Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs were honored last night as they were inducted into Nashville Songwriters Association International’s Hall Of Fame at their 38th Annual Hall of Fame Dinner and Induction Ceremony.

Marty Stuart inducted Flatt & Scruggs, recalling how he joined Lester Flatt & The Nashville Grass when he was 13 years old. The Del McCoury Band performed a number of Flatt & Scruggs compositions (If I Should Wander Back Tonight, Earl’s Breakdown, Little Cabin Home on the Hill, Don’t Get Above Your Raisin’ and The Martha White Theme) and were then joined by Stuart for Scruggs’ classic Foggy Mountain Breakdown.

From the NSAI press release:

Joining Scruggs to accept the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame Manny Award (short for manuscript) were Flatt’s widow, Gladys Flatt, and granddaughter Tammy Brumfield. "It’s been a wonderful ride," Scruggs said. "Thank you all very much."

Also inducted last night were Bob DiPiero, Mac McAnally, Dottie Rambo and Hank Williams, Jr.

Country and bluegrass stalwart Marty Stuart has signed on to host a one hour weekly radio program on XM Satellite Radio. Marty Stuart’s American Odyssey will debut on Friday, October 5 at 8:00 a.m. on XM’s classic country channel, America (track 10).

Marty plans to showcase a wide variety of American music styles – traditional country, blues, rockabilly, bluegrass, gospel and rock – focusing each week on a different part of the country. He’ll interview and showcase local musicians from each highlighted city or town, and will perform himself with both studio and live sets.

Marty Stuart’s American Odyssey will also be featured all day October 5 on XMX (track 2), so you can tune in whenever it may be convenient.

Last week we told you about a couple of ebay auctions by WDVX in Knoxville that were part of it’s 2007 fundraising efforts.

The first auction was for an autographed Martin DXM guitar. The second auction was an autographed Tony Rice model Santa Cruz guitar. Friday evening the third, and final, instrument went up for auction on ebay.

This time it’s a mandolin. An “F Style” Liddy Mandolin featuring a fern peghead inlay and tobacco sunburst finish. The instrument is sporting autographs by Ricky Skaggs, Sam Bush, Ronnie McCoury, Doyle Lawson, David Grisman, Marty Stuart and more.

Once again this instrument and the accompanying case have been provided by Smoky Mountain Guitars in Pigeon Forge, TN.

The bidding began Friday evening February 16th, and will continue through the auction’s closing date of Sunday February 25th, at 6PM EST.

More photos of the instrument are available on the ebay auction page.

There are a number of other bluegrass artists with Grammy nominations announced yesterday.

Rhonda Vincent and Bobby Osborne are nominated in the Best Country Collaboration With Vocals category for Midnight Angel, from Rhonda’s All American Bluegrass Girl CD.

The Del McCoury Band received a nomination for The Promised Land in the Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album category.

Then, of course, we have the Best Bluegrass Album category. Those nominees are:

See the complete list of nominees on the Grammy web site.

UPDATE 8:00 a.m. Also receiving a Grammy nomination yesterday was Ralph Stanley. His A Distant land To Roam CD was nominated in the Best Traditional Folk Album category.