The Stanley Brothers

“The Stanley Brothers — Ralph and Carter — were a foundational act in bluegrass,” states a press release from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, issued around midnight CT after the ceremony. “Born in southwestern Virginia, they blended old-time styles of their mountain community with vocal and instrumental techniques adopted from Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs to develop a sound all their own. Carter, the main vocalist, wrote many bluegrass standards, such as ‘The White Dove’ and ‘The Lonesome River.’ Ralph provided tenor vocal harmonies and propulsive banjo playing. Their 20-year partnership ended with Carter’s death in 1966, but Ralph continued for another 50 years. Together their music influenced many artists, including Bob Dylan, Patty Loveless, Ricky Skaggs and Keith Whitley.”

Billy Strings delivered the first performance of the evening with a rendition of “How Mountain Girls Can Love.” Next, Vince Gill teamed up with Ricky Skaggs to perform “Rank Stranger,” and the First Ladies of Bluegrass sang “Bound to Ride.” The group recently released a cover of the song on a tribute album to The Stanley Brothers featuring late legend Dolly Parton, whose voice could be heard on a track during the Medallion Ceremony performance. Gill returned to the stage to present families of the late legends with medallions and unveil The Stanley Brothers’ plaque.

“I just want to say, you know, it’s great to finally see my dad, Ralph, and my Uncle Carter make the Country Music Hall of Fame. It’s well-deserved,” Ralph Stanley II said. “I know my dad’s got to be looking down on us and smiling tonight. …God bless everybody. Thank you so much, and congratulations, everybody, again. We appreciate it.”

Two other Stanley children, Lisa Stanley Marshall and Jeanie Stanley Allender, also delivered heartfelt remarks on behalf of the beloved late duo. Stanley Marshall is Ralph Stanley’s daughter, and Stanley Allender introduced herself as Carter Stanley’s “baby girl.”

“For me, this moment has been a lifetime in the making, and it is difficult to put into words what it means to see my father alongside my Uncle Carter finally honored in this way, just the way my daddy wanted it to be, both of them side by side,” Stanley Marshall said in an emotional speech, which also spotlighted her mother. “I want to thank all of you for remembering and honoring the Stanley music. …We are a grateful family. Daddy, your little girl is standing here tonight so incredibly proud of you. This one’s for you, Daddy.”

Stanley Allender added, “I was four when my daddy passed away, but may mother brought me up and she never let me forget where I was from and who my daddy was. …They earned it [their Hall of Fame induction]. They earned it a long time ago.

“The Stanley Brothers music will live forever,” she said. “I’m so proud of both of them.”

Paul Overstreet

“Overstreet crafted modern country classics for many artists, including Kenny Chesney, George Jones, the Judds, Randy Travis, Tanya Tucker and Keith Whitley,” the Country Music Hall of Fame’s press release states. “Raised in Mississippi, he moved to Nashville in 1973; nine years later, he scored his first major hit. He and fellow songwriter Don Schlitz co-wrote such enduring works as ‘Forever and Ever, Amen,’ ‘On the Other Hand’ and ‘When You Say Nothing at All.’ In addition to writing hit songs, Overstreet has recorded many of his own — as a member of the trio S-K-O (Schuyler, Knobloch and Overstreet) and as a solo artist.”

Country Music Hall of Fame member Dean Dillon took the stage in Overstreet’s honor with “If I Could Bottle This Up,” followed by Jamey Johnson’s rendition of “Forever and Ever, Amen” (with 2016 inductee Randy Travis in the audience), and Blake Shelton’s performance of his 2004 hit, “Some Beach.” Tanya Tucker, who became a member of the Hall of Fame in 2023, presented Overstreet with his medallion as he officially became a member of the Hall of Fame.

During his remarks, Overstreet reflected on his career and thanked everyone who supported him over the years. He also shared a sweet tribute to his wife, Julie, and told the story of how they met.

“I just want to thank God for a Halloween night, a special Halloween night,” Overstreet said. “I was coming from the studio, and I stopped by Close Quarters or whatever they call it just to get a drink on the way home. And I walk in there, and this guy introduces me to this girl dressed like Marilyn Monroe. And so we say hello. we sit and talk until they closed the place down and ran us out. And so we went outside, and we’re standing out there talking. And I just thought, ‘this is really nice, nice person,’ you know? And we had a good time, and then all of a sudden we’d say goodbye and go our separate ways. And we didn’t exchange phone numbers or anything, so I didn’t know if I’d ever see her again.

“November the 11th, we were filming a TV show called Skyline or something, and she was doing the makeup for it,” he continued. “And while she was doing my makeup, she said, ‘Do you remember meeting Marilyn Monroe on Halloween?’ and I went, ‘Yeah,’ and she goes, ‘That was me.’ And so, I said, ‘Wow.’ So, all of a sudden, God brings her back into my life at that moment. And I really didn’t know what all that meant, but I liked her a lot. So, I stayed around and waited until she finished up after we did our performance. And we hung out that night and from then on. And then January the 20th, we got married, and then we had six kids [Chord, Nash, Charity, Summer, Skye and Harmony]. I mean, it’s just been an incredible thing.”

Tim McGraw

“Since he first hit the record charts in 1992, McGraw has built a catalog of hits defined by emotionally resonant, thought-provoking songs, such as ‘Live Like You Were Dying’ and ‘Humble and Kind,’” according to the Hall of Fame’s press release. “The northeast Louisiana native has earned 11 platinum or multi-platinum albums, over 60 Top Ten country hits and 29 #1 country singles. He has recorded award-winning duets with wife Faith Hill, including the #1 hit ‘It’s Your Love.’ As an actor, he starred in the television series 1883 and in such Hollywood films as Friday Night Lights and The Blind Side. He was the CMA Entertainer of the Year in 2001.”

Parker McCollum, who has looked up to McGraw, honored the inductee with “Don’t Take the Girl.” Lady A followed with a moving rendition of “Live Like You Were Dying,” and fellow Louisiana-born country star Lainey Wilson, who wrote McGraw a letter as a teen, closed the tributes with “Just to See You Smile.” Alabama’s Randy Owen presented McGraw with his medallion

“You know the story. You know our story. But what you don’t know is she is the most loving, compassionate, best person I know,” McGraw said of his wife, fellow country icon Faith Hill. “She’s so solid, and I am more solid because of her. She is just the most beautiful person I know inside and out. And she is for many, many reasons why I’m standing here. Faith, I love you. And the only thing that can beat this night is when you’re standing here, and I’m sitting there [supporting her on her Hall of Fame induction night].

“Gracie, Maggie and Audrey, my three girls. My heart,” he continued, also spotlighting his mother, his sisters, friends and others during his moving speech. “You are the best thing we’ve ever made. Nothing in our careers even comes close. And I realize the gifts that come with having famous parents, and I also realize the price. You’ve paid it with grace, and you’ve grown into women that I am more proud of than any award or No. 1 single that I could ever have. I love you girls so much.”

Christa Cooper