The Tennessean has an article: "Songwriters honor their own stars"
Buffett’s FM radio standards include "Margaritaville" and "Come Monday," but lately he has been a presence in country music circles. His last two albums have debuted at the top spot on Billboard magazine’s country album chart. On Sunday night, duo Big & Rich joined Marshall Chapman, Buzz Cason and Don Light in honoring Buffett.
Buffett got up after the speech and musical tribute, by which time Light, his old friend and agent, had already put his honor into perspective: "This is not the last Hall of Fame into which he will be inducted, but I think it’s really appropriate that it’s the first."
For his part, Buffett offered good humor along with appreciation. After Big & Rich sang "Margaritaville," Buffett joked, "Hugh Prestwood gets Trisha Yearwood and I get these clowns." Later Buffett said, "I never got in it to become big and rich, but, what the . . . , it happened."