Ricky Skaggs photo courtesy of Skaggs Family Records.
March 17, 2008 — Ricky Skaggs will receive an honorary doctorate from the Boston-based Berklee College of Music during tomorrow night's Tuesday edition of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, and he's acutely aware that it's a significant recognition.
"I was elated," Ricky told the Associated Press. "It's a really, really amazing honor because many great musicians have come out of Berklee."
Loretta Lynn and Earl Scruggs have both received honorary doctorates from Berklee in the past, as have jazz greats Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie, pop singer-songwriter Sting and blues icon B.B. King. The Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines also earned an honorary award — though not a doctorate — from the school.
Ricky's big moment will be taped by GAC for this weekend's edition of Opry Live!. Others appearing in the Tuesday lineup include Little Jimmy Dickens, the Whites, John Conlee, Restless Heart, Mandy Barnett and the Del McCoury Band.