Alabama has yet another award to add to their massive collection. The Country Music Hall of Fame members were presented with Pandora’s Billionaire plaque, in honor of two billion streams on the music platform. Alabama was presented the award by Scotty McCreery, when he opened for the iconic group in Roanoke, Virginia earlier this month.

“The Pandora plaque was a nice surprise,” Teddy Gentry said of the honor. “We thought a million plays was a very big deal but two billion plays of our songs puts it over the top. We appreciate Pandora and thanks for the award.”

“We are so thankful to our fans and listeners for playing our music for over 50 years,” added Randy Owen. “Two billion is a big number. That means they like our music and want to hear it again and again. Thank you Pandora for the award.”

McCreery, who received the Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award by Owen at St. Jude in October, also spoke out about being able to present Alabama with the plaque.

“I’ve been a fan of Alabama all my life,” McCreery gushed. “It was an honor to open for them in Roanoke and then present the Pandora Billionaire plaque to Randy and Teddy later that night. It doesn’t get better than Alabama.”

The Pandora Billionaire Award is a bright spot amid a tough time for Alabama. The group’s co-founder, Jeff Cook, passed away in November, after a ten-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.

“He lived to play our music we created together,” Owen said of Gentry. “He could play any instrument he chose, but his harmonies I’ll miss the most. I’m thankful we got to create music together for over 50 years! Wish we could play ‘My Home’s in Alabama’ one more time. I’m hurt in a way I can’t describe! To Lisa, thanks for loving him and being there for him to the end. Play on, Jeff. Love you!”

“Closer than brothers, we lived together more than with our immediate families,” added Gentry. “Don’t think I’ve known anyone who loved playing more. Jeff, along with me and Randy, experienced the highs of undreamed success, as well as some very tough early years. None of us were perfect, but together we had something so special it will never die. No other guitar player I’ve known had the range of styles Jeff had. No one can take your place. Ever. Rest in peace till we get to jam again.”

Alabama already has plenty of dates lined up for 2023. Find all of their music and upcoming shows at TheAlabamaBand.com.