2009 Country Music Hall of Fame

The 2009 Country Hall of Fame inductees are no surprise: Roy Clark, Barbara Mandrell adn Charlie McCoy. The inductions of Alabama, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and George Strait in recent years means they are now starting to look at the 80's and mid-70's for inductees. Which means Reba McEntire will go in soon. Other names that will eventually get in: Oak Ridge Boys, Hank Williams Jr., Ronnie Milsap, Tanya Tucker. Connie Smith and Jean Shepherd seem like wildcards. And it may make critics cringe, but Kenny Rogers belongs as well. I once thought they'd make room for Ray Charles or Jerry Lee Lewis, but I'm having my doubts. Also Producer Billy Sherrill who helped shape the sounds of George Jones, Tammy Wynette and Charlie Rich among others in the 70's and mid-80's. And what about Charlie Rich? Are the CMA's still ticked at him for showing up drunk at the '75 awards? Most of these will get in. Unlike the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Country one does a good job of getting fan favorites in as well as some overlooked ones.