As with a lot of other people on this list, Kathy began singing by being a part of her parents’ church choir. She joined a bluegrass band while in University, which she says helped to shape her sound and roots as an artist. After dropping out of school, she moved to Nashville. She took odd jobs while trying to make her way in the business: waitress, secretary, and tour guide at the Hall Of Fame itself. Signing her record contract in 1983, it took a few years for her radio singles to start taking off. Throughout her song catalogue, she enjoyed trying out some different sounds like honky-tonk, country-pop, bluegrass, and even Celtic ballads. Being loved by fans and critics alike, she was able to have a decade of radio hits, get 15 CMA nominations/8 Grammy nominations, and continues to record music today. After working at the Hall Of Fame, could she eventually get a plaque on the wall someday?

After the Edmonton Oilers used their First Round (7^th Overall) Pick in 2013, the squad allowed their highly touted, Defenseman, Darnell Nurse, to stay in the OHL with Sault Ste. Marie.  After a year in the AHL, Nurse was ready to be promoted to the NHL.

The Oilers “nursed” the Defenseman along, limiting his playing time, but keeping him on the roster to gain experience.  With imposing size and speed, Nurse’s early years were focused on the defensive side, but each year his offensive skill set improved.  

In 2020/21, Nurse had his breakout campaign, though it was largely underreported.  Finishing seventh in Norris voting, Nurse posted 36 Points, his third consecutive 30-plus season, but he lit the lamp 16 times, 15 of which on even strength.  Nurse led the NHL in Defensive Point Shares, and had a stellar Plus/Minus of +27.  In 2022-23, Nurse had his best offesnive year, with a personal best of 43 Points.

Nurse is poised to rise even higher on this list, as his potential has now been realized.

After being born in New Jersey and living in Japan for a couple years, her family settled in Washington D.C. and Mary had a regular suburban high school experience there. Although she enjoyed playing music, she never considered it as a career option. She would just play a couple gigs around her area and got a University degree in American Civilization. Once she got more involved in the Washington music scene, she met John Jennings (who would go on to be a friend and producer for her). Once John convinced her to play her original songs instead of covers, it would only be a couple years until she got a recording contract with Columbia. Her first album got some play on small college stations, but once Columbia advertised her as a country artist, that is when popularity came for her. She enjoyed a run of successful songs, in which she incorporated various sounds and unique lyrics. Once her radio career winded-down, she switched her musical style from radio-friendly tunes to a more calm and political direction. Her variety of work has gained her 5 Grammy awards and 17 Grammy nominations, as well as 2 ACM award wins and 2 CMA award wins.

Since beginning to sing in his local church choir, being a part of the music industry was all Tracy wanted to do. Performing in local clubs and the honky-tonk circuit during his teenage years, he headed off to Nashville as soon as he finished college. He was signed to a record label just a few months after arriving. He had popular songs right from the beginning of his radio career, having a stretch of top ten hits that lasted six years. Tracy became another one of the popular honky-tonk singers in the 1990’s country music scene. Although his music would sometimes get lost in amongst the multitude of country music stars at that time, he was still able to get a number of hits, gain a great fan base, sell millions of albums and earn nominations from both the Country Music Association Awards and the Grammy Awards. Although radio basically faded him out once the 90’s were over, Tracy has still been able to bring in a audience for his shows and continues to record music. At this point in time, there would need to be a lot of people out of the way for him to have a shot at the Hall Of Fame. But with his string of hits, don’t count him out.