Aretha Franklin - Aretha Franklin Inducted Into Gospel Music Hall Of Fame

The music icon was unable to attend the Gospel Music Association ceremony in Hendersonville, Tennessee on Tuesday (14Aug12), but she accepted the honour via a video message.

Country and bluegrass star Ricky Skaggs was also feted at the bash, and he admitted news of the prestigious accolade had come as a big surprise when he was contacted earlier this year (12).

Accepting the honour, he said, "I've won lots of awards... but nothing greater than this."

And he tells local newspaper The Tennessean, "I'm a Christian, but I'm really a secular artist, more marketplace music you would call it. So this one (honour) kind of really slipped up on me, and when I saw it come in, that they were honouring me, it was a special treat. It was such a shock, such a surprise."

Singer/songwriter Dallas Holm, vocal group The Hoppers and rockers Love Song were also inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2012.

Previous inductees include Dolly Parton and Elvis Presley.