Yesterday saw the official announcement that Hank Williams Jr., Marty Stuart and songwriter Dean Dillon will be this year’s inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Each is well-deserving of the honour and each has a connection to previous inductees.

Hank’s dad was among the first three inductees into the Hall in 1961. Hank Jr. said it’s “an honour to carry on this family tradition.” While Hank Sr. is considered the father of modern country music, he cast a long shadow over the genre (and others) and no one felt that shadow more than his son. Hank Jr. said he “fell off a mountain” trying to get out of the shadow of his father and make his own music. If you can find a copy, I highly recommend you read his autobiography. Having won Entertainer of the Year twice from the Country Music Association and three times from the Academy of Country Music in the 1980’s, his induction is long overdue.

Marty Stuart calls his induction “the ultimate honour.” As a musician and multi-instrumentalist, he learned his craft by playing alongside such legends as Lester Flatt (while barely a teenager) and Johnny Cash. Marty’s solo career kicked off in the 1980’s with a style of music he called “hillbilly music with a thump.” He’s also an amazing photographer, having captured many country music stars in stunning portraits. And Marty is probably country music’s most knowledgeable fan. The Marty Stuart Congress of Country Music is set to open soon with the museum located in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Throughout his life, he has collected some important pieces of country music, with about 20,000 items expected to be on display when the museum opens in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Marty’s induction comes eight years after his wife, singer Connie Smith, became a Hall of Fame member.

(live on location with Marty Stuart in Kitchener, Ont., around 1990)

And songwriter Dean Dillon has his name attached to some of country music’s biggest hits in the past four decades. Among them are “Tennessee Whiskey,” recorded by David Allan Coe, George Jones and Chris Stapleton, Kenny Chesney’s “A Lot of Things Different” and Toby Keith’s “Get My Drink On.” Also a recording artist in 1980’s, Dean’s most famous contributions will be the amazing catalogue of hits George Strait has recorded through the years, from “The Chair” to “Ocean Front Property” and “Here For a Good Time.” The relationship between Dillon and Strait is a perfect example of the write songwriter writing for the right singer. It’s fitting Dillon gets inducted in the Hall of Fame, following George Strait’s induction in 2006.

Congratulations to them all! Plans for the official induction ceremony are still be worked out due to this year’s pandemic.