Nickell was recently inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, and she told me over the phone today that it's the best thing to ever happen to her, next to "finding Jesus." She's thrilled to be in the company of such greats as Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins, though she's quick to note that, unlike Cash and Perkins, she's still with us. At 72, Betty--who was born in Kentucky but has spent most of her life in nearby Mansfield, Ohio--is still singing and composing, though killer rockabilly numbers like Hot Dog are no longer her specialty--she writes gospel songs these days. Betty hopes to record a CD of same at some point in the hopefully not distant future.
Betty Nickell inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame