Hank Williams Jr.’s selection for the Country Music Hall of Fame, announced Wednesday (Aug. 12), had to be gratifying for the veteran entertainer. Williams’ father, the legendary Hank Williams, was one of the first three inductees in the Hall in 1961.
This is just the third time that both father and son have been inducted into the Hall. The Williamses follow the Roses (Fred Rose and his son Wesley H. Rose) and the Bradleys (Owen Bradley and his son Jerry Bradley).
Here are all of the acts with family ties to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Hank Williams and Hank Williams Jr.: Hank Williams had 11 No. 1 hits on a forerunner of Hot Country Songs between 1949-1953, including such immortal hits as “Cold, Cold Heart,” “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” and “Your Cheatin’ Heart.” Hank Jr. had 10 No. 1 hits on Hot Country Songs, including “All My Rowdy Friends (Have Settled Down)” and “Born to Boogie.”
Fred Rose and Wesley H. Rose: Songwriter Fred Rose was also one of the three inaugural inductees in 1961. His son Wesley H. Rose was inducted in 1986. Fred Rose wrote the classic “Blue Eyes Cryin’ in the Rain,” which in 1975 became Willie Nelson’s first No. 1 hit on Hot Country Songs. Wesley H. Rose was a music executive and record producer.
The Original Carter Family: Sara Carter, her husband A.P. Carter and her sister Maybelle Carter were inducted in 1970. Three of the group’s early classics have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame – “Keep on the Sunny Side” (1928), “Wildwood Flower” (1929) and “Can the Circle Be Unbroken (Bye and Bye)” (1935). The Carter Family’s biggest hit since the ‘40s was “Busted,” a 1963 collab with Johnny Cash which hit No. 13 on Hot Country Songs.
Owen Bradley, Jerry Bradley and Harold Bradley: Owen Bradley was inducted in 1974. His brother Harold Bradley was inducted in 2006. Owen’s son Jerry Bradley was inducted in 2019. Owen was a musician and record producer best known for his work with Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn. Harold was a guitarist, a member of Nashville’s A team of studio players. Jerry, who is still living, was a music exec whose credits include marketing Wanted! The Outlaws, which in 1976 became the first country album to be certified platinum.
Boudleaux & Felice Bryant: The husband-and-wife songwriting team was inducted in 1991. They and Sara and A.P. Carter are the only married couples in the Hall. The Bryants wrote many of The Everly Brothers’ biggest hits, including “Bye Bye Love,” “Wake Up Little Susie” and “Problems.”
The Delmore Brothers: Alton and Rabon Delmore were inducted in 2001. The Delmore Brothers had a No. 1 hit on a forerunner of Hot Country Songs in 1949, “Blues Stay Away From Me.”
The Everly Brothers: Don and Phil Everly were inducted in 2001. The duo had four No. 1 hits on a forerunner of Hot Country Songs in 1957-58 — “Bye Bye Love,” “Wake Up Little Susie,” “All I Have to Do Is Dream” and “Bird Dog.” All four songs were major crossover hits.
The Louvin Brothers: Ira and Charlie Louvin were inducted in 2001. (The Hall inducted 12 acts that year, compared to the usual three.) “I Don’t Believe You’ve Met My Baby” topped a forerunner of Hot Country Songs in 1956. Charlie Louvin had a pair of top 10 hits on Hot Country Songs in 1964-65 — “I Don’t Love You Anymore” and “See the Big Man Cry.”
Alabama: The quartet, consisting of cousins Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook (and one non-family member, Mark Herndon), was inducted in 2005. Alabama had 33 No. 1 hits on Hot Country Songs, more than any other group or duo. Its highest-charting hit on the Hot 100 was “Love in the First Degree,” which reached No. 15 in 1982. The group has also recorded hit collabs with Lionel Richie, ‘N Sync and Brad Paisley.
The Statler Brothers: The were no Statlers in the Statler Brothers, but the quartet included two brothers — Don Reid, who sang lead, and his older brother Harold Reid, who sang bass. The group was inducted in 2008. The group’s most famous recording, “Flowers on the Wall,” reached No. 2 on Hot Country Songs and No. 4 on the Hot 100 in January 1966. The group had four No. 1 hits on Hot Country Songs between 1978 and 1985.
The Browns: The trio, consisting of Jim Ed Brown and his sisters Maxine and Bonnie, was inducted in 2015. The Browns’ biggest hit was “The Three Bells” (1959) which was No. 1 on Hot Country Songs for 10 weeks and No. 1 on the Hot 100 for four weeks. It was the first country hit to receive a Grammy nomination for record of the year. Jim Ed Brown later teamed with Helen Cornelius for a long string of hits, including “I Don’t Want to Have to Marry You,” a No. 1 on Hot Country Songs in 1976.
