NON-PERFORMER CATEGORY ????

perhaps Frazier might fall into that classification but if Jimmy Dean is a non-performer than so is George Strait, Reba McEntire and Barbara Mandrell.

Jimmy Dean was a performer in EVERY sense of the word. Kevin once described Dolly Parton as being the only female to have excelled at live performing, songwriting, recording, movies and television. Well Jimmy Dean also sweeps the boards – not a major movie star but unlike Dolly, a major (and pioneering) success in television. Also, Jimmy introduced the Muppets to America !

I was trying to find that Hall post of yours, but ran out of time and energy. Tomorrow, the Hall will induct from two different eras, and only the Oak Ridge Boys from my list would be considered after 1975. It all depends on the Hall’s true definition of prominence (Mandrell and Williams, Jr. both had their biggest success in the ’80s.) That leads me to believe that someone like Reba or Alan Jackson could sneak in (unfortunately, in my opinion—Smith, Shepard and the like all deserve nods first). Honestly, I would leave Wanda Jackson just short of induction; she’s right along the fence in my opinion.

http://www.countryuniverse.net/2006/06/24/hall-worthy/

Since then, quite a few from that list have been inducted (Emmylou Harris, Statler Brothers, Tom T. Hall, Mel Tillis), and while Wanda Jackson is still waiting around, she has the wonderful consolation prize of a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction this year.

My original list included Jerry Reed, Ronnie Milsap, and Hank Jr. If the Hall is looking to build up its list of female artists, they could do a lot worse than Jean Shepard, Connie Smith and Barbara Mandrell.

I think all three women could eventually get in, but I can’t shake the feeling that the next woman to go in will be Reba McEntire.

I’d put Kenny Rogers in before anybody else from the 70′s/80′s era, but I wonder if the general bad rap given to that period will make it difficult for him, Mandrell, Milsap, Oak Ridge Boys and the like.

Dottie West might have a shot because of her talent-nurturing role as much as her music, and the fact that she had the traditional music from the sixties and early seventies under her belt before she went all NashVegas.

Regardless of tomorrow’s inductees, the Hall of Fame has done such a good job of catching up that I don’t see any glaring omissions right now. We’re mostly dealing with the lesser legends from the earlier days of country music and some bigger stars that haven’t been waiting all that long.

I have a feeling that Barbra Mandrell will get it this year. She is deserving even though I have never been a fan, but entertainer she is.

also David Allan Coe and Gram Parsons deserve to be placed in the HOF.

oh yeah and the whole “rose to prominence after 1975″ is a stupid category. If they deserve induction, they deserve induction, they should force premature inductions by making sure they were active after 1975.

and dude, the Oak Ridge Boys and Barbara Mandrell? nah man, not HOF worthy. I know because I can’t imagine feeling anything but ridiculous listening to a mix cd of their greatest hits.