Home #Hwoodtimes Jerry Lee Lewis Officially Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame

Jerry Lee Lewis Officially Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame

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THE COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME OFFICIALLY INDUCTS JERRY LEE LEWIS, KEITH WHITLEY AND JOE GALANTE INTO THE COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2022

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 17, 2022) – Yesterday evening  Joe GalanteJerry Lee Lewis and Keith Whitley became the 147th, 148th and 149th members of the Country Music Hall of Fame as they were formally inducted during a star-studded Medallion Ceremony in the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s CMA Theater.

Galante, Lewis and Whitley received country music’s highest distinction and were honored with heartfelt remarks and inspired performances of songs associated with their careers. The following is a list of the artists (listed in the order they performed), as well the Hall of Fame members who were personally selected by each inductee to present them with their medallions.

(Photo by: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)

Joe Galante, Lorrie Morgan (widow of the late Keith Whitley) and Judith Lewis (wife of Jerry Lee Lewis) in the Hall of Fame Rotunda at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn., before the induction of the 2022 class of Country Music Hall of Fame members.

Jerry Lee Lewis (Veterans Era Artist category)
An explosive rockabilly showman, Jerry Lee Lewis was also among country music’s most expressive performers, with a distinctive and dynamic style as a singer and pianist. His biggest releases on Sun Records, “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On” and “Great Balls of Fire,” were country #1s as well as pop hits. In the late 1960s, the Louisiana native shifted from rock & roll to country recordings, invigorating his artistry. Between 1968 and 1981, he had 34 Top 20 country hits, putting his personal stamp on songs ranging from classics by Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams to newer works by Mickey Newbury and Kris Kristofferson.

·        Lee Ann Womack singing “Middle Age Crazy”
·        The McCrary Sisters with “My God Is Real”
·        Chris Isaak performing “Great Balls of Fire”
·        Medallion Presentation: Country Music Hall of Fame members Hank Williams Jr. and Kris Kristofferson

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 16: (L-R) Kris Kristofferson and Hank Williams Jr. accept Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum induction on behalf of Jerry Lee Lewis presented by CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Kyle Young at the class of 2022 Medallion Ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on October 16, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 16: (L-R) Kris Kristofferson and Hank Williams Jr. accept Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum induction on behalf of Jerry Lee Lewis presented by CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Kyle Young at the class of 2022 Medallion Ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on October 16, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/z2148j9wirfuoxu/AAB9_d2Cj76k1bdXBpG5hkiKa/Induction%20%2B%20Remarks%20%283%29/JerryLeeLewis_HankJrRemarks_PR.mp4?dl=0

Joe Galante (Non-Performer category)
Galante distinguished himself as one of country music’s most successful record executives. He helped steer the careers of Alabama, Clint Black, Kenny Chesney, the Judds, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Keith Whitley and other best-selling artists. Born in New York, he joined RCA Records after college and moved to the label’s Nashville office in 1974. Eight years later, he became head of RCA Nashville. He rose to hold a series of key label-executive positions, including president of RCA Records’ U.S. operations, head of RLG Nashville and, finally, chairman of Sony Music Nashville until his retirement in 2010.

·        Alabama performing “My Home’s in Alabama”
·        Miranda Lambert singing “White Liar”
·        Kenny Chesney with “The Good Stuff”
·        Medallion presentation: Country Music Hall of Fame member Kix Brooks

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 16: Joe Galante inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, presented by Kix Brooks (L) and CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Kyle Young (R) during the class of 2022 Medallion Ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on October 16, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 16: Joe Galante inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame during the class of 2022 Medallion Ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on October 16, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)

Keith Whitley (Modern Era Artist category)
A premier vocal stylist, Keith Whitley (1954-1989) helped define country music’s new traditionalist resurgence of the 1980s. Born near Sandy Hook, Kentucky, he proved an adept singer and guitarist as a youngster. After apprenticing in the bluegrass bands of Ralph Stanley and J. D. Crowe, he signed with RCA Records. In five years as a solo artist, he recorded a dozen Top 20 country singles, including five consecutive #1 hits. His career was cut tragically short at age 34. Five months after his death, his recording of “I’m No Stranger to the Rain” was named CMA Single of the Year for 1989.

·        Mickey Guyton performing “When You Say Nothing at All”
·        Country Music Hall of Fame member Ricky Skaggs, Molly Tuttle and Justin Moses singing “Tennessee Blues”
·        Country Music Hall of Fame member Garth Brooks with “Don’t Close Your Eyes”
·        Medallion presentation: Country Music Hall of Fame member Garth Brooks

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 16: Lorrie Morgan accepts Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum induction on behalf of Keith Whitley presented by Garth Brooks (L) and CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Kyle Young (R) at the class of 2022 Medallion Ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on October 16, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)

The ceremony concluded with a performance of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” led by Country Music Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 16: Bill Anderson performs onstage for the class of 2022 Medallion Ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on October 16, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum)

Produced by the staff of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the annual Medallion Ceremony celebrates the unique talents, personalities and backgrounds of each Hall of Fame inductee, as well as the important turning points and the breakthrough artistic achievements that defined their careers. The ceremony includes speeches, live musical tributes and original video biographies, created by the museum staff using recorded performances, past televised interviews and historic photos culled from materials in the museum’s Frist Library and Archive.

Here are photos of guest at the Medallion Ceremony and those on the red carpet:

All photos by Jason Kempin and Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Video highlights of tonight’s ceremony are available here.