Toby Keith, John Anderson and James Burton are the newest Country Music Hall of Fame inductees. Members of the country music community gathered at the prestigious Hall of Fame Rotunda at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Monday (March 18) for the much-anticipated unveiling of the 2024 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees.
Brooks & Dunn Announced The 2024 Inductees In Nashville
Revealed by the Country Music Hall of Fame members Brooks & Dunn, who are also the best-selling duo in country music history, the newly announced class includes James Burton in the Recording and/or Touring Musician category, John Anderson in the Veterans Era Artist category, and Toby Keith in the Modern Era Artist category.
The CMA first established the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 to honor individuals and industry experts who have made exceptional contributions to the genre.
“This year’s nominees exemplify the excellence of our genre,” Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer, shared. “James, John and Toby have each made an indelible impact and brought their distinctive contributions to Country Music, enriching our format. Their influence is evident throughout the longevity of their careers, ensuring each legacy will thrive indefinitely. It is with great pride that we welcome these three remarkable individuals into the esteemed ranks of the Country Music Hall of Fame.”
“Each of the three new inductees has left a deep and distinctive stamp on our genre,” Kyle Young, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Chief Executive Officer, added. “Florida native John Anderson helped steer Country Music back to its traditions with his bold honky-tonk style. James Burton, who hails from Louisiana, blended Country and blues to create a fiery picking style that distinguished countless hits and has inspired guitarists the world over. Toby Keith from Oklahoma brought a sly swagger and a patriotic passion to songs that made him one of the best-selling Country artists of the past 30 years. They have all profoundly shaped our music, and we are honored and delighted that their achievements will now forever be enshrined in the Country Music Hall of Fame.”
A formal induction ceremony for Burton, Anderson, and Keith is scheduled to be held at the CMA Theater within the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in October of 2024. The Museum’s Medallion Ceremony, which brings together the Hall of Fame membership, serves as the official induction ceremony for new members.
Recording And/Or Touring Musician Category: James Burton
After being announced as the first inductee, James Burton took to the podium to share gratitude for the honor and was left speechless.
“I’m honored. I mean, it’s just amazing actually. I’m really surprised for a guitar player, but I just want to thank all you guys for your love and support and what can I say? It’s truly an honor and I’m going to be here for a long time. I love you guys. Thank you so much,” Burton told the audience. He later added, “I was completely shocked and couldn’t think of anything to say. All I remember was that my wife Louise started crying, I kept thinking that this couldn’t be real. In fact, when we hung up the call, I redialed the caller’s number just to make sure it wasn’t a prank phone call! I am so humbled and excited to be recognized in this way. So much of my career was spent playing for incredible Country artists and to now be going up on that wall with all those innovators and industry greats is just incredible.”
About James Burton
Leo Fender’s creation, the Telecaster electric guitar, caught the eye of young James Burton in 1953 when he saw one hanging in a music store in Shreveport, LA. Introduced by its design and tone, Burton, a 13-year-old from Dubberly, LA, convinced his parents to let him have it, jumpstarting his musical journey.
Burton’s innovative hybrid picking style quickly set him apart as he honed his skills playing on the “Louisiana Hayride” and backing artists like George Jones and Ricky Nelson, as well as younger acts like Bob Luman that favored a rockabilly sound. His collaboration with Dale Hawkins on “Susie-Q” propelled him into the spotlight when it reached the Billboard Top 30 in the summer of 1957, leading to his role in Nelson’s band and his pioneering use of “chicken-picking” on songs like “Waitin’ in School,” “Stood Up” and “Believe What You Say.”
For years, Burton played only that 1953 Tele, first white and later painted red, as he became a top-flight session player in Los Angeles. He appeared on records by Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Hank Williams Jr., and Glen Campbell, as well as the Everly Brothers, the Monkees and Buffalo Springfield. He played on the soundtracks for films like Rio Bravo, Viva Las Vegas and a myriad of other movies, including most recently Ford v Ferrari.
Over the years, Burton’s influence expanded as he worked with Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, and John Denver, earning him induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2021) and the Musicians Hall of Fame (2007). Now Burton’s name and likeness will hang in the Rotunda of the Country Music Hall of Fame, joining his heroes Atkins and Travis and many of the musicians with whom he played, a testament to a perfect combination of a man, a guitar and a distinctive musical vision.
Veterans Era Artist Category: John Anderson
John Anderson was present to receive the coveted honor.
“Thank you Ronnie and Kix. I want to say this is probably the greatest honor I could ever receive standing on this stage today. I’m still trying to get a grasp on just the reality of this happening for me and so very proud and so honored,” Anderson began as he took to the podium. “I want to thank all the fans that have of course supported us through the last nearly 50 years, all the folks here at the Hall of Fame and the CMA for letting this be possible.”
About John Anderson
John Anderson, born in Apopka, FL, on December 13, 1954, seamlessly bridged the gap between rock and Country music, drawing inspiration from artists like Van Morrison and Merle Haggard. He moved to Nashville in the early 1970s, where he began his musical journey playing in local bands before catching the attention of Warner Bros. Records. Despite early setbacks, including a failed independent label deal, Anderson’s traditional sound found success with hits like “Your Lying Blues” and “She Just Started Liking Cheatin’ Songs.”
His breakthrough came with the release of “Swingin’” in 1982, which earned him his first No. 1 single and the Single of the Year award at the 1983 CMA Awards. Despite subsequent chart successes, Anderson’s career faced challenges with changing industry trends. However, hits like “Straight Tequila Night” rejuvenated his career in the early 1990s, further solidifying his status as a timeless Country music icon.
Anderson’s impact extended beyond chart success, with songs like “Seminole Wind” showcasing his storytelling prowess and environmental awareness. Throughout his career, he collaborated with esteemed musicians and received numerous accolades, including CMA Awards and an ACM Career Achievement Award. Throughout more than 40 years in the music industry, Anderson’s unique voice and strong commitment to his work have made him a permanent part of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Modern Era Artist Category: Toby Keith
Stelen Keith Covel, son of the late Toby Keith, was on hand to accept the high honor on behalf of the “Should’ve Been A Cowboy” singer.
“Thank you all. On behalf of my whole family, we want to thank the Hall of Fame. It’s an honor to stand here and represent my father. He’s an amazing man, husband, father, and an artist, and I just want to thank everybody for being here. Thank you,” Stelen said, while holding back tears.
In addition to Stelen making an in-person, Toby Keith’s family also shared a statement with the Country Music Hall of Fame via a press release.
“Toby’s passing left our hearts broken,” Keith’s family shared. “We miss him so much, but we take comfort that his music and legacy will live forever. Thank you, Country Music Hall of Fame, for helping keep it alive.”
About Toby Keith
Toby Keith Covel, born in 1961, was raised in a small town near Oklahoma City, where he developed an early passion for music while observing performances at his grandmother’s supper club. Learning to play the guitar as a youth, he eventually formed a band called Easy Money and toured regionally before setting his sights on Nashville. Influenced by artists like Merle Haggard and Bob Seger, Keith recognized the power of songwriting and sought to establish himself as both a singer and a songwriter in the music industry.
Despite initial setbacks and rejection from record labels in Nashville, Toby Keith’s talent was eventually recognized by Harold Shedd of Mercury Records Nashville, who signed him to a record deal after hearing his songs. Keith’s debut single, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy,” quickly climbed to the top of the charts, marking the beginning of his long and successful career in country music.
Keith then released his first four studio albums—Toby Keith (1993), Boomtown (1994), Blue Moon (1996), and Dream Walkin’ (1997)— as well as his Greatest Hits Volume One under Mercury Records. He later signed with Dreamworks Records Nashville in 1998 and released five albums, including How Do You Like Me Now?! (1999), Pull My Chain (2001), Unleashed (2002), Shock’n Y’all (2003) and Honkytonk University (2005).
When Dreamworks shuttered in 2005, Toby Keith founded his own record label, Show Dog Nashville, where he would continue to pursue his musical aspirations for the remainder of his career. Under this label, he released a string of hits, including “Get Drunk and Be Somebody,” “American Ride,” “Red Solo Cup,” “Hope on the Rocks,” “Made In America,” “God Love Her,” and “Don’t Let the Old Man In.” The latter of which was inspired by Clint Eastwood and was later featured in Eastwood’s 2018 film “The Mule,” and was his final single at Country radio.
With 32 No.1 singles and 40 million albums sold, Toby Keith was regarded as one of country music’s biggest hitmakers. He wrote a chart-topping hit every year for 20 consecutive years, including “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American),” “I Love This Bar,” “Beer For My Horses,” and “As Good As I Once Was.” His music has garnered more than 10 billion streams and 100 million terrestrial radio spins to date.
Throughout his career, the Oklahoma native received the BMI Icon Award as well as the BMI Country Songwriter of the Year award three times, and his hit single “As Good As I Once Was” was awarded BMI’s Country Song of the Year in 2006. He was a recipient of the National Medal of Arts. Additionally, Keith was also inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2007, the all-genre Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York in 2015 and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2021, as well as was honored with the Academy of Country Music’s prestigious Merle Haggard Spirit Award.
Keith’s most rewarding experiences, however, have come from giving back locally, nationally, and abroad. His annual golf classics fund the Toby Keith Foundation and OK Kids Korral, a cost-free home for families of children dealing with critical illnesses, and his 11 USO tours have enhanced the lives of nearly 256,000 troops and military families. In 2014, he was given the Spirit of the USO Award for his work with the organization, which has so far included 11 tours and more than 285 events in over 18 countries. In an even more personal instance of philanthropy, he became the face of his hometown after it was ravaged by a tornado, shouldering the cleanup, and headlining the 2013 OK Twister Relief Concert.
Months before his sudden passing, he was honored with the Country Icon Award at the Inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards.
