who eventually crossed over into pop and rock. But few paid their dues as much as Linda did early in her career, including her years in the Stone Poneys, her debut solo album in 1969, Hand Sown…Home Grown, 1970’s Silk Purse that included cover songs of “Lovesick Blues” and “Mental Revenge,” and her 1972 self-titled album where she recorded “Crazy Arms” and “I Fall To Pieces.” Even when she achieved her breakout pop rock success, Linda Ronstadt was always honest about the genre and approach of her music, and then returned to country in the groundbreaking “Trio” project with Hall of Famers Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris.

Other Veterans Era-eligible artists may deserve an induction more than Ronstadt at the moment due to the crowded backlog. But with the wild way the Veterans Era is picked, don’t be surprised if she ends up as an inductee in the coming years. She has been rumored to have made it onto the final ballot recently.

Eddie Rabbitt: Aside from maybe Gary Stewart, the case could be made that Eddie Rabbitt is the most wrongfully overlooked star in country music history. Gary Stewart only had one #1 song in his career though. Eddie Rabbitt had 20 of them, and 34 total Top 10 hits, most of which he wrote himself. And all 34 of Rabbitt’s Top 10 hits came in a row, one after another, between 1976’s “Drinkin’ My Baby (Off My Mind)” and 1990 “Runnin’ With The Wind.”

Eddie Rabbitt’s career wasn’t just accomplished, it was downright Hall of Fame worthy. But you never hear Eddie Rabbitt’s name brought up in the context of the Hall of Fame. Actually, you barely ever hear his name at all, in part because he passed away at the relatively young age of 56. But Eddie Rabbitt definitely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame discussion.

Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers: With 33 Top 40 singles, 15 Top 5’s and three #1’s, Larry Gatlin likely accrued the numbers throughout the 70’s and the 80’s to be a Hall of Fame contender, not to speak of the influence he wielded in country music through that period, both as a solo artist, and with brothers Steve and Rudy. But also bolstering Larry Gatlin’s case is he’s one of these “men about town” types that seems to be at every function and gala in the country music realm, is active in the community, and is willing to help keep the legacy of country music alive, which the Hall of Fame selection committee often rewards. Larry Gatlin is a name that is hard to forget, and rumors have had his name on the final ballot over the last few years.

Gram Parsons: Gram’s inclusion in Hall of Fame consideration is always a topic of great discussion. In 2013 there was a greater push than ever to induct him, with influential country music writer Chet Flippo personally making the case for Parsons. But it wasn’t meant to be, and it may be many years before it is, especially with the current backlog in the Veterans Era. But his name is always in the field for this accolade, and looking at the influence Gram had turning on millions of rock and roll fans to the importance and coolness of country music, it always should be.

Other Potential Veterans Era Inductees:

  • Earl Thomas Conley (Petition) – It’s easy to forget just how big Conley was in the ’80s. He had 18 #1 hit songs, and a string where 19 consecutive songs either went #1 or #2. Songs Conley wrote were also recorded by Conway Twitty, Mel Street, and others. 
  • Rosanne Cash- Folks sometimes forget just how big Rosanne Cash got in the ’80s with ten #1 hits, and a huge influence on the genre at the time. She’s not just Johnny Cash’s daughter, or an Americana icon. Rosanne Cash could be a legitimate Hall of Famer in her own right.
  • Mickey Gilley – With 42 Top 40 singles and the role he played during the Urban Cowboy era, Mickey should be considered a contender.
  • Gene Watson – With five #1’s across country and Gospel and 76 total charted singles, Gene Watson was an understated superstar, and the fact that he continues to remain active in trying to keep both is own legacy and the legacy of country music alive makes him a name worth considering.
  • Crystal Gayle – Loretta Lynn’s sister and “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” singer has fans and allies in the industry, and expect her name to be bandied about for the Hall of Fame in the coming years.
  • Jimmy Martin – You might have to put Ralph Stanley and the Stanley Brothers in before Jimmy Martin gets considered. His personal antics might also hold him back as well. But the “King of Bluegrass” should be put in eventually.
  • Tompall Glaser & The Glaser Brothers: Perhaps a long shot, or at least until the Veteran’s Era backlog is cleared, brothers-in-Outlaw-country-arms Bobby Bare and “Cowboy” Jack Clement were inducted over the last decade, so many the proprietor of Hillbilly Central will get his due in the coming years.
  • Charlie Poole
  • Anne Murray
  • John Hartford
  • The Bellamy Brothers
  • Johnny Rodriguez
  • June Carter Cash
  • John Denver
  • David Allan Coe
  • Lulu Bell and Scotty Wiseman
  • Gary Stewart
  • Jack Greene
  • Skeeter Davis
  • Donna Fargo
  • Slim Whitman
  • Wanda Jackson
  • Wynn Stewart – (Petition)
  • Jimmy C. Newman
  • Sammi Smith
  • Jeannie Seely
  • George Hamilton IV
  • The Wilburn Brothers
  • Leroy Van Dyke
  • Stonewall Jackson
  • Asleep at the Wheel
  • Boxcar Willie

Potential Non-Performer Inductees

The non-performer inductee is likely to be an industry personality like a label head, a producer, or some other individual who made a significant impact on country music behind-the-scenes. But if Saving Country Music had a vote, it would be for country music writer Chet Flippo, or clothing designer Nudie Cohn.

Chet Flippo: Along with writing the liner notes to many of country music’s most iconic albums, including Wanted: The Outlaws and Red Headed Stranger, Chet’s work with Rolling Stone in the 70’s exposed country music to entirely new crowd and generation. Chet Flippo helped make country music cool, and continued in a journalistic capacity to become an elder statesman and one of the most respected opinion makers in the business.

Flippo was an editor and writer for Rolling Stone until 1980 when he left to write a biography of Hank Williams, but continued to contribute to the magazine over the years. From 1991 to 1994, Flippo was a lecturer in journalism at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, before moving to Nashville. From 1995 until 2000, he was the Nashville Bureau Chief for Billboard, leaving in 2000.

Flippo was later known for his work on CMT.com in his always-enlightening Nashville Skyline columns. For 12 years he oversaw editorial content for CMT. A writer who had seen it all with the courage to say what he believed, Flippo had the ability to stimulate discussion like none other in his field. Though he never seemed exactly at home on CMT with his more traditional country mindset, Flippo’s air brought a sense of legitimacy to the whole CMT operation. If there ever was a music writer who deserved Hall of Fame induction, it is Chet Flippo. He passed away in 2013.

Nudie Cohn – When you go to the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, there is one man’s influence you will see more than anyone else’s. No, it’s not the Father of Country Music Jimmie Rodgers, or the first King of Country Hank Williams. It’s the timeless work of Ukrainian refugee turned Western clothier Nudie Cohn.

It was the music of artists such as Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Porter Wagoner, and Gram Parsons that made them famous. But the image we all conjure of these artists whenever their music comes to mind sprang from the imagination of Nudie Cohn. Hank’s famous white suit with the black musical notes waterfalling down the sleeves and legs was a master work of Nudie Cohn.

Porter Wagoner eventually owned 52 Nudie Suits, with each one costing roughly $11,000 to $18,000 (not adjusted for inflation). The Gram Parsons suit worn as part of the Flying Burrito Brothers’ The Gilded Palace of Sin album in 1969 with the pills and marijuana leaves emblazoning the coat was a Nudie Suit. The artists who didn’t wear Nudie Suits in country music’s classical era were easier to count than the ones that did, while wearing the suits crossed well over into the rock and popular music world.

When Nudie Cohn passed away on May 9th, 1984 at the age of 81, many country music stars attended the funeral, and mourned his passing as if he was one of their own—not a servant or a side participant in the music, but an equal player. Much of Nudie Cohn’s work is already in the Hall of Fame, including the Pontiac Bonneville convertible with the pistol door handles and rifle sidebars designed for Webb Pierce. It’s time now that Nudie Cohn the man be enshrined in the Hall of Fame as well.

MORE LIKELY INDUCTEES:

Bob Kingsley – The long-time radio host of America’s Country Countdown, and a well-beloved member of the country radio DJ community, Kingsley would be a great pick that the public would actually know as opposed to another label executive.

Tony Brown – Perhaps the greatest modern music producer in country music, Tony Brown is responsible for the vast majority of the catalogs of artists such as George Strait, Vince Gill, and Reba McEntire, along with selections from Brooks & Dunn, The Mavericks, Steve Earle, Patty Loveless, and many more. He was also the President of MCA Nashville for a stint, so if you want to induct another label executive, Tony Brown would qualify too. He’s a behind-the-scenes guy that even most moderate country fans are aware of.

Irving Waugh – A fixture of WSM, he started as a radio announcer in for the legendary radio station in 1941. He would go on to serve as as commercial manager, general manager, vice president, and president of WSM’s radio and TV operations, including president from 1968 to 1978. There is a CMA Award named after him that recognizes, “An individual who is the originator and caretaker of demonstrated ideas and actions that have dramatically broadened and improved Country Music’s influence on a national or international level for the benefit of the industry as a whole.”

One name that will hopefully NOT be considered is Mike Curb. Despite his philanthropic practices towards the Hall of Fame, his dubious past of dealing with artists should preclude him from any consideration.

© 2025 Saving Country Music