It has to be said that there are not many award trophies on Gene Watson’s mantelpiece at home in Texas.
However, things changed for the better in 2002.
On Saturday 17 August 2002, Gene Watson was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.
It was also on Saturday 17 August 2002 when Gene Watson’s fellow country music artists Tanya Tucker and Nat Stuckey (Sunday 17 December 1933 – Wednesday 24 August 1988) were inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.
• Ann M. Stuckey submitted a ‘Peer’s Quote’ about Gene Watson on Saturday 25 January 2014
On Tuesday 3 September 2002, England’s Hux Records released a 2-for-1 CD, which contained the re-mastered versions of Gene Watson’s ‘Love in The Hot Afternoon‘ (Capitol Records, 1975) and Gene Watson’s ‘Paper Rosie‘ (Capitol Records, 1977).
This Hux Records release was lovingly produced with the original album artwork and comprehensive liner notes and proved to be a strong and clear indication that there was a need to have all of Gene Watson’s material presented in such a fashion.
On Monday 7 October 2002, The Nashville Chapter of The Recording Musicians Union marked its 100th anniversary with a show at The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
Headline acts included Gene Watson, George Jones (Saturday 12 September 1931 – Friday 26 April 2013), Willie Nelson, Brenda Lee, The Jordanaires, Ray Price (Tuesday 12 January 1926 – Monday 16 December 2013) and Charlie McCoy.