Mel Tillis on the red carpet on November 6, 2006, for "The 40th Annual CMA Awards" in Nashville.
Photo courtesy of the Country Music Association
Pam Tillis photo courtesy of Stellar Cat
March 7, 2007 — The spotlight is on Mel Tillis and his daughter, Pam Tillis, in a new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. "It's All Relative: Mel and Pam Tillis," honors Mel and Pam, both established singers, songwriters and actors in their own right, whose combined contributions to country music span close to 50 years.
Mel began his career as a songwriter in the 1950s, penning classic hits for Bobby Bare, Webb Pierce, Ray Price and Kenny Rogers, among others. In the 1970s his baritone voice became a force on the country charts. and he enjoyed a string of No. 1 hits including "I Ain't Never," "Good Woman Blues," "Heart Healer," "Coca Cola Cowboy" and "Southern Rains." The Country Music Association named him Entertainer of the Year in 1976, the same year he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame. Through the years, he also established himself as a successful comic actor, appearing in films such as W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings and The Cannonball Run.
Pam, like her father, enjoyed success as a songwriter prior to her performing accolades. During the 1980s her songs were recorded by Highway 101, Chaka Khan, Juice Newton and Conway Twitty, among others. During the 1990s, she achieved success as a recording artist with a unique combination of modern lyrics sung in a traditional country style. She recorded several gold and platinum albums, including Sweetheart's Dance, which included the No. 1 hit "Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life)," and in 1994 won the CMA Female Vocalist of the Year award. She was also one of the first women in country music to produce her own albums, including It's All Relative: Tillis Sings Tillis, her 2002 collection of songs written by her father. Her acting resume includes appearances on Broadway and in television programs such as "Touched by an Angel."
Exhibit highlights include original stage costumes, film artifacts and Pam's Gibson EC-20 Starburst guitar. The exhibit, which is included with regular Museum admission, will remain open through June 2007.