The Country Music Hall of Fame has picked Kenny Rogers, “Cowboy” Jack Clement and Bobby Bare as the latest musicians to induct as members. The three musicians were named as the hall’s newest inductees at a ceremony, held in Nashville, Tennessee this morning. The hall will induct Rogers in the Modern Era category, Clement in the Non-Performer category and Bare in the Veterans Era category. All three musicians will officially accept the honour at an invitation-only ceremony at the Country Music Hall and Museum later this year.

Rogers himself commented on the news: "The accomplishments I've had all pale by comparison to this one," from the podium, before welling up with tears. The musician definitely does have a considerable record of achievements behind him – at 74, Kenny Rogers can call himself a singer, songwriter, producer, actor, author and restauranteur. He holds nine Number One albums and twenty-one Number One singles – a substantial record for a country performer, as the genre doesn’t typically enjoy mainstream success.

Kenny Rogers, Hammersmith Apollo, London
Rogers teared up while accepting the honor. 

"I feel, right or wrong, that I brought a lot of people to country music who wouldn't have come otherwise," Rogers told Rolling Stone later. "You look at all the girls that are out there doing this cool stuff; a lot of kids are listening to country music that wouldn't be listening to it today if it weren't for them."