Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks, elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in the modern era category, has sold more than 128 million albums to become the top-selling artist of the Nielsen SoundScan era. Born Feb. 7, 1962, in Yuba, Okla., his first single, "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)," became a Top 10 country hit in 1989. His lengthy string of No. 1 singles began later that year with "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and includes titles such as "The Dance," "Friends in Love Places," "Unanswered Prayers," "The Thunder Rolls" and many others. His 1991 album, Ropin' the Wind, became the first album by a country artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart.

In addition to his record sales, Brooks became a legendary concert performer. With an explosive stage show inspired by ‘70s rock acts such as Kiss and Queen, he was largely responsible for introducing country fans to arena-rock flash with concert tours featuring dramatic lighting and production effects. His ticket sales rivaled those of tours by the Rolling Stones, U2, the Eagles and the Grateful Dead. In 1997, he performed in New York's Central Park before an estimated audience of 250,000 -- with millions more viewing the concert via a live HBO broadcast.

After divorcing his first wife, Sandy Mahl, in 2000, he announced he would retire to raise his three daughters. He released the album Scarecrow in 2001 and married singer Trisha Yearwood in 2005.

Although in semiretirement, Brooks performed nine sold-out shows in Kansas City in 2007. In January 2008, he made five sold-out appearances at Los Angeles' Staples Center. He announced his five-year Las Vegas commitment in October 2009. In December 2010, he performed nine sold-out shows in Nashville, donating proceeds to the city's ongoing relief effort resulting from a devastating flood in May of that year.

Brooks returned to the stage in December 2009 to begin a one-man acoustic show at Wynn Las Vegas. The weekend performances, scheduled on specific dates each year, will conclude on Nov. 17, 2012.

Connie Smith

Connie Smith, elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in the veterans era category, was born Aug. 14, 1941, in Elkhart, Ind., and discovered by Grand Ole Opry star Bill Anderson in 1963 after she won a talent contest in Ohio. Anderson urged her to come to Nashville to sing demos of his original songs to pitch to other artists. Hubert Long, Anderson's manger, played one of the demos to RCA Records executive Chet Atkins, who signed her to the label. Written by Anderson, Smith's debut single, "Once a Day," spent eight weeks at the top of Billboard's country chart in 1964. Her other Top 10 hits include "I Can't Remember," "Cincinnati, Ohio," "Burning a Hole in My Mind" and "Just One Time." Over the years, Smith appeared in several country-music themed movies and recorded gospel albums, in addition to country albums. Her 53rd album, Long Line of Heartaches, was produced by her husband Marty Stuart and released in 2011.

Hargus "Pig" Robbins

Hargus "Pig" Robbins, elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in the recording and/or touring musician category, is one of the most prolific session musicians in the country music history. Born Jan. 18, 1938, in Spring City, Tenn., he lost an eye at age 2 after an accident with his father's knife and became completely blind at age 4. As a child, he learned to play classical piano at the Nashville School for the Blind. After graduating, he began performing in Nashville clubs and gradually got work in the studios. In 1959, he performed on his first major recording, "White Lightning," George Jones' first No. 1 hit. In the '50s and '60s, Robbins performed on classic recordings such as Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight" and "I Fall to Pieces," Smith's "Once a Day," Bob Dylan's Blonde on Blonde album and artists as diverse as Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Ray Price, Charley Pride, Ernest Tubb, Porter Wagoner, Jerry Jeff Walker, Joan Baez, Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, John Denver, Tom Jones, Mark Knopfler, Gordon Lightfoot, Peter, Paul & Mary, the Sir Douglas Quintet, Neil Young and many others. Robbins remained in demand throughout the '80s, '90s and the beginning of the 21st century. In 2008, he performed on the sessions for Christmas Duets, a project featuring various artists performing alongside vocals from Elvis Presley.