Country Music Hall of Fame member Chet Atkins.

When Ferlin Husky and producer Billy Sherrill were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday, CMA Chairman Steve Moore called Hall membership “the highest honor in country music.” But the rewards don’t stop coming just because you’ve reached the pinnacle.

In fact, several members of the Hall of Fame — including Hank Williams, Willie Nelson and Chet Atkins — continue to be remembered for their impact on American culture.

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Carl Smith photo courtesy of Marty Martel.

Country Music Hall of Fame member Carl Smith, one of the genre’s dominant stars in the 1950s, died Saturday at his home in Franklin, Tenn., according to The Tennessean.

Carl, 82, operated his career in a much different manner than many of his peers. While most country stars continue to record and tour as long as they’re able to find a market, he rather quietly retired from the music business once his hit-making prowess cooled in the late 1970s and lived off his investments with wife Goldie Hill, who had her own recording career in the ‘50s.

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Elvis Presley image used by permission, Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc.

Songwriter Aaron Schroeder, bass player Jack Cooke and recording artist Big Bill Lister — musical figures who played a role in the careers of Elvis Presley, Ralph Stanley and Hank Williams — each died in the last week, leaving cultural contributions they accomplished while working in the shadows of some very significant artists.

Their biggest moments spanned from the early 1950s to the current decade, with pop hits, Grammy-winning recordings and a much-loved novelty hit on their resumes.

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