Ten Acts Who Belong in the Country Hall of Fame: Jerry Reed (#2)

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My third and final countdown discussion series right now isn't so much looking at songs as careers, and what made those careers so unique and special that they, to me, warrant recognition by the Country Music Hall of Fame. This one is another embarrassment to the CMA (the governing body who elects people to the Hall of Fame), and it's probably a gigantic shock to a lot of people that this man is NOT in. #2: Jerry Reed Son! When you're hot, you're hot...but apparently the CMA thinks Jerry Reed is not. We can debate and discuss what constitutes a successful or "hall of fame worthy" career all day, all night, Marianne, but to me one of the sure-fire marks of a Hall of Famer is when people who don't even like that particular genre of music know the act's name. And people know Jerry Reed's name. Reed began as a session musician and songwriter (he wrote the last #1 song in Porter Wagoner's career, "Misery Loves Company," as well as "A Thing Called Love," which was a hit for Johnny Cash). His combination of funky swamp music, country, and blues created an exciting new sound in the era of way overproduced recordings (called "the Nashville sound" and later, "countrypolitan"). In 1971 "When You're Hot, You're Hot" topped the Billboard country charts and was a top 10 pop hit. It also earned Reed one of three Grammy awards he received in his lifetime. The other two were for his picking: long considered one of the best guitarists in Nashville, Reed made albums with his friend Chet Atkins. Me 'n' Jerry won a Grammy, as did their rendition of "Sneakin' Around." In the mid-70s Reed turned to another form of entertainment: acting. He was the co-star alongside Burt Reynolds and Sally Field in Smoky and the Bandit, one of the most successful (and best) movies about truckers during the so-called "CB craze" of the era. Reed, sadly, was pigeonholed as a lighthearted, novelty, or comical songster, which may be part of the reason he's not in the Hall of Fame yet. In reality, Reed had a good singing voice and frequently showed another side of his music (see the link below). Reed died in 2007. His widow, country singer Priscilla Mitchell, died in 2014. The sad reality is, if they induct him tomorrow it's too late for him to enjoy it. Which makes the fact that he's not in the Hall of Fame a bigger crime. Jerry Reed (ne Jerry Reed Hubbard) Born March 20, 1937, Atlanta, Georgia Died September 1, 2007, Nashville, Tennessee (emphysema) Claim to fame: singer, songwriter, guitarist Best work: Ko-Ko Joe Lord Mr. Ford Smell the Flowers A Thing Called Love A great ballad from Jerry Reed, probably the first time you've ever heard him sound like this: .