- Acuff's budding career as a baseball player was cut short due to sunstroke.
- 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"
- He was the first LIVING person to be elected as a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. (Before Acuff, you had to be deceased to be elected a member.).
- Among country music's pioneers.
- Recorded many golden classic country hits. The songs "Wabash Cannonball" and "Great Speckle Bird" were recorded at his first session in 1936.
- Twice ran for Tennessee governor as a Republican.
- Was famous for his yo-yo trick demonstrations during his personal appearences.
- He was awarded the American National Medal of the Arts in 1991 by the National Endowment of the Arts in Washington D.C.
- Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1962.
- Had one of the earliest hit versions of "The Tennesee Waltz," whose best known version was from Patti Page.
- 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.
- For many years was the owner/operator of the Dunbar Cave Hotel, a popular tourist spot just outside of Nashville.
- Recorded for several different labels over the years, most notably for Columbia, Capitol, and Hickory records.
- Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume 3, 1991-1993, pages 7-9. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2001.
- He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1541 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
- Brother of actor Eddie Acuff.
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