Ex-Boulder resident inducted into Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame

Second Story Garage Staff Report

Gretchen Peters, who spent her formative years in Boulder, was among four inductees into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame on Sunday night in Nashville.

Peters was honored with John Anderson, Paul Craft and Tom Douglas at the organization’s 44th anniversary Hall of Fame Dinner & Induction Ceremony at the Music City Center. The event celebrated the musical contributions of the newest inductees through star-studded performances of some of their biggest hits.

Peters, who lived in Boulder in the ’70s, was inducted by Hall of Fame songwriter Rodney Crowell and watched as Brandy Clark performed a medley of Peters’ works “You Don’t Even Know Who I Am” and “Independence Day,” and Trisha Yearwood sang “On A Bus To St. Cloud.” Frequent co-writer Bryan Adams sent a congratulatory video message to Peters that was played during the ceremony.

“Once again four incredibly talented songwriters have taken their rightful place as the newest members of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame,” said Pat Alger, board chair of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Foundation and a member of the Hall of Fame. “John Anderson, Paul Craft, Tom Douglas and Gretchen Peters represent the best our great songwriting community has to offer. With long fruitful careers of memorable songs, they set the highest creative standard for all of us.”

Peters was born in New York and has lived in Nashville for more than 25 years, but she considers herself a Boulder resident at heart.

She also credits her 17 years in Boulder for having had the biggest influence on her music.

“I really don’t know what would have become of me if I hadn’t moved to Boulder,” Peters told the Daily Camera in a 2012 interview. “I was in a really critical age when I moved there. I was just turning 13 and the music scene was so vibrant and so alive, and it brought a whole new sensibility about music to my brain.

I moved here from New York, and as a little kid I was listening to the New York folk scene — Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel and all that. When I got to Boulder there were all these hippie bands playing folk music, and country music, and rock music, and mixing it up.”

Peters, who also is a Grammy-nominated singer, said she lived in Boulder in the ’70s during the “hippie country rock” movement, which made a bit impact on her.

“That was very influential to me,” she said in the 2012 interview. “It definitely colored my music.”

Peters has a tour that will take her to Hebert City, Utah, on Oct. 31-Nov. 1 and Overland Park, Kan., on Nov. 21 but does not currently include any Colorado stops. She will tour the United Kingdom in March and April.

Paul Craft was inducted Sunday by Hall of Fame songwriter Layng Martine Jr. Thomas Rhett performed a medley of songs, including “Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life” and “Brother Jukebox.” Britt Ronstadt, recognizing a song popularized by her aunt Linday, performed “Keep Me From Blowing Away” and Bobby Bare sang “Drop Kick Me, Jesus.”

Tom Douglas was inducted by his longtime publisher, Troy Tomlinson and listened to Collin Raye sing “Little Rock,” Hall of Fame member and co-writer Allen Shamblin perform “The House That Built Me” and Tim McGraw do “My Little Girl.” Lady Antebellum cogratulated Douglas in a pre-recorded video.

John Anderson was inducted by Big & Rich’s John Rich, who sang a medley of Anderson hits that included “Wish I Coulda Been There” and “Chicken Truck.” Hall of Fame songwriter Bobby Braddock belted out “Seminole Wind,” and country star Josh Turner sang “Swingin’.”

Ashley Gorley was honored as Songwriter of the Year and Jack White as Songwriter/Artist of the Year.