Acuff's budding career as a baseball player was cut short due to sunstroke.
Among country music's pioneers.
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 3, 1991-1993, pages 7-9. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2001.
For many years was the owner/operator of the Dunbar Cave Hotel, a popular tourist spot just outside of Nashville.
Had one of the earliest hit versions of "The Tennesee Waltz," whose best known version was from Patti Page.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1541 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
He was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1991 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C.
He was the first LIVING person to be elected member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. (Before Acuff, you had to be dead to be elected.)
Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1962.
Recorded for several different labels over the years, most notably for Columbia, Capitol, and Hickory records.
Recorded many golden classic country hits. The songs "Wabash Cannonball" and "Great Speckle Bird" were recorded at his first session in 1936.
Sang "I Saw the Light" at the funeral of Hank Williams alongside C&W greats Red Foley and Ernest Tubb who, respectively sang, "Peace in the Valley" and "Beyond the Sunset"
Twice ran for Tennessee governor as a Republican.
Was famous for his yo-yo trick demonstrations during his personal appearences.
With Fred Rose, formed the Hickory Records recording label in 1953, from which Acuff's later recordings came.
Won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987 for his contributions to the music industry.