Eddie Bayers, Ray Charles, Pete Drake, and the Judds Honored at Country Music Hall of Fame Ceremony

Studio drummer Eddie Bayers, singer-pianist Ray Charles, pedal steel guitarist Pete Drake, and the mother-daughter duo the Judds, officially joined the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday, May 1, in a star-studded Medallion Ceremony at the Museum’s CMA Theater. It was an evening filled with once-in-a-lifetime musical performances and heartfelt, and at times tearful, testimonials.

The death of Naomi Judd on the eve of the induction ceremony gave the event a muted sense of mourning, tender reflection, and open-hearted fellowship. The audience observed a moment of silence in memory of Judd and two other Hall of Fame members who died since the last Medallion Ceremony in November: radio and television personality Ralph Emery and studio pianist Hargus “Pig” Robbins.

Those presenting musical highlights from the inductees’ careers included Country Music Hall of Fame members Garth Brooks and Vince Gill. They were joined by Elizabeth Cook, Bettye LaVette, Wendy Moten, Carly Pearce, Tommy Sims, Trisha Yearwood, and the duos the War and Treaty (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount Trotter) and Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Country Music Hall of Fame member Marty Stuart led the audience in the ceremonial closing song, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”

Following longstanding custom, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, chosen by the inductee, welcomed each new member. For the class of 2021 — whose official induction was delayed due to the pandemic — Charlie McCoy inducted Drake, Gill inducted Bayers, Ricky Skaggs inducted the Judds, and Ronnie Milsap inducted Charles.

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