Kenny Rogers, Bobby Bare, and Jack Clement are New Country Music Hall of Fame Members

Bobby Bare, “Cowboy” Jack Clement, and Kenny Rogers are the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame as just announced by the Country Music Association. Announcing the honorees, CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore said, “The highest musical honor achievable for a Country Music artist or industry leader is to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and these are all outstanding and highly deserving individuals.”

Moore continued: “‘Cowboy’ has been responsible for producing many of the iconic songs in Country Music. Bobby pioneered the Country concept album and was one of the first artists to take the format to Europe. And Kenny’s crossover success throughout a lengthy career introduced Country Music to a much wider audience.”

According to CMA, Rogers has earned a spot in the “Modern Era Artist” category, Bare is being inducted in the “Veterans Era Artist” category, and Clement will be joining the Hall of Fame in the “Non-Performer” category. With their entry into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the membership will expand from 118 to 121 members. Bare, Clement, and Rogers will be inducted at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum later this year in the new CMA Theater.

Responses from the New Hall of Fame Members:

“This is big – an honor and the validation of a dream, totally unexpected,” said Bare. “Now I’ll be famous forever. Thanks to all of my supporters and thank you CMA.”

“I’ve been chosen for the Country Music Hall of Fame? I thought I was already in the Hall of Fame,” said Clement. “I could have gotten in there any time I wanted. Kyle [Young] gave me a key.”

“When I was young, my dad said, ‘Son, you have to think big to accomplish small’ and the Country Music Hall of Fame was as big as it gets,” said Rogers. “He wanted that for me. So every record I’ve ever made, every concert I’ve performed, and every song I’ve written was done for the single purpose of achieving that goal.

I’m sure you can imagine how special it is and how exciting it was when Steve Moore called me with the news of my acceptance. It’s not the end of my journey, but it is certainly the high point, no matter what else I accomplish. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank all the members who voted for me and all the friends who encouraged and believed in me, and my dad, for his vision of success.”