The event, sponsored by the Friends of the Georgia Music Festival organization, was telecast on Atlanta-based public television station WGTV-Channel 8, and featured performances by Third Day and fellow 2009 inductees Collective Soul, along with Randall Franks and The Georgia Mafia Bluegrass Band, Reginald Smith and others.

Together with Third Day and Collective Soul, the 2009 inductee class included music promoter Peter Conlon, GRAMMY-winning songwriter Bryan-Michael Cox, music industry pioneer Johnny L. Carson, and posthumous honors for singer/songwriter Roy Hamilton, record executive Shakir Stewart and bass guitarist Berry Oakley.

Previous inductees into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame include rock legends such as the Allman Brothers Band, R.E.M. and Lynyrd Skynyrd, country star Alan Jackson, soul/R&B fixtures Otis Redding, James Brown and Usher, and songwriter/producer L.A. Reid.

“This was such an incredible honor for all of us,” offers bassist, Tai Anderson. “Our families, management team, booking agency, label and fans were all represented that evening which made it even more special. Terry Hemmings, President and CEO of Provident Music Group, who originally signed us to Reunion Records back in 1995, was on hand to induct us. This was such a great way to celebrate 15 years together. Here’s to 15 more!”

The Georgia Music Hall of Fame honor was the latest in the line of special moments for the band this summer, including the recent acquisition of its 27th career No. 1 radio single, “Born Again” from the 2008 release Revelation. The single sits at No. 1 on the AC Indicator charts this week for the fifth consecutive week with nearly 18 million impressions this week and 227 million impressions since the single was released to radio May 8th, 2009.

The band hits the road again starting Oct. 8 for the fall leg of the “Revelation Tour,” which will also feature artists from the roots gospel project Glory Revealed, a lineup that includes Third Day’s Mac Powell, author/speaker David Nasser, Laura Story, Trevor Morgan, Shawn Lewis and other special guests.

The fall “Revelation Tour” continues Third Day’s tradition of “paying it forward” by donating $1 per ticket sold to charitable organizations through its Come Together Fund. Through this fund, Third Day--who actively supports the ONE Campaign--has been able to serve charities such as Habitat For Humanity, Blood:Water Mission, World Vision’s Hope Child Initiative and is responsible for more than a million dollars in donations over the last four years to disaster relief in and outside of the U.S.

For more info on Third Day, visit the JFH Artists Database.