Museum

Carter's Chord consists of sisters Joanna, Emily and Becky Robertson. They spent their childhood immersed in the sounds of country music, specifically the Outlaw Movement, thanks to parents Carter and Barny Robertson, both of whom were members of Waylon Jennings' road band. Having performed together from an early age, the three sisters made their recording debut on a 1998 Jennings album that their father produced. On May 24, Carter's Chord will release the harmony-laden Wild Together on Toby Keith's record label, Show Dog (a subsidiary of Universal Music).  Visit the link below to learn more about the concert series or purchase your Museum Membership. http://countrymusichalloffame.org/HotNights/

Gretchen Peters wrote "The Chill of an Early Fall" (George Strait); "If Heaven" (Andy Griggs);  "Independence Day" (Martina McBride); "Inside Out" (Trisha Yearwood with Don Henley); "Let That Pony Run" (Pam Tillis); "My Baby Loves Me" (Martina McBride); "The Secret of Life" (Faith Hill); "When You Love Someone" (Bryan Adams); and "You Don't Even Know Who I Am" (Patty Loveless). Barry Walsh will sit in on piano. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.

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.

Pete Finney has worked with Trace Adkins, Bobby Bare, the Dixie Chicks, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, Reba McEntire, Joe Nichols, Josh Rouse, and Pam Tillis. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.  Made possible by Gibson Guitar Corporation.

A museum curator offers an introduction to the museum's new exhibition Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company with additional support from Great American Country Television Network.  Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.

Hit songwriter Randy Goodrum performs in celebration of his longtime colleague Chet Atkins. Goodrum toured with Atkins and the two often wrote music together. In 1991, Atkins won a Grammy award for his recording of Goodrum's "So Soft Your Goodbye" (a duet with Mark Knopfler). A member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Goodrum also composed "Broken Hearted Me" (Anne Murray); "Bluer Than Blue" (Michael Johnson); "Foolish Heart" (Steve Perry); "It's True Love" (Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn); "Lesson in Leavin'" (Dottie West, Jo Dee Messina); "Oh Sherrie" (Steve Perry); "What Are We Doin' in Love" (Kenny Rogers and Dottie West); "You Needed Me" (Anne Murray); and many others. Offered as part of the special exhibition Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company with additional support from Great American Country Television Network.  Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.

August 13, 2011
Ford Theater
Asked to sum up the best quality of Chet Atkins in a sentence, three of his close friends and musical colleagues-Steve Wariner, Billy Edd Wheeler, and Paul Yandell-deemed the task impossible, recounting his many talents as a world-renowned guitarist, record producer, and RCA label executive.

"To me, Chet Atkins is the guy in Nashville who did more good for more pickers, more artists, than any other human being," said Willie Nelson in the documentary Chet Atkins: A Life in Music (2000). Nelson offers memories of Atkins, alongside some of Mr. Guitar's closest friends, peers, and disciples, including Eddy Arnold, George Benson, June Carter Cash, Tommy Emmanuel, Don Everly, Peter Frampton, Waylon Jennings, Mark Knopfler, Dolly Parton, and Les Paul. Atkins is also interviewed and narrates much of his own story. 45 minutes. Offered as part of the special exhibition Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company with additional support from Great American Country Television Network. Free.  Made Possible by Iron Mountain Film and Sound Archives.  

Ben Hall was the 2005 International Thumbstyle Guitar Champion. He has performed or recorded with Charlie Louvin, Jeannie Seely, and Candi Staton. Hall will demonstrate the thumb-pick style of Merle Travis and Chet Atkins, among others. Offered as part of the special exhibition Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company with additional support from Great American Country Television Network. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.

August 20, 2011
British pop legend Nick Lowe discussed country music's impact on his work during the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's weekly Songwriter Session series. 

Guitarist David Andersen has shared the stage and opened shows for Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Doc Watson, and others. In this program, Andersen will perform and discuss the techniques and stylings of Chet Atkins. Offered as part of the special exhibition Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company with additional support from Great American Country Television Network. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.

Chet Atkins is considered one of the most talented, creative, and influential guitar players of all time. Chet Atkins: Rare Performances 1955-1975 complies early performances. This highlight reel features gems from the Purina Grand Ole Opry show, Ozark Jubilee, Pop! Goes the Country, and more. Atkins demonstrates his versatility as a guitar genius, shredding through songs on his signature Gretsch guitars, as well as an Estruch classical guitar and a Martin Dreadnought. 60 minutes. Offered as part of the special exhibition Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company with additional support from Great American Country Television Network.  Free.  Made Possible by Iron Mountain Film and Sound Archives.  

For tickets and information on all of the Connie Smith Artist in Residence shows click here.
August 22, 2011
On the first show of her 2011 artist-in-residence series at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, singer Connie Smith displayed her devotion to the pedal steel guitar through words and performances that illuminated the instrument's significance to her straight-ahead, hard-country sound.

August 27, 2011
Watch the complete video from this program.

Billy Montana wrote "Bring on the Rain" (Jo Dee Messina); "Gloryland" (BlackHawk); "More Than a Memory" (Garth Brooks); "Not Every Man Lives" (Jason Aldean); "Seven Days" (Kenny Chesney); "Stuck" (Ash Bowers); "Suds in the Bucket" (Sara Evans); and songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Collin Raye, Kenny Rogers, Blake Shelton, Lee Ann Womack, and others. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.

John Knowles C.G.P. presents Lessons from Chet in this special instrument demonstration. In 1996, Chet Atkins appointed John Knowles the first Honorary C.G.P. (Certified Guitar Player), and in 2004 Knowles was recognized by the National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame for the second time. His performance experience includes work with Chet Atkins, Lenny Breau, Jerry Reed, the Romeros, and Steve Wariner. Knowles also writes and oversees FingerStyle Quarterly. Offered as part of the special exhibition Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company with additional support from Great American Country Television Network.  Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.

Known for his onstage jokes, blonde pompadour, and rhinestone suits, Country Music Hall of Fame member Porter Wagoner hosted a syndicated television show from 1960 to 1981. The program featured Wagoner and his band, the Wagonmasters, with invited guests. Dolly Parton joined the show's cast in 1967, propelling her to stardom. In these two episodes from the mid-1970s, Wagoner and Parton perform alongside special guest Chet Atkins. Atkins picks with Parton and Wagoner-not to miss is their rendition of "Poison Love"-but his solo performances on "Lara's Theme" and a Bob Dylan medley are stunning. Two episodes will be shown. 45 minutes. Offered as part of the special exhibition Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company with additional support from Great American Country Television Network.  Free.  Made Possible by Iron Mountain Film and Sound Archives.