The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inducted its class of 2018 at the Music City Center on Oct. 28: Ronnie Dunn, K.T. Oslin, Byron Hill, Wayne Kirkpatrick and Joe Melson.
The fivesome joins more than 200 existing members of the organization, including Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Garth Brooks and more.
Byron Hill and Wayne Kirkpatrick were selected in the Songwriter category, while Joe Melson secured his spot in the Veteran Songwriter category. Ronnie Dunn and K.T Oslin were elected in the Songwriter/Artist category.
In addition, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame honored Reba McEntire with the inaugural Career Maker Award for her âsignificant influence on the songwriting careers of Hall of Fame members.â
Reba has recorded 80 songsâincluding 33 singlesâthat were written or co-written by more than 40 songwriters who have gone on to achieve induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Career Maker Award was created to honor a non-Hall of Fame member whose artistic endeavors have helped songwriters achieve their dreams of induction into the Hall of Fame.
A number of artists were on hand to honor the inductees with performances, including Runaway June, Brandy Clark, Shawn Camp, Mo Pitney, Jesse Labelle, Jon Pardi and Little Big Town.
Partial Songwriting Credits of New Hall of Fame Members
- Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn
âNeon Moon,â âMy Next Broken Heart,â âRed Dirt Road,â âCowgirls Donât Cryâ - K.T. Oslin
ââ80s Ladies,â âCome Next Monday,â âIâll Always Come Back,â âThis Womanâ - Byron Hill
âFool Hearted Memoryâ (George Strait), âBorn Countryâ (Alabama), âNothing On But the Radioâ (Gary Allan) - Wayne Kirkpatrick
âBoondocksâ (Little Big Town), âWrapped Up in Youâ (Garth Brooks), âLead Me Onâ (Amy Grant) - Joe Melson
âBlue Bayouâ (Roy Orbison), âOnly the Lonelyâ (Roy Orbison), âCryingâ (Roy Orbison)
Take a look at our photo gallery from the event, courtesy of Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com.
photos by Tammie Arroyo, AFF-USA.com