ABC RadioGarth Brooks thought he’d reached the pinnacle of his career when he joined the Country Music Hall of Fame. But as he announced that Ricky Skaggs, Dottie West, and musician Johnny Gimble will be the 2018 inductees, he changed his mind.
“That paled in comparison to get to stand up to announce these guys,” he confessed. “Especially guys like Skaggs that you grew up on, that [they’re] the reason why you play music…”
The reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year also has plenty of love for Dottie West, who’s finally going into the Hall, following years of support from both fans and friends like Kenny Rogers and Opry star Jeannie Sealy.
“Dottie West was sunshine…” Garth recalls. “When she was coming down the hall, she just glowed.”
As for who should go into the Hall next, Garth has some definite opinions.
“[Keith] Whitley!” he laughs. “…But I don’t think The Judds are in here yet.”
“How can we do that?” he offers, venturing into a bit of country music politics. “There’s a lot of people in this town that should be on these walls. So my plea to the Country Music Hall of Fame… is, let’s figure out a way to catch up a little bit, so these people can enjoy this while they’re alive.”
And Garth is not above making a pitch for the woman who helped him announce this year’s nominees, a two-time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year who happens to be his wife.
“Not biased or anything, but the greatest female vocalist this town has seen is Trisha Yearwood… I said, ‘You’ll be in here one day.’ And she goes, ‘I just hope, if it happens, that we’re alive.’ I said, ‘Well, I hope you are, because it’ll be the greatest day of your career.”
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