CMT will honor country music icon and king of the common man Hank Williams Jr. with the Johnny Cash Visionary Award, presenting it to him at the 2006 CMT Music Awards. Williams joins an elite circle of gifted performers to have received this prestigious mark of distinction, including Loretta Lynn (2005), Reba McEntire (2004), Johnny Cash (2003) and the Dixie Chicks (2002).
Williams' raw creativity and passion have shaped the history of country music for over five decades. The five-time entertainer of the year will release his 70th album this year, boasts three multi-platinum albums, eight platinum albums and has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide. Williams holds the distinction of being the first country artist to ever win an Emmy, a feat he repeated 1990 through 1993 for his Monday Night Football anthem, "Are You Ready for Some Football?"
A true visionary on all fronts, Williams paired up with friend Waylon Jennings in 1983, just shortly after the launch of CMT, for his first music video "The Conversation." The following year he called on some more famous friends to create the video for his 1984 signature hit, "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight," which featured a who's who of country music names including George Jones, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and George Thorogood. Williams went on to conceptualize dozens of music videos, including "There's a Tear in My Beer," the 1989 duet with his late father, which used cutting-edge production techniques to appear as if the two were actually performing together in the video.
In 2005, the legendary Lynn received the Johnny Cash Visionary Award for her amazing career which includes her most recent critically acclaimed album, Van Lear Rose, produced by Jack White. The award was presented by newcomer Gretchen Wilson, Martina McBride and 2004 honoree Reba McEntire, along with a special tribute video sharing her career highlights and comments from many of country's biggest stars.
In 2004, McEntire was the recipient of the permanently renamed award in honor of Johnny Cash. Presented by Brooks & Dunn, McEntire was honored with a poignant tribute featuring heartfelt sentiments from some of her friends and colleagues including Lily Tomlin, Martina McBride, Vince Gill, Kelly Clarkson, Melissa Peterman (Reba) and Christopher Rich (Reba).
In 2003, CMT honored the incomparable Cash for his immeasurable achievements and musical vision. Vince Gill hosted the moving tribute and presented the award to Country Music Hall of Fame member June Carter Cash, accepting on behalf of her husband who was unable to attend. Cash's masterfully powerful and artistic music video, "Hurt," was a cornerstone in CMT's tribute which featured Bono, Hank Williams Jr. and Rosanne Cash.
In 2002, CMT awarded the first ever Video Visionary Award to the Dixie Chicks, known for their solid musical talent as well as their music video originality and creativity. Innovators on multiple fronts, the Dixie Chicks launched a whole new wave of popularity for the genre and broadened country music into new and untapped audiences.
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