The Tennessean

Fans lined barricades at Hall of Fame Park in downtown Nashville Sunday afternoon, waiting to catch a glimpse of the country artists — and one rock and roll legend — receiving stars on the Music City Walk of Fame.

Country stars Trace Adkins, Martina McBride and Randy Travis; rock 'n' roll architects Little Richard and Elvis Presley; celebrated soul performer Michael McDonald; and the first Country Music Association executive director, Jo Walker-Meador, made up the Walk's fifth class of inductees. All of them (save Elvis, who was represented by Imperials band member Joe Moscheo) came out in the 40-degree weather to see the unveiling of their sidewalk stars.

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"It's just a huge honor," Adkins said before the ceremony. "I feel quite frankly out of place here, being honored on the same day as Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Randy Travis and Martina McBride, Michael McDonald … I mean, these are people that I've been in awe of, and now I find myself in their company. It's humbling, but I'm proud at the same time.

"I'm the one that when people look at this photograph years from now will go, 'OK, who doesn't belong in this picture?' "

A decidedly un-country singer like McDonald, on the other hand, saw his place in the Music City tradition. "Nashville has a certain special allure to songwriters. Some of the greatest songwriters in pop music — not taking anything away from Memphis, New York, L.A. and Detroit — for a town half the size of all those places, certainly holds its own in terms of having that strength and incredible love for songwriters and good songs. Some of the foremost artists over the years that have blurred the lines between genres — many of them came from out of the country genre, but had songs that topped the pop charts.

"Some of my favorite songs were written in this town, and some of my favorite records were made in this town, so to be honored as one of Nashville's own is an incredible privilege that will always stand alone for me."

Fans held homemade signs and cheered the loudest for Adkins and McBride, but the charismatic Little Richard — bundled up in blankets over a flashy yellow suit — quickly became the star of the show, speaking in rhyme, professing his love for Adkins' song "Muddy Water," even letting out a trademark "woo" during his speech.

"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."

If there was any question about Richard's inclusion in the country-heavy Walk of Fame, the singer showed his impressive grasp of current country hits, name-checking Kenny Chesney's single "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven."

"I love that, because that's the truth," he said.

"It's beautiful to see Nashville, how it's grown," he added. "A beautiful city. It makes you very proud of it. And to see the Titans do what they've done. It makes things a little tighter! My, my, my."