Tammy Wynette Honored With Posthumous Pioneer Award

05/04/2000 12:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(5/4/00, 12 a.m. ET) - Tammy Wynette was named the first posthumous recipient of the Academy of Country Music's special pioneer award during tonight's (May 3) ACM Awards. Paying tribute to the superstar on the show were Trisha Yearwood, the Judds, Patty Loveless, Martina McBride, and Dolly Parton.

Created in 1968, the award recognizes outstanding and unprecedented achievement in the field of country music. Previous Pioneer Award recipients include Bob Wills, Patsy Montana, Gene Autry, Hank Williams Sr., Roy Rogers, Minnie Pearl, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, George Jones, Charley Pride>, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Roy Clark, Charlie Daniels, and others.

In another tribute, Reba McEntire honored late Gene Weed. Weed had produced and directed the show for more than 30 years. He passed away August 5, 1999 at the age of 64.

In addition to the tribute, the ACM's Board of Directors designated that their annual special achievement award will henceforth be known as the Gene Weed special achievement award.

This honor of the special achievement award has only been bestowed three times in the Academy's history. It acknowledges "unprecedented, unique and outstanding individual achievement in the field of country music during the preceding calendar year." Nineteen years ago, George Burns became the first recipient when he made history by having his first country chart hit when he was in his 80s. In 1996, Jeff Foxworthy was acknowledged for having the biggest selling comedy album in the history of country music. Two years ago, Garth Brooks was acknowledged for the success of his live televised Central Park concert.

-- Jennifer Gerlock and Tracy Lawson
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