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Milsap, Wiseman, Cochran become hall of famers

FILE - In this April 22, 2014 file photo, Mac Wiseman, left, and Ronnie Milsap pose after being introduced as two of three new inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn. Wiseman and Milsap, along with the late Hank Cochran, will be inducted at a ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 26, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File) FILE - In this April 22, 2014 file photo, Mac Wiseman, left, and Ronnie Milsap pose after being introduced as two of three new inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn. Wiseman and Milsap, along with the late Hank Cochran, will be inducted at a ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 26, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

By Associated Press October 26, 2014 1 min read

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Ronnie Milsap, the blind country-soul singer and pianist, joined bluegrass vocalist Mac Wiseman and the late songwriter Hank Cochran as the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday.

During the ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee, 71-year-old Milsap, 89-year-old Wiseman and Suzi Cochran, Hank’s widow, were honored by country artists Vince Gill, Martina McBride and Hunter Hayes with tribute performances at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Steeped in Appalachian music since childhood, Milsap first started playing with Elvis Presley before becoming a country singer with 40 No. 1 country hits and six Grammy Awards. One of country’s most successful songwriters, Cochran’s standards include “I Fall To Pieces” and “Make The World Go Away,” while Wiseman is considered an elder statesman of bluegrass.