Pictured (L-R): Sarah Cates, Board Chair of NaSHOF; inductees David Malloy, Gary Nicholson, Hillary Lindsey and Steve Wariner; Mark Ford, Executive Director of NaSHOF
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (NaSHOF) welcomed six new members into its ranks on Sunday night (Oct. 30) at the organization’s 52nd Anniversary Gala. The musical contributions of the Class of 2022 were celebrated through star-studded performances at Nashville’s Music City Center.
The Class of 2022 includes Hillary Lindsey and Gary Nicholson in the songwriter category; David Malloy in the veteran songwriter category; Shania Twain in the songwriter/artist category and Steve Wariner in the veteran songwriter/artist category. Additionally, the late Chips Moman was inducted into the Hall’s new Legacy category, designed specifically to honor NaSHOF-worthy candidates who are deceased.
The Issacs with Sharon Vaughn
“Tonight we are celebrating the legacies of six extraordinary songwriters and bestowing upon them one of the nation’s highest songwriting honors—induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame,” Sarah Cates, Board Chair of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation noted. “I always look forward to this evening when the industry can gather to share in this moment with our inductees, their families and friends. And I’m not alone in anticipating this event. This year, we have one of our largest audiences ever, all here to applaud these exemplary songwriters.”
Award-winning artists The Isaacs kicked off the evening by honoring Twain with a medley of her song-of-the-year hits “Forever And For Always” and “You’re Still The One.” Though Twain was unable to attend, she sent a video thanking NaSHOF for the honor, noting that songwriting had gotten her through many hard times. NaSHOF 2019 inductee Sharon Vaughn presented Twain and also spoke on her behalf.
NaSHOF 2021 inductee Rhett Akins took the stage to honor Malloy, reprising his own 1998 recording of “Drivin’ My Life Away,” originally popularized by Eddie Rabbitt. NaSHOF 2015 inductee and longtime co-writer Even Stevens presented him.
NaSHOF 2005 inductee Vince Gill was joined on stage by Delbert McClinton, Shawn Camp and Michael Rhodes to perform “One More Last Chance” in honor of Nicholson. NaSHOF 2003 inductee Rodney Crowell presented him.
Garth Brooks. Photo: Moser Photography
The late Chips Moman was presented by NaSHOF Board member, industry journalist and longtime MusicRow contributor Robert K. Oermann. The legendary Clint Black performed Moman’s standard, “Luckenbach, Texas.”
Superstars Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban joined forces to perform a medley of Lindsey’s song of the year hits “Jesus, Take The Wheel” and “Blue Ain’t Your Color.” NaSHOF 2008 inductee Matraca Berg presented her.
Closing the night’s festivities, NaSHOF 2011 inductee Garth Brooks offered his rendition of “Holes In The Floor Of Heaven” to honor Wariner. NaSHOF 1975 inductee Bill Anderson presented him.
The evening also featured a medley of “Coal Miner’s Daughter and “If My Heart Had Windows” performed by award-winning songwriters Jessi Alexander and Jon Randall in a special memorial tribute to NaSHOF inductees Loretta Lynn and Dallas Frazier.
Gary Nicholson. Photo: Moser Photography
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