Gov. Tim Kaine, who might have been expected to write about attorneys or politicians -- which in one instance he did -- chose to include a musical reference in his nominations. "There are many ways to influence others," he began his commentary. "One way is through artistic expression. Virginia has produced some great musical artists during the 20th century. Patsy Cline, the Dave Mathews Band, Ella Fitzgerald, and Missy Elliot have each entertained and influenced countless others. But the Carter Family deserves the crown for the most influential Virginians in arts in the 20th century."

Alvin Pleasants Delaney Carter, Sara Elizabeth Dougherty Carter, and Maybelle Addington Carter, Kaine continued, "grew up in and around Scott County in Southwest Virginia and created modern country music. Performing old traditional songs -- love ballads, religious numbers, tunes with roots in Scotland and Ireland -- and writing new music first brought them fans in their area.

"They were early pioneers in recording music and in live performances on radio in the 1920s and '30s. This spread the Carter sound to the whole nation. Maybelle's guitar style, partly picked up from African-American musicians in Tennessee, also influenced many subsequent musicians in the country, blues, bluegrass, gospel, rock, and folk genres."

Their music made them some of the most influential Virginians of the 20th century. Kaine concluded by bringing the discussion back to Virginia. "The Carter Family tradition is kept alive at the Carter Fold in Hiltons. Great live music is performed every weekend for visitors from around the world."

Historians Sara Bearss and Bland Whitley also nominated the Carter Family, and for the same reasons. As Whitley wrote, "A.P. Carter's song arrangements, Sara's vocals, and Maybelle's innovative guitar style formed a template for popular music in the U.S., which along with film is perhaps the country's most significant export."

Whitley concluded, "They created something new from the mountain ballads, blues, and gospel hymns that informed their work. Their songs wrenched beauty from the harsh and difficult world of the Southwest Virginia mountains. What more can you ask of art?" -- B.T.