Ray Charles, The Judds And Musicians Eddie Bayers And Pete Drake To Join Country Music Hall Of Fame

The Class of 2021

The COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION revealed at a livestreamed press conference this morning (8/16) that RAY CHARLES, THE JUDDS, and musicians EDDIE BAYERS and the late PETE DRAKE will be this year’s inductees into the COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME.

THE JUDDS will be inducted in the Modern Era category, CHARLES will be posthumously inducted in the Veterans Era category, and drummer BAYERS and pedal steel player DRAKE both earned a spot in the category of Recording and/or Touring Musician, which has two inductees this year as a result of a tie. BAYERS called the honor “everlasting.”

The musician category is awarded every third year in rotation with two other categories. BAYERS, a recording musician for 58 years, is the first drummer ever inducted into the HALL OF FAME. DRAKE is the first pedal steel player to be inducted. 

“This moment takes me back to 1983 when Mom and I first started," said honoree WYNONNA JUDD. “We would get in the car and visit multiple radio stations a day. It kind of feels like I’ve hit the lottery. It is so surreal. JOHN LENNON always said that he just wanted to be remembered, and now we’re truly part of history, or I should say HERstory. What an honor.” 

The four new members join the Hall’s existing 142 members. A formal induction ceremony for the Class of 2021 will take place in the COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM’s CMA THEATER at a yet-to-be-determined date. The induction ceremony for the HALL OF FAME Class of 2020, which includes DEAN DILLON, MARTY STUART and HANK WILLIAMS JR., postponed from last year, is scheduled for this NOVEMBER, pending public health guidance and the state of the pandemic. 

“The works of this year’s inductees span crucial timestamps of Country music history,” said CMA CEO SARAH TRAHERN. “This impressive career landmark is the pinnacle of accomplishment in Country music, and I’m so proud to see EDDIE, RAY, PETE, NAOMI and WYNONNA getting their much-deserved plaques on the wall of the Rotunda. Today’s fans and generations to come will forever be reminded of the distinct impact each made on this genre.”

“These people saw through artificial divisions, moved beyond rigid stylistic restrictions, and connected with worldwide audiences,” said COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM CEO KYLE YOUNG. “In revealing their individuality, they taught us about commonality. Lately, we’ve lived through a time of division and a time of isolation. But in the music of these greats, we find connection and inclusion.”

The livestream was hosted by HALL OF FAME member REBA McENTIRE.

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