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Country Artists Who Have Been Voted Kennedy Center Honors (Full List)
Barbara Mandrell will receive the Kennedy Center Honors on 7 December, making her the second country artist recognised in consecutive years after George Strait in 2024. This is the first time country performers have been honoured in back-to-back years, marking the form’s growing place in a programme that initially focused on classical and opera.
The Kennedy Center Honors began in 1978, but Roy Acuff was the first country artist to receive the distinction, in 1991. Other country honourees mentioned include Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks and George Jones; Jones sang on Mandrell’s 1981 song “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool”. The article says the accompanying list includes each artist’s honour year, Country Music Hall of Fame induction year and CMA Awards total.
In short
- Barbara Mandrell is this year’s country honouree.
- George Strait was honoured the previous year.
- Country artists are recognised in consecutive years for the first time.
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