Oak Ridge Boys + More Inducted Into Country Music Hall of Fame

The Oak Ridge Boys, the Browns and Grady Martin were all honored Sunday night (Oct. 25) with an induction into Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame. According to Nashville's  Tennessean newspaper, it was a family affair, as Duane Allen's granddaughter sang the famous line "Oom papa mow mow" from the band's hit "Elvira" on stage at the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum while her mother, Jamie Martin, spoke of her father's special night.

"Seeing the honest look of love in those four guys’ faces, especially my dad’s, was just incredible," Jamie Martin said. The country group was inducted in the category of modern era artist by Country Music Hall of Famer Kenny Rogers.

"In a lifetime and in a career of incredible things, this is the most incredible thing that’s ever happened to the Oak Ridge Boys,” Joe Bonsall reflects. "We run our group as a family, trying to be honest, like our parents taught us. Treat people right. I really think that’s why we’re here today."

Meanwhile, Martin's son accepted his honor on behalf of his guitar-slinging father who died in 2001 and was recognized in the category of Recording and/or Touring Musician Active Prior to 1980. Martin played on Merle Haggard's "A Place to Fall Apart," Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman" and Marty Robbins' "El Paso" and "Don't Worry."

"It’s a bit of an emotional experience at times just because I miss him and I wish he was here," Josh Martin says of his dad. "I would give anything to see him. I know he would be here. I know he would love it."

Bobby Bare inducted Maxine Brown and Bonnie Brown of the Browns into the Country Music Hall of Fame for the Veterans Era Artist category, while Jim Ed Brown’s wife, Becky, was in attendance to accept her husband's honor. Before his death on June 11, Jim Ed Brown was visited in the hospital by Bill Anderson to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

"This means more to me than you’ll ever know," Jim Ed Brown said.