Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame

Entrance

Animatronic Quartet in front entrance to museum

The Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame is a site operated at Dollywood, in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, by the Southern Gospel Music Association. It was established in 1997. The Hall of Fame is composed of pioneers in the field of Southern gospel music; members are selected by the SGMA annually, and are honored by a descriptive plaque and portrait in the Hall itself. The Museum contains thousands of items of memorabilia and a gift shop. An animatronic quartet, sponsored by Bill Gaither, sings "Give the World a Smile." Other interesting items on display include a replica of the Blackwood Brothers first bus, interactive video and sound clips, and bronze plaques of Hall of Fame inductees. Over one million people visit the facility annually.

Beginning in 2004, the Hall of Fame began holding their popular annual induction ceremonies. Dollywood closes its doors to the public, and the all-day event is filled with musical performances.

The Hall of Fame is currently under the leadership of Executive Director Charles Waller, who is also producer of the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion in Knoxville, TN. Waller has done much to bring the legends of gospel music before a new, younger audience, and is credited by many as Bill Gaither's direct inspiration for his homecoming videos. Waller's contributions to the Hall of Fame have proven beneficial in honoring the heritage of southern gospel music.

Members of the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame

A-L

• Abernathy, Lee Roy (1997)
• Abner, James Buford (2002)
• Akers, Doris (2011)
• Allred, Glennan "Glen" (2001)
• Arnold, Robert Sterling (2005)
• Bagwell, Wendy Lee (1997)
• Bartlett, Eugene Monroe "E.M." (2000)
• Baxter, Clarice Howard "Ma" (1997)
• Baxter, Jesse Randall "J.R." (1997)
• Bean, Peg McKamey (2016)
• Beasley, Lester George "Les" (1997)
• Bennett, Roger (2007)
• Benson Jr., John T. (2013)
• Blackwood, Doyle (2011)
• Blackwood, James Webre (1997)
• Blackwood, R. W. (2002)
• Brock, Dwight Moody (2003)
• Brumley, Albert Edward (1997)
• Brumley, Bob (2011)
• Burger, Anthony (2007)
• Burke, Charles (2012)
• Burns, Troy (2017)

• Carter, David Parker "Dad" (1997)
• Carter, Roy (2011)
• Cook, Martin Alfred (2003)
• Copsey, Polly Lewis (2013)
• Crumpler, Denver Dale (1997)
• Daniel, Fred E. (2008)
• Daniel, John Tyra (1997)
• Davis, James Houston "Jimmie" (1997)
• Davis, Anna Gordon (2005)
• Derricks, Lister Cleavant (2001)
• Dorsey, Thomas A. (2013)
• Downing, Ann (2018)
• Edwards, Wallace "Happy" (2006)
• Ellis, Vesphew Benton (2001)
• Enloe, Marvin Neil (2009)
• Fagg, Elmo (2005)
• Fowler, John Wallace "Wally" (1997)
• Fox, Eldridge Locke "Foxy" (1998)
• Gaither, William James "Bill" (1997)
• Gaither, Danny (2010)

• Gaither, Gloria Lee Sickal (2005)
• Gates, Kenny (2011)
• Gatlin, Earl Smith "Smitty" (1999)
• Goff, Jerry (2002)
• Goff, Little Jan Buckner (2010)
• Goss, Lari (2016)
• Goodman, Charles F. "Rusty" (1997)
• Goodman, Howard (2003)
• Goodman, Sam (2011)
• Goodman, Vestal (2002)
• Greene, Tony (2017)
• Grimes, Polly (2008)
• Hamblen, Stuart (2012)
• Hall, Connor Brandon (1997)
• Hamill, Jim (2004)
• Harper, Herman Clay (1997)
• Hefner, Bill (2010)
• Heil, Paul (2014)
• Hemphill, Joel (2007)
• Hemphill, Labreeska (2017)
• Hess, Jake (1997)
• Hildreth, Lou Wills (2007)
• Hill, Edwin Lee "Ed" (2009)
• Hill, Jim (2012)

• Hinson, Kenny (2004)
• Hinson, Ronny (2016)
• Hopper, Claude (2014)
• Hopper, Connie (2010)
• Hyles, Arnold (2004)
• Hyles, Vernon (2005)
• Jones, Bob Sr. (2006)
• Jones, Jimmy (2007)
• Karnes, Rose Carter (2006)
• Key, Charles (2006)
• Kirksey, Jerry (2011)
• Klaudt, Lillian Little Soldier (2004)
• Lane, Jennings Harold (2009)
• LeFevre, Alphus (2002)
• LeFevre, Eva Mae Whittington (1997)
• LeFevre, Urias (1997)
• Lester, Harvey Bryant (2004)
• Lester, Herschel LuMeart (2008)
• Lester, Opal (2011)
• Lewis, James Roy "Pop" (2000)
• Light, Don (2009)
• Lister, Hovie Franklin (1997)
• Lister, Thomas Mosie (1997)
• Lyles, James William "Bill" (2009)

M-Z

• Maples, Fred Calvin (2003)
• McClung, John Alexander (2003)
• McCoy, Otis Leon (2003)
• Morrison, Geraldine (2012)
• Mull, Jacob Bazzel (2003)
• Mull, Elizabeth "Lady" (2009)
• Nelon, Rex Lloyd (1999)
• Nicholson, Duane (2013)
• Norcross, Benjamin Marvin (1997)
• Nowlin, Wilmer Berney "W. B." (1997)
• O'Neal, Ed (2004)
• Orrell, Lloyd (1997)
• Ott, Doy Willis (2000)
• Pace, Adger McDavid (1999)
• Parris, Conley "London" (2004)
• Parris, Oren A. "O. A." (1997)
• Parsons, Squire (2008)
• Payne, Glen Weldon (1997)
• Pittman, Jack Earl (2006)
• Powell, Rosa Nell Speer (2005)
• Presley, Luther G. (2008)

• Rambo, Buck (2012)
• Rambo, Dottie Luttrell (1997)
• Ramsey, William Morgan (2002)
• Reader, Naomi Sego (2001)
• Reece, David (2007)
• Reese, Ray Dean (2008)
• Reid, Mary Tom Speer (2006)
• Richman, Milton H. "Ace" (2012)
• Riley, Tim (2013)
• Rodeheaver, Homer Alvan (2003)
• Roper, Joseph L. "Smilin' Joe" (2005)
• Rozell, Roland Dwayne "Rosie" (1999)
• Sego, James (2007)
• Shaw, Edward Lamar "Bill" (2005)
• Shelnut, Dale Lawrence (2001)
• Shelnut, Randy (2017)
• Showalter, Anthony Johnson "A.J." (2000)
• Slater, Erman Clark (2005)
• Slaughter, Henry Thaxton (2006)

• Smith, Arthur (2010)
• Snider, Marion B. (2003)
• Speer, Ben Lacy (1998)
• Speer, George Thomas "Dad" (1997)
• Speer, Jackson Brock (1997)
• Speer, Lena Brock "Mom" (1997)
• Stamps, Frank Howard (1997)
• Stamps, Virgil Oliver "V. O." (1997)
• Stanphill, Ira Forest (2001)
• Stewart, Derrell (2004)
• Strickland, Bobby (2003)
• Stuffle, Tracy (2018)
• Sumner, John Daniel "J. D." (1997)
• Templeton, Maurice (2006)
• Todd, Carl Milton "Billy" (2009)
• Toney, Jack (2005)
• Trammell, Mark (2018)
• Unseld, Benjamin Carl (2004)
• Varner, Wallace B. "Wally" (2006)
• Vaughan, Charles Wesley (2004)

• Vaughan, Glenn Kieffer (1997)
• Vaughan, James David (1997)
• Waits, James Parks "Big Jim" (1997)
• Walbert, James D. (2004)
• Walbert, William Burton (1999)
• Wallace, Ed F. "Eddie" (2005)
• Waller, Charles Allen "Charlie" (2009)
• Watkins, Archie (2007)
• Weatherford, Earl Henderson (2000)
• Weatherford, Lily Fern Goble (2000)
• Wetherington, James Stephen "Big Chief" (1997)
• Whitfield, Jesse Gillis "J. G." (1997)
• Williams, Gerald Don (2006)
• Wilson, Norman (2018)
• Winsett, Robert Emmett (2002)
• Wynn, Willie (2011)
• Younce, George Wilson (1998)

This article is a part in a series on
Gospel music
Roots and beginnings Christian Hymns Negro Spirituals Sacred Harp Shape note
Genres and subgenres Southern Gospel Gospel blues Bluegrass gospel Christian country music Country Gospel Progressive Southern Gospel Urban contemporary gospel Christian hip hop
Related music genres CCM
Associations and groups Gospel Music Hall of Fame Gospel Music Workshop of America National Gospel Singing Convention National Quartet Convention Australian Gospel Music Association GMA Canada
Awards GMA Dove Awards Stellar Awards Covenant Awards Singing News Fan Awards Australian Gospel Music Awards McDonald's Gospelfest
Category Musicians See also: Christianity: Portal Category Christian music: Portal Category

James D. Vaughan Impact Award Recipients

• 1999 Bill Gaither
• 2000 The Cathedrals
• 2001 James Blackwood
• 2002 J. G. Whitfield
• 2003 Les Beasley
• 2004 Paul Heil
• 2005 Mosie Lister
• 2006 Bob Brumley
• 2007 Eva Mae LeFevre
• 2008 Lari Goss
• 2009 Barbara Mandrell
• 2010 Dolly Parton
• 2011 Statler Brothers
• 2012 The Oak Ridge Boys
• 2013 Louise Mandrell

Gallery

• 

  Dress belonging to the late Vestal Goodman of The Happy Goodman Family

• 

  Suit belonging to the late Wendy Bagwell of Wendy Bagwell and the Sunliters

• 

  Dress belonging to Dottie Rambo

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  Suit belonging to the late Howard Goodman of The Happy Goodman Family

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  Replica of Blackwood Brothers original bus

See also

• List of music museums
• Gospel Music Hall of Fame

External links

• Official website
• Southern Gospel Museum and Hall of Fame at Dollywood