Country Music Hall of Fame Announces Newest Inductees

The 2011 inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame were announced Tuesday morning (March 1) in Nashville. The inductees, Reba McEntire, Grand Ole Opry legend Jean Shepard and songwriter Bobby Braddock ('He Stopped Loving Her Today,') were revealed in an announcement by Kix Brooks.

Sadly, Reba was unable to attend the ceremony, as her father, Clark McEntire, has suffered a stroke. He is reportedly in a coma in a Tulsa, Okla., hospital. "It is a wonderful honor at a very emotional time in my life," Reba said in a statement explaining her absence today.

In a phone interview with Nashville's Tennessean newspaper, Reba says she was fortunate to be able to share the news of her Hall of Fame induction with her father, just two days before he slipped into a coma.

"I asked Momma if she thought it registered, if she thought he understood it," says the singer, overcome with emotion. "She said, 'Yeah, I do.' It was very important for Daddy, like the first time I ever performed at the Grand Ole Opry, and this was another milestone he was waiting on, so I'm so glad I got to tell him before it was too late."

Reba also had to postpone her No. 1 party on Wednesday (March 2). 'Turn on the Radio' is the superstar's 24th chart-topping hit.

Reba McEntire's country music career began with her first chart hit, 'I Don't Want to Be a One Night Stand,' in 1976. She earned her first Top 10 hit four years later and her first No. 1, 'Can't Even Get the Blues,' two years later. Since that time she has sold more than 56 million records worldwide, branching out into feature films and her own successful TV sitcom. Today, Reba ranks among the most influential artists on the crop of younger female artists in country music.

Jean Shepard was discovered by country legend Hank Thompson at 14, singing and playing bass in an all-girl band. Signed to Capitol Records in 1952 and scored her first hit, a duet with Ferlin Husky called 'A Dear John Letter,' in 1953. A string of honky-tonk-flavored-tunes followed, including 'Second Fiddle to a Old Guitar,' 'Don't Fall in Love With a Married Man' and 'The Root of All Evil (Is a Man).' In 1955, she joined the Grand Ole Opry and continues to perform there to this day.

Bobby Braddock, who becomes the first inductee in the newly-created "Songwriter" category, was 24 when he relocated from his native Florida to Nashville. He became the piano player for country star Marty Robbins, who had a hit with a song Bobby wrote, called 'While You're Dancing.' In 1968, Tammy Wynette recorded one of his compositions, and one of her biggest hits, 'D-I-V-O-R-C-E.' Other artists who have recorded his songs include Tanya Tucker, Jerry Lee Lewis, Mark Chesnutt and Tracy Lawrence. His 1980 tune, 'He Stopped Loving Her Today,' considered by many (including participants in a BBC/Country America magazine poll, to be the greatest country song of all time, was a comeback hit for George Jones and the CMA Song of the Year in both 1980 and 1981. Bobby has also played an important role in the success of Blake Shelton, producing or co-producing the singer's first five albums.

The Boot sends our thoughts and prayers out to Reba and her family, along with our congratulations to Reba, Jean and Bobby for a well deserved honor.