In keeping with the wishes of the Judd family, who are grieving the sudden passing of Naomi Judd, the Medallion Ceremony proceeded with the formal induction of Eddie Bayers, Ray Charles, Pete Drake and The Judds as the 143rd, 144th, 145th and 146th members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Tonight, in the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s CMA Theater, Bayers, Charles, Drake and The Judds received country music’s highest honor and were tributed with heartfelt remarks and inspired performances of songs associated with their careers. The following is a list of the artists (listed in the order they performed), as well the Hall of Fame members who were personally selected by each inductee to present them with their medallions.
Rose Drake attends the medallion ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)
Pete Drake (Recording and/or Touring Musician category)
Pedal steel guitarist Pete Drake (1932-1988) left a lasting mark not only on country music, but also on rock, gospel and folk music. He played on countless country hits, as well as folk and rock records by Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, George Harrison and Country Music Hall of Fame member Elvis Presley. Drake was honored by:
Johnny Drake and Rose Drake accept Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum induction on behalf of Pete Drake presented by Charlie McCoy and CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Kyle Young
- Elizabeth Cook with “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight”
- Wendy Moten singing “He Stopped Loving Her Today”
- Medallion Presentation: Country Music Hall of Fame member Charlie McCoy
Inductee Eddie Bayers. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)
Eddie Bayers (Recording and/or Touring Musician category)
Top studio drummer Eddie Bayers, who has been a fixture on the Nashville studio scene for more than four decades, developed longstanding working relationships with many artists such as The Judds, Kenny Chesney and Country Music Hall of Fame members Ricky Skaggs, George Strait and Alan Jackson. Artists paying homage to Bayers included:
Vince Gill and CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Kyle Young induct Eddie Bayers (C) into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)
- Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill with “When I Call Your Name”
- Trisha Yearwood performing “Walkaway Joe”
- Medallion Presentation: Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill
Ashley Judd and inductee Wynonna Judd. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)
The Judds (Modern Era Artist category)
Between 1984 and 1991, The Judds (mother Naomi and daughter Wynonna) scored a remarkable 20 Top Ten hits, including 14 #1s, and won five Grammys, nine CMA awards and seven ACM awards. The following artists honored The Judds:
Ashley Judd accepts induction on behalf of Naomi Judd with inductee Wynonna Judd and Ricky Skaggs. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)
- Carly Pearce performing “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Ole Days)”
- Gillian Welch and David Rawlings singing “Young Love”
- Medallion Presentation: Country Music Hall of Fame member Ricky Skaggs
- Tommy Sims with “Love Can Build a Bridge”
Valerie Ervin attends the medallion ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)
Ray Charles (Veterans Era Artist category)
A pioneer of R&B, Ray Charles (1930-2004) was also enormously influential in country music. With his landmark 1962 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, the soulful singer and pianist put his own indelible stamp on country songs, broadening the music’s appeal and audience. Charles was recognized by:
Ronnie Milsap, Valerie Ervin and CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Kyle Young. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)
- The War and Treaty singing “You Don’t Know Me”
- Country Music Hall of Fame member Garth Brooks with “Seven Spanish Angels”
- Bettye LaVette performing “I Can’t Stop Loving You”
- Medallion Presentation: Country Music Hall of Fame member Ronnie Milsap
Marty Stuart performs onstage for the medallion ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)
The ceremony concluded with a performance of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” featuring Country Music Hall of Fame member Marty Stuart.
Produced by the staff of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the annual Medallion Ceremony conveys the unique talents, personalities and backgrounds of each Hall of Fame inductee, as well as the important turning points and the breakthrough artistic achievements that elevated their careers. The ceremony includes speeches, live musical tributes and original video biographies, created by the museum staff using recorded performances, past televised interviews and historic photos culled from materials in the museum’s Frist Library and Archives.
