September 29, 1993. Nashville. The 27th CMA Awards. At 60 years old, Willie Nelson became the 54th person ever inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Johnny Cash, his fellow Highwayman and lifelong friend, introduced him as a talented, unusual, outstanding American original, and said that even if Willie had never written a single lyric, Farm Aid alone would have earned him the honor. Rip Torn and Kris Kristofferson spoke for him too. Then Willie stepped up in a black tuxedo, hair loose instead of braided, and opened with: "I really thought you had to die to get here, so I went ahead and dressed up just in case." What followed was pure Willie. He turned the spotlight onto the friends still waiting outside the door. Told the CMA they ought to induct five or ten next year, because the Hall was falling behind. Then led the whole room in "Happy Birthday" for Gene Autry, who turned 86 that very night. Honored, humbled, funny, and still making room at the table for everybody else. - @honkytonktown