Mary Chapin Carpenter Among Songwriters' Hall Of Fame Inductees

Mary Chapin Carpenter will be among this year’s four inductees into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. She will be joined by fellow hit writers Tony Arata, Larry Henley and Kim Williams. The four new inductees will be welcomed into the elite songwriters’ community at a dinner in Nashville Oct. 7.

Carpenter (left) popularized many of her own compositions such as “Down At The Twist And Shout,” “I Feel Lucky,” “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” “I Take My Chances” and “The Hard Way.” Her songs have also been recorded by Joan Baez, Wynonna Judd, Cyndi Lauper, Terri Clark, The Dixie Chicks, Art Garfunkel, Maura O’Connell and Trisha Yearwood. 

Arata’s songwriter credits include hits such as “The Dance” (Garth Brooks) and “Here I Am” (Patty Loveless). Williams is known for hits such as “Three Wooden Crosses” (Randy Travis), “Fall In Love” (Kenny Chesney), “The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter” (Reba McEntire), and the Brooks hits “Ain’t Goin’ Down (’Til The Sun Comes Up),” “It’s Midnight Cinderella” and “Papa Loved Mama.” Country and pop hit maker Henley is the tunesmith behind “The Wind Beneath My Wings” (Gary Morris, Bette Midler) and “’Til I Get It Right” (Tammy Wynette), and “Is It Still Over” (Randy Travis), among numerous others.

Established in 1970, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame currently has 184 members, including Brooks, Johnny Cash, Rodney Crowell, Bob Dylan, Don & Phil Everly, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Roger Miller, Bill Monroe, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, Carl Perkins, Hank Williams, Sr. and Hank Williams, Jr.