Marsha Blackburn: “in Nashville, we have a saying: it all starts with a song; but a song is just the beginning of the story. This Sunday…”

“in Nashville, we have a saying: it all starts with a song; but a song is just the beginning of the story. This Sunday, Nashville's unbroken circle of elite artists, producers, entertainers, and musical masterminds will welcome four new members into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, Ray Stevens, and Jerry Bradley represent different sectors within the music industry, but they have all contributed to country music's evolution. Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn--we know them as Brooks & Dunn--began their careers as solo singer-songwriters but rocketed to stardom as a duo. Their fusion of classic rock composition and heartfelt songwriting spoke to country music fans craving an edge to the genre's traditional ``Nashville Sound.'' Nearly three decades after their first album dropped, their music still inspires emerging generations of fans. From the beginning of his career, audiences and fellow artists alike were drawn to Ray Stevens' wonderful sense of humor, open heart, and commitment to entertainment as an art form. Known for his work in musical comedy, Ray stretched his legs and also made a name for himself as a studio musician, producer, songwriter, publisher, label owner, gospel singer, and country star. Jerry Bradley, this year's final inductee, may not have invented country music, but no one on Music Row would deny the impact his work has had on generations of country stars.…”