It was a meeting of the stars yesterday afternoon in Nashville as the Music City Walk of Fame inducted its fifth class of honorees.
The star-studded class – honored at the Gibson-sponsored event with commemorative sidewalk markers in downtown Nashville’s Hall of Fame Park, which sits directly across the street from the Country Music Hall of Fame – included rock and roll legends Little Richard and Elvis Presley, pop superstar Michael McDonald, and country music 
stars Trace Adkins, Martina McBride and Randy Travis. Also honored was Jo Walker-Meador, who was the first executive director of the Country Music Association.
All of the honorees – sans Elvis, of course, who was represented by Joe Moscheo of the Imperials – were on hand to witness the unveiling of their sidewalk stars, and hundreds of fans lined the barricades and braved 40-degree weather to see their favorite music stars. Other stars in attendance included Josh Turner, Barbara Mandrell and Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of Brooks and Dunn.
But it was Little Richard who literally stole the show. Dressed in a bright yellow suit and covered by blankets to keep warm, Richard spoke the crowd in rhyme while professing his love for country music, including Adkins’ song “Muddy Water.”
“I love country music,” he told reporters. “I never thought that I would have a star in Nashville. I’ve had one on Hollywood Boulevard for ages, but to be in Nashville is a blessing and a lesson. I’m very blessed, very grateful. I’m glad to be down with my best friend, Elvis. I love him. I’m glad to be down with Trace, and all of them. I’m just grateful. I’m 75 years old, and I’m glad to be alive at this time.”
Past honorees include Ronnie Milsap, Reba McEntire, Vince Gill, Roy Orbison, Wynonna Judd, John Hiatt, Emmylou Harris, Hank Williams, Sr. and Jimi Hendrix.