Music City Walk of Fame Welcomes Old Dominion, Charley Pride, and Liz Rose
“These inductees represent the heart of Nashville’s music story…”
Old Dominion; Photo by Thomas Hagan for Country Now
The Music City Walk of Fame unveiled three new stars on Tuesday, honoring reigning CMA and ACM Group of the Year Old Dominion, country music’s first Black superstar Charley Pride, and two-time GRAMMY-winning songwriter Liz Rose. Inductees are honored for preserving Nashville’s musical heritage and making meaningful contributions through their songs.
“These inductees represent the heart of Nashville’s music story,” Ellen Pryor, Chair of Music City Inc., the foundation of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, and Director of Communications at Frist Art Museum shared. “From Old Dominion’s rise from songwriters to stars, to Charley Pride’s trailblazing legacy, to Liz Rose’s timeless storytelling that defined an era — each has left an unforgettable mark on music and on Nashville.”
Old Dominion
Vince Gill was on hand to induct Old Dominion, the hit-making group with nine No. 1s and a 2025 CMA Group of the Year nomination. The band currently holds eight ACM and seven CMA Group of the Year wins. Their sixth studio album, Barbara, arrived on August 22, and they’re set to continue their How Good Is That – World Tour through stadiums and arenas into mid-2026.
Lead singer Matthew Ramsey admitted it was “hard to know what to say” as fans and members of the music industry watched on.
“It’s such a humbling experience, especially for a bunch of guys that consider themselves underdogs. At times that was very true, and other times not so true. But still, we have that spirit about us. I think even now receiving this, there’s that nagging voice in our heads that’s telling us we’re still underdogs,” he shared from the stage. “We bled for this in a lot of ways, not for recognition or awards, but for songs and for the music and for each other. We had to believe when it felt like no one else did. And the thing about chasing this crazy kind of dream is the voice that’s telling you that you believe in yourself can very quickly turn on you and convince you that you were crazy forever believing in the first place.”
In closing, he thanked family, friends, and others who have supported them along the way.
Charley Pride
Charley Pride, who passed away on December 12, 2020, was inducted posthumously. A Grand Ole Opry member and three-time GRAMMY winner, Pride also earned the Recording Academy’s “Lifetime Achievement Award.” He notched 36 No. 1 hits, including the crossover smash “Kiss an Angel Good Morning,” which sold over a million copies and helped him claim the CMA’s “Entertainer of the Year” in 1971 and “Top Male Vocalist” in both 1971 and 1972.
Neal McCoy made a special appearance to induct the country music icon. His wife, Rozene, accepted the honor on his behalf.
“Pride always said that his mother believed that the dead knew what the living was doing. If that is true, I know Pride had a big smile on his face today as well as he’ll probably break into a big song and dance,” Rozene said. “I want to thank the committee for choosing him. He would be so happy.”
@countrynow.com From penning @Taylor Swift classics like “You Belong With Me” and “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” to the GRAMMY-winning “Girl Crush,” Liz Rose’ words have shaped some of country music’s most unforgettable stories. 💫 Today, Karen Fairchild was on hand to help honor the legendary Nashville songwriter as one of the newest inductees of the Music City Walk of Fame.👏👏 #Karenfairchild #musiccitywalkoffame #lizrose #taylorswift ♬ original sound – CountryNow.com
Liz Rose
Liz Rose was inducted by Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild. Rose co-wrote 16 songs with Taylor Swift, including the 2023 GRAMMY-nominated Song of the Year “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version),” the 2010 GRAMMY winner for Best Country Song “White Horse,” and the crossover No. 1s “Teardrops On My Guitar,” “You Belong With Me,” and “Tim McGraw.” She also earned CMA Song of the Year and a GRAMMY for Best Country Song in 2015 for Little Big Town’s massive hit “Girl Crush.”
Rose shared her heartfelt gratitude for her fellow songwriters and reflected on making the move to Nashville
“I remember the first time we came here in the very early nineties for the CMA awards and I looked down from the plane, and I’m going to try not to get emotional, but I looked in and saw nothing but green and beauty. And after a couple of days of being here, we decided this is where we wanted to live and raise our family. So we moved here. Within a year, we built a life here. I found an amazing career,” she said.
She went on to thank her family and those who have shown their unwavering support for her.
The Music City Walk of Fame was established in 2006 along Nashville’s Music Mile, a roughly one-mile stretch linking downtown to Music Row. Inductees are honored with permanent sidewalk medallions arranged in a star pattern. Notable inductees include Luke Combs, Alabama, Trace Adkins, Clint Black, Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, and more.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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