My goal is to read online about each inductee and find out what he or she is famous for.
Campbell, Glen (Billstown/Delight) — I’ve known about him for a long time and never been a big fan. His songs are too sappy for my taste, although I don’t hate Gentle on My Mind. As for his acting, I thought he came near to ruining the otherwise-good 1969 True Grit.
Cash, Johnny (Kingsland) — I attended his concert at the Wisconsin State Fair on Saturday, August 12, 1978 with a friend. I remember his singing One Piece at a Time, Boy Named Sue, and Sold Out of Flagpoles. On May 30, 2026, my wife and I toured his boyhood home in Dyess, Arkansas.
Driftwood, Jimmy (Timbo) — Folk Singer. Wrote The Battle of New Orleans, which I’ve known seemingly forever, and The Tennessee Stud, which was on my playlist for a while. I just added Down in the Arkansas to my playlist. Pure corn, and I couldn’t take a steady diet of it.
Goodrum, Randy (Hot Springs) — Songwriter. Wrote You Needed Me recorded by Anne Murray (boring), Bluer than Blue recorded by Michael Johnson (also boring), It’s Sad to Belong (to Someone Else) When the Right One Comes Along recorded by England Dan and John Ford Coley (about wanting to cheat on your wife). So, I’ve heard Goodrum’s stuff, but I don’t care for it.
Green, Al (Forrest City) — Soul singer. Hits include Tired of Being Alone and Call Me, among many others. The one I’m probably most familiar with is Let’s Stay Together (which isn’t terrible). He was hugely popular in the early 70’s, but then bought a charismatic church in Memphis where he still sings/preaches.
Holyfield, Wayland (Mallet Town) — Country songwriter with several number one hits. He’s proudest of Could I Have This Dance?, which is sung at weddings all the time. I tried to listen to some others but they were putting me to sleep. He wrote Arkansas: You Run Deep In Me, which is the state anthem of Arkansas. It’s better than his other stuff I’ve heard.
Ladd, Alan (Hot Springs) — Actor. Best known as the stranger in Shane, which I didn’t like. He starred in This Gun for Hire (7), which I didn’t hate. I’ve watched him in a few other things and generally try to avoid his movies because, as I said in my review of Guns of the Timberland, “Ladd didn’t look like a logger, leader of men, or romantic lead. He looked like somebody’s middle-aged uncle who never married and works as a clerk at an insurance agency.”
Lawrence, Tracy (Foreman) — Country singer. I’ve never heard of him. I listened to his hits Alibi and Sticks and Stones, which I didn’t care for, and If the Good Die Young, which I liked enough to add to my playlist. I also watched the music video for Outlaws, Rebels, and Rogues, from the movie Maverick.
Lum and Abner (Chet Lauck and Norris Goff) (Mena) — Soon after we moved to Arkansas, I visited the Lum & Abner Jot’em Down Store and Museum in Pine Ridge. It’s a good thing I did, because it’s no longer open. That same day, I watched one of their movies — Dreaming Out Loud. You can read about it here.
Porter, Art, Sr. (Little Rock) — Jazz, classical, and gospel pianist. I found a documentary about him online. I skimmed through it to find samples of his playing, but there weren’t any included — or anywhere else I could find. Apparently he mostly hung around Arkansas teaching and playing for his church.
Montana, Patsy (Beaudry) — Country singer/songwriter popular in the 1930’s. One of her hits, I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart, which included yodeling was the first country song by a female to sell a million copies. The past is a different planet.
Powell, Dick (Mountain View) — Actor/singer. He made mostly musicals in the 1930s, then switched to more serious roles. I’ve seen Twenty Million Sweethearts (7), Cowboy from Brooklyn (4), Naughty but Nice (6), Cornered (5), and probably some others.
Rich, Charlie (Colt) — Country singer of cheesy songs like Behind Closed Doors and The Most Beautiful Girl. I’ve never been a big fan.
Steenburgen, Mary (Newport) — Actress. I’ve always liked her. Right off hand, I remember seeing Goin’ South (8 — her debut), Back to the Future Part III (8), Marilyn Hotchkiss’s Ballroom Dancing and Charm School (7), and, of course, Elf (8).
Thomason, Harry (Hampton) — Producer. He and his wife Linda Bloodworth-Thomason produced several TV shows, including The Fall Guy and Evening Shade. I watched the first episode of Evening Shade. A football player (Burt Reynolds) moves to Evening Shade, Arkansas to coach of football team that never wins. It had some big names — Marilu Henner, Ossie Davis, Charles Durning, and Hal Holbrook, but I wasn’t inspired to watch a second episode. Thomason also directed movies, including one shot in Texarkana called Revenge of Bigfoot.
Thornton, Billy Bob (Hot Springs) — Actor. I’ve seen him in The Alamo, Eagle Eye, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Friday Night Lights, Bandits, and probably others.
Burns, Bob (Greenwood) — Comedic vaudeville and radio singer who appeared in movies and toured during WWII with the USO. He invented a home-made instrument he called the “bazooka” — that’s where the army got the name for the anti-tank weapon.. I watched a few clips online, one of which was a short called Sing with the Stars in which he plays”the original bazooka.” One of his bazookas was on display in the HOF.
Endsley, Melvin (Drasco) — Country songwriter. His most famous song was Singing the Blues, performed by Guy Mitchell, which I added to my playlist. Marty Robbins also sang it, and it’s credited with making him a star. Other hits Endsley wrote include Why I’m Walking (sung by Stonewall Jackson) and I Like Your Kind of Love (sung by Andy Williams).
The Browns — Jim Ed and his sisters, Maxine and Bonnie (Sparkman/Pine Bluff) — Country/folk singers. I listened Jim Ed sing Regular on My Mind, Pop-a-Top, and I Heard from a Memory Last Night, which didn’t move me. I watched Jim Ed and Maxine sing Looking Back to See, which I didn’t hate. I watched all three of them sing The Three Bells, their biggest hit, which was just kinda there.
Helm, Levon (Turkey Scratch) — Drummer and vocalist in The Band. He sang lead on Up on Cripple Creek and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, among others. He also appeared in some movies, including The Right Stuff. In 2008, he won a Grammy for his solo album Dirt Farmer.
Cramer, Floyd (Huttig) — Pianist who played jazz and pop and appeared on the Grand Ole Opry. I watched him play his hit Last Date and listened to some of his other stuff on Spotify. He covered a lot of popular easy-listening songs, including a version of Heart and Soul that sounded like the duet everybody knew how to play (even me) when I was a teen.
Jordan, Louis (Brinkley) — Saxophonist, songwriter, and vocalist. I listened to Choo Choo Ch’Boogie, Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby, and Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens. I also watched his musical short Caldonia, which featured several of his songs in between skits about the studio running out of money. The bluesy/big band songs are amusing, but the acting is just bad. Considered a contributor to the Rock and Roll sound, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll HOF.
Wright, Mark (Fayetteville) — Songwriter with over 40 number one hits. I listened to Goin’ Through the Big D, by Mark Chestnutt, Lucky Moon, by the Oak Ridge Boys, and I Hope You Dance, by Lee Ann Womack, none of which I’ve heard before and none of which thrilled me.
Van Dyke, Jerry (Benton) — Comedian/actor, brother of Dick Van Dyke. I’ve seen him on episodes of the Dick Van Dyke Show and on Coach (Which I’ve tried to watch but just lose interest.) I’ve always found his over-acting annoying.
Twitty, Conway (Helena) — Singer. His name was Harold Jenkins, but he chose his stage name from Conway, Arkansas and Twitty, Texas. He started out in rock, and his first bit hit was It’s Only Make Believe (in which he tried to sound like Elvis). I listened to Hello Darlin’ and Tight Fittin’ Jeans. He sang a lot of duets with Loretta Lynn. I watched Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man. I don’t hate his stuff, but I’ve not become a fan.
Adams, Julie (Little Rock) — Actress. I’ve seen her in Bend of the River, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Four Girls in Town, and probably some other movies.
Oslin, T.K. (Crossett) — Country singer who won a lot of awards. I listened to 80’s Ladies and Hold Me. If these songs are typical, she’s liked to feign an attitude. Meh.
Bridges, James “Jim” (Paris) — Screenwriter, director, and editor. I’ve seen The Paper Chase and September 10, 1955 (which was filmed in Conway). I’m not motivated to watch more.
Caldwell, Sarah (Fayetteville) — Opera conductor. The first woman to conduct New York’s Metropolitan Opera. And that’s all I want to know.
McDonald, Skeets (Rector) — Honky-tonk singer/songwriter. I listened to his most famous song, Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes. It was OK — I liked the honky-tonk piano bit. I also listened to Fort Worth Jail and The Tattooed Lady (which was a bit risqué).
Porter Jr., Art (Little Rock) — Jazz saxophonist. I watched some videos online. I’m not a big fan of jazz. For one thing, all of it sounds exactly the same — like background music in a late-night scene from a cop movie.
Anderson, Broncho Billy (Pine Bluff) — Silent movie actor. I’ve seen him in The Great Train Robbery (1903), which is considered the first movie with a narrative. I also watched the early (1914) western, Broncho Billy and the Greaser. Anderson is credited with creating several camera techniques still in use.
Sanders, Pharoah (Little Rock) — Jazz saxophonist. I watched/listened to his most famous song, The Creator Has a Master Plan. If you can’t whistle it, it’s not music.
Warfield, William (Helena) — Broadway baritone. He sang Ol’ Man River in the movie version of Showboat. I could tell he was very good, but it’s not my dish of tea.
Paris, Twila (Springdale) — Gospel singer. I’ve heard of her and am vaguely familiar with some of her songs, including God Is in Control, He Is Exalted, and How Beautiful. I could listen to her if I was in the right mood. Her stuff is certainly better than the nonsense that passes for Christian music these days.
Dunn, Ronnie (El Dorado) — Country singer, part of duo Brooks and Dunn. I watched/listened to My Maria and Boot Scootin’ Boogie (which I’ve heard before and almost like) and Hard Workin’ Man (which was OK). I do like their hard-driving songs but I’m not thrilled with their slow stuff.
Hendricks, Barbara (Stephens) — Opera/blues singer. Not my dish of tea.
Grisham, John (Jonesboro) — Author. He doesn’t seem to fit with the singers and actors on the list. I’ve read 10 of his books. The Runaway Jury was my favorite.
Still, William Grant (Little Rock) — Classical composer and violinist. I listened to “Blues,” composed by him and Artie Shaw, a smooth jazz/big band tune that I liked OK.
Stephens, Steve (Newport) — Little Rock TV host of Steve’s Show, a precursor to American Bandstand, which helps launch the careers of Conway Twitty, Johnny Cash, and other big names. I watched a 20-minute special about the show, which included interviews with Stephens and with people who danced on the show as teens.
Owens, Freeman H. (Pine Bluff) — Apparently he perfected the process of including sound with film and later, invented ways to improve movie cameras. I’ve seen movies with sound, so I guess I’ve seen his work.
Norris, Walter (Little Rock) — Jazz pianist. I listened to The Smoke Gets In Your Eyes with him on the piano as part of The Trio. Appropriate because it sounds like the background music you’d hear in a smoke-filled bar. I couldn’t take sitting quietly while listening to a concert of this.
Raye, Collin (De Queen) — Country singer. I listened to Love Me and All I Can Be, both of which were pretty schmaltzy. I’d never heard of either of the songs or of Collins.
Talbot, John Michael (Little Rock/Eureka Springs) — Formerly part of the country rock group Mason Proffit (which I’ve never heard of) and now a singer for a Catholic monastic community in northern Arkansas. I listened to Mason Proffit songs 24-Hour Sweetheart (boring) and Hokey Joe Pony (mildly entertaining).
Bruce, Ed (Keiser) — Songwriter most famous for writing Mama Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys. I watched a recording of Waylon Jennings sing it. He also co-starred with James Garner in the short-lived Bret Maverick TV series.
Williams, Elizabeth (Arkadelphia) — Broadway producer.
Porter, Jim (Little Rock) — Music promoter and booking agent. This is stretching the concept of “entertainer” some.
Frizzell, Lefty (El Dorado) — Honky-tonk Country singer. I watched/listened to him sing Saginaw, Michigan and If You’ve Got the Money, I’ve Got the Time, both of which were comical songs.
Hamilton, Lawrence (Foreman) — Music director and teacher.
Weston, John (Brinkley/Smale) — Blues singer/songwriter, harmonicaist and guitarist. I listened to I’m Doin’ the Best I Can (not bad) and I’m Not Your Junkman (which I added to my playlist).
Brumley, Albert (Hartford Music Institute) — Gospel songwriter. I listened to I’d Rather Be an Old-Time Christian, Turn Your Radio On, and I’ll Meet You In the Morning. They aren’t deep, but they’re better than contemporary nonsense.
Brickell, Beth (Camden) — Actress. I watched the short film Summer’s End, which she wrote, produced, and directed. It’s about a tomboy having to come to grips with acting like a girl. It didn’t change my life.
Gerard, Gil (Little Rock) — Actor best known for playing Buck Rogers in the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century movie and TV show. I watched the movie online. It seemed like Gerard was having fun (being chased by Erin Gray and Pamela Hensley probably didn’t hurt), but it hardly seems like HOF type stuff.
Luckinbill, Laurence (Fort Smith) — Actor, mostly on stage, but also in movies and on TV. I’ve seen Cocktail, in which he had fifth-billing. I wasn’t impressed.
Davis, Gail (McGehee) — Actress best known as the star of the TV show Annie Oakley. I watched Season 1 Episode 1: Annie and the Brass Collar, in which Annie, her kid brother, and a deputy friend stop train robbers and save the job of their friend. It was a typical 1950’s cornball TV western with a lot of laughing and no blood. Davis was an athlete, expert shot, and accomplished rider who performed her own stunts, and she was definitely the highlight of the show.
Sams, BJ (Little Rock) — Television new anchor, mostly in Little Rock. Again, the definition of “entertainer” has been ridiculously stretched.
Mitchell, Jack (Bella Vista) — Drummer for various bands and entertainers. I found a video online of him doing an impressive drum solo when he was 84. He wasn’t born in Arkansas and only moved to the state at the end of his career, so clearly, by this time, the HOF was getting desperate.
Burgess, Sonny (Newport) — Early rock musician with Sonny Burgess and the Pacers. They opened for Elvis several times and shared the stage with Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, and other early rockers. I listened to We Wanna Boogie, My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It, and Ain’t Got a Thing, all of which were fairly hard-driving rockabilly. They didn’t strike me as anything unique.
Tackett, Sarah (Conway) — Runs a talent agency. Yawn.
Harper, Tess (Mammoth Springs) — Actress. I’ve seen her in Her Alibi and The Man in the Moon. I recognized her photo on the HOF site although I can’t remember much about her roles in the movies.
Hawkins, Ronnie (Huntsville/Fayetteville) — Rockabilly singer. I listened to Forty Days (which I’ve not heard before), and Mary Lou (which I have heard before). I’ve heard worse.
Jackson, Wayne (West Memphis) — Trumpet player in the “legendary” Memphis backing band The Memphis Horns. He’s played for Elvis, Billy Joel, The Doobie Brothers, and many other stars. He started out with the Mar-Keys. I actually have their song Last Night on my playlist. I also listened to The Doobie Brothers Takin’ It To the Streets. on which he played.
Nichols, Joe (Rogers) — Country singer. I listened to his first big hit, The Impossible. I also listened to Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off and Brokenheartsville. They didn’t move me.
Wilburn Brothers (Hardy) — Country duet from the ’50’s. I listened to Sparkling Brown Eyes and Troubles Back in Town. Both of these were slower, ballady songs that didn’t thrill me.
Williamson, Sonny Boy (Helena) — Blues songwriter, singer and harmonicist who played on King Biscuit Time for many years. I listened to Nine Below Zero, and Don’t Start Me Talkin’, both of which were about cheating women. I did like the vibe.
Wilson, Ed (Rison) — President of Tribune Broadcasting Company, which owns WGN radio and a bunch of TV stations.
Allen, Kris (Conway) — Guitarist and singer who won on American Idol. I watched his performance of Ain’t No Sunshine and What’s Going On. I’m not a big fan of his stylings.
Blount, Lisa (Fayetteville) — Actress. I’ve seen her in September 20, 1955 and An Officer and a Gentleman, but she didn’t make a lasting impression on me.
Brown, Jim “Moose” (Jonesboro) — Musician/songwriter. I listened to two songs he wrote: If Something Should Happen, performed by Darryl Worley (a cheery song about a guy asking his friend to take care of his family in case he dies in surgery), and It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere, by Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson (about drinking).
Fairchild, Barbara (Knobel) — Country singer. I listened to The Teddy Bear Song. Oh brother.
King, Albert (Forrest City) — Blues and soul guitarist. I listened to Born Under a Bad Sign and Crosscut Saw. He was left-handed and played his guitar upside-down and backwards. I like it O.K.
Newbern, George (Little Rock) — Actor. Played the groom in Father of the Bride (1991) which I watched when I realized I’d not seen it. He was also in the sequels and in several TV shows and has voiced Superman in several animated series.
Salling, Mark (McCrory) — Musician. I found a video online of him playing with his group The Famous Unknowns. He played the harmonica and saxophone — sorta jazzy blues stuff. Not my thing.
McKinnis, Jerry (Flippin) — Started The Fishin’ Hole fishing show, which began locally (Lake Maumelle) and then moved to ESPN and became the longest-running fishing show in history. He also played for the Kansas City Athletics. I watched a tribute online.
Pierce, Charles B. (Hampton) — Made the movie The Legend of Boggy Creek, about a bigfoot-type creature in Arkansas. I’ve added it to my list of Arkansas movies to watch. Co-writer on the Clint Eastwood movie Sudden Impact. Supposedly, he came up with the line, “Go ahead … Make my day.”
Weir, Gary (North Little Rock) — Played Bozo the Clown on Little Rock TV for 25 years. Later created the TV show Candy the Clown. I watched a short tribute I found online. He came up with the line, “Do you walk to school or carry your lunch.”
Carter, Bill (Rector) — Lawyer who has done work for Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Reba McEntire, and others. Got Steve McQueen’s body returned from Mexico when local authorities were holding it for ransom. THAT is entertaining.
Shelton, Louie (North Little Rock) — Session musician for tons of stars (Simon and Garfunkel, Neil Diamond, The Partridge Family, and tons of others) including the Monkees on Last Train to Clarksville, Valleri, and (Theme From) The Monkees. Mike Nesmith, who wasn’t much of a guitarist, had to learn how to mimic Louie’s style.
Tharpe, Rosetta Nubin (Cotton Plant) — Singer/songwriter/guitarist. Played both gospel and secular music on the electric guitar. Elvis and Johnny Cash credited her as an influence. I watched her sing and play Didn’t It Rain?. I also watched a short tribute to her online.
Utley, Michael (Blytheville) — Keyboard player for Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer Band and session musician for many stars. I listened to Cheeseburger in Paradise.
Harris, Charlaine (Magnolia) — Writer who specializes in supernatural mysteries. I read the summaries of several of her books on Goodreads and decided they weren’t for me.
Jewell, Buddy (Lepanto/Osceola) — Country singer who won on the TV show Nashville Star. I listened to Sweet Southern Comfort and Help Pour Out the Rain (which was a cute song about his daughter).
McBeth, W. Francis (Arkadelphia) — Composer and conductor of orchestras. He was conductor of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra for four years and was appointed Composer Laureate of the State of Arkansas (for whatever good that did him). In 1962, he conducted the Arkansas All-State Band, which included Bill Clinton. I listed to a bit of his Symphony No. 3, and a bit was all I could take.
Cate Brothers (Fayetteville) — Twin brothers who sang southern soul music in the mid-60’s and again in the 90’s. I looked on Spotify for their most downloaded song, which was Union Man, about a guy who wants to join the union on a strike but doesn’t know how he’ll pay his bills. It sounded a little like early Chicago stuff, but it didn’t really grab me.
Bell, Al (Brinkley/North Little Rock) — Little Rock disc jockey and record producer. Produced Tag Team’s Whoomp! (There It Is) and Prince’s “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World.” I’ve heard the first but not the second. I listened to both. I added neither to my playlist.
By the fourth group of inductees, they were no longer just picking entertainers who were born in Arkansas but picking those who lived in the state for a while. They ran out of entertainers in 10 years and gave up on the whole thing. I enjoyed reading up on them and listening to songs I never would have heard otherwise.