who was the very first artist inducted into the country music hall of fame?

The very first artist traditionally recognized as the first inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame was Jimmie Rodgers. He was inducted in the inaugural class of 1961 alongside Hank Williams and Fred Rose, all posthumously. Rodgers is often called the "Father of Country Music" and is listed first among the three initial honorees due to his pioneering influence on the genre with his blues yodel style.