Dwight, Crystal Join Hall of Fame

Dwight Yoakam photo by Cambria Harkey, courtesy of New West Records.

February 27, 2008 - GAC's Artist of the Month, Dwight Yoakam, and Crystal Gayle were officially inducted last week into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, an honor that meant quite a bit to both performers.

"Everything I was going to be about and am about to this point in my life comes from southeastern Kentucky," Dwight said, according to The Lexington Herald-Leader. "It was and is the cornerstone and foundation of my musical creative life and my personal life."

Dwight was introduced by John Michael Montgomery, who called Dwight "one of the most unique artists that had a huge impact on my life."

Crystal joined sisters Loretta Lynn and Peggy Sue for a performance of "Coal Miner's Daughter" that provided one of the evening's highlights.

"We didn't know we didn't have much," Crystal reflected, "but we had that love."

Among the previous Kentucky Music Hall of Fame inductees are John Conlee, Ricky Skaggs, the Judds, the Everly Brothers, Bill Monroe and Tom T. Hall, who was recently named a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Kentucky induction also included the addition of Scottsville native Norro Wilson, who co-produces Kenny Chesney and has written such classic songs as the Charlie Rich hit "The Most Beautiful Girl," George Jones' "The Grand Tour" and Lorrie Morgan's "A Picture Of Me (Without You)."

Norro paraphrased Tom T.'s "I Love" in accepting his honor: "I love little baby ducks and slow moving trains and planes; I love Scottsville, Ky... I love this golden moment. You'd better believe it."