Inside Taylor Swift, Elvis, Chris Stapleton and more stars Hall of Fame displays: ‘America to its core’
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In the early 1900s, music, art and theater were put on notice for their contributions to the nation’s history.
Updated at 4:13 PM CDT on Monday, Sep 11, 2009
The list of the 50 greatest American artists — as voted on by fans — is a surprisingly long one.
We got more than 35,000 nominations for the Hall of Fame, but not one name that would surprise longtime fans.
And not only do Elvis, country music icons Bob Dylan and Neil Young, and classic films star Natalie Wood, appear on the list, they weren’t the only stars you heard of.
Country music stars are also at the top of the list.
In fact, the Hall of Fame also includes two country stars who weren’t even born when the list was compiled in 2003.
When America took stock of the best musicians and artists in the country it chose singers Elvis, Jimi Hendrix and Frank Sinatra, as well as musician Willie Nelson and the late folk singer Bob Dylan. And it added to the list former first lady Nancy Reagan, former president Ronald Reagan, and the late actors Sidney Poitier, John Mahoney and Jimmy Stewart.
We got all this from American Artist, a new biographical feature on the television series “American Idol.”
The stars come from a wide spectrum of fields: actors, singers, writers, musicians and directors, as well as athletes, businesspeople and politicians.
Their stories are told through exclusive interviews with them and personal anecdotes. Many of the artists don’t sing, dance or act anymore, but they still have an impact on our culture and country. We wanted to tell that story.
The list includes artists who make up the classic rock and roll era, a genre that dominated the era of the 1950s and ’60s. It goes on to include rock and roll’s own pioneers, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
We were amazed at the caliber of the people to be inducted, with the likes of Paul Simon and David Bowie among the many
