Purpose

The Country Music Association (CMA) established the Country Music Hall of Fame as an institution devoted to recognizing and honoring individuals for outstanding contributions to the advancement of Country Music and the indelibility of their impact.

Candidate Criteria

Only individuals may be elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame. A group of individuals, however, may be inducted as a single, designated entity. Companies, publications, radio stations and other organizations are not eligible for Hall of Fame recognition. Candidates for the Hall of Fame will be appraised by the Nominating Committees and Panel of Electors in accordance with the criteria below:

Baseline Standard - A candidate is to be judged on the degree of their contribution to the advancement of Country Music and the indelibility of their impact.

Criteria to determine a candidate’s indelible impact on Country Music includes the following:

  • Scope of Activity - Flexible authority is vested in the Nominating Committee and Electors to ensure the scope of a candidate's activity in Country Music demonstrates an indelible impact.
  • Influence on Others ‑ A significant criterion in evaluating a candidate is their inspirational effect on others and the degree to which that effect creates an indelible impact on Country Music far beyond their individual contribution.
  • Span of Influence ‑ The timing of a candidate's indelible impact on Country Music may cover an uninterrupted span of many years or it may cover two or more distinct and separated time cycles. Conceivably, a candidate may earn Hall of Fame recognition by one monumental act, provided the impact on Country Music is deemed indelible. The longevity of a candidate’s involvement with Country Music, therefore, will not in itself warrant recognition in the Hall of Fame.
  • Professional Conduct and Image ‑ The selection process is not a judgment of a candidate’s personal morals or behavior, provided neither outweighs their contributions to the advancement of Country Music and the indelibility of their impact.

Election Procedure

The process of selecting Country Music Hall of Fame inductees is divided into two phases:

  • Nomination of Candidates
  • Election of Inductees

Hall of Fame Nominating Committees are vested with the responsibility of selecting candidates to create a slate of Hall of Fame nominees. Two Panels of at least 100 Hall of Fame Electors are charged with the responsibility of voting for Hall of Fame inductees.Hall of Fame inductees are determined by two rounds of voting consisting of a First Ballot and a Final Ballot.

Since 2010, there are three induction categories:

  1. Modern Era Artist (eligible for induction in this category 20 years after they first achieve national prominence)
  2. Veterans Era Artist (eligible for induction in this category 45 years after they first achieve national prominence)
  3. Non-Performer, Songwriter, and Recording and/or Touring Musician (rotates every three years).