Kenny Chesney, Tony Brown, and June Carter Cash Officially Inducted Into the Country Music Hall of Fame

It was a special night in Nashville on Sunday evening as Tony Brown, June Carter Cash, and Kenny Chesney were formally inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame during the star-studded Medallion Ceremony in the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s CMA Theater.

Dozens of Country Music Hall of Fame members, special guests, family, friends, and members of the country music community gathered in celebration of the 156th, 157th, and 158th members of the Country Music Hall of Fame, country music’s highest distinction.

June Carter Cash

The evening began with a portion honoring the late June Carter Cash, who was welcomed into the Veterans Era Artist category. Her segment featured a series of moving tributes, beginning with Kacey Musgraves and Daniel Tashian performing “Ring of Fire,” followed by Keb’ Mo’ and Ruby Amanfu with “Keep on the Sunny Side,” and Lukas Nelson closing the set with “It Ain’t Me Babe.”

Country Music Hall of Fame member Emmylou Harris then took the stage for the Medallion presentation.

“It’s really truly a privilege to stand before you this evening as we honor my beautiful friend June Carter Cash,” Harris began.

She went on to remember June’s kind-hearted, nurturing spirit (and her often competitive side!) recalling a few intense Scrabble games they once played together.

“June was of course, the ultimate southern hostess attending to our every need and comfort. That is until she brought out the Scrabble board and then all bets were off,” she laughed.

Harris said she was thrilled to take part in the “long-awaited” opportunity to celebrate her dear friend and welcomed John Carter Cash and Carlene Carter to the stage to accept the Medallion on their mother’s behalf.

“Mom would love this. She’s here…I know in everyone’s heart here tonight because I know she made a difference in this world. I know she made a difference in Nashville and in the music community,” they collectively shared.

Tony Brown

Music executive and famed record producer Tony Brown was welcomed into the Non-Performer category following a string of stunning tributes. Lyle Lovett honored him with a performance of “If I Had a Boat,” Steve Earle followed with “Guitar Town,” Trisha Yearwood performed “Perfect Love,” and Country Music Hall of Fame member George Strait closed the segment with “Troubadour.”

Strait delivered a short speech prior to his performance, telling Brown, “Tony, you are the man. I appreciate all the records that we were able to make together. I had so much fun with you in the studio and a lot of these guys up here played on a bunch of ’em too. And you are just an amazing producer, Tony, and a friend…”

Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill brought both laughs and heartfelt moments during Brown’s Medallion presentation, reflecting on their decades-long friendship and Brown’s impact on his life and career.

“I was trying to get a pop record deal out in LA and nobody wanted to hire an overweight high singer to a record deal, and every time I would talk to Tony about wanting to be an artist, it never really crossed my mind before that, he said, ‘you should be a country singer,’” Gill recalled. “He said, ‘everything you do is country. You talk country. Everything you say is country.’ He said, ‘and you would never fit in leather pants.’”

With Brown’s encouragement and guidance, Gill later went on to sign with MCA Nashville under Brown’s reign, and the two enjoyed a stellar run on the charts together. It was only fitting that Gill was the one to welcome Brown into the Hall.

Brown kept his speech short and sweet but incredibly impactful.

“Well, needless to say, I’ve had some big things happen in my life. This is by far the biggest. For years, everybody thought my life, my career, was defined by playing for Elvis Presley. Now my career is defined by being elected into the Country Music Hall Fame,” he stated.

Kenny Chesney

Modern Era Artist category inductee Kenny Chesney sat between his mother and father in the front row as three of his dear friends and former tourmates delivered surprise performances in his honor. Kelsea Ballerini performed “Somewhere with You,” Megan Moroney offered a heartfelt rendition of “Knowing You,” and Eric Church, who was called just 12 hours before the event to fill in for another performer, took the stage for a medley of “I Go Back,” “Anything But Mine,” “El Cerrito Place,” “Never Wanted Nothing More,” and “The Boys of Fall.”

Eric Church joked with the crowd about getting the last-minute call, admitting he was “winging it.” He went on to share a memory of the first time he saw Kenny Chesney live, during the George Strait Music Festival in Clemson, South Carolina, and how it left a lasting impact. “I watched reality change,” Church recalled, describing how Chesney’s performance transformed the entire crowd.

Chesney’s longtime friend and former label president, Country Music Hall of Fame member Joe Galante, was on hand to present the East Tennessee native with the Medallion, officially welcoming him as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

An emotional Chesney called the moment “overwhelming” as he delivered a nearly 15-minute heartfelt speech reflecting on his journey and the people who made it possible: his friends, family, road crew, manager, publicist, and more. It was clear this honor meant the world to him.

“The truth is, I’ve never really let myself sit in accomplishment very much. I’ve always been very creative, very driven. But tonight, I can tell you, walking into that rotunda and taking the group shot with a lot of my heroes and a lot of my friends, it was the first time that I have ever felt accomplished in my life,” he shared, later adding, “It’s an unbelievable feeling to stand here in this moment. And with every cell in my body, I feel the gravity of this moment.” 

Standing at the podium, a humble Chesney expressed gratitude to the many people who helped him along the way before closing his speech in a fitting way.

“The thing that I am very thankful for is the fact that I got to do this with so many people. I’m standing up here at night because of all the people I got to play music with and all the people that I got to live this life with,” he explained. “And several years ago I wrote a song called ‘I Didn’t Get Here Alone,’ and I’m going to leave you guys with this. It goes: To everyone who helped pave my way/ If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here today/ To all my friends, the girls, the broken hearts/ All the critics, cynics and doubters/ Y’all know who you are/ Because I didn’t get here alone/ This road’s just too rough and long/ I might be the one the spotlight’s on/ But I didn’t get here alone.” 

As applause filled the room, Chesney shared, “I know I didn’t get here alone, and I’m honored tonight to be in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Thank you guys.” 

The Medallion ceremony wrapped up with a moving performance of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” led by Country Music Hall of Fame member John Anderson. 

The Medallion All-Star Band provided the music for the evening, featuring an impressive lineup of musicians: Paul Franklin (steel guitar), Jen Gunderman (keyboards), Tania Hancheroff (vocals), Brent Mason (electric guitar), Jerry Pentecost (drums), Alison Prestwood (bass), Deanie Richardson (fiddle and mandolin), Mica Roberts (vocals), Biff Watson (bandleader and acoustic guitar), Jeff White (acoustic guitar and vocals), and Charlie Worsham (guitar and vocals).