Bill Anderson heard her sing and less than a year later she had her first hit, 'Once a Day,' which became the first debut single by a female country artist to reach No. Smith recounted before the show how she won a talent contest in Columbus, Ohio. Robbins also played on Smith's early recordings shortly after she arrived in Nashville. 'If we listened to every hit record he played on, none of us would live long enough to make it to the end,' Charlie McCoy said during his induction speech for Robbins. His sound defines some of pop music's most memorable songs as well, which Crystal Gayle reminded everyone by singing 'Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.' Cale, he worked with some of the most dynamic artists in music history. From Jones and most of his country contemporaries to rock 'n' roll pioneers like Bob Dylan, Neil Young and J.J. Robbins is one of the most widely recorded session players in Nashville history, though his reputation spread far beyond Music City's borders. Ronnie Milsap, who like Robbins is blind, joked 'Pig and I are driving home tonight,' before joining Robbins on 'Behind Closed Doors.' 1 hit Robbins played on in 1959, while simultaneously drinking moonshine from a Mason jar. Ronnie Dunn serenaded Robbins with a version of George Jones' 'White Lightning,' the first No.

Merle Haggard provided her induction speech. Lee Ann Womack, the Quebe Sisters and The Whites saluted Smith. Strait, Seeger and Taylor played for Brooks, dubbed 'the mighty Garth' by Robbins. So I get to be a fan tonight.'īrooks was inducted along with trailblazing singer Connie Smith and keyboard player Hargus 'Pig' Robbins, whose rolling signature sound has adorned countless hits across the radio dial. 'I moved to this town for one reason and that was to get 'Much Too Young to Feel This Damn Old' cut by George Strait,' Brooks said before the ceremony as his eyes began to redden. He only got more emotional as the night went along. Reflecting on personal heroes George Strait, Bob Seger and James Taylor on hand to salute him Sunday night, Brooks teared up as he spoke with reporters on the red carpet.

But the tears started before he made it all the way into the building. NASHVILLE - Garth Brooks promised he'd be emotional during his Country Music Hall of Fame induction.

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