Too bad the Country Music Association's Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Tom T. Hall and The Statler Brothers wasn't televised, because the news accounts indicate it was a lot of fun.

Several country and bluegrass stars performed during the ceremony June 29 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn., before about 300 invited guests.

Augusta native Amy Grant joined her husband, Vince Gill, and The Jordanaires to sing Rock of Ages ; bluegrass star Michelle Nixon sang Mr. Hall's composition Harper Valley P.T.A. ; Bobby Bare sang That's How I Got to Memphis ; and husband and wife duo Tony Mabe and Heather Berry sang Can You Hear Me Now .

Additionally, Reba McEntire sang the Statlers' first hit, Flowers on the Wall, with her backup vocal trio and Mr. Gill.

The new hit bluegrass duo, Dailey & Vincent, Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, sang Do You Know You Are My Sunshine .

Harold and Don Reid sang his hit (Old Dogs, Children and) Watermelon Wine , and The Statler Brothers (the Reid brothers, Phil Balsley and Jimmy Fortune)sang their hit I'll Go to My Grave Loving You .

The evening ended with hall of fame members Brenda Lee, Little Jimmy Dickens, Sonny James, Earl Scruggs and others singing Will the Circle Be Unbroken .

Hall of Famer Ralph Emery presented the induction medallion to Mr. Hall.

Ms. Lee, who got her big show business break in Augusta, presented medallions to the Reid brothers, Mr. Balsley, Mr. Fortune and Shannon DeWitt, daughter of former member Lew DeWitt, who left the quartet in 1982 due to illness. He died in 1990.

Mr. DeWitt's image will be on the official plaque that will hang in the hall of fame building in Nashville.

Mr. Hall and The Statler Brothers also will be recognized when the 42nd annual CMA awards show is broadcast live on Nov. 12 on ABC.

RED HOTS' BIG NIGHT: Congratula-tions to the Red Hots band featuring lead vocalist Johnny Hensley on their upcoming 50th anniversary performance at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 19, in the Imperial Theatre with opening acts Pat Blanchard Jr. and Eryn Eubanks. Tickets are $25 and $20.

Most people know Mr. Hensley only as a Realtor, but when I returned to Augusta in the early '70s, he and his partner, Frank Mears, booked most of the major rock shows into Bell Auditorium in pre-James Brown Arena days.

And in the '60s, besides his band the Red Hots, he also sang with a beach music-style group called The Celestials that toured the East Coast. He's a great guy who has been a great friend for more than 35 years.

GREAT GEORGIA MUSIC: There will be some great music Friday and Saturday when the Raccoon Creek Bluegrass Festival is held at Raccoon Creek Music Park, 332 Music Park Path, in Dallas, Ga., west of Atlanta.

Among the performers will be The Gary Waldrep Band, Lizzy Long & Friends, Bullsboro Bluegrass, Blue Ridge Grass, The Raven Welch Band, Maple Creek, Old Mill Road, Hickory Wind, Heartfelt, Honey Creek Boys, Ramblin' Grass, Papa's Prayer and Gerry's Bluegrass Kids. Visit raccooncreekmusic.com or call (770) 943-2721.

Don't be surprised if you see country superstar Patty Loveless there. Her husband, Emory Gordy Jr., is a first cousin to the Rakestraw family, which organizes the event.

Emory and Patty have a house nearby, and she has performed at the festival unannounced in recent years.

DON RHODES HAS WRITTEN ABOUT COUNTRY MUSIC FOR 37 YEARS. HE CAN BE REACHED AT (706) 823-3214 OR AT DON.RHODES@MORRIS.COM.