Mandrell headed for Country Hall of Fame

NASHVILLE, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Roy Clark, Barbara Mandrell and Charlie McCoy are to be enshrined in the U.S. Country Music Hall of Fame, it was announced Wednesday.

The Country Music Association said Clark will be inducted in the "Career Achieved National Prominence Between World War II and 1975" category. Mandrell will be the fifth artist inducted in the "Career Achieved National Prominence Between 1975 and the Present" category and McCoy will be inducted in the "Recording and/or Touring Musician Active Prior to 1980" category, which is awarded every third year in a rotation with the "Non-Performer" and "Career Achieved National Prominence Prior to World War II" categories.

"Barbara, Charlie and Roy are truly deserving of Country Music's biggest honor and the opportunity to join the legendary artists and musicians who have already been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame," Tammy Genovese, CMA chief executive officer, said in a statement. "Barbara and Roy are both among our format's greatest ambassadors due to their numerous hit singles, national television series, versatile musicianship, live concert appearances, acting opportunities, and mainstream recognition. And Charlie's musical talents have enriched every recording on which has performed, making him an irreplaceable part of America's music."

Clark, Mandrell and McCoy will be officially inducted at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Medallion Ceremony, which takes place during an annual springtime reunion of the Hall of Fame membership. Since 2007, the Medallion Ceremony has served as the official rite of induction for new members, the CMA said.