The Country Music Hall of Fame welcomed its latest class of inductees Monday: country icons Patty Loveless and Tanya Tucker, and legendary songwriter Bob McDill.

Announced by country singer and current Eagles member Vince Gill, the three are the latest inductees to a hall that is widely regarded as country music’s highest honor. Loveless and Tucker were selected for the annual “Modern Era Artist” and “Veteran Era Artist” categories, respectively. McDill was selected in the “Songwriter” category.

• Tanya Tucker broke onto the country music scene while barely in her teens, with the classic “Delta Dawn” in 1972. She would go on to a string of hits that would extend into the mid-90’s, putting out such classics as “What’s Your Mama’s Name?”, “Two Sparrows In A Hurricane,” “Strong Enough To Bend” and “Lizzie And The Rainman.” She’s won multiple CMA, ACM and GRAMMY awards over the course of her storied career

• Patty Loveless began her country music career in 1985, but her first big hit came in 1988 with “If My Heart Had Windows.” She would go on to score 20 Top Ten country hits, including the #1 smashes “Timber, I’m Falling In Love,” “Chains,” “Blame It On Your Heart,” “You Can Feel Bad” and “Lonely Too Long”

• Bob McDill has written (or co-written) 31 #1 country hits over his career. His classic songs include “Amanda” (performed by both Don Williams and Waylon Jennings), “Song Of The South” (Alabama), “Louisiana Saturday Night” (Mel McDaniel), “Don’t Close Your Eyes” (Keith Whitley), “Gone Country” (Alan Jackson) and many others.

The induction ceremony will be held on a date not yet set, but expected to be some time in the fall.

Source: The Boot