Showing love to his fellow 90s icon. Yesterday, the Country Music Association gathered at the Hall of Fame Rotunda to announce the 2026 inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame. After Kenny Chesney, June Carter Cash and Tony Brown received inductions in 2025, this year was highlighted by fellow 90s legend, Tim McGraw, receiving the modern artist induction with The Stanley Brothers and Paul Overstreet getting veteran and songwriter nods, respectively. It should go without saying that McGraw has remained one of country music’s biggest superstars over the past four decades. Scoring 49 #1s hits, 13 #1 albums, 14 CMA Awards, 11 ACM Awards and 3 Grammys, the “My Best Friend” singer is undoubtedly one of the most highly-decorated artists in the genre’s history. Tearfully accepting his nomination, the 58-year-old singer-songwriter would recall the day he arrived in Nashville on a Greyhound bus. Reflecting on the fact that he arrived May 9, 1989, the same day Keith Whitley died, McGraw would tear up once again and express the gratitude he has for all the friends he made in Nashville. “Keith was one of my heroes and one of the main reasons that I got on that bus to start with. That night, country music suffered a terrible loss, but I gained some new friends. I found a community who loved country music as much as I did. I found my home. I found my wife, my family, my band, my team. To go to a bar called the Hall of Fame to be here in the actual Country Music Hall of Fame, surrounded by all of these legends and a lot of my friends, it’s impossible for me to believe.” Finally, the Louisiana native would wrap up his acceptance speech by thanking the CMA, the voters and the Hall of Fame, thanking them for their kindness. “Thank you Sarah and the CMA. Thank you to all those who voted. Thank you to Kyle, the Country Music Hall of Fame. Thank you to everyone who’s had a hand in my career and in my life to help to make today happen. Thank you for your kindness. I am so grateful and so humbled. This is just incredible.” It’s pretty safe to say that the writing was on the wall for McGraw to earn his induction nomination this year. Coming off the heels of Chesney’s induction last year, who debuted a year after the “Don’t Take the Girl” singer in 1994, the two have remained two of the biggest stars in the genre over the past four decades. Beyond the stardom, they’ve had a storied friendship throughout the years. Even ignoring collaborations such as their 2012 Top 20 hit, “Feel Like a Rock Star,” and their joint Brothers of the Sun Tour the same year, the pair have made some wild headlines, like the time back in 2000 Chesney stole a horse after a festival and McGraw wound up getting arrested for assaulting a police officer during the entire scene. Needless to say, they’ve been close for a very long time, and soon they will both be immortalized in the Country Music Hall of Fame together. After McGraw’s nomination earlier this morning, Chesney would take to Instagram to post photos of the two over the years along with a heartfelt caption. View this post on Instagram Chesney would begin by reminiscing about the day they met at Mack’s Cafe all the way back in 1991. As the “Summertime” singer recalls, he was new in town, and McGraw quickly became one of his first friends in Nashville. This meeting proved to be the birth of a lifelong friendship for the pair, who “shared the same dream” and “same love for great songs.” “I met Tim McGraw in 1991 at a meat and three lunch place called Mack’s cafe. I was brand new in Nashville and didn’t really know anybody. That was the beginning of our friendship and our journey in this business together. Although Tim went on the road before I did we shared the same dream, the same love for great songs, and knew we were standing on the shoulders of our musical heroes once our dreams started to come true. We have been through a lot together on the road and off and today I am overwhelmed with joy to find out that my friend Tim McGraw will be inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame.” He’d finish by saying how proud he is to be McGraw’s friend and how happy he is for the “Don’t Take the Girl” singer and his family, commenting on how crazy it is that those “two kids at Mack’s Cafe” ended up becoming members of the Country Music Hall of Fame 35 years later. You deserve all of it Tim. I am proud to be your friend and to be on this amazing Journey with you. Who knew those two kids at Mack’s Cafe 35 years ago wouldn’t just share some of the biggest stages together, but would one day share a place in the country music hall of fame. I love you brother and I’m so happy for you and your family.” Good stuff. Time McGraw Tour Dates July 9, 2026 – Bethel, NY – Bethel Woods Center for the Arts * July 10, 2026 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center * July 11, 2026 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium *+≠^ July 16, 2026 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre * July 17, 2026 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center * July 18, 2026 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake * July 23, 2026 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion * July 24, 2026 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater * July 25, 2026 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center * July 30, 2026 – Boston, MA – Fenway Park *+≠^ July 31, 2026 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview * August 1, 2026 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater* August 6, 2026 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach * August 7, 2026 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek * August 8, 2026 – Daniel Island – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium ^ August 13, 2026 – Birmingham, AL – Coca-Cola Amphitheater * August 14, 2026 – Charlotte, NC – Truliant Amphitheater (PNC Music Pavilion) * August 15, 2026 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live * August 21, 2026 – Kansas City, MO – Morton Amphitheater August 22, 2026 – East Troy, WI – Alpine Valley Music Theatre * August 23, 2026 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Field *+≠^ August 27, 2026 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center *^ August 28, 2026 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre * August 29, 2026 – Grand Rapids, MI – Acrisure Amphitheater * September 10, 2026 – Austin, TX – Moody Center *^ September 11, 2026 – Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavilion *^ September 12, 2026 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP * September 17, 2026 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater September 18, 2026 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center * September 19, 2026 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre * September 24, 2026 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre September 25, 2026 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre * September 26, 2026 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre * * 49 Winchester + The Chicks ≠ Lady A ^ Timothy WayneThe post “You Deserve All Of It Tim”: Kenny Chesney Pens Heartfelt Tribute To Tim McGraw Following Country Music Hall Of Fame Announcement first appeared on Whiskey Riff.