Top 30 Contenders for the Country Music Hall of Fame

Modern Era Category

The following 30 artists are likely to be the in the running for the Country Music Hall of Fame. Three of the most significant achievements for country artists are winning a CMA or ACM Entertainer of the Year award and becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry. See how the top 30 contenders stack up in those categories.

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Artist	CMA Entertainer of the Year	ACM Entertainer of the Year	Opry Member
Miranda Lambert		✅
The Chicks	✅	✅
Shania Twain	✅	✅
Tim McGraw	✅
Carrie Underwood		✅	✅
Keith Urban	✅	✅	✅
Brad Paisley	✅		✅
Dwight Yoakam
Clint Black			✅
Alison Krauss			✅
Faith Hill
Blake Shelton	✅		✅
Jason Aldean		✅
Trisha Yearwood			✅
Lee Ann Womack
Rascal Flatts			✅
Martina McBride			✅
Travis Tritt			✅
Diamond Rio			✅
Little Big Town			✅
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Steve Earle
Shenandoah
Collin Raye
Mark Chesnutt
Lucinda Williams
John Michael Montgomery
Little Texas
Sara Evans			✅
Billy Ray Cyrus

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Veterans Era Category

Artist	CMA Entertainer of the Year	ACM Entertainer of the Year	Opry Member
Charlie Rich	✅
John Denver	✅
John Prine
Gary Stewart
The Stanley Brothers
Linda Ronstadt
Gram Parsons
Johnny Horton
Rosanne Cash
Guy Clark
Crystal Gayle			✅
Vern Gosdin
Freddie Hart		✅	✅
Eddie Rabbitt
Johnny Paycheck			✅
Mickey Gilley		✅
Jessi Colter
Freddy Fender
Steve Wariner			✅
Linda Martell
Lynn Anderson
Sammi Smith
Doug Sahm
Billy Joe Shaver
Jeannie C. Riley
Jack Greene			✅
Anne Murray
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Lorrie Morgan			✅
Donna Fargo

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Future Eligible Artists

Artist	CMA Entertainer of the Year	ACM Entertainer of the Year	Opry Member
Taylor Swift	✅	✅
Chris Stapleton		✅
Luke Combs	✅		✅
Luke Bryan	✅	✅
Eric Church	✅
Lainey Wilson	✅	✅
Kacey Musgraves
Old Dominion
Morgan Wallen	✅
Thomas Rhett		✅
Brothers Osborne
Lady A			✅
Maren Morris
Florida Georgia Line
Dan + Shay
Sturgill Simpson
Kelsea Ballerini			✅
Carly Pearce			✅
Ashley McBryde			✅
Thompson Square
Cody Johnson
Hardy
The Band Perry
Pistol Annies
Darius Rucker			✅
Jason Isbell
Jimmie Allen
Megan Moroney
Riley Green
Jon Pardi			✅

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Hall of Famers with the Big Three

Artist	CMA Entertainer of the Year	ACM Entertainer of the Year	Opry Member
Garth Brooks	✅	✅	✅
Willie Nelson	✅	✅	✅
Dolly Parton	✅	✅	✅
Loretta Lynn	✅	✅	✅
Reba McEntire	✅	✅	✅
Barbara Mandrell	✅	✅	✅
Roy Clark	✅	✅	✅

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