Reba McEntire has already earned a place among country music’s most respected performers. But now, it’s official. She, along with veteran singer Jean Shephard and songwriter Bobby Braddock are the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The announcement was bittersweet news for the Oklahoma native who was discovered at a rodeo when she sang the National Anthem.
Kix Brooks, one half of the former duo Brooks and Dunn, read a statement from McEntire announcing she’s with her father who is in a coma in Tulsa.
“Thanks again for this wonderful honor. By the way, I told daddy about being inducted two days before he went into the coma. That’s a huge blessing to me, knowing how important it was to him. Love you all, Reba.”
McEntire’s career is among the most prolific of any entertainer in any genre. She’s had 35 number one hits, has a TV show bearing her name, and had a successful run on Broadway.
One of Nashville’s most prolific songwriters, Bobby Braddock, will also be inducted in the Hall of Fame.
Braddock, who started his career as Marty Robbins’ piano player in the 1960’s, has penned a number one hit in every decade since. His last was in 2009 with Billy Currington’s, “People Are Crazy.” During his acceptance speech, Braddock paid tribute to his co-writers.
“Half the songs I’ve written, the hits, were by myself and about another other half were with co-writers, and as I go into the Hall of Fame, I will be, in my mind, be taking those …those folks will be in there with me because without them my career would not have been nearly as big.”
“Grand Lady of the Grand Ole Opry,” Jean Shepard, will join Braddock and McEntire. Shepard was a trailblazer for women in country music, with her strong, independent honky-tonk songs, and by being one of the only women to tour on her own instead of as a duo or as the “girl singer” in a band.
The three artists will be formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame at the annual Medallion Ceremony later this year.
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