Tanya Tucker Honors Paul Overstreet At CMHOF After Suffering Painful Fall
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Paul Overstreet Inducted Into The Country Music Hall Of Fame
Beloved songwriter Paul Overstreet was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday (October 18), along with Tim McGraw and the Stanley Brothers.
Overstreet is an award-winning country music singer and songwriter who has helped shape the genre with some of its most memorable hits. Throughout his career, he has written songs for numerous country stars, including Randy Travis, Keith Whitley, and The Judds.
The 71 year old has earned multiple industry honors for his contributions to country music, including Grammy Awards and recognition from the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, which inducted him in 2003.
Tanya Tucker Celebrates Her Friend, Paul Overstreet
On Sunday, Overstreet added an additional accomplishment to his resume, as he was officially inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
The celebrated songwriter was honored in the Songwriter category during the museum’s annual Medallion Ceremony at the CMA Theater in Nashville.
And even after recently disclosing that a nasty fall down a flight of stairs had left her with “internal bleeding” and possible collapsed lungs, country music legend Tanya Tucker made an appearance to celebrate her friend.
She paid tribute to the songwriter with a few touching remarks before presenting him with his Country Music Hall of Fame medallion.
“I was in Costa Rica about three days ago and no alcohol involved, but I fell down a flight of stairs,” Tucker told the crowd. So I got x-rays when I got back to Texas and I called and got the results yesterday and they said, ‘Go to your nearest ER.’ So I said, ‘I ain’t got time for that.’ I got internal bleeding and my lungs may be collapsed, but I’m here. I would not miss this opportunity for one of my best friends to Paul Overstreet.”
Despite struggling to stand at the podium because of her injuries, Tucker took the opportunity to share a heartfelt tribute to her longtime friend.
“What in the world do I say about someone who’s been so important to my life?” she said to the crowd.
She has recorded several songs he wrote or co-wrote over the years, including “One Love At A Time” in 1986, “I Won’t Take Less Than Your Love” in 1987 and “My Arms Stay Open All Night” in 1989.
“We’ve had so much fun together, whether it was in Dripping Springs, riding our Harleys to Luckenbach…Or skiing down some big slope in Steamboat Springs or sitting together for those first in the round nights at the Bluebird. I remember them well. Wherever it was and whatever it was, Paul Overstreet has been one of my best and most faithful friends.”
Tucker and Overstreet’s relationship dates back for years. Tucker was already an established country star when Overstreet began pursuing his own career in Nashville.
Overstreet once admitted that seeing Tucker perform in 1973 helped inspire him to move to Music City and chase his dreams of becoming a singer and songwriter.
Take a look at the photos from the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony below.
