Shania Twain to be inducted into Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
Let's go, girls: The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame has revealed its 2022 class of inductees, and at the top of the list is the one and only Shania Twain.
The Canadian country-pop superstar is one of five talents entering the hall later this year, along with country singer-songwriter Steve Wariner ("Holes in the Floor of Heaven") and hitmakers Hillary Lindsey ("Jesus Take The Wheel"), Gary Nicholson ("One More Last Chance") and David Malloy ("Drivin' My Life Away.")
They'll officially join the club on October 30, when the organization holds its annual induction gala at the Music City Center. The Hall's 223 members include Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams and Loretta Lynn.
The inductees were revealed Tuesday morning during a private gathering on Music Row. All were in attendance, save Twain, who is currently at home in Switzerland. Here's what the future inductees had to say about the honor.
Steve Wariner
"There are so many other writers that probably deserve this more than I do," Wariner said Tuesday. "But none of them will appreciate it any more. I can guarantee you that."
The Indiana native's career was kickstarted by a couple of country legends. He was recruited at 17 to join Dottie West's band, and was later signed by Chet Atkins to RCA.
He wrote or co-wrote many of his own hits, including "Holes In the Floor of Heaven," "Two Teardrops" and "You Can Dream of Me." He's also co-written hits for Clint Black, Keith Urban and Garth Brooks.
His induction will be the latest of many Music City honors he's received, including membership in the Grand Ole Opry, entering the Musicians Hall of Fame and being one of five people to be named a "C.G.P" (Certified Guitar Player) by Atkins and his family.
Hillary Lindsey
It was an emotional morning for the modern songwriting giant, who's worked extensively with Carrie Underwood ("Jesus Take The Wheel"), Lady Gaga ("Always Remember Us This Way") and Little Big Town ("Girl Crush").
The honor arrives 20 years after Lindsey — just a few years out of Belmont University — scored her first No. 1 hit with Martina McBride's "Blessed."
"Thanks for bringing on the waterworks again," she said from the podium. "I wasn't expecting that."
Gary Nicholson
"I learned so much from every one of my collaborators," Nicholson said Tuesday. Looking at the Texas native's list of popular cuts, it's clear he's learned a lot.
Starting with his first Top 5 hit in 1983 — Mickey Gilley's "Your Love Shines Through" — Nicholson's catalog of 600 recorded songs includes "One More Last Chance" for Vince Gill, "That's The Thing About Love" for Don Williams and "Squeeze Me In," which was eventually cut by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. He also
David Malloy
Before he spoke Tuesday at Columbia Studio A, songwriter/producer Malloy had to look around the room where he first got his start as an engineer.The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame has been on his radar since before it existed — he remembered the Hall's founder Maggie Cavender coming over to the house to run the idea by his father, recording engineer Jim Malloy.
Before he found success co-writing hits like "Drivin' My Life Away" and "Suspicions" (both with Eddie Rabbitt), Malloy was a kid who knew Hall of Famers like Cowboy Jack Clement as family friends.
"I never really thought that I would be in here," he said. "Because I thought back to Cowboy and all those people and thought, 'I can never aspire to be like that,' you know? So to be here with these great talents today that I admire so much, I'm just so grateful."
Shania Twain
Hall executive director Mark Ford said Twain was unable to attend Tuesday's announcement, as the singer is "At home in Switzerland enjoying some much needed downtime."
Last week, the new documentary "Shania Twain: Not Just a Girl" premiered on Netflix.
"We trust that she's watching and we send our congratulations."
The Hall of Fame Gala benefits the nonprofit Nashville Songwriters Foundation. Starting in September, select public seating may be purchased by contacting Executive Director Mark Ford at [email protected] or 615-460-6556.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Shania Twain to be inducted into Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
