Pictured (L-R): Bob DiPiero, songwriter; Jody Williams, CMA Board President-Elect and BMI Vice President of Writer/Publisher Relations; Bill Simmons, CMA Board President and partner at The Fitzgerald Hartley Company; Tony Conway, Conway Entertainment Group President; Sally Williams, CMA Board Chairman and Opry Entertainment Senior Vice President of Programming and Artist Relations, General Manager of the Grand Ole Opry; Stacey Schlitz, SchlitzLaw Founder; Schlitz; Jackson; John Huie, CAA Nashville Co-Head; Terry Calonge, Richards & Southern, Inc. CEO; Jim Beavers, songwriter; Joe Galante, Galante Entertainment Chairman; Steve Buchanan, Opry Entertainment President; and Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. Photo: John Russell / CMA. [Click photo to enlarge]
Reed will be inducted in the “Veterans Era Artist” category, while Jackson will be inducted in the “Modern Era Artist” category. Schlitz will be inducted in the “Songwriter” category, which is awarded every third year in rotation with the “Recording and/or Touring Musician Active Prior to 1980” and “Non-Performer” categories. Reed, Jackson, and Schlitz will increase membership in the coveted Country Music Hall of Fame from 130 to 133 members.
Jackson and Schlitz were on hand for the announcement. Reed, who passed away in 2008, was remembered by daughters Seidina Hubbard and Lottie Zavala.
Hosted by Hall of Fame member and 12-time CMA Awards host Vince Gill, the announcement was made in the Rotunda of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Hall of Fame members including Alabama, Bobby Bare, Bobby Braddock, Charlie Daniels, Connie Smith, The Oak Ridge Boys, and Jo Walker-Meador attended the event.
Pictured (L-R): Hall of Fame members Vince Gill; Jo Walker-Meador; Alabama’s Randy Owen; The Oak Ridge Boys’ Joe Bonsall; Alabama’s Teddy Gentry; Charlie Daniels; Schlitz; Jackson; Connie Smith; Alabama’s Jeff Cook; The Oak Ridge Boys’ William Lee Golden, Richard Sterban, and Duane Allen; and Bobby Bare. Photo: John Russell / CMA. [Click photo to enlarge]
Vince Gill announces the 2017 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees during a press conference Wednesday in Nashville. Photo: John Russell / CMA
Don Schlitz is announced as the “Songwriter” inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame during a press conference Wednesday in Nashville. Photo: John Russell / CMA
Lottie Zavala (l) and Seidina Hubbard honor their late father, Jerry Reed, as he is announced as the “Veterans Era Artist” inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame during a press conference Wednesday in Nashville. Photo: John Russell / CMA
About the Author
Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.View Author Profile
