Meet The Newest Country Music Hall Of Fame Inductees

(photo by Canada Country Aircheck)

Bobby Bare, "Cowboy" Jack Clement, and Kenny Rogers will become the newest members of the revered Country Music Hall of Fame.

Rogers will be inducted in the "Modern Era Artist" category, while Bare will be inducted in the "Veterans Era Artist" category. Clement will be inducted in the "Non-Performer" category, which is awarded every third year in a rotation with the "Recording and/or Touring Musician Active Prior to 1980," and "Songwriter" categories.

"I had no idea this was coming," new Country Music Hall- of-Famer Kenny Rogers told a crowd gethered in the Rotunda at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. "I have an older son that said, 'Dad, I thought you were in the Hall of Fame 20 years ago. And I say, you know what ... it's not when you get there, it's that you get there."

"This is big – an honor and the validation of a dream, totally unexpected," said Bare. "Now I'll be famous forever. Thanks to all of my supporters and thank you CMA."

"I've been chosen for the Country Music Hall of Fame? I thought I was already in the Hall of Fame," said Clement. "I could have gotten in there any time I wanted. Kyle [Young] gave me a key."

"When I was young, my dad said, 'Son, you have to think big to accomplish small' and the Country Music Hall of Fame was as big as it gets," said Rogers. "He wanted that for me. So every record I've ever made, every concert I've performed, and every song I've written was done for the single purpose of achieving that goal.

Bare, Clement, and Rogers will increase membership in the coveted Country Music Hall of Fame from 118 to 121 members.