CMT News

CMA Awards Show Will Not Spotlight Hall of Fame Inductees
Future Hall of Fame Members to Be Announced Early Each Year
October 11, 2007; Written by Edward Morris
Vince Gill (left), Mel Tillis and Ralph Emery at a press conference at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.
Vince Gill (left), Mel Tillis and Ralph Emery at a press conference at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.
Photo Credit: Brian Tipton
Breaking with a long tradition, the CMA Awards show will no longer recognize the new inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Instead, the honorees -- who this year are Vince Gill, Mel Tillis and Ralph Emery -- will be formally inducted during invitation-only medallion ceremonies held at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Officials of the Country Music Association say there are no plans to acknowledge the inductees during the Nov. 7 awards show telecast on ABC.

"We didn't feel like we have time to give [the inductees] justice on the awards show," said a spokesperson for the CMA, whose electors choose Hall of Fame members.

In years past, the ceremony in which medallions are awarded to new inductees was held in May of the year following the formal induction. The official induction into the Hall of Fame took place during the broadcast portion of the CMA Awards. Because of the separation from the show, this year's medallion event will be held Oct. 28.

In another wrinkle, new members to the Hall of Fame will be announced early each year, possibly in January, one source said. This will enable the induction ceremony to revert to May.