NASHVILLE, Tenn., July, 17, 2017 – The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will feature Sharon Vaughn in the next installment of the museum’s special songwriter series, Poets and Prophets. The interview will take place Saturday, August 5, at 2 p.m. in the museum’s Ford Theater. Vaughn will perform briefly during the program. Following the program, she will sign commemorative posters from Hatch Show Print.

Vaughn’s first songwriting hit was a career maker: “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys.” The song, as sung by Waylon Jennings, appeared in 1976 on country music’s first certified platinum album, Wanted! The Outlaws. Four years later, Willie Nelson’s version went to #1 when it was included on the soundtrack to the film The Electric Horseman.

Vaughn moved to Nashville in 1969 to pursue a singing career. During the 1970s, she released her own singles on various labels, including ABC/Dot, while juggling studio work as a vocalist. Vaughn’s songwriting credits include the Oak Ridge Boys’ breakthrough country hit, “Y’All Come Back Saloon,” Reba McEntire’s “I’m Not That Lonely Yet,” the Lorrie Morgan-Keith Whitley duet “’Til a Tear Becomes a Rose,” Patty Loveless’ “Lonely Too Long,” and Randy Travis’ “Out of My Bones.” Today, Vaughn splits time between her native Orlando, Florida, and Stockholm, and she has had success writing for international pop stars. In 2009, her song “Release Me,” recorded by Swedish singer Agnes, reached #1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart.

Poets and Prophets is included with museum admission and free to museum members. Seating is limited, and passes are required for admittance. Museum members can reserve program passes by phone (615-416-2050) or via e-mail (reservations@countrymusichalloffame.org). The program will be streamed live at www.countrymusichalloffame.org/

For 10 years, Poets and Prophets has honored songwriters who have made significant contributions to country music history. Previous subjects include Al Anderson, Bill Anderson, Matraca Berg, Bobby Braddock, Wayne Carson, Buzz Cason, Jerry Chestnut, Hank Cochran, Roger Cook, Sonny Curtis, Dean Dillon, Bob DiPiero, Tom Douglas, Kye Fleming, Jerry Foster, Dallas Frazier, Red Lane, Dickey Lee, John D. Loudermilk, Shane McAnally, Bob McDill, Roger Murrah, Paul Overstreet, Dan Penn, Gretchen Peters, Curly Putman, Mike Reid, Allen Reynolds, Mark D. Sanders, Don Schlitz, Whitey Shafer, Red Simpson, Jeffery Steele, Sonny Throckmorton, Jimmy Webb, Billy Edd Wheeler, Norro Wilson and Craig Wiseman. Additional information about Poets and Prophets can be found at countrymusichalloffame.org.

Poets and Prophets is made possible, in part, by SunTrust.

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The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum collects, preserves, and interprets country music and its history for the education and entertainment of diverse audiences. In exhibits, publications, and educational programs, the museum explores the cultural importance and enduring beauty of the art form. The museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a non-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, and in 2016 welcomed nearly 1.2 million patrons, placing it among the ten most-visted history museums in the U.S. The Country Music Foundation operates Historic RCA Studio B, Hatch Show Print® poster shop, CMF Records, the Frist Library and Archive, and CMF Press. Museum programs are supported by the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission and the Tennessee Arts Commission. 

More information about the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is available at www.countrymusichalloffame.org or by calling (615) 416-2001.