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3 legends join Country Music Hall of Fame





Connie Smith stands with her husband Marty Stuart as he was formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Connie Smith stands with her husband Marty Stuart as he was formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Three troubadours extraordinaire concluded three uniquely remarkable journeys by moseying on into the Country Music Hall of Fame together at sundown on Sunday.

Country singer-songwriters Marty Stuart, Dean Dillon and Hank Williams Jr. formally received the honorary medallions signifying their arrival on hallowed ground at CMA Theater, where the legends put into perspective some of the more enthralling stories adorning the walls of country music history.

Marty Stuart — Modern Era Artist

First up was five-time Grammy Award winner Marty Stuart, who took his mandolin and guitar from the Mississippi revival stage to Nashville immortality.

Stuart began as a touring musician in a gospel group before coming to Nashville and joining up with Lester Flatt’s Nashville Grass in 1972 at the tender age of 13. He then fell in with Johnny Cash’s band in 1980. After jamming with some of the biggest names in both country and rock n’ roll, Stuart eventually landed himself a long-sought solo career.

Hank Williams, Jr. shows off his medallion after he was formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Hank Williams, Jr. shows off his medallion after he was formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

With highly stylized flair that passed the television test with flying colors, Stuart would become known for such hits such as “The Whiskey Ain’t Workin’,” “Tempted,” “Hillbilly Rock,” “Little Things,” “Burn Me Down” and “This One’s Gonna Hurt You (For a Long, Long Time). Later on in his career, he embarked on a more poetic, less mainstream phase with his critically acclaimed album, “The Pilgrim.”

Stuart found his wife in childhood crush and fellow country icon Connie Smith.

“The first two records I ever owned were Lester Flatt and Johnny Cash. The only jobs I’ve had in this town is Lester Flatt and Johnny Cash. Connie came to town when I was 11 years old and I told my momma ‘I’m gonna marry her,’” said Stuart. “My life was set, it was just a matter of growing into it.”

Stuart has since become a longtime member of The Grand Ole Opry and is a highly visible figure in, and advocate for music not only through his music, but also participation in documentaries, television roles and his collection of artifacts.

Hank Williams, Jr. gets down on his knees so Brenda Lee can put his medallion around his neck and formally induct him into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Hank Williams, Jr. gets down on his knees so Brenda Lee can put his medallion around his neck and formally induct him into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

It’s a calling he said he’s long felt.

“The British invasion made a big, big impact on that part of rural Mississippi, everywhere was touched by it, but I felt like in our town that Buck Owens and Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard and Hank Williams needed a correspondent and that became me and my friends,” said Stuart.

“While everybody else was doing “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” we were doing “Wild Flower” and “I’ve Got A Tiger By The Tail” and “Mama Tried” and “Folsom Prison Blues.” It wasn’t a whole heck of a lot different the last time I played. I still feel like a correspondent for the culture of country music, because it’s what I love.”

Stuart was formally inducted by Smith.

Pastor Evelyn Hubbard performed “It’s Time to Go Home,” Ashley McBryde “The Observations of a Crow” and a duo of Emmylou Harris and Charlie Worsham took on “Tempted” in his honor.

Dean Dillion becomes emotional as he is formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Dean Dillion becomes emotional as he is formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Dean Dillon — Songwriting

Next up was a man who wrote his first way-too-worldly song at 11, who hitchhiked away from an abusive and, for a time, abandoning, family to come to Nashville in the 1970s to one become known as “the last of the troubadours.”

“I’m glad the CMA finally got around to the outlaw songwriter division,” said Dillion with his wide hat shading his face, drawing a laugh from the audience.

By the 1980s and early 1990s, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer and native-Tennessean Dean Dillon, born Larry Flynn, was pumping out the hits with a legendary partner.

The 1985 Billboard Country Artist of the Year penned tunes like David Allan Coe’s “Tennessee Whiskey” and a long list of 76 George Strait songs including “She Let Herself Go,” “The Chair,” “Ocean Front Property,” “Marina Del Ray,” “Nobody in His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her,” among 10 No. 1 hits.

Marty Stuart hugs his wife Connie Smith after she formally inducted him into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Marty Stuart hugs his wife Connie Smith after she formally inducted him into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Finding his family in Nashville, he’d also do extensive writing for and with LeAnn Womack, Kenny Chesney, George Jones and Toby Keith, to name a few.

He became emotional when speaking on his transition from performer to songwriter.

“In my heart of heart of hearts, I knew what I loved the most,” said Dillon. “I can honestly sit here and tell you, when it comes to music, it’s the smartest decision I ever made in my life.”

“…George (Strait) was the one who opened my eyes. A bond like this just does not happen,” said Dillon. “I want to thank my sweet lord, for giving me this wonderful gift called songwriting.”

Dillon was formally inducted by Strait.

Strait performed “The Chair,” Chesney “A Lot of Things Different” and Brittney Spencer “Tennessee Whiskey” in his honor.

Hank Williams Jr. —

Veterans Era Artist

Emmylou Harris and Charlie Worsham perform “Tempted” as Dean Dillion, Marty Stuart and Hank Williams, Jr. were formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Emmylou Harris and Charlie Worsham perform “Tempted” as Dean Dillion, Marty Stuart and Hank Williams, Jr. were formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Hank Williams Jr. first shouldered the weight of his legendary father, but broke free of his rather large shadow and built a legend of his own with a southern rock edge.

Born in Louisiana and raised from age 3 without his late namesake father, “Bocephus” had his first hit at 14 with a cover of his father’s “Long Gone Lonesome Blues” in an early career era when he played up his vocal resemblance to his dad.

By the mid 1970s, however, he became his own artist, releasing his watershed southern rock album “Hank Williams Jr. and Friends” in 1975. In that same year, he was nearly killed in a mountain-climbing accident in Montana during which he fell almost 500 feet onto rock, suffering multiple skull and facial fractures.

After years of work and several surgeries that symbolically had him learn to talk and sing again, Williams Jr. grew his famous beard, and donned his sunglasses and hat to hide his scars.

Between 1979 and 1990, he landed 30 Top Ten singles on the country charts, including eight number ones and numerous Entertainer of the Year Awards. His resume boasts the everlasting “Country Boy Can Survive,” and “Family Tradition.” He also reached non-country fans by being the voice behind the “Monday Night Football” theme.

Alan Jackson performs

Alan Jackson performs “The Blues Man” as Dean Dillion, Marty Stuart and Hank Williams, Jr. were formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

“Well the good thing is, this didn’t happen yesterday, which was the opening day of deer season,” began Williams, drawing a laugh.

Williams spoke on the totality of his career, keeping it short, sweet and appropriately bombastic.

“… That part about that (country music) family with the open arms, well that might have been a little bit different in my case,” said Williams “… But I went to Muscle Shoals, Alabama. … and all my rowdy friends are coming over tonight … I was born to boogie and this is a family tradition!”

Williams Jr. was formally inducted by Brenda Lee.

Erich Church performed “Country Boy Can Survive,” Shooter Jennings “Feelin’ Better” and Alan Jackson “The Blues Man” in his honor.

Eric Church performs

Eric Church performs “Country Boy Can Survive, as Dean Dillion, Marty Stuart and Hank Williams, Jr. were formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

George Strait performs

George Strait performs “The Chair,” as Dean Dillion, Marty Stuart and Hank Williams, Jr. were formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Kenny Chesney performs “A Lot of Things Different,

Kenny Chesney performs “A Lot of Things Different,” as Dean Dillion, Marty Stuart and Hank Williams, Jr. were formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Brittney Spencer performs

Brittney Spencer performs “Tennessee Whiskey” as Dean Dillion, Marty Stuart and Hank Williams, Jr. were formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Ashley McBryde performs “The Observations of a Crow

Ashley McBryde performs “The Observations of a Crow” as Dean Dillion, Marty Stuart and Hank Williams, Jr. were formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Pastor Evelyn Hubbard performed

Pastor Evelyn Hubbard performed “It’s Time to Go Home” as Dean Dillion, Marty Stuart and Hank Williams, Jr. were formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Dean Dillion, Marty Stuart and Hank Williams, Jr. were formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

Dean Dillion, Marty Stuart and Hank Williams, Jr. were formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday Nov. 21 in Nashville.Larry McCormack / Main Street Nashville

 

 

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