Museum

The bluegrass duo comprised of Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent, will be signing copies of their newest CD, Singing from the Heart, an A Cappella gospel album to benefit Tennessee Bible College. Their debut album, Dailey & Vincent, was released in 2008, leading to growing success and popularity from the start. They won seven awards at the 2008 International Bluegrass Music Awards Show, including Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year. A performance following the signing is tentatively scheduled. Click here for autograph signing guidelines. Live From the Museum Store, Presented by CMT

Songwriter John Pennell wrote "Foolish Heart," "Every Time You Say Goodbye," "Too Late To Cry," and other songs recorded by Alison Krauss. Pennell also penned "As Lovely as You" (Alan Jackson), "Meat and Potato Man" (Alan Jackson), "Ridin' That Bluegrass Train" (Sam Bush), and songs recorded by Chris Jones, Alecia Nugent, Charlie Sizemore, the Infamous Stringdusters, Dan Tyminski, and others. Julie Pennell will sit in. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members, IBMA conference registrants, and Bluegrass Fan Fest attendees.  Made Possible by Ford Motor Company Fund.

Randy Kohrs is a renowned multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer who has performed or recorded with Dierks Bentley, Sara Evans, Jim Lauderdale, Little Big Town, Dolly Parton, Jerry Reed, Randy Travis, Hank Williams III, and others. In 2008, Kohrs won a Grammy for producing Jim Lauderdale's Bluegrass Diaries. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.  Made possible by Gibson Guitar Corporation.

Our Musical Petting Zoo visits We Care for Kids Day hosted by the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. Try your hand at picking a banjo, playing a dulcimer, or strumming a mandolin. Other activities include music, games, and interactive booths. At Sports Club Field, on the corner of Children's Way and 25^th Avenue South. Free.

This year's concert to feature Urban, Vince Gill, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, John Mayer, Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Alison Krauss and Billy Currington. 

Songwriter and multi-platinum record producer Buddy Cannon won CMA Song of the Year honors in 2006 for co-writing "Give It Away" (George Strait). Cannon also penned "Between Jennings and Jones" (Jamey Johnson); "I Believe in You" (Mel Tillis); "I've Come to Expect It from You" (George Strait); "Set 'Em Up Joe" (Vern Gosdin); "She's Not Crying Anymore" (Billy Ray Cyrus); and songs recorded by Alabama, Glen Campbell, Kenny Chesney, George Jones, Craig Morgan, and others.  Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.  Made Possible by Ford Motor Company Fund.

October 9, 2010
At the start of his first major-label Nashville recording session, in 1965, Chip Young faced trial by fire. Producer Billy Sherrill had sought out Young after hearing his acoustic guitar introduction on the songwriting demo of "What Color (Is a Man)," a Marge Barton song Sherrill wanted pop star Bobby Vinton to record. Young walked into the session and found several members of the A-team, the name given the top rank of Nashville studio musicians, including three other guitarists, Ray Edenton, Kelso Herston, and Grady Martin.

Curly Putman will be signing autographs of his newest book, Faces in the Clouds. Putman became an overnight sensation in 1965 after his first major recording "Green, Green Grass of Home." It has been recorded more than 400 times by artists such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Conway Twitty and many more. Click here for autograph signing guidelines. Live From the Museum Store, Presented by CMT.

Sandy Conatser is an adjunct instructor at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, member of the Nashville Dulcimer Quartet, researcher on the development of the dulcimer in Tennessee, and organizer of Nashville's annual Grand Old Dulcimer Day. Included with museum admission. Free to members.  Made possible by Gibson Guitar Corporation.

October 16, 2010
Dan Penn cites the turning point of his life as the moment he first encountered producer and studio owner Rick Hall and other musicians who turned Muscle Shoals, Alabama, into a renowned recording center.

Stephony Smith was the 1998 BMI Songwriter of the Year. She wrote "Back When" (Tim McGraw); "Big Star" (Kenny Chesney); "Go Away" (Lorrie Morgan); "How Was I to Know" (Reba McEntire); "It's Your Love" (Tim McGraw with Faith Hill); "Johnny and June" (Heidi Newfield); "Sin Wagon" (Dixie Chicks); "Yes!" (Chad Brock); and songs recorded by Trace Adkins, Terri Clark, Martina McBride, Montgomery Gentry, Shania Twain, Wynonna, and many others. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.  Made Possible by Ford Motor Company Fund.

Jon Weisberger plays bass with Chris Jones & the Night Drivers and the Roland White Band. He has performed with the Harley Allen Band, Melonie Cannon, Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time, Hazel Dickens, Jimmy Martin, the Tony Trischka Bluegrass Band, and others. Troy Engle is a multi-instrumentalist who has performed with Dale Ann Bradley, the Isaacs, Buddy Jewell, Patty Loveless, and Jimmy Wayne. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.  Made possible by Gibson Guitar Corporation.

From 1969 to 1971, Johnny Cash hosted a one-hour musical variety show on ABC, featuring music by legends of the day. In this episode, Cash is backed by his band, The Tennessee Three, the Statler Brothers, and Mother Maybelle & the Carter Sisters with Francis Lyle. One segment is dedicated to Hank Williams and features photographs, video footage, and a tribute performance by Hank Jr. Also featured are Ray Price, Conway Twitty, Carl Perkins, B.J. Thomas, and June Carter Cash, among others. Screened in support of the exhibit Family Tradition: The Williams Family Legacy, Presented by SunTrust. 60 minutes. Free.  Made Possible by Iron Mountain Film and Sound Archives.

Bang a drum, strum an autoharp, and pick a banjo! Our Musical Petting Zoo offers budding musicians a chance to try new and familiar instruments. Instructors will be on site to offer guidance. At the beginning of the program, a professional musician will demonstrate how to play some of the instruments. All ages. No reservations required. Free. Families are encouraged to tour the museum at a discounted rate following the program. Visit the information desk or ticket window for more information.

Melanie Dunea will be signing autographs of her newest book, My Country. Melanie is a renowned portrait photographer, traveling the world on assignment, oftentimes photographing influential people in the public eye. Many of her photos are published in magazines such as Vanity Fair, Time, People, Redbook, and Ladies' Home Journal. Click here to view autograph signing guidelines. Live From the Museum Store, Presented by CMT.

Join Us For the Medallion Red Carpet Fan Experience  The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will pay tribute to Jimmy Dean and Don Williams as they are officially inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame during the museum's annual Medallion Ceremony. (Fellow members-elect Ferlin Husky and Billy Sherrill were inducted on Sunday, May 23.)  Nashville visitors and fans are invited to take part in pre-ceremony festivities at the Museum's Demonbreun Street entrance beginning at 4:30 p.m. Fans will be able to view and applaud the red carpet arrivals of dozens of stars, beginning at 5 p.m., and will also have a chance to win a country music grand prize pack.