Strait Inducts Garth In Hall of Fame

Stars from country, pop, and rock were in Nashville Sunday night to induct Garth Brooks in the Country Music Hall of Fame.  George Strait performed Garth’s first hit, “Much To Young To Feel This Damned Old.”  James Taylor was next with “The River.”  The final performance was Bob Seger doing “That Summer,” sounding a lot like his own “Night Moves.”  George Strait came back to do the induction: “I’ve always felt a connection to you, being from the southwest, singing about rodeos and cowboys.  You brought so many new fans to our music, and it helped all of us.”  In his speech, Garth credited all of them and more for making him the star he is.  “The thing that orchestrated the leap of faith from being a lost kid to being a young man was Bob Seger’s music.  But then in 1981, a man on the radio said, ‘Here’s a new singer from Texas, and I think you’re gonna like his sound,’ and it was George Strait, and from that point forward I wanted to be George Strait.  And tonight, I still want to be George Strait.”

Before the ceremony, Garth said, “There are big days, but tonight might be the biggest night of my career.  I’m so excited, so nervous, feel so undeserving, yet feel so excited at the same time.” James Taylor said, “Trisha got in touch with me, and I jumped at the opportunity.  I feel that Garth & I are joined, we’re on parallel paths through this world.  It’s meant so much to me that Garth has mentioned me as one of his influences, so I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” 

Bob Seger said, “The first time I met him was at an awards show, and he had enormous success, but really nice guy.  I’ve run into him several times since, and he’s always the same way.  I’m so happy to see him in here.”

In addition to Garth, singer Connie Smith and pianist Hargus “Pig” Robbins were inducted.  Other artists on hand for the ceremony included Merle Haggard, Ronnie Milsap, Gene Watson, Crystal Gayle, Ronnie Dunn, Roy Clark,Lee Ann Womack, and Vince Gill.

Tags: garth, hof

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