TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

Les Butler, owner of REAL Southern Gospel Radio, will be inducted into the Tri-State Gospel Music Hall of Fame on Aug. 1, 2026. The announcement came during a phone call on March 25 from chairman and CEO Will Dickerson.

The organization honours individuals who have made strong contributions to gospel music across Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Butler’s induction follows a long career in broadcasting and music promotion that has spanned five decades.

Butler said the milestone caused him to reflect on his years in radio. He noted that he began working in Southern Gospel Radio 50 years ago and has spent 48 consecutive years in that field. During that time, he interviewed nearly every member of the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame. His interviews also extended beyond music, including figures such as former U.S. president George W. Bush, former attorney general John Ashcroft, Harlem Globetrotters player Meadowlark Lemon, New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte, and the cast of The Waltons.

He also recalled personal moments with well-known figures in gospel music, including time spent with Bill Gaither and Vestal Goodman. Butler said these experiences were meaningful, but he placed greater value on hearing from listeners who said his work made a difference in their lives.

Throughout his career, Butler has held several roles in the industry. He spent 20 years with Singing News Magazine, including serving as publisher. He also worked for 20 years as general manager and daily host on the Solid Gospel Radio Network. In addition, he served on boards connected to the Southern Gospel Music Association, Southern Gospel Music Guild, and the National Quartet Convention.

His work has included hosting the Southern Gospel Channel on Delta Airlines’ radio network and receiving a March of Dimes AIR Award as a disc jockey. Butler founded Butler Music Group and owns Family Music Group. Through FMG Radio Promotions, he helped promote dozens of songs that reached No. 1 in Singing News charts.

As a producer, Butler worked on multiple No. 1 songs, including a run of 10 consecutive chart-topping releases on the Singing News Bluegrass Chart with Heaven’s Mountain Band. He has also performed as a musician on several Top 10 songs, including those that reached No. 1.

Butler is also the founder of the Old Time Preachers Quartet and the REAL Southern Gospel Radio Network. His work has earned multiple Diamond Awards, as well as awards from AGM and SGN, along with several nominations for the Singing News Fan Awards.

In recent days, Butler said he learned that he and his station were named among the Top 10 in the Singing News Fan Awards. He described both that recognition and the upcoming Hall of Fame induction as unexpected developments in a career he said still feels active and ongoing.