 Groundbreaking
vocal group, The Oak Ridge Boys,
became one of the newest inductees into
the Country Music Hall of Fame during a
star-studded emotional Medallion Ceremony
on October 25, 2015. Considered country
music’s most prestigious event, the
ceremony is the official induction of new
Hall of Fame members.
Alongside fellow 2015 Inductees Jim Ed
Brown and The Browns, and studio session
great Grady Martin, The Oak Ridge Boys
were feted with heartfelt testimonials
and memorable performances of songs they
made famous. The artists paying tribute
varied widely in ages, backgrounds, and
styles, which underscored the eclectic
nature and crossover appeal of the
musical contributions of the artists
being honored.
"These men and women distinguished
themselves through virtuosity, harmony
and heart,” said Jody Williams, BMI
executive and trustee on the Country
Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s
Board of Officers and Trustees. Williams
filled in for the ceremony’s usual
host, museum CEO Kyle Young, whose mother
died on October 13.
"They have made music that endures
through decades,” Williams
continued. “Tonight, we honor
them-respectfully, formally, and
enthusiastically-as country music
masters.”
The inductions focus on paying tribute to
the inductees, celebrating their stories
with spoken and musical tributes and
original videos that draw on photos,
interviews and performances found in
materials lovingly collected in the
museum’s Frist Library and Archive.
The result conveys the special talents,
personalities and unique stories of each
new Hall of Fame member and underscores
why each inductee deserves the
prestigious honor.
For the musical portion of the tribute
for The Oak Ridge Boys Jeff Hanna of the
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, an emergency
replacement for Chris and Morgane
Stapleton, whose travel plans were
interrupted by flooding in Texas,
performed “Leaving Louisiana in the
Broad Daylight.” The Rodney Crowell
song had been a #1 hit in 1980 for the
Oak Ridge Boys.
 Next, Garth Brooks and
Trisha Yearwood performed a delicate,
touching version of the love song
“I’ll Be True to You,” The
Oak Ridge Boys’ first #1 hit, in
1978. With Brooks on acoustic guitar as
the only musical accompaniment, Yearwood
sang two verses, with her husband on
harmony. Brooks took the last verse, and
Yearwood joined in for the final chorus.
In a surprise to The Oak Ridge Boys, the
Martin Family Circus bounded onstage.
Featuring Duane Allen’s daughter
Jamie Allen on vocals with support from
her husband, Paul Martin, and their four
children, the group delighted Allen, his
vocal partners and the rest of the
audience with an animated version of
“Elvira.” The children-March,
17; Kell, 14; Texas, 10; and Tallant,
8-proved to be experienced stage
performers as they drew out the
celebratory, whimsical nature of the
singalong hit.
Kenny Rogers, a 2013 Hall of Fame
inductee, inducted the Oak Ridge Boys,
saying, “There’s nowhere
I’d rather be than right here
tonight.” Rogers and the vocal group
often toured together in the 1970s. Each
member of the band spoke about what the
induction meant to him.
The audience at the private celebration
was packed with Hall of Fame members, who
welcomed the new inductees into their
exclusive club. Hall of Famers in
attendance were Bobby Bare, Harold
Bradley, Garth Brooks, Roy Clark, Ralph
Emery, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, Ray
Walker of The Jordanaires, Brenda Lee,
Charlie McCoy, Randy Owen of Alabama,
Kenny Rogers, Connie Smith, and E.W.
“Bud” Wendell.
The evening ended, as always, with a
performance of “Will the Circle Be
Unbroken.” Museum employee and ace
guitarist Ben Hall, started the song off,
performing an instrumental verse and
chorus as the Hall of Fame members
gathered at the front of the stage. The
Oak Ridge Boys took turns singing the
verses, with all the Hall of Famers
present-and the theater audience-joining
in on the choruses.www.OakRidgeBoys.com • www.CountryMusicHallOfFame.org
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