Brooks & Dunn announced the 2024 Class of Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum inductees in a live-stream held at the Hall of Fame Rotunda Downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The late Toby Keith will be honored in the Modern Era Artist category, along with James Burton in the rotating Recording and/or Touring Musician category and John Anderson in the Veterans Era Artist category.
CMA CEO Sarah Trahern said in a statement: “James, John and Toby were all original performers with clear, identifiable sounds who walked to the beat of their own drummer and inspired countless others to follow in their footsteps .. This year’s nominees exemplify the excellence of our genre. 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.”
Trahern noted that the timing of Keith’s posthumous induction does not violate the Hall of Fame’s induction rules against inducting an artist in the year of their death. While it isn’t typical to induct an artist the year they died, that doesn’t apply to Keith because he was selected prior to his death on February 5th (Keith was confirmed and elected into the Hall of Fame after a months-long process). Inductees are chosen by CMA’s Hall of Fame Panels of Electors, an anonymous body handpicked by the CMA Board of Directors.
Keith passed away on February 5th at the age of 62; his family posted at the time that the Oklahoma-born country star “passed peacefully last night on Feb. 5 surrounded by his family. He fought his fight with grace and courage. Please respect the privacy of his family at this time.” Regarding the Hall of Fame honor, Keith’s family shared: “Toby’s passing left our hearts broken. 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.”
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