October 21, 2019
RFD-TV’s own Ray Stevens was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame last night. The premiere country comic, whose Rayality TV and CabaRay both air on RFD-TV, was joined by music industry executive Jerry Bradley and powerhouse duo Brooks & Dunn as the latest stars to be added to the country music firmament, as they were formally inducted during a star-studded Medallion Ceremony in the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s CMA Theater.
Stevens, Bradley, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, who received country music’s highest honor, were celebrated with heart-felt tributes and incredible performances of the songs they made famous. These tributes, performed by artists who were a surprise to both the audience and the inductees, are an annual highlight of the Medallion Ceremony. The following is a list of the artists who paid tribute to each inductee as well as the Hall of Fame member, who they personally selected, to present them with their medallion.
Ray Stevens
Stevens, a singer, songwriter, producer, publisher and multi-instrumentalist, was recognized by:
- Country Music Hall of Fame member Ricky Skaggs and Justin Moses who performed “Misty”
- Keith Bilbrey and James Gregory with a rendition of “The Streak”
- The McCrary Sisters, who were part of the choir that sang on the original recording of this song, with “Everything is Beautiful”
- Medallion Presentation: Country Music Hall of Fame member Ralph Emery
Jerry Bradley
The following artists paid homage to Bradley, who ran RCA records from 1973 to 1982:
- The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s 2019 Artist-in-Residence Marty Stuart and Travis Tritt with “Good Hearted Woman”
- Yola singing “Jolene”
- Old Crow Medicine Show with Molly Tuttle on guitar and Jerry Pendergrast on drums performing “Dixieland Delight”
- Medallion Presentation: Country Music Hall of Fame member Bud Wendell
Brooks & Dunn
The best-selling country duo of all time whose hits include, “My Maria,” “Red Dirt Road” and “Believe,”
was honored by:
- Brothers Osborne with “Brand New Man”
- Luke Bryan with “Red Dirt Road”
- Trisha Yearwood with “Believe”
- Medallion Presentation: Country Music Hall of Fame member Reba McEntire
The ceremony concluded with a performance of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” featuring McEntire and the McCrary Sisters.
Produced by the staff of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the annual Medallion Ceremony honors the inductees by highlighting their life stories, important turning points, and the breakthrough artistic achievements that elevated their careers. The inductees are celebrated with speeches, live musical tributes and original video biographies, created by the museum staff using old and often rare recorded performances, past televised interviews and historic photos culled from materials collected, stored and digitized in the museum’s Frist Library and Archives. The ceremony conveys the unique talents, personalities and backgrounds of each Hall of Fame inductee and highlights why each one deserve this prestigious honor.
(Source: Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)
