|PIC1|Michael W Smith, Dolly Parton, Dr Bobby Jones and The Dixie Hummingbirds were inducted into the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame along with music producer Lari Gosson in a ceremony at Richland Country Club in Nashville on 2 February.

The GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame has inducted more than 150 members since its inception in 1971, including 2007 inductees Phil Keaggy, The Winans and Joe Moscheo. Previous inductees include Elvis Presley, Mahalia Jackson, Keith Green, Amy Grant, Andrae Crouch, Sandi Patty, and Bill and Gloria Gaither.

Smith has been on the Christian music scene for more than a quarter of a century and released his latest album, A New Hallelujah, last November to critical acclaim.

Dolly Parton, meanwhile, has several gospel albums to her name and her Dollywood theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, houses the Southern Gospel Music Museum and Hall of Fame.

President and CEO of the Gospel Music Association Foundation John W Styll paid tribute to the latest slate of inductees.

"This year’s class of GMA Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees have all achieved great professional and personal success in many different areas of the music and entertainment industries,” stated Styll, “but each shares a common heritage of the Gospel’s powerful impact on their lives.”

Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the Christian/Gospel music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the gospel through music of all styles including pop, rock, praise & worship, black gospel, R&B, hip hop, southern gospel, country, and more.