June Carter Cash, Tony Brown, and Kenny Chesney Join the Country Music Hall of Fame — A Tribute to Timeless Talent and Unbreakable Legacy.LC
Eric Church was enjoying a quiet Florida beach vacation.
Megan Moroney was headed to Australia with her band.
Until they each got the call. Both performers changed their plans and headed back to Nashville for a very special event held at the CMA Theater the night of Oct. 19.
After all, it’s not every day you get to honor one of your musical heroes being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Kacey Musgraves, George Strait, Kelsea Ballerini, Trisha Yearwood, Steve Earle and Lyle Lovett, Keb Mo, Ruby Amanfu and Lukas Nelson along with Moroney and Church took the stage in the CMA Theater inside the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, not to perform their own songs, but instead to honor those who helped them become who they are.
Honorees were the late June Carter Cash, producer and label head Tony Brown and country superstar Kenny Chesney, collectively known now as the 2025 class of inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Here are the highlights from the induction ceremony.
Backstory: Kenny Chesney, June Carter Cash, Tony Brown named 2025 Country Music Hall of Fame inductees
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Moroney, Church and Ballerini sing to honor Kenny Chesney
Chesney, who was seated in the crowd between his mom and his dad, watched with a grin as Ballerini took the stage to sing “Somewhere With You.”
“It’s been one of the joys of my life to see you go from a hometown hero, to a collaborator, to family,” Ballerini said after noting the two had watched the University of Tennessee football game the day before. “I just love you so much.”
Moroney was up next and delivered a simple yet powerful acoustic version of “Knowing You,” recorded by Chesney and cowritten by Brett James.
Then Eric Church took the stage and drew the loudest laughter of the night when he looked Chesney in the eye as he told the crowd he was a replacement for the person who was supposed to sing, but got sick at the last minute.
“Full disclosure,” Church deadpanned. “I am your alternative quarterback. I was not supposed to be here. The person who was supposed to be here got ill. Why am I not the first call, Kenny? What the hell, bro?”
Reverting from sarcasm to sincerity, Church added that 20 hours ago, he was sitting on a beach in Florida.
“They called and said, ‘Hey, will you do this?’ And I said, ‘Absolutely.'”
As a tribute to his friend on Sunday night, played an acoustic medley of Chesney songs including “I Go Back,” “Anything But Mine,” “El Cerrito Place,” “Never Wanted Nothing More,” “Boys of Fall,” and “Old Blue Chair.”
Chesney was formally inducted by his longtime supporter and fellow Hall of Fame inductee, Joe Galante.
“Last year on the road, Megan Moroney, who, by the way, I thought was in Australia, but she stayed here to do this — she asked me if I ever let myself feel accomplished,” Chesney said from the stage. “I thought that was a very smart question for someone that’s just getting into the business. The truth is, I’ve never really let myself sit in accomplishment very much. I’ve always been very creative and very driven, but tonight, I can tell you, walking into that rotunda and taking the group shot with a lot of my heroes and a lot of my friends, it was the first time that I have ever felt accomplished in my life.”
Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, Trisha Yearwood and George Strait honor music industry veteran Tony Brown
Arguably the biggest surprise of the night was when George Strait, in his trademark black cowboy hat and starched Wranglers, emerged from the side-stage shadows to honor music executive Tony Brown.
“I appreciate all the records that we were able to make together,” Strait said. “I had so much fun with you in the studio. You are an amazing producer and my friend. Congratulations. I’m honored to be here and to do this song. It was one of our best efforts, It’s called ‘Troubadour.'”
Brown began his career playing gospel music on the piano, but eventually landed a gig playing with Elvis. Brown told the crowd for years everyone thought his career was defined by the Presley years.
“Now, my career is defined by being elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame,” Brown said. “All the No. 1s and platinum records are an accomplishment, but this tonight, to me is validation. This means to me that I made an impact somehow, and I take my job serious. I love what I do. I love this business. I’ve always told everybody in town that my day ceremony is my favorite event to attend every year, and this may be the best one yet.”
Brown was inducted by his friend of nearly 50 years, fellow Hall of Fame member Vince Gill.
After Gill explained how he and Brown met through Emmylou Harris and played in Roseanne Cash and Rodney Crowell’s bands together, it would later be Brown who convinced Gill to make country music and would ultimately fight for him at the label level.
“We had the best time,” Gill said. “We made records, I wrote songs. He liked my songs, and it was really powerful what happened. I remember in 1994, I believe, I lost my brother and I wrote ‘Go Rest High on That Mountain’ and I told Tony, I didn’t want to record it. He said, ‘You have to’ and the rest is kind-of pretty sweet history. He was always there for me and when he asked me to be the one to present him tonight, I was just overwhelmed and grateful.”
Kacey Musgraves, Keb’ Mo, Ruby Amanfu and Lukas Nelson honor June Carter Cash
June Carter Cash was somewhat of an unsung hero during her lifetime. While a respected singer, songwriter and comedienne who regularly appeared on the Grand Ole Opry, many know her as Johnny Cash’s wife and collaborator. But it was June Carter who wrote Cash’s hit “Ring of Fire,” along with more than 100 other songs.
Country Music Hall of Fame CEO Kyle Young, cited a comment Johnny Cash once made about his wife, saying his only regret in marrying her was that her contribution to country music might go underrecognized simply because she was his wife.
“He feared June would be remembered as ‘Someone who used to be somebody,’ because so much of her life had been spent in the shadows,” Young said. “But June Carter Cash was never content to dwell in the shadows. Instead, she brought light to innumerable audiences. She wrote and sang songs that became standards and she connected people from all over the world. Tonight we happily answer Johnny’s concern for certain. June Carter Cash will forever be somebody. An artist whose courage, creativity, and conviction is forever enshrined in the Country Music Hall of Fame.”
To honor her legacy, Musgraves, joined by Daniel Tashian, sang “Ring of Fire,” followed by Keb’ Mo and Ruby Amanfu singing “Keep on the Sunny Side,” and Lukas Nelson singing “It Ain’t Me Babe,” which he said has affected him in a meaningful way.
“It’s an honor to be here and sing this song,” he said. “This happens to be the story of my life up until now.”
June Carter Cash was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Emmylou Harris. Cash’s children Carlene Carter and John Carter Cash were on hand to speak on their mother’s behalf.
“June was proud to be an entertaine, and I believe her lifelong pursuit of that calling is why she’s being recognized here tonight,” Harris said. “June made it her business to celebrate, to encourage and lift up all of u, and she did it with her whole heart and with a rare and genuine grace. This evening we have the long awaited opportunity to celebrate her.”
Carlene Carter added, “Mom would love this, you guys. She is here. Absolutely. I know in everyone’s hearts here tonight because I know she made a difference in this world. I know she made a difference in Nashville and in the music community.”
Melonee Hurt covers music and music business at The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK — Tennessee. Reach Melonee at [email protected] or on Instagram at @MelHurtWrites.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Kacey Musgraves, George Strait and Trisha Yearwood honor Country Music Hall of Fame inductees
