MUSIC BUZZ: Gospel & Secular Artists Aretha Franklin, Ricky Scaggs Inducted into Gospel Music Hall of Fame
Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 10:38AM 
By EEW Magazine News Editors
Having a long-standing, consistent career in gospel music isn’t a prerequisite to being inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame. This is evidenced by the honor being bestowed upon soul singer, Aretha Franklin, and secular artist Ricky Scaggs, who admitted to the Tennessean that he, himself, was surprised.
"I'm a Christian, but I'm really a secular artist, more 'marketplace music' you would call it," he told The Tennessean, reported by the Christian Post.
"So this one kind of really slipped up on me, and when I saw it come in, that they were honoring me, it was a special treat. It was such a shock, such a surprise," he added.
The induction took place Tuesday, August 14, 2012 at Trinity Music City in Hendersonville, TN.
The 70-year-old “Queen of Soul,” who was not present for the event, got her start at her father, Baptist minister and activist C.L. Franklin’s church at the age of ten. Four years later, the gifted vocalist began recording gospel, but switched over to form a secular group. She had some of her biggest hits throughout the sixties as a soul singer.
In 1972, the celebrated star recorded a live gospel album "Amazing Grace," which later became one of the best-selling gospel albums of all time and was the biggest-selling album in gospel music for over 25 years.
"It is great to see our Christian and gospel music communities come together to pay tribute to this year's GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee," Jackie Patillo, Executive Director of the Gospel Music Association and President of the Gospel Music Foundation said in a statement. "It is an honor to recognize our trailblazers and remind the world of the people God has used to spread the gospel through music," she added.
This year marked the 39th anniversary of the GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame which was established in 1971, and has inducted more than 150 members since its inception.
Among this year’s other inductees were Dallas Holm, The Hoppers, Rex Humbard, and Love Song.
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