Aside from his career in rock and roll, Jerry Lee Lewis is also known for his profound impact and influence in the country music scene.
Jerry Lee Lewis has had three Top-10 all-genre songs, 17 Top 10 country albums, six chart-topping country hits, 30 Top 10 country songs, and he earned over a dozen gold records in rock and roll and country.
He is already a member of the coveted Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in its inaugural class of inductees, along with Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, The Everly Brothers, Fats Domino, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, James Brown, and Chuck Berry; moreover, he is the sole living member of the “Million Dollar Quartet” with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Carl Perkins.
Rolling Stone honored him as one of the “25 Greatest Artists of All Time.” He is the only artist with a major country recording career that is in this “Top 25 all-genre artist list.” If that weren’t enough, Rolling Stone listed him in the “40 Greatest Country Artist of all time” list at No. 34.
When he joined Sun Records, he launched hit records with “Crazy Arms,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’,” and “Great Balls of Fire.” Actor Dennis Quaid played him in the period drama Great Balls of Fire, which is shown on CMT (Country Music Television) regularly.
Jerry Lee Lewis is credited for serving as a musical influence on such superstars as Elton John, Billy Joel, George Strait, and Toby Keith, among many others. Contemporary country artists John Michael Montgomery and Tim McGraw reference him in their hit singles “I Love The Way You Love Me” and “Southern Voice” respectively.
Lewis is the recipient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, several Grammy Awards, the Recording Academy’s “Lifetime Achievement Award,” among many other honors, which are a testament to his illustrious career, relevance, and longevity. He is the sole artist with a significant recording career in country music who isn’t already inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
For all of these reasons and more, Jerry Lee Lewis deserves his rightful place in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Hopefully, this glaring omission will be rectified in the near future.
To learn more about Jerry Lee Lewis and his distinguished music career, check out his official website.
