After Dolly Parton, What Country Artists Are Next for Rock Hall?
Dolly Parton will be one of the next inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And despite not really having anything to do with rock and roll, initially asking for her name to be taken out of contention, and ample rock and roll artists and bands wanting to get in but not being considered, the deal with Dolly Parton at this point is done.
As Dolly Parton said, “It was just always my belief—and I think millions of other people out there too—always thought the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was just set up for the greatest people in the rock ‘n’ roll business … I found out later that it’s far more than that, obviously.”
That quote really says so much, speaking to the disconnect and dilemma the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame faces, and has exacerbated for itself by inducting Dolly Parton.
The next question is how the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will consider country performers for induction moving forward. Heretofore, the thought has always been that country artists shouldn’t be considered for the Rock Hall because they have the Country Music Hall of Fame to be enshrined in. Aside from some “early influence” performers who do fairly deserve Rock Hall distinction such as Hank Williams and Johnny Cash, country artists have been pretty much excluded. Until now.
This moment presents a slippery slope for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame where all of a sudden a huge sect of country musicians previously excluded from contention feel like they should be considered for the Rock Hall induction in the coming years, if the institution isn’t dramatically in arrears to many of country’s top performers. This is the reason that despite being a booster for country music, Saving Country Music was opposed to Dolly Parton’s Rock Hall induction, under the spirit of being respectful to our rock neighbors, and since we wouldn’t want rock artists infiltrating the Country Music Hall of Fame, unless they had significant ties to the music like Elvis Presley and The Everly Brothers, who are both Country Hall members.
So to either illustrate just what a slippery slope the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is now sliding down, or perhaps to advocate for country artists now that the Rock Hall’s doors have been open wide to country performers, below is a list of other country artists who under the new reality of Rock Hall eligibility illustrated by Dolly Parton’s induction should be seriously considered in the coming years.
Willie Nelson
If there is a musical and cultural equivalent to Dolly Parton from the country music world that Dolly’s induction would make compulsory, it would be Willie Nelson. His music and persona crosses genres, he enjoyed a successful career in acting just like Dolly, he’s known worldwide as a humanitarian and a man of peace just like Dolly, and similar to Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson is beloved by all.
If anything, Willie Nelson has even more credibility for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame than Dolly. When Willie Nelson launched the second phase of his career from Texas, he was considered as more of a rock-oriented country artist. Watch him perform his song “Bloody Mary Morning” on the pilot episode of Austin City Limits and try to disagree. In fact, Jan Reed’s book on the rise of the Austin, TX music scene with Willie Nelson on the front is called The Improbable Rise of Redneck Rock. When Willie left his label RCA, he signed with the rock label Atlantic.
And not only was Willie Nelson partly responsible for the first Platinum-selling album in country music history with the rock-infused compilation Wanted: The Outlaws from 1976, his album of rock and pop standards called Stardust from 1978 became the genre’s first album to be certified Triple Platinum, and went on to help make Willie Nelson the highest-grossing touring artist by 1984.
If we’re putting country artists in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Willie Nelson’s exclusion is a travesty.
Garth Brooks
It’s pretty simple: If the philosophy is that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is simply a popular music hall of fame that country artists shouldn’t be excluded from, how can you leave out the biggest, most successful, most popular American-born music artist of all time in Garth Brooks? Aside from The Beatles and Elvis Presley, nobody has ever been bigger, and Garth has now even surpassed many of their established records.
The question isn’t if Garth Brooks should be put in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but how many years in arrears is the Rock Hall for not making it happen sooner? Garth should have been put in a decade ago, and unlike Dolly Parton, Garth actually has a history with rock music, not just from his heavily rock-influenced arena and stadium shows, but his alter-ego rock persona Chris Gaines, whose rock album sold well over 2 million copies.
Some will writhe at the idea of putting Garth in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and specifically because of things like his Chris Gaines persona. But following the logic of the Dolly Parton induction, Garth’s induction is beyond past due.
George Strait
If the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is an institution for all popular music irrespective of genre, it is impossible to justify how this generation’s King of Country Music has yet to be inducted. With the most #1 singles of any artist in country music history, and as one of the highest ticket price-drawing artist in modern history, the case can be made that “King” George Strait is the most important and successful country artist ever.
Ironically, he’s also probably the most country artist that would ever be considered for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. George Strait has absolutely no rock and roll credentials to speak of, aside from perhaps covering Tom Petty in concert upon occasion. But neither does Dolly Parton, and commercially and statistically, George Strait was significantly more successful in music than Dolly. Thus, he should have probably been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame years ago.
Charley Pride
Racism. RACISM! If the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is all about inducting popular music artists regardless of genre—which is evidenced by their Dolly Parton induction—then how can you leave the Jackie Robinson of Country Music, an unquestionable Top 10 country music legend of all time, and the owner of 29 #1 country singles out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? There’s only one conclusion that I can come to, and that is that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is institutionally racist, and is excluding Charley Pride because he is Black. To erase this racist legacy of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Charley Pride must be inducted immediately.
In all seriousness, if the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is serious about inclusion (and remember, Dolly Parton’s induction was born from calls for more women inductees), then Charley Pride has to be considered. Think about it like this: During the heyday of RCA Records, Elvis Presley was the legendary label’s biggest artist. Who was the label’s 2nd biggest artist? It was Charley Pride. He’s clearly a much more successful and influential artist to popular music than many of the current Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees.
Conway Twitty
Out of all the names you could come up with from the top tier of country music performers over the decades, nobody has stronger rock and roll credentials that should make him a shoo-in for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame than Conway Twitty. In fact, throughout Conway’s country music career, many of country’s purists scoffed at his inclusion in the genre because he’d commenced his career as a successful rock and roll and rockabilly performer.
First recording under his given name of Harold Lloyd Jenkins, he actually got his start at Sun Records in Memphis working with Sam Phillips, just like so many of the foundational rock and roll greats already in the Rock Hall. Though none of his singles were released via Sun, he did write the song “Rockhouse” for Sun’s Roy Orbison. After changing his name to Conway Twitty to be more memorable, he cut a couple of singles for Mercury Records before signing with MGM, and launching a successful rock and roll career.
Conway Twitty’s 1958 song “It’s Only Make Believe” didn’t just go #1 in America, it went #1 in over 21 countries, and sold over 4 million copies. It was a massive rock and roll success. Conway had two other Top 10 hits in “Danny Boy” and “Lonely Blue Boy,” and nine total Top 40 hits as a rock artist before deciding to transition to country.
In country, Conway Twitty dominated the genre for some 35 years. Nobody except George Strait amassed more #1 singles. Conway had 55 of them before all was said and done, and may have enjoyed more if it wasn’t for declining health. But the only CMA Awards Conway ever won was for his duo work with Loretta Lynn. Why? Because much of the country establishment considered Conway a rock and pop artist interloping in country music, especially since so many of his biggest songs had sexual undertones more indicative of rock than country.
The case for Conway Twitty being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame might be the strongest one of all.
Buck Owens
Though he’s not as flashy of a name as some others, the influence of Buck Owens over rock and roll and popular American music from the position of a country artist is virtually unparalleled aside from the “early influence” artists such as Hank Williams and Johnny Cash who are already in.
Based in Bakersfield, California as opposed to Nashville, Buck Owens and his music was right there as the West Coast emerged as one of the most important and influential proving grounds for rock and roll that ultimately influenced the rest of the entire popular music world, exemplified when The Beatles covered Buck’s “Act Naturally” on their 1965 album HELP! Buck’s heavily rhythmic style, along with hot guitar licks and harmonies served by guitarist Don Rich were essential in the formation of 60s rock and roll.
Though Buck’s “aw shucks” persona seen on Hee-Haw for decades obscures just how influential he was in rock, charting 14 straight #1 singles in country between 1962 and 1967, and another four more before the end of the decade—including multiple songs like “Tiger By The Tale” that crossed over into pop and rock—made Buck foundational not just to the mop-topped Beatles, but an entire generation of rock and rollers.
Waylon Jennings
If you put Dolly in, and Willie in, you’d have to put Waylon in. After all, he’s the man most responsible for revolutionizing country music through the Outlaw movement, and he did it directly inspired by rock and roll.
It was Waylon’s drummer and right hand man Richie Albright who said to a frustrated Waylon in the early 70s, “There’s another way of doing things, and that’s rock n’ roll.” Albright not only meant adding more of a back beat and attitude to country music, he also meant adding more freedom. In the 70s, most rock outfits were allowed to record their own songs with their own bands, while country artists were under the thumb of producers like Chet Atkins making those decisions for them. Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Bobby Bare before them revolutionized that system, inspired by the rock and roll icons of the time.
But Waylon’s affiliation with rock and roll goes much deeper, all the way to one of the original founders of the rock and roll sound, and one of the original inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Waylon Jennings played bass in the band of Buddy Holly when The Crickets took a hiatus. In fact, Waylon was supposed to be on that ill-fated plane that crashed on February, 3rd, 1959 that took Buddy Holly’s life, memorialized as “The Day The Music Died.” Waylon gave his seat up to “The Big Bopper” J. P. Richardson.
Waylon saw and participated in rock and roll in its very infant stages, and then a decade later used its unbridled freedom to revolutionize country music. If country artists deserve to be in the rock and roll Hall of Fame, Waylon Jennings has to be at near or top of the list.
Loretta Lynn
If more women is what the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame wants, and you want to expand that search to the women of country music, look no further than Loretta Lynn. She may not be an internationally-recognized cultural icon like Dolly Parton is, or have a similar resume of acting and crossover success. But Loretta Lynn has meant more to country music than any other woman. Yes, arguably even more than Dolly Parton.
Loretta Lynn truly is a rock star, personifying and embodying everything that a strong country woman constitutes, putting her struggles and perils in songs that had a significant impact on American culture far beyond the country radio dial. Speaking openly about infidelity, divorce, contraception, and equal rights for women has also made her a groundbreaker in American music.
When she appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone on May 5th, 1977, Lynn said, “It’s a strange deal. I’m supposed to be a country singer, writing songs about marriage and family and the way normal folks live. But mostly I’m living in motel rooms and traveling on my special bus,” underscoring just how much Loretta Lynn was a rock star during the heyday of her career.
Merle Haggard
Well of course Merle Haggard should be considered. Ask most any rock and roll artist from the 70s, and they’ll tell you Merle Haggard influenced either their sound or songwriting. Similar to Buck Owens but just a little later in the timeline, Merle Haggard being based in Bakersfield meant he was regularly being heard by the rock and rollers in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and influencing their sound significantly. Similar to Buck’s guitar player Don Rich, Merle’s Roy Nichols laid down licks that ultimately make their way into rock tracks.
This is why Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Byrds, The Grateful Dead, Keith Richards, and Lynyrd Skynyrd all covered Merle Haggard songs. And while being known as a songwriter revered far and wide in the music world, Merle Haggard was one of country music’s biggest superstars. Amassing 38 #1 singles over 21 years, Merle Haggard is clearly a Top 5 performer in country music history.
Maddox Brothers and Rose
One can make the case that Maddox Brothers and Rose are one of the most influential bands of all time in American music. When the Maddox Brothers began, they didn’t even call it country music yet, it was called “hillbilly music,” yet the Maddox Brothers didn’t play hillbilly music exclusively. They mixed it with boogie woogie, which would later become rock & roll. The Maddox Brothers influence also came into play in the combination of hillbilly and boogie woogie that came to be known as rockabilly.
Rose Maddox has been called anywhere from the queen, to the mother, to the grandmother of rockabilly, and brother Fred Maddox who played upright bass is given credit for developing the slap bass approach to the instrument that was foundational to rock and roll.
The Maddox Brothers and Rose—also known as “The World’s Most Colorful Hillbilly Band” for their bright embroidered Western suits—had significant influence on Elvis Presley both sonically and stylistically.
We were playing a show with Elvis in Beaumont, TX at the auditorium.” Don Maddox recalled in 2012. “A package show. And we had on our fancy outfits, the ones with the bell bottoms on them and all the flowers and all of that stuff. Elvis, he was just coming on the scene at that time. And they came in with their street clothes. That’s all they had at that time. It was pretty hot down in Beaumont so we took off our fancy jackets and hung them in the dressing room backstage. And when we came off stage and went back there to get our jackets, Elvis had on one of our fancy jackets and was parading backstage and he said, ‘One of these days I’m going to get a fancy outfit like this.’
George Jones
The only reason George Jones is being mentioned last here is because he would be repulsed by the idea of being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and would flatly insist his name never be associated with such a distinction. In truth, many of the country artists that could be considered would probably take similar stances. After all, that’s what Dolly Parton did originally. But unquestionably, George Jones is one of the biggest, and most popular country artists of all time, and so if we’re enshrining country artists in the Rock Hall (and apparently we are), he has to be in the conversation.
In fact, early in George Jones’s career, he was convinced to cut a few rockabilly tunes after the success of Elvis, giving him at least some rock and roll cred. But Jones did so reluctantly, and under the pseudonym Thumper Jones, later saying, “I didn’t want to be shamed with it,” and tried to destroy the masters. This is an example of the dichotomy of putting country artists into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Even still, though there have been higher grossing artists in country history, perhaps more “popular” artist by arbitrary measures, or better or more prolific songwriters, as a singer, George Jones was singular, and he deserves distinction in the greater pantheon of popular music.
The Slippery Slope
If you put Dolly Parton in, and Loretta Lynn in, then you would also have to put in their contemporary of Tammy Wynette. Once Tammy’s in, you’d have to seriously consider Patsy Cline, and the true queen of country music, Kitty Wells, while Emmylou Harris‘s interfacing with the rock world via Gram Parson, Mark Knopfler, and others would also make her a worthy nominee.
If you induct Garth Brooks, you’d have to consider the rest of country music’s “Class of ’89,” which also including Alan Jackson, the Southern rock-inspired Travis Tritt, and Clint Black. These were the men that led country music into stadiums. Randy Travis set the stage for the Class of ’89. He’d have to be considered too. So would Dwight Yoakam, who came up in cowpunk, and like Merle and Buck, inspired many rock artists while based on the West Coast.
Where would an artist like Glen Campbell fit in all of this? With his huge crossover success and session work as a guitarist, he had a huge influence in rock.
And how about more modern artists? Canadian Shania Twain may be a better candidate for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame now than for the Country Hall of Fame, seeing how her big transition to pop is what sent her into the stratosphere. She’s certainly a bigger pop star than many of the Rock Hall’s other inductees. Same for Kenny Chesney, who’s been one of the most consistent stadium draws in all of popular music since the late 90s.
And looking at more modern day “country” artists, it’s unquestionable that Eric Church is just a rock artist in the country space. Same could be said for Jason Aldean, and in some respects, Chris Stapleton. Should they be considered in the coming years for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction?
And so on, and so forth, with scores of names left out here, many more that will be suggested by fans incensed they weren’t even considered here until you have 50, maybe 60 artists fans of country music and beyond will insist should be considered for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, while major prominent rock and roll outfits continue to be overshadowed by superstar names decidedly outside to the rock music genre.
But hey, Dolly Parton is in. Congratulations.
May 6, 2022 @ 9:49 am
Rock and roll hall is a joke and has been for a long time and why they thought Dolly was the one to induct is beyond me. Couldn’t care less who they let in anymore.
May 6, 2022 @ 9:55 am
The rock hall should really just drop all pretense and rename itself the Music Hall of Fame at this point.
May 6, 2022 @ 10:21 am
Well, if they do that, then they are dramatically in arrears to country music, and have been systematically excluding country artists for the last decade-plus they’ve been inducting pop and hip-hop stars on a regular basis. All ten of the artists highlighted should be put in immediately in a bulk class, and country artists should commonly be considered annually
…and just like we’ve seen over the last few years, actual rock artist will be the last ones considered as they’re overshadowed by superstar names.
May 7, 2022 @ 5:22 pm
Well, I think your statement is true but also why have they been excluding country in the first place while inducting soul and hip-hop? They were never just a rock hall so why now the sudden change.
I also wonder if Linda Ronstadt finally getting in impacted this. That is to say they couldn’t think of any other females to bring in from rock so Linda worked with Dolly soooo….
May 6, 2022 @ 9:56 am
can’t name a better rock album than lord of the highway (or country album for that matter). put Joe Ely in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
May 6, 2022 @ 10:03 am
If you put Dolly Parton in … then you would also have to put in….”
Well, there’s the fallacy right there. You make the assumption that who’s in our who’s out of the Rock & Roll Hall has to follow some sort of logic or “fairness” subject to your analysis.
Fact is, they put in whoever they WANT to put in. The love Dolly because of her whole persona–her music, but also the fact that she’s both rural and liberal and inclusive and LGBT friendly–(for a while, Dolly used to hint that she was gay and had long-term relationship with a female traveling companion; then she went back to saying that her marriage to her rarely seen husband is real). Like Johnny Cash, Dolly travels in circles that include presidents of the United States from either party.
If they want to put in some other country stars–I can envision Willie and Campbell, who both earn credit for their guitar skills–they will, but they don’t have to follow anyone’s “logic.”
May 6, 2022 @ 10:14 am
I think Willie & Garth are the obvious choices. Willie for the long stay and impact on music. Garth for the popularity
May 6, 2022 @ 10:36 am
I whole hardheartedly disagree with Garth being honored outside of country music. But he has the distinction of having the most popular country song among people who know zero country music – Friends in Low Places
Every run of the mill Drake or Solja Boi moron fan has heard Friends in Low Places
May 6, 2022 @ 10:16 am
As a true country fan, I do not look at the R&R HOF as any type of actual compliment in any way. But I suppose the recognition is appreciated.
Interestingly enough, I mentioned this to my father, who IS an oldies fan in R&R. And he said that he’s not thrilled with the R&R HOF either, pointing to politics that have kept out stars of oldies R&R out of the HOH unfairly (No idea if his info is current).
May 6, 2022 @ 10:20 am
**A REQUEST FOR TRIGGER**
Sorry but I did not know where else to post this. I have a request:
Could you start a post in which we could then post, thereby creating a poll, of the one most heart-breaking song? We could each post the song that breaks our heart the most and maybe a short reason why.
Thanks.
May 6, 2022 @ 11:01 am
Hey Wayne,
Thanks for the suggestion. I just don’t do these poll-like things, brackets, song battles, etc. It’s just not really my cup of tea. The closest I get is my Album of the Year and Song of the Year stuff, and I try to keep that super informal.
May 6, 2022 @ 6:42 pm
Trigger,
Thanks for the reply. Understand. But man, Dan Seals’ “Everything that Glitters” just breaks my heart then stamps it into the ground.
Keep up the good work and allowing us to post here, even if we do misbehave at times.
May 6, 2022 @ 10:27 am
Slightly surprised Waylon and Conway weren’t already in the hall of fame considering their direct ties to the 50’s rockabilly scene. Putting them in would actually make sense. Glen Campbell would make sense too, considering he was a session musician for several rock artists in the 60’s (Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, etc.). Jerry Reed is another obvious choice. Regardless, the Hall of Fame is a joke. It really is the Pop Music Hall of Fame at this point. It hasn’t been a rock based institution for years.
May 6, 2022 @ 10:32 am
Either George Jones or Merle Haggard! Either of the two carries the most weight as far as their influence outside of Country music because of how big they were inside the country genre.
None of the country acts who got close to sounding Rock (Tritt) carry much significance for simply sounding like a country/rock mix. If that’s the case, they might as well nominate the Desert Rose Band, for example.
Personally I think the RHOF needs to stick to honoring the backlist of rock performers it has.
May 6, 2022 @ 10:57 am
@eric–Probably not the Desert Rose Band, but the main guy there was Chris Hillman, and he’s been in the Rock H-o-F for 30-plus years as part of a somewhat more memorable group called the Byrds. lol.
May 6, 2022 @ 11:12 am
The other guys in that band JayDee Manes (Steel Guitar) John Jorgenson (guitar) Herb Pedersen all played with other high profile Rock acts. Desert Rose Band wasn’t nearly as big as the other acts listed here, but their members Chris Hillman most specifically, were important in rock music.
I don’t think they should be nominated, was more trying to make a point. Gram Parsons band NEEDS to be nominated. Glaring omission
May 6, 2022 @ 10:52 am
Great article. I’ve never paid much attention to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but you make some really good cases for these country legends. Conway should already be in the hall. I hope King George never gets in because he’s pure country and they shouldn’t be so honored have him.
I really enjoyed listening to some of the classics while reading this article at work today. You even had me listening to the Big Bopper. Now, if I can only get Chantilly Lace out of my head…
May 6, 2022 @ 11:12 am
George Thorogood, The Guess Who for exMple.
May 13, 2022 @ 7:51 am
Also Grand Funk , Steppenwolf , Three Dog Night, Carpenters, Phil Collins , Dan Fogelberg , Grassroots , Iron Butterfly , Monkees ,
May 6, 2022 @ 11:17 am
Well…
…The Trailer Choir, LoTrash, Walker Hayes, Old Dominion, Jason Aldean, Brantley Gilbert & heavy metal god Gary LeVox…
…oops…
…we are talking about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame…
…let’s see…
…Tanya Tucker!
May 19, 2022 @ 12:53 pm
Jason Aldean is pop country crap like over rated cover singers George Strait and Garth Brooks and Brantley Gilbert is basically rap, they don’t belong in the R&R HOF
May 6, 2022 @ 12:20 pm
What about Vince Gill? He joined the Eagles, probably the most successful rock band of all time in terms of album sales.
May 6, 2022 @ 1:03 pm
And Gill was also a member of Pure Prairie League.
May 7, 2022 @ 3:02 pm
And asked by Mark Knopfler to join Dire Straits. Appeared on their last album, On Every Street.
May 6, 2022 @ 12:32 pm
Hmmm I thought there were some smart people round these parts…nobody yet picked the obvious shoo-in, Mickey Guyton? Losers
May 6, 2022 @ 1:04 pm
How about Uncle Tupelo?
May 6, 2022 @ 1:14 pm
Shaking my head at the whole situation. On the flip side the Country Music Hall of Fame is SO restrictive, but at least it has stayed specific to the genre.
May 6, 2022 @ 1:17 pm
There’s one artist I’m surprised you didn’t mention and that’s Ronnie Millsap. I believe he was one of the first country artists to fully embrace the electric guitar and put it front and center instead of in the background, especially in terms of solos.
May 6, 2022 @ 10:07 pm
Ronnie Milsap is another good name. That’s the thing, if country artists can qualify for the Rock Hall, there are scores of eligible candidates.
May 6, 2022 @ 1:35 pm
The rock n roll hall of Fame has long ago lost any sense of credibility. With all the hip hop artist and such and now dolly. Might as well just let anyone that picked up an instrument or sang a song in. About the same difference.
May 6, 2022 @ 2:11 pm
Maddox Brothers & Rose belong in some hall of fame! Their music, and look influenced rock and roll and country and deserve some kind of recognition. And their story would make a great movie too!
May 6, 2022 @ 2:15 pm
Sturgill is also automatically inducted due to his receiving more GRAMMY nominations in the Rock category than Dolly.
May 6, 2022 @ 2:31 pm
I agree with a lot of those, but definitely Kristofferson, Mickey Newbury as a writer in a perfect world. I really agree about Glen Campbell though.
May 6, 2022 @ 2:42 pm
Jason Aldean is the obvious answer.
May 6, 2022 @ 3:03 pm
What are we aiming for? The Monogenre Hall of Fame?
I’m kidding. Kind of.
May 6, 2022 @ 3:33 pm
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has not done a good job of honouring the early rock and roll artists including Conway Twitty. If you’re looking at an Early Influence, it’s definitely the Maddox Brothers & Rose.
Both Dolly Parton & Glen Campbell had two number one singles on the Hot 100. Campbell also was a member of the Wrecking Crew & a touring member of the Beach Boys replacing Brian Wilson.
It’s great to see a Marty Robbins throwback car at Darlington this weekend, but he was more than a racer with six top ten finishes in NASCAR’s premier series. The Country Music Hall of Fame member had three top three hits on Billboard’s Hot 100 including “Don’t Worry” which led to the introduction of the Maestro FZ-1 Fuzz-Tone produced by Gibson. A cover of Marty country chart topper “Singing the Blues” also reached the top of the Hot 100 while Marty’s version crossed over and stalled at 17 on the Hot 100 due in large part to Mitch Miller. Marty was also the first artist to chart with “That’s All Right Mama” taking it into the top ten of the country charts in 1956.. Rock’n Roll’n Robbins (also the title of a 1956 release on Columbia) deserves to be there along with Campbell, Twitty, and the Maddox Brothers & Rose.
May 6, 2022 @ 4:38 pm
Kenny Rogers should definitely be included in this list.
May 6, 2022 @ 10:09 pm
Kenny is another good name. Thanks to “Islands in the Stream,” his name is synonymous with Dolly, and he was a huge popular name with crossover success. He also started out in a rock band, The First Edition. Rogers should definitely be considered.
May 6, 2022 @ 4:48 pm
In 1992,when Johnny Cash went into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the conventional wisdom was this was the end of his career. If you watch the jam on You Tube , it is a little embarrassing (only Keith Richards knows how “Big River” goes), but we now know Cash (and Rubin) had a few more surprises up their sleeves. This could be another career boost for Dolly.
May 6, 2022 @ 6:05 pm
The Publicity Stunt Hall of Fame is more like it.
May 6, 2022 @ 8:55 pm
Conway Twitty had 18 Million records sold as a rock singer, and had 3 No. 1 Hits worldwide, “It’s Only Make Believe” (in 21 countries), “Mona Lisa” (in Australia), and “Danny Boy” (in Canada and Italy).
His singles, “It’s Only Make Believe” and “Lonely Blue Boy” were given Gold Discs for 1 million or more in sales.
He inspired the lead character “Conrad Birdie” for the Broadway play and film, “Bye, Bye Birdie” and he personally appeared in three MGM films.
If Dolly Parton is worthy of the rock-and-roll hall of fame, needless to say Conway Twitty should be a shoe-in.
Time will tell. Dolly’s inclusion may open some doors.
May 6, 2022 @ 9:26 pm
My own personal opinion is that, when it comes to country artists being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the three on my list would be Willie Nelson (and not just for his “outlaw” material, which made him crossover huge from the late 1970’s to the present); Emmylou Harris (not only for her connection to Gram Parsons, but for having had her combination of traditionalism and progressive values championed among the rock sect by her Trio pal and 2014 inductee Linda Ronstadt); and Glen Campbell (for the aforementioned reasons).
What is kind of remarkable about Dolly getting into the RRHoF is that she is getting in there with no fewer than three other women: Pat Benatar; Carly Simon (she of “You’re So Vain” fame); and Annie Lennox (as one-half of The Eurhythmics, with Dave Stewart). Usually, they only induct one female artist or group at a time, when they do it at all.
May 7, 2022 @ 7:39 am
And don’t forget Sylvia, the early rock and roll/70s soul/and early rap impresaria, not the early 80s country/pop singer. Is impresaria a word? It should be, but maybe it would be frowned on these days.
May 7, 2022 @ 10:42 am
Yes; and for anyone’s information, the Sylvia you’re referring to is Sylvia Robinson, who also had a big #1 pop hit in 1973 with “Pillow Talk”, and, in 1956, a #1 R&B/#11 pop hit with R&B guitarist Mickey Baker called “Love Is Strange”.
May 6, 2022 @ 11:07 pm
Thanks for the laugh!
May 6, 2022 @ 11:23 pm
One thing I will say in the R&R Hall of Fame’s defense: At least they hold a ceremony (with jam sessions) that fans can actually view. Apparently the Country Music Hall of Fame doesn’t want to grant the unwashed masses access.
May 7, 2022 @ 7:27 am
This is true.
May 6, 2022 @ 11:55 pm
I am so happy for Dolly, I think alot of people who are whining and crying are going to be shocked about how many people listed here, WILL NOT MAKE IT INTO THE RARHF. maybe garth and Willie, but no one else, Dolly did a rock album, the straight talk sound track, why trigger and just about every one else ignore this, I will never know, she did Imagine, the John Lennon song, she has sang with Elton John, Kelly Clarkson. And other rock and pop stars, so yes, she had pop singles, Jolene , 9 to 5, two doors down, and you’ll come again, were not country THEY WERE POP SONGS AND STRAIGHT TALK, from her pop soundtrack, she has done enough to be in the rock and roll hall of fame, sorry trigger but you and the other people crying about this need to grow up and get the hell over it, if you don’t think she belongs, you are WRONG, and have not been paying very close attention to Dolly’s career, so congratulations Dolly, regardless of what some people say, YOU DESERVE IT.
May 7, 2022 @ 8:04 am
When I want to listen to rock n roll I always listen to Dolly Parton.
May 6, 2022 @ 11:57 pm
I don’t know, I’d say there’s a certain logic to what they’re doing. Dolly had pop hits. If you remove pop and rap artists from the pool of HOF contenders, what’s left? Rock as a stand alone genre basically died with Kurt Cobain. You’d nominate all the greats from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and then you’d be left with nothing but obscure indie bands and you’d be out of business.
May 7, 2022 @ 1:56 am
Many country artists are more influential than successful in the rock genre and that’s where they belong, in the influencer category. Vote gram and Emmy Lou in together. That’s the way they’d have wanted it
May 7, 2022 @ 2:33 am
I sure wouldn’t consider Kenny Rogers.
Country rock and pop country are two different things.
A Joe Ely or a Steve Earle, I could see. But not Kenny or Glen Campbell.
May 7, 2022 @ 5:53 am
Sorry trigger you are wrong , Dolly has recorded a pop album, straight talk the sound track, 9 to 5, two doors down, he’ll come again, Jolene, Imagine, are all pop songs and has recorded with pop singers like Kelly Clarkson. Do your home work and get your facts straight, she DESERVES to be in there, if you don’t like it too bad, you have no clue about Dolly’s career, stop acting like a 5 yr old and do your job.
May 7, 2022 @ 7:22 am
Sorry, I’m just now figuring out this music stuff. I’ll make sure I do my home work next time before commenting.
May 7, 2022 @ 7:23 am
Sorry, I’m just figuring out some of this music stuff. Haven’t been doing this for very long. Next time I’ll make sure I do my home work.
May 10, 2022 @ 10:11 pm
Dolly, when she originally declined the Rock Hall’s pre-vote, said she has never recorded a rock album. Pop and rock are not the same genre. I know it’s hard to understand for some folks. However, Dolly did say if she was inducted, she would have to record a rock record.
So before you have a mental melt down and accuse people of not getting their facts straight, you might want to take your own advice and do your homework. Dolly belongs in the Rock Hall about as much as Led Zeppelin belongs in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
May 7, 2022 @ 6:08 am
I do agree with Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, and Shania Twain as possible future inductees into the HOF. I would add Glen Campbell and Kenny Rogers. However, there are so many rock music artists and rock bands that should and deserve to be inducted into the rock and roll HOF before most cm artists. This 2022 list of HOF inductees has something for everyone except fans of rock bands. I do love Dolly for different reasons and glad she’s an inductee. A big NO for Jason Aldean at any time. ????????
May 7, 2022 @ 7:42 am
As a listener of many classical country music artists I was also on the fence to whether Dolly Parton deserved the R and R HOF induction. Doing some research her singles stats on the Hot 100 chart (including 2 number 1’s) makes her number 3 on the rankings column with the other inductees (behind only Eminem and Lionel Richie). Also her songs have been covered by artist from other diverse music generes and she is the songwriter of one of the largest pop hit songs (I will always love you) covered by Whitney Houston that still has a strong influence in pop music. Dolly Parton is a genre fluid singer which means she is able to crossover to other genres of music. You cannot say this about Loretta Lynn, Reba Mcentire or Kitty Wells who had the country twang that made crossover virtually impossible. Lastly she does influence artists from the other genres of music, so you could say she has solid ground to stand on for induction into the R and R HOF and will join Brenda Lee as the only women in both major hall of fames. I believe both are deserving of the honor because their talent transcended the genre of music they started in.
May 7, 2022 @ 8:08 am
Eminem and Dolly Parton going into the rock n roll hall of fame is just sad.
May 7, 2022 @ 8:09 am
Waylon Jennings & Hank Jr. Easy choices.
May 17, 2022 @ 1:03 pm
I agree 100%, but the R&R HOF will probably induct overrated country singers like George Strait, Garth Brooks and Tim McGraw
May 7, 2022 @ 8:46 am
David Fuckin Allan Fuckin Coe.
May 8, 2022 @ 1:54 pm
Is that you, Tyler?
May 7, 2022 @ 12:42 pm
The best comment about Conway Twitty came from the late, great, Lewis Grizzard, who said, “I want Conway to take a long, cold shower before he goes into the recording studio!”
May 7, 2022 @ 1:42 pm
Waylon or Willie (of course)…
May 7, 2022 @ 2:25 pm
I think it’s a joke that Dolly Parton was inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She was great country artist and songwriter but that doesn’t mean she should be in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, what next George Strait? Garth Brooks? Those two overrated cover singers will probably be next, what a joke. Lost all respect for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
If any country artist deserves to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame it’s Hank Williams Jr. Hank Jr. has did more for rock and roll than Dolly or most any other country artist out there. Hank Jr. deserves to be in the Rock Hall of Fame like his father and His mentor Johnny Cash, his music was transcendental. Waylon also is more deserving than most anyone.
May 7, 2022 @ 5:22 pm
Hey Rich. George Strait doesn’t sing cover songs and he’s a country gentleman. Garth? Over rated.
May 7, 2022 @ 6:43 pm
Hey Sara, all George strait did was sing other people’s songs, he can’t write, he may be a country gentleman and a good singer but he ain’t no artist. As for Garth he’s biggest fraud in country music and he sure fooled a lot of people.
May 7, 2022 @ 5:20 pm
Beastie Boys, Jay Zero (not a typo), etc. are not rock and roll. I like Dolly but she doesn’t deserve to be there either. Country music has more award shows than any other genre, even though it’s more pop than country, and i doubt if they would put the Rolling Stones in the country music hall of fame.
May 7, 2022 @ 5:57 pm
How about what does Cher have to do to get in. No offense to any country artist. I Love Dolly and so happy for her. I like alot of styles of music especially Rock,country,and motown,sappy live songs too. But I do think it’s a shame Cher is not in it. She had a good career with Sonny and then on her own she had a bigger career. If I’m not mistaken she has had a hit in every generation. She does deserve it as well.
May 8, 2022 @ 10:27 am
Hey Trigger what’s the matter with you, you overlooked Hank Jr. for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? If any country artist deserves to be in there it’s Hank Jr. Hank did more for rock n roll than any country artist out there, including Dolly. His music transcended both genres and he collaborated with rock n roll artists. Hell Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino taught him how to play piano when he was a boy.
I think it’s an insult when you consider pop country cover singers like George strait n Garth Brooks for R&R HOF. That’s disgusting
May 8, 2022 @ 10:59 am
As I said in the article, you broach the subject of what country artists should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, “with scores of names left out here, many more that will be suggested by fans incensed they weren’t even considered here until you have 50, maybe 60 artists fans of country music and beyond will insist should be considered for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, while major prominent rock and roll outfits continue to be overshadowed by superstar names decidedly outside to the rock music genre.”
I completely agree Hank Jr. should be considered for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and may be more qualified than anyone else on this list. This is the slippery slope dilemma that the Rock Hall has now opened.
I don’t think the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should have country artists. But if the Rock Hall disagrees and everyone just sees it now as a “Music Hall of Fame,” then it’s my job as a country music booster to advocate for these artists and call out the Rock Hall for being so in arrears with country performers.
May 17, 2022 @ 1:09 pm
There should be very few exceptions of country artists inducted into R&R HOF and Hank Williams, Jr. is one of those exceptions… not Dolly, George Strait or Garth Brooks.
May 8, 2022 @ 3:50 pm
I can see Townes getting in at some point along with Gram Parsons (if he ain’t already.)
Townes certainly had an attitude/vibe that is compatible with a lot of rockers, plus Rolling Stone magazine was a big supporter of his work early on.
May 9, 2022 @ 5:49 am
A civiized society needs standards , rules, order and structure to thrive. Disagree? Then start imagining eliminating standards and watch what happens. In a logical, universe, The RHOF would be a museum dedicated to representing the history and evolution of Rock and Roll as a musical genre. Going forward, the museum would induct the significant artists who contributed to the art of Rock. Think of all the metal, alt- rock, doo-wop, blues rock acts who are not in it. The list is miles long. But….that most certainly is not the goal. Two primary drivers i believe, are guiding the selection process. First, the need to sell tickets, keeping tourism in Cleveland going. 4 things bring people to Cleveland. Browns, Cavaliers, Guardians, ( formerly Indians) and RHOF. They want the place swarming with people of all ages and demographics. They worry that filling the hall with only Rock acts wont resonate with the younger demographic. The second driver is of course political. Inclusion at any cost. Thats why Dollys going in. I do not expect this will open the floodgates to all Country artists. Not their goal. Ive said before that lack of space is an issue. Its a pyramid building and its very full currently. No room to bring in the sheer amount of “worthy acts”. You would need to build another building. Thats a fact. I fully expect in the coming years to only see the most popular of music acts to be inducted. And genre wont be a factor. Its whoever they think will resonate with the target demographics.
May 10, 2022 @ 6:17 am
Why don’t they just quit messing around and rename it “Pop Music Hall of Fame”? That’s what it really is.
May 12, 2022 @ 8:20 am
Johnny Cash for sure. I remember seeing him in NYC in the early 90s, the audience was a sold out sea of Metallica and Slayer shirts, metal kids idolized him cause he was such a badass.
May 12, 2022 @ 8:31 am
Johnny Cash is actually one of the handful of country artists already in, primarily off the strength of his time at Sun Records. He was inducted in 1992.
May 12, 2022 @ 5:08 pm
I am happy about Dolly being inducted but I seriously doubt you are going to see that many other country artists inducted, certainly not people whose audience is almost 100 percent in the standard country market like Loretta, Jones, and Strait. The inductees would have to be people like Dolly and Cash who have huge crossover appeal and even then, only a few like Willie (most obvious choice) will seriously be considered.
And you can even forget acts like Glen Campbell and Kenny Rogers who were indeed as popular in the pop market as in country (maybe more so in Campbell’s case) because the Rock Hall of Fame almost never elects “pop” stars no matter how big: Streisand, Olivia Newton-John, Rick Springfield, Connie Francis, Johnny Mathis, etc.
A potential dark horse though is Skeeter Davis who had many crossover hits in the 60’s and is widely regarded by many rock icons. “The End of the World” being covered by everyone from Mathis and The Carpenters to Mellencamp and Patti Smith. Skeeter’s election would be an awesome bitch slap to the Country Music Hall of Fame for ignoring one of it’s pioneer female solo stars much like Wanda Jackson’s election some years ago.
September 16, 2022 @ 4:35 pm
Charlie Daniels could’ve also been included on this list. His music is generally considered to be just as much southern rock as it is country. “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” was a huge crossover hit, and I’ve heard it several times on classic rock radio stations. His song “Still in Saigon” reached #2 on the rock charts in the 1980s, and he has many other songs that are rock-sounding and rock-influenced.
Also, if we’re talking Dolly, where was Kenny Rogers? Unless I missed his name, I’m surprised he wasn’t mentioned. He was in the band Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, who did make country music, but they also made psychedelic rock music, most notably “Just Dropped In”, which as far as I’m concerned is still a pretty notable song from that era. If we’re considering any country artist that had crossover success, he’s probably the best example. “The Gambler” is one of those songs that even people who hate country will listen to, while “Lady” was ranked by Billboard as the 60th-biggest hit song of all time, of any genre.
December 12, 2023 @ 3:50 am
It saddens me that someone like a rock legend Conway Twitty whom started at Sun recording along with Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis is only in the rockabilly hall of Fame it is not enough credit to his Rock and Roll years and not one of his rock songs was even on the country charts including it’s only make believe and lonely blue boy was not only a rock top ten but also a top twenty r and b you know to some people they can pretend this rock and roll singer meant nothing to them as a rocker but they are the ones whom are without feelings this singer started in 1956 with forming it at the beginning with Elvis and when Elvis went to the army Conway kept it alive and well and when Elvis returned together these two kept it going helping it survive and both singers were dumped by the Rock and roll fans as the British invasion took over changing what rock and roll was and leaving Elvis and Conway no choice but to leave the scene and switch to country oh I know people don’t like to admit Elvis switched but take a listen especially in the 1970s to it’s a matter of time that ain’t rock and roll that’s Elvis country and Bye bye Birdie a movie of rock and roll and play showcasing the careers of not just Elvis but Conway Twitty aka Conrad Birdie you know did all this man’s rock and roll legacy really vanish thirty years ago when he died or am I whom grew up on his rock and roll the only fan who remembers and admits he influenced me and his rock and roll forever changed my life I wish kiss the Rock band could help Conway Twitty as This Lonely Blue Boy Of Rock And Roll is staying that way shut out forgotten and left alone outside of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame But I Haven’t gave up hope that if others do feel the way I do and step forward we will bring Conway Twitty The Lonely Blue Boy 2024 Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame HOME ????
December 12, 2023 @ 4:14 am
Conway Twitty The Lonely Blue Boy Of Rock And Roll is just forgotten for all his nine years involved and yes he is The rocker people seem to forget know it ain’t me that forgets and as long as I live I never will nobody else will either as long as I can talk and as Bye Bye Birdie Still survives So Does Conrad Birdie aka Conway Twitty Rock and roll Fans if you are tired of the way his legacy is together let’s make this next year better then this year sadly remembering his death 30 years ago and together let’s get Conway Twitty The Lonely Blue Boy Of Rock And Roll Home For Good 2024