Country Music Hall of Fame Predictions: Modern Category
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In this episode of Across the Country with Amanda, Amanda reveals her top contenders for the 2025 Country Music Hall of Fame's Modern Era category. She discusses a range of artists who achieved national prominence at least 20 years ago, highlighting their significant contributions to country music. Featured artists include Steve Wariner, Roseanne Cash, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Shania Twain, and many more. Amanda also makes her pick for the 2025 inductee, praising their innovative impact on the genre. Tune in for insights and predictions on future Hall of Fame members.
00:00 Introduction to the Modern Era Category
00:43 Overview of Recent Inductees
01:13 Underrated Artists from the 80s
02:15 Influential Women in Country Music
04:01 The 90s Country Music Boom
04:45 Future Hall of Fame Inductees
05:03 2025 Predictions
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Transcript
Welcome to Across The Country With Amanda!
I’m revealing my top contenders for the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Modern Era category! I’ll tell you who I predict will be the 2025 inductee!
In a previous episode, I talked about the Country Music Hall of Fame works – you can go back and find that one for a more in-depth overview. I also talk about my picks for the Veterans category in that episode. Now, in this episode, it’s all about The Modern Category - this inductee is an artist who first achieved national prominence 20 years ago.
With the Hall of Fame only inducting one person per category each year, I have a long list of artists who are very worthy of this honor.
In recent years, John Anderson, Patty Loveless, Keith Whitley, Marty Stuart, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Reba, George Strait, and may others have been elected.
I think in the next few years, we’ll see Clint Black and Travis Tritt go in – as part of the famed Class of 89, Alan Jackson and Garth are already in, and the others will without a doubt go in too.
When I think of underrated artists who received their big commercial breaks in the 80s, there are two that come to mind, the first is Steve Wariner. He has 37 top twenty hits as a performer, then all of the great songs he’s written that acts like Clint Black and Garth Brooks have recorded. He’s a triple threat singer, songwriter, and certified guitar player.
Rosanne Cash also deserves a spot. Her influence on future generations is immense. 19 top twenty hits including 11 number ones. She had a huge commercial impact while being this ultra creative artist unlike no one else in country music at that time. Her artistry continues to evolve, after straying away from chasing hits, she’s released some of the best albums of all time. Definitely a pick for the Modern Day category.
The 90s gave us so many artists who went on to become international superstars and really this is just a matter of when:
Tim McGraw
Faith Hill
Shania Twain
Martina McBride
Kenny Chesney
The Chicks
Keith Urban
Brad Paisley
What made the 90s such a pivotal time in country music is that there was room for all types of artists. And we saw a lot of unique acts that combined artistic and commercial appeal – acts like Trisha Yearwood, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Pam Tillis, Kathy Mattea, Lorrie Morgan, Alison Krauss, and Wynonna – and yes, Wynonna was inducted for her work as one half of the Judds, but her solo work shouldn’t be overlooked. You can go back to albums by any of these artists I just mentioned, and they are simply timeless. Those albums are pieces of art are and frankly far surpass any of their male counterparts. And these particular artists took control of their careers, enabling them to still sell out shows today and record music on their own terms.
Looking back at the decade - what made the 90s the 90s? There was a stretch between 1991 and 1995 where we saw a major crop of new acts that really musically defined that time. And they definitely influenced today’s artists – acts including Tracy Lawrence, Mark Chesnutt, Joe Diffie, John Michael Montgomery, Diamond Rio and Terri Clark. All major hitmakers and responsible for some of the most iconic songs and best-selling albums from the 90s
My pick for who I would like to see go into the Country Music Hall of Fame this year is a trailblazer who took country music to a whole new level in the 80s. His style blends his Bakersfield roots with a honky tonk flair – and he became the first country act with a video to be played on MTV, bringing a new audience to the format. Dwight Yoakam is innovative and one of the biggest record sellers in country music. He’s never chased trends; what you get with him is something absolutely original – and he is my pick for the 2025 Modern Era Category for the Country Music Hall of Fame.
If you want to hear my picks for the Veterans Category, which recognizes artists who achieved success at least 45 years ago, you can find that on my channel. And I’ll be spotlighting the Non-Performer category in a future episode so please subscribe so you’ll be the first to know about it. You can catch me each week on my syndicated radio show Across The Country with Amanda – listen to it on a station near you! Thanks for joining me today and I’ll see you in a future episode!
Across The Country With Amanda
Listen to Across The Country With Amanda, a weekly syndicated radio program featuring the legends you love, and the best in today’s country! Find a station near you here.