Crystal Gayle, who was invited Tuesday night to join the Grand Ole Opry in January 2017, will kick off Deck the Hall—a full schedule of holiday activities—at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum on Friday, Nov. 25. Festivities begin at 4 p.m. with a performance by the Grammy-award winning artist that will include hits as well as some holiday classics. She will then light a thirty-foot Christmas tree in the museum’s Mike Curb Conservatory. Following the performance and tree lighting, Gayle will sign copies of her CDs available for purchase in the Museum Store. Continue Reading →
Three visionary iconoclasts, whose creative skills altered the direction of commercial country music, were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame during a star-studded, profoundly emotional Medallion Ceremony on October 16, 2016. Continue Reading →
The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will explore the life and career of multi-platinum entertainer Dierks Bentley with the exhibition Dierks Bentley: Every Mile a Memory, presented by Citi, which opens March 4, 2016, and runs through Sept. 6, 2016. The exhibition will include stage wear, guitars, song manuscripts, photos and more from Bentley’s personal collection. Continue Reading →
Country music’s Aaron Tippin is set to be spotlighted by the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum with a special Songwriter Session. Tippin’s Songwriter Session will be held in the Ford Theater this Saturday, December 19 at 11:30 AM. During the 45 minute program, Tippin will perform several of his hit songs and will discuss his 25 years in the music business. Continue Reading →
Country Radio Seminar (CRS) and the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will partner to offer CRS 2016 attendees a private reception and free tour of the museum on Tuesday, Feb. 9 from 5-7 p.m. CT. This keystone event is one of the many new events planned to launch, “The New CRS Experience.” In addition, CRS attendees can visit the museum on Monday, Feb. 8 from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. CT.
Founding Council Award:Jo Walker-Meador Brian William Ambassador Award:Steve Buchanan Dale Franklin Award:Reba McEntire
Glitz, glam and a country music fam. The Leadership Music Dale Franklin Awards red carpet brought to light the closeness of the country music community. It is an annual event to recognize a music industry leader who exemplifies the highest quality of leadership and leading by example. This year’s recipient is country music’s fiery hot pistol – Reba McEntire.
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Jo Walker-Meador, longtime executive director of the Country Music Association was awarded the Founding Council Award and President of the Opry, Steve Buchanan, was awarded the Brian William Ambassador Award.
Reba: “To everybody in the industry, I’ve been in the business now 40 years this month. I have so many people to thank who have paved the way for me. What do you do in the business? You do say you entertain, that’s your number 1 job. It’s also very important to leave something as you go. I’ve always thought it was really good idea to teach by example.
See the video below for Red Carpet interviews and musical highlights from the night:
Fellow country musicians and industry leaders shared their favorite memories of Reba. From shots and conga lines through a restaurant in Cancun to squirting Bean-O on her dinner because “I love eggplant but eggplant doesn’t love me,” Reba is always the life of the party.
“There are so many people I’d love to thank, but I’m about dying to use the bathroom right now so bad,” Reba said.
The common thread in every message to Reba was how much her friends and coworkers have learned from her over the years No doubt about it – everyone in the CMA Theater that night loves “Red.”
“Yes I do like my brown liquor. I do like that very much, and I have a great time. I love life, and I’m gonna continue loving life,” Reba said.
Check out the video below for full performances to honor Reba by Hillary Scott, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, and Ronnie Dunn. Includes the full speech from Reba.
It was a night of surprises, tributes and celebration as Leadership Music staged its 10th Dale Franklin Awards presented by BMLG last night (Nov. 16th) by honoring industry giants Jo Walker-Meador, Steve Buchanan and Reba McEntire. Attended by more than 400 Music Row well-wishers, the event was held for the first time in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s CMA Theater. The Dale Franklin Awards are named for Leadership Music’s founding executive director, the late Dale Franklin. Hosted by Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, the presentation of the awards was punctuated with video tributes and musical performances from a variety of artists including Alabama, Mac Davis, Trisha Yearwood, the cast of the ABC-TV show, Nashville, Ronnie Dunn, Martina McBride, and Don Schlitz. “This is like a family reunion for me,” Scott proclaimed, referring to the artists and executives in attendance. Continue Reading →
Pictured are (back row, l-r): 2015 inductees William Lee Golden, Joe Bonsall, Richard Sterban, and Duane Allen of the Oak Ridge Boys; Ray Walker of the Jordanaires; Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Chairman Steve Turner; Vince Gill; E.W. “Bud” Wendell; Bobby Bare; Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young; Garth Brooks; Randy Owen of Alabama; Kenny Rogers; Charlie McCoy; and CMA CEO Sarah Trahern; (front row, l-r): Ralph Emery; Harold Bradley; Connie Smith; Emmylou Harris; 2015 inductee Bonnie Brown; Joshua Martin, son of 2015 inductee Grady Martin; Brenda Lee; 2015 inductee Maxine Brown; Jo Walker-Meador; Roy Clark; and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Board Trustee Jody Williams.
Photo by Donn Jones
Two groundbreaking vocal groups with drastically different styles joined a fabled studio session musician as the newest inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame during a star-studded, emotional Medallion Ceremony on October 25, 2015. Considered country music’s most prestigious event, the ceremony is the official induction of new Hall of Fame members.
Eric Church speaking at the VIP reception for the grand opening of the INSIDE THE OUTSIDER exhibit at Country Music Hall of Fame.
During a VIP reception held at the beautiful Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville this evening, we got to take in a special preview of the brand new exhibit featuring Eric Church called INSIDE THE OUTSIDER. Continue Reading →
On Wednesday, September 23, 2015, journalist Jewly Hight will interview the Indigo Girls in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Ford Theater about their creative inspiration, musical influences, and recording their latest album, One Lost Day, in Nashville.
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