The Judds are set to release greatest hits package on June 30th

Kentucky music natives, Wynonna and Naomi Judd made musical history throughout their career receiving eight Gold and eight Platinum records, selling over 20 million albums and scoring twenty Top 10 hits between 1984-1990. Now, Curb Records is excited to bring fans the ultimate collection of those years together. The Judds – All-Time Greatest Hits will be released on Friday, June 30 – and will feature each of the classic hits that helped to make them a household name on Country Radio in the 1980s and 1990s.

Where are the females in the Country Music Hall of Fame?

Country Music Hall of Fame Rotunda - Photo by Jessica Bray

Yesterday the Country Music Hall of Fame announced their 2016 inductee class.  The newest members include Charlie Daniels, Randy Travis, and Fred Foster.  While all three are deserving of the honor, there are some that many feel are left out.  Most importantly, there has been a serious lack of females inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

If you counted each and every member, including those in a group/duo, there are 158 members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.  Out of that 158, only 21 are females, as in only 13.29% of the membership are females.

Here are the Country Music Hall of Fame Female Members and when they were inducted:

Connie Smith 2012

Reba McEntire 2011

Jean Shephard 2011

Barbara Mandrell 2009

Emmylou Harris 2008

Dolly Parton 1999

Tammy Wynette 1998

Brenda Lee 1997

Cindy Walker 1997

Patsy Montana 1996

Jo Walker-Meador 1995

Frances Preston 1992

Felice Bryant 1991 (with husband Boudleaux)

Loretta Lynn 1988

Kitty Wells 1976

Minnie Pearl 1975

Patsy Cline 1973

Carter Family 1970 (Sara and Mother Maybelle)

It has been 4 years since a female was inducted and that was Connie Smith.  There have been very long stretches in between female inductees.  Kitty Wells was inducted in 1976 and then in 1988, Loretta Lynn was included 12 years later.  Another long stretch was 1999 when Dolly Parton was inducted until 2008 when Emmylou Harris was included.  The first members were inducted in 1961, but the first female didn't appear until 1970 with Sara and Mother Maybelle as part of the Carter Family.

Why are women suppressed when it comes to Country Music Hall of Fame inductions?  Why are the following not members yet? 

Alison Krauss

Crystal Gayle

Dottie Rambo

Dottie West

Faith Hill

Janie Fricke

Jeanie C. Riley

Jean Ritchie

Kathy Mattea

Lynn Anderson

Martina McBride

Molly O'Day

Patsi Bale Cox

Patty Loveless

Sammi Smith 

Shania Twain 

Skeeter Davis

Tanya Tucker

The Coon Creek Girls

The Judds 

Trisha Yearwood

Wanda Jackson

Many have blazed a trail doing things their own way, not minding what others may think or say.  Many have done a lot of charity work off the stage within their own communities.  They have stood strong, singing songs that they have written, and made a name for themselves, as well as gaining recognition around the world.  Look at the instance of Shania Twain as compared to Garth Brooks, who is a member.  Both have sold millions of records, performed sold out concerts, and went across genres, as well as across the pond internationally with their music.  Yet, Garth was inducted many years prior to other deserving males who are still not inducted - Keith Whitley, Vern Gosdin, Dwight Yoakam, Marty Stuart, Hank Williams, Jr. and more.

When will we see another female inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame?  It is long overdue for many of these women.  Who do you feel should be in the Hall of Fame?

Kentucky Country Music Star Wynonna Judd is Engaged

Cactus Moser and Wynonna Judd announce engagement.

Wedding bells will be ringing soon for not one but two country music performers. Kentucky native and country music singer Wynonna Judd and musician boyfriend Cactus Moser, of award-winning country group Highway 101, got engaged on December 24th. Wynonna and Cactus are presently touring together as Wynonna and The Big Noise.

Five-time GRAMMY Award winning artist and New York Times best-selling author Wynonna Judd first gained fame as part of one of the most successful musical duos of all time, The Judds. On top of that amazing feat, she also holds multiple gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA in excess of 30 million units sold for albums released throughout her illustrious 28-year career. Wynonna recently reunited with her mother, Naomi, for a final Judds tour in 2010, The Last Encore. During this time, the iconic duo invited cameras from the new Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) to capture their unprecedented moments together as they navigated the intricacies of their first tour in 10 years. The television docu-series, “The Judds” debuted in April 2011 with the highest rated premiere outside of OWN’s launch week and boasted the highest rated season finale in OWN history.

Cactus Moser garnered fame as a founding member and stylistic drummer of the four-time Vocal Group of the year, Highway 101. In the later 80’s, Highway 101 charted 16 Top Ten hits, 5 of which went to Number One, with their debut album immediately being certified Gold. Now, in 2011, Moser continues to tour with Highway 101 as well as his new fiancée Wynonna.