Go Tar Heels: "To say I thought this day would never come would be an understatement," said producer/label/publishing exec Fred Foster, who led this morning's trio of Country Music Hall of Fame inductees (Breaking News 3/29), all of whom are from North Carolina. "If you're inducted into the Hall of Fame, it can't get any higher or any better than that. You're at the top of the mountain. ... I've always been a big dreamer, but this is too big. You wouldn't dream this unless you were crazy."

"Today is not a dream," emcee and Hall member Brenda Lee said she told inductee Charlie Daniels this morning. "It's called validation." "I'm flabbergasted," Daniels said, taking the podium. "I can't think of a bigger honor to be given to anybody who loves country music. This is the cherry on top of the icing ... it's where the cake stops. I'm very humbled this morning to think about the shoulders I stand on. I came to Nashville in 1967, and though I looked longingly at the Hall of Fame many times, I never really thought I would see my plaque hung up with the rest of them." Daniels, who will be 80 Oct. 28, ended his speech by vowing never to retire – and admitting, "I don't ever get nervous in front of a crowd of people, and I'm nervous as hell right now."

Still recovering from his 2013 stroke which left him unable to speak, Randy Travis walked to the podium flanked by wife Mary Davis-Travis and longtime producer Kyle Lehning. Travis, whose speaking and singing continue to improve, was able to say "thank you" but relied on Mary to finish his speech. "He's a man of great courage, as you all know," she said. Mary told the story of Randy and his brother Ricky. Both wanted to play guitar but their father said one of them had to sing, and let older brother Ricky choose first. "And that's how Randy Travis started singing at nine years old, under durress from Ricky – and thank God for that," she said.

"He chose a career that he was hoping to make a difference in," she continued. "That career made a difference in him. Randy's often said no doubt there have been storms in life, but God has carried him through each and every one of them. He thanks God for the privilege of being able to do what he's loved to do."