Country music hitmaker Tim McGraw, bluegrass pioneers The Stanley Brothers and songwriter Paul Overstreet have been named as the inductees for the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.

McGraw enters the Modern Era Category, The Stanley Brothers enter the Veteran Era Category and Overstreet enters the rotating Songwriter category.

Five-time Grammy winner and founder of the Congress of Country Music and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame Marty Stuart hosted the press conference Friday (March 20) at the Country Music Hall of Fame to reveal and welcome this year’s class of inductees.

“Every award that country music has to offer is meaningful,” Stuart said. “but there’s this one, then there’s the rest.”

Overstreet is known for writing songs including “Diggin’ Up Bones,” “On the Other Hand” and “Forever and Ever, Amen,” each recorded by Randy Travis, as well as “When You Say Nothin’ At All,” which was recorded by Keith Whitley and Alison Krauss. BMI named Overstreet its country songwriter of the year for five consecutive years from 1987 to 1991, and he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003.

“When I was told about it, I was just shocked, because I just didn’t see it coming,” Overstreet said during the inductee announcement press conference. He later added, “I’m so grateful … one other thing that’s so important is Joe Galante, Tony Brown, all the cowriters I’ve written with … to be here is all about the people who have surrounded you … I’m thankful that this is where I landed and I got to know the people in this town.”

This year’s Veterans Era Category, which honors artists that came to musical prominence before 1980, was awarded to bluegrass and folk music pioneers The Stanley Brothers, Ralph and Carter Stanley.

“This one is deep, folks. From the start, their sound stood apart,” Stuart said of the brothers’ distinct sound, which defined the feel and spirit of bluegrass but also had an indelible influence far beyond, impacting folk, country and more.

In the 1940s, they formed The Clinch Mountain Boys helped establish the Stanley Brothers as musical forces in bluegrass, forever shaping the genre with their haunting vocal arrangements. They recorded songs including “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow” and “Rank Strangers to Me.” They also appeared on the inaugural Newport Folk Festival. Following Carter’s passing in 1966, Ralph Stanley continued the Clinch Mountain Boys for another five decades, and mentored artists including Ricky Skaggs and Keith Whitley. Ralph Stanley’s masterful performance of “O, Death” as part of the soundtrack for O Brother, Where Art Thou? was a key performance, helping to introduce bluegrass and folk music to a new generation. Ralph Stanley died in 2016.

The Stanley Brothers are the fourth brother duo to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, following The Delmore Brothers, The Everly Brothers and The Louvin Brothers, all of whom were voted in in 2000.

“This moment is deeply personal for our entire family,” the family of The Stanley Brothers said in a statement. “Seeing Ralph and Carter — The Stanley Brothers — inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame is an extraordinary honor, and something we know would have meant so much to them. The fact that people around the world still love their music speaks to the heart and soul they poured into every recording and performance. Carter’s emotional lead combined with Ralph’s haunting tenor created a sound that was truly special. After Carter’s passing, Ralph carried on the music they began together, dedicating his life to preserving the spirit of traditional mountain music and sharing it with audiences everywhere through the Clinch Mountain Boys before his passing in 2016. To see The Stanley Brothers recognized together, side by side, is incredibly meaningful for our family and a testament to a legacy that continues to live on through their music.” 

McGraw is this year’s Modern Era inductee, which honors artists at least 20 years after they achieve national prominence. Louisiana native McGraw has earned 11 CMA Awards and three Grammy Awards. In 2004, his song “Live Like You Were Dying” became a seven-week No. 1, and won Grammys for best country song and best male country vocal performance as well as the CMA Award for single of the year and the ACM Award for single and song of the year. He’s also seen 13 albums top Billboard‘s Top Country Albums chart, while three of his singles — “It’s Your Love,” “Just to See You Smile” and “Live Like You Were Dying” — were named Billboard‘s top country song in their respective years.

Beyond music, McGraw also become an established actor with roles in Friday Night Lights, The Blind Side and the Yellowstone prequel 1883.

“Anybody that knows me knows I’m a crier … I’m going to try to get through this,” McGraw said in accepting the honor. “As Marty said, I came to Nashville on a Greyhound bus on May 9, 1989. I took my one suitcase and my guitar and started walking to the Hall of Fame lounge. I got there just as they were serving last call and started talking to a couple of guys, both of whom were songwriters … to go from a bar called the Hall of Fame to here the actual Country Music Hall of Fame … is impossible for me to believe. It’s also fitting that it’s National Women’s History Month. Everyone who knows me knows I wouldn’t be standing here today without great women in my life … my grandmother, my mom, my sisters, my daughters and most of all my wife. Thank you, baby. I would not be standing here today if it was not for you, nor would I want to be. And I can’t wait for the day when I’m sitting there and you’re standing here.”

He thanked the CMA CEO Sarah Trahern, the Country Music Hall of Fame’s Kyle Young and all those who voted. He added: “Thank you for your kindness and I’m so grateful.”

The new members-elect will be inducted during this year’s Medallion Ceremony on Oct. 18.