Don Henley, Ethan Hawke to induct Trisha Yearwood, John Prine into 'ACL' Hall of Fame

On October 26, classic rock titan Don Henley will induct country singer Trisha Yearwood into the "Austin City Limits" Hall of Fame, and actor Ethan Hawke will induct the late folk artist John Prine.

The two artists will be honored in a star-studded ceremony featuring performances from Henley, Jo Dee Messina, Ronnie Dunn, Tyler Childers, Allison Russell, Kurt Vile and Tommy Prine, son of John Prine. Yearwood also will perform during the ceremony.

ACL Hall of Famer Lloyd Maines returns as music director, leading a house band that features guitarist David Grissom, keyboardist Chris Gage, bassist Bill Whitbeck and drummer Tom Van Schaik.

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What is the 'Austin City Limits' Hall of Fame?

Austin's signature television series is in the process of taping artists for its 49th season. As the show ticks closer and closer to its half-century mark, it is the longest-running music television program in history.

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In 2014, "ACL" producers created the Hall of Fame to honor artists who have left an indelible mark on the show. The inaugural class of inductees featured Austin legends Willie Nelson (who played the show's pilot on Oct. 17, 1974) and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Other artists in the "ACL" Hall of Fame include Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, Flaco Jiménez and Townes Van Zandt. Last year's inductees were Sheryl Crow and Joe Ely.

When did Trisha Yearwood appear on 'Austin City Limits'?

“Appearing on 'Austin City Limits' for the first time in 1992 was a rite of passage for me as an artist. After watching all of my heroes grace that stage, walking onto it myself was a spiritual experience," Yearwood said in a news release about the induction ceremony.

After her debut appearance, Yearwood went on to headline the show again in 1996 and 2000. It is fitting that her good friend Don Henley will induct her into the Hall of Fame. She appeared as his special guest when he taped the show in 2015. Country music greats Jo Dee Messina and Ronnie Dunn will also pay tribute to Yearwood.

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How many times did John Prine play 'Austin City Limits'?

Prine was a masterful writer whose songs were inhabited by well-drawn characters with simple stories that revealed universal truths. The trajectory of his career is recorded through nine "ACL" appearances.

The first time he played the show was in 1978. His final appearance was 40 years later, in 2018. Along the way, he recorded songwriter specials and appeared with Bonnie Raitt, who logged a hit with his "Angel From Montgomery," a breathtaking portrait of Middle American malaise.

After Prine died of COVID-19 complications in 2020, the show's producers saluted him with a retrospective.

Tyler Childers, who will pay tribute to Prine at the ceremony, was among the artists who appeared on Prine's final show. Allison Russell, Kurt Vile and Prine's son, singer-songwriter Tommy Prine, will also honor the songwriting great.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Trisha Yearwood, John Prine join 'Austin City Limits' hall of fame