On November 2, the board chair of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame made an exciting announcement. “This year marks our 50th year to welcome a new class into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. And although our year has looked different, we couldn’t be more excited to continue our commitment and core mission by announcing the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Class of 2020. It’s our great honor today to welcome our class of 2020: Kent Blazy and Brett James in the songwriter category; Spooner Oldham in the veteran songwriter category, Steve Earle as our songwriter/artist and Bobbie Gentry as our veteran songwriter/artist.” The Covid-19 pandemic means that no in-person events are in the cards this year, so the songwriters mentioned above will have to wait until 2021 to be officially inducted at the Hall of Fame’s gala at Music City Center.
Kent Blazy’s hits include “If Tomorrow Never Comes” by Garth Brooks, “That’s What I Get for Lovin’ You” by Diamond Rio and “Can’t Get Enough” by Patty Loveless. Brett James’s credit include “Jesus, Take the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood, “When the Sun Goes Down” by Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker, and “The Truth” by Jason Aldean. Spooner Oldham is responsible for playing the keys on many, many great songs, and is also credited for writing hits like “Cry Like A Baby” by The Box Tops, “Lonely Women Make Good Lovers” by Steve Wariner, and “I’m Your Puppet” by James and Bobby Purify. Steve Earle wrote songs like “Sometimes She Forgets” by Travis Tritt, “Kerosene” by Miranda Lambert, and his own hits like “Guitar Town”, “Copperhead Road” and “The Devil’s Right Hand”. Bobbie Gentry is a singer-songwriter, and her own hits include “Ode To Billie Joe” ,”Let It Be Me” and “Fancy”.
Congratulations to the five inductees for the long, successful careers and well-deserved recognition.
