Patty Loveless, Tanya Tucker and Bob McDill will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame!

Loveless is being inducted into the Modern Era Artist category. The Grand Ole Opry member released her self-titled debut album in 1987, and had a long string of hits at radio over the next two decades, including “Blame It On Your Heart,” “You Can Feel Bad,” “Timber, I’m Falling In Love,” “How Can I Help You Say Goodbye” and more.

“I’m trying to hold back my tears, because there are some wonderful people that have made it possible for me to be here today,” Loveless said. “And one especially, is my wonderful brother, Roger Ramey. Roger, he believed in me all these years. I lost my brother last June, but I know he’s probably got the best seat in the house, but he is so happy in this moment.

“I want to thank the Country Music Association and also the Country Music Hall of Fame,” she continued. “I remember in ’71, they were in another location, the Hall of Fame was. I remember as a young girl, walking through the hall, and now I see so many [others] hanging on the wall, and as I walked again, I got very emotional, thinking, ‘I’m gonna be alongside of them.’ I am so honored, and it is such a privilege to be a part of this family, and to be accepted, and I thank you. It’s been a long road from the age of 14. Thank God I’m here, and thank you all so much.”

Tucker is being inducted into the Veterans Era Artist category. She released her first single, “Delta Dawn,” in 1972, when she was just 13 years old. The early success kicked off a career that has spanned 50 years, including her recent Grammy Award for Bring My Flowers Now.

“The first time I was ever at the Hall of Fame here in Nashville was in 1967,” Tucker recalled. “My daddy brought me from Wilcox, Arizona to make some demos. We were down at a studio somewhere on [Music Row]. And being a nine-year-old kid, I kept saying, ‘Daddy, I wanna go to the Grand Ole Opry. I wanna go to the Grand Ole Opry.’ And of course, my dad probably had 20 bucks in his pocket, trying to figure out a way we were going to get back to Wilcox, Arizona. And finally, he got mad, and he said, ‘Okay, I’m going to take you to the Grand Ole Opry.'”

Tucker’s father kept his word, but he also kept her humble, discouraging her from pursuing her dreams. His admonition ultimately became the fuel Tucker needed to pursue music even more.

“He said to me, ‘You’re never going to be in the Hall of Fame. You’re never going to make it,'” Tucker recalled him saying. “He was trying to tell me I gotta work a little harder. I remember that so well. I kind of just figured that’s the way it was going to be, because my Daddy was always right. … I made a lot of decisions when I was a kid. I want to thank my dad. My dad was the reason I’m here to do anything. He was my first believer. But my second believer was Billy Sherrill. He was a little left of center, and thank God he was, because I don’t think anyone else would have listened to me at 13.”

McDill is being inducted in the Songwriter category. McDill was born in Texas, but moved to Nashville, Tennessee in 1970, after serving in the Navy.

“I’ve got some people to thank. I’ve had some wonderful mentors,” he said, “Iwas a very lucky young man to come to Nashville. I’ve had some great friends. … I am honored to join a handful of legendary songwriters who are in this Hall of Fame. And thank you CMA Hall of Fame and the voters, for looking beyond the spotlight and glitter, and seeing people like songwriter, who are not famous. Cindy Walker, Kris Kristofferson, Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, Roger Miller — legends and people that I am so happy to stand next to.”

McDill is credited with writing some of the biggest country music hits of the last few decades, including Dan Seals’ “Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold),” Don Williams’ “Come Early Morning,” Sammy Kershaw’s “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” Doug Stone’s “Why Didn’t I Think Of That” and more.

Vince Gill announced the three inductees. The official ceremony inducting the newest members will take place this fall.

Read ‘8 Female Artists Who Should Be Inducted Into the Country Music Hall of Fame’ here.