first artist inducted into the country music hall of fame

The first artists inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 were Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams, and Fred Rose. Among these three, Jimmie Rodgers is traditionally recognized as the very first inductee, often referred to as the "Father of Country Music" due to his foundational influence on the genre. All three were inducted posthumously in the inaugural class of the Hall of Fame.