{"id":178538,"date":"2026-02-24T20:57:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:57:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/178538\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:57:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:57:07","slug":"george-strait-miranda-lambert-join-texas-hall-of-fame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/178538\/","title":{"rendered":"George Strait, Miranda Lambert Join Texas Hall of Fame"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"George<\/p>\n

Photo Credit: Tyler Conrad<\/p>\n

On Saturday evening, the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association inducted four iconic songwriters into the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame during a celebration at ACL Live in Austin, Texas.<\/p>\n

The ceremony was hosted by Texas native and legendary singer-songwriter Ronnie Dunn and paid tribute to the remarkable careers of Don Cook, Keith Gattis, Miranda Lambert, and George Strait<\/a>. Together, the inductees represent generations of Texas songwriting that have shaped both the state\u2019s musical identity and the broader country music landscape.<\/p>\n

The evening featured performances from Brooks & Dunn, Jamey Johnson, Parker McCollum, Randy Houser, Natalie Hemby, Ashley Monroe, Dean Dillon, Waylon Payne, and Bubba Strait<\/a>, along with appearances from inductees Lambert and Strait.<\/p>\n

Darrell K Royal Texas Music Legend Award<\/p>\n

In addition to the Hall of Fame inductions, the evening recognized Lisa and Freddy Fletcher with the Darrell K Royal Texas Music Legend Award. The honor celebrated their longstanding commitment to supporting songwriters and strengthening the Texas music community.<\/p>\n

As founders of Arlyn Studios, a historic Austin recording facility that has played a vital role in the city\u2019s music scene, the Fletchers have provided generations of artists with a creative home while preserving Austin\u2019s cultural legacy.<\/p>\n

Don Cook\u2019s Enduring Impact<\/p>\n

\"Don<\/p>\n

\u00a0Photo Credit: Ted Parker<\/p>\n

Don Cook, a defining force behind the sound of 1990s country, was honored with a three-song tribute by Brooks & Dunn. The duo performed \u201cBrand New Man,\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re Gonna Miss Me,\u201d and \u201cThat Ain\u2019t No Way to Go,\u201d spotlighting Cook\u2019s deep influence on their catalog.<\/p>\n

Cook\u2019s career includes co-writing 20 No. 1 hits and producing chart-toppers for artists such as Brooks & Dunn, Alabama, and George Strait, solidifying his place as one of country music\u2019s most important behind-the-scenes architects.<\/p>\n

Remembering Keith Gattis<\/p>\n

Keith Gattis was celebrated for his emotionally rich and authentic songwriting. Randy Houser performed \u201cReconsider,\u201d while Waylon Payne, joined by Melonie Cannon and Ashley Monroe, delivered a powerful rendition of \u201cEl Cerrito Place.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tribute concluded with a surprise appearance by George Strait, who performed his hit \u201cI Got A Car,\u201d also penned by Gattis. Gattis\u2019s award was accepted by his wife, Penny Gattis, and their children, McKenzie and DeLaney.<\/p>\n

Miranda Lambert\u2019s Songwriting Legacy<\/p>\n

From her early days performing in small Texas venues to international recognition, Miranda Lambert<\/a> has built one of the most decorated careers in country music. As the Academy of Country Music\u2019s most-awarded artist of all time, she has amassed 10 No. 1 singles, seven No. 1 albums, and three GRAMMY Awards, while also establishing herself as a producer, label co-founder, and entrepreneur.<\/p>\n

Her songwriting was celebrated with Parker McCollum\u2019s performance of \u201cFamous in a Small Town,\u201d followed by Natalie Hemby and Ashley Monroe delivering an acoustic medley of \u201cBluebird\u201d and \u201cHeart Like Mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lambert closed her tribute by joining fellow Hall of Famers Jack Ingram and Jon Randall for a stirring rendition of \u201cTin Man,\u201d underscoring her lasting mark on the genre.<\/p>\n

A Fitting Tribute to George Strait<\/p>\n

\"George<\/p>\n

\u00a0Photo Credit: Ted Parker<\/p>\n

With more than 100 million RIAA certifications, over 60 major industry awards, and recognition at the 47th Annual Kennedy Center Honors in December, George Strait\u2019s legacy stands among the most storied in country music history. Known as the \u201cKing of Country Music,\u201d Strait is also the only act to achieve a Top 10 hit every year for more than three decades.<\/p>\n

Jamey Johnson began Strait\u2019s tribute with \u201cKicked Out of Country,\u201d followed by Dean Dillon\u2019s performance of \u201cDrinkin\u2019 Man.\u201d The celebration culminated in a moving rendition of \u201cHere for a Good Time,\u201d featuring Strait alongside his son Bubba, highlighting the enduring influence of his music across generations.<\/p>\n

Celebrating the Legacy of Texas Songwriting<\/p>\n

The 2026 Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony honored Don Cook, Keith Gattis, Miranda Lambert, and George Strait as defining voices of Texas music. The evening served as a powerful reminder that the storytelling tradition rooted in the Lone Star State continues to shape and inspire audiences far beyond its borders.<\/p>\n

About the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association<\/p>\n

The Texas Heritage Songwriters Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted to preserving, promoting, and celebrating the legacy of Texas songwriting. For generations, Texas writers have helped shape American music, crafting songs that reflect the state\u2019s independent spirit and lived experience.<\/p>\n

Through education, recognition, preservation efforts, and support for songwriters at every stage of their careers, the Association works to ensure that Texas\u2019 rich musical heritage continues to thrive for years to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Photo Credit: Tyler Conrad On Saturday evening, the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association inducted four iconic songwriters into the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":178539,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[132,134,133,71706],"class_list":{"0":"post-178538","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-austin","8":"tag-austin","9":"tag-austin-headlines","10":"tag-austin-news","11":"tag-texas-songwriters-hall-of-fame"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178538","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=178538"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178538\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/178539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=178538"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=178538"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=178538"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}