The Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame has announced the 15 nominees for the class of 2011. Among them are country superstars Garth Brooks and Alan Jackson and Texas cult hero Townes Van Zandt. Joining them in the Songwriter/Artist category are Larry Gatlin and Amy Grant.
Read our 2010 cover story on Townes Van Zandt
Also up for election (in the Songwriter Category) are John Bettis (“Slow Hand” by Conway Twitty, “Top of the World” by The Carpenters and Lynn Anderson); Robert Byrne (“Two Dozen Roses” by Shenandoah and “”Rose Bouquet” by Phil Vassar); J.J. Cale (Eric Clapton’s “Cocaine” and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Call Me The Breeze); Jan Crutchfield (“Statue of a Fool” by Jack Greene, Perry Como’s “Dream On Little Dreamer”); Mark James (“Suspicious Minds” by Elvis Presley, “Always On My Mind” by Willie Nelson); Dan Penn (“I’m Your Puppet” by James & Bobby Purify, “The Dark End Of The Street” by James Carr and many others); Gretchen Peters (“Independence Day” by Martina McBride,” “The Chill Of An Early Fall” by George Strait); Thom Schuyler (“16th Avenue” by Lacy J. Dalton, “Love Will Turn You Around” by Kenny Rogers); Allen Shamblin (“I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt, “The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert); and John Scott Sherrill (“Nothin’ But The Wheel” by Patty Loveless, “Would You Go With Me” by Josh Turner).
Two songwriters and one songwriter/artist will be elected into the Hall of Fame at an awards ceremony on October 16.
“This is an amazing group of songwriters and songwriter/artists,” said Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation chair John Van Mol in a statement. “Every one of them is extremely worthy of induction, and it is our honor to place each of their names in nomination.”