Museum

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. This program is offered in conjunction with Nashville Public Library's "What Do You Dream to Be?" Summer Reading Kick-Off. Nashville Public Library, Main Library. 615 Church Street. All ages. Free.

The Nashville Chapter of the Audio Engineering Society pays tribute to the city's recording pioneers. "Nashville would never have become a recording center without the engineers," says Country Music Hall of Fame member Harold Bradley. Beginning in the 1950s, engineers Gene Eichelberger, Lee Hazen, Bill Porter, Glenn Snoddy, and Mort Thomasson recorded thousands of hits by a wide variety of artists, including Jimmy Buffett, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, the Everly Brothers, Dobie Gray, Brenda Lee, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Jim Reeves, Earl Scruggs, Ernest Tubb, Gene Vincent, Neil Young, and countless others. Engineers Dave Harrison and Jim Pugh created new designs in audio recording consoles that revolutionized the industry. This program will honor them by sharing their stories and presenting them with the AES Nashville Lifetime Achievement Award.  See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program. 

Buddy Greene, harmonica player and songwriter, has performed or recorded with Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Jerry Reed, Earl Scruggs, Ricky Skaggs, Doc Watson, and many others.  Made possible by Gibson Guitar Corporation.  See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program. 

David Nail will join us for the first of three Museum member-only concerts in the 2^nd annual series, Hot Nights at the Hall. In addition to enjoying free Museum admission for the entire year, discounts, and more, members also receive exclusive access to all three Hot Nights shows. Enjoy private access to the Museum, light hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, and an autograph signing with Nail. Don't miss it. Become a Museum member now!

The Oak Ridge Boys will sign their book, American Journey, their CDs The Boys Are Back, The Definitive Collection, and Oak Ridge Boys Gold, as well as Joe Bonsall's books G.I. Joe and Lillie and From My Perspective, purchased from the Museum Store, on Wednesday, June 6 at 3:00 p.m.  Live from the Museum Store is presented by CMT.  Signing passes for this event are no longer available online. You may purchase the CDs and books, with accompanying signing pass, beginning on June 1, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. in the Museum Store.

Josh Thompson will perform on the plaza outside of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum on Wednesday, June 6 at 10:00 a.m. The performance is free to the public.  Following the plaza performance, Josh Thompson will sign his product, purchased from the Museum Store, at 10:45 a.m. in the Museum Store. Live from the Museum Store is presented by CMT.

Lee Brice will sign his CD, Hard 2 Love, on Thursday, June 7 at 5:00 p.m. in the Museum Store. Live from the Museum Store is presented by CMT.  Signing passes for this event are no longer available online. You may purchase the CD, with accompanying signing pass, beginning on June 1, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. in the Museum Store.

Joanna Smith will perform on the plaza outside of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum on Thursday, June 7 at 12:30 p.m. The performance is free to the public.  Following the plaza performance, Joanna Smith will sign her product at 1:15 p.m. in the Museum Store. Live from the Museum Store is presented by CMT.

Tracy Lawrence will perform on the plaza outside of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum on Thursday, June 7 at 10:30 a.m. The performance is free to the public.  Following the plaza performance, Tracy Lawrence will sign his CD, Tracy Lawrence-The Singer, at 11:30 a.m. in the Museum Store. Live from the Museum Store is presented by CMT.  Signing passes for this event are no longer available online. You may purchase the CD, with accompanying signing pass, beginning on June 1, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. in the Museum Store.

Lee Greenwood will sign his book, Does God Still Bless the USA?: A Plea for a Better America on Thursday, June 7 at 3:00 p.m.  The book includes the 30-day devotional, Prayers of a Patriot, and 2 free song downloads, Show Me the Way and God Bless the USA. A Presidential Appointee to the National Endowment of the Arts, Greenwood's personal insight into America's challenges is shared in the publication along with a call for citizens to evaluate the country's future and embrace authentic patriotism. Live from the Museum Store is presented by CMT.  Signing passes for this event are no longer available online. You may purchase the book, with accompanying signing pass, beginning on June 1, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. in the Museum Store.

Kellie Pickler has been a compelling and authentic voice in country music ever since she charmed audiences as a top-ten finalist on the fifth season of American Idol. She co-wrote her hits "Red High Heels," "I Wonder," and "The Best Days of Your Life." She also co-wrote most of the songs on her latest album, 100 Proof. Pickler's first two albums debuted at #1 on the Billboard country chart.  See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program.  Following the program, Pickler will sign copies of her CD, 100 Proof,  in the Museum Store.

Kellie Pickler will sign her CD, 100 Proof,  purchased from the Museum Store, on Saturday, June 9 at 12:30 p.m.  Live from the Museum Store is presented by CMT.  Signing passes for this event are no longer available online. You may purchase the CD, with accompanying signing pass, beginning on June 1, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. in the Museum Store.

June 9, 2012
Steve Wariner honored his mentor, Chet Atkins, in a program at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum highlighting Wariner's musical and personal connections to the late Country Music Hall of Fame member.

Mark Thornton has recorded and performed with Jerry Reed and Wylie & the Wild West. He has produced, engineered, and played guitar on dozens of records in the "Pickin' On" bluegrass tribute series.  Thornton also worked in the education department at the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum, assisting with museum programs.  Presented in support of the exhibit Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company.  See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program. 

David Olney wrote "Deeper Well" (Emmylou Harris); "1917" (Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt); "Queen Anne's Lace" (Del McCoury); as well as songs recorded by Tim O'Brien, Slaid Cleaves, Dale Ann Bradley and others. Olney has released over twenty critically acclaimed folk and Americana albums of his own material. Sergio Webb has performed with Pinto Bennett & the Famous Motel Cowboys, Gail Davies, and others. See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program. 

June 16, 2012
Guitarist Jimmy Capps can testify to the importance of word-of-mouth recommendations For example, he recalled when veteran Music Row guitarist Ray Edenton wanted to go fishing one day in 1971, the established musician suggested to a producer that he hire the younger Capps in his place. The session, for singer Freddie Hart, included the recording of Hart's biggest career hit, the #1 "Easy Loving," featuring Capps on rhythm guitar. Hart insisted Capps play on his next recording session and the one after that.

Roy Harper is a singer and guitarist who performs traditional country music, preserving the work of Uncle Dave Macon, Sam and Kirk McGee, Riley Puckett, Jimmie Rodgers, and Arthur Smith. In 2003, Harper received a prestigious Tennessee Folklife Heritage Award. Johnny Bellar was the 2005 National Resonator Guitar Champion. From 1974 to 1984 he performed with the Stoneman Family and appeared with them on Hee Haw, the Ralph Emery Show, and the Tommy Hunter Show. Bellar has also performed with Tommy Cash, Wilma Lee Cooper, and Boxcar Willie, to name a few. Made possible by Gibson Guitar Corporation.  See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program. 

Kim Richey wrote "From Where I Stand" (Suzy Bogguss); "Nobody Wins" (Radney Foster); "You'll Never Know" (Mindy McCready); "Believe Me Baby (I Lied)" (Trisha Yearwoood); and songs recorded by Terri Clark, Kathy Mattea, and Pam Tillis.  As an artist, she has released six albums of Americana and pop-tinged songs, garnering two Grammy nominations.  See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program. 

Learn songwriting fundamentals, including the basics of song form, rhyme scheme, meter, and secrets behind the creative process. Veteran songwriter Tim Buppert will lead this workshop. Buppert has written and recorded for Kevin Sharp, Yankee Grey, and Trisha Yearwood.  For ages 5 to 11. 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.

Chet Atkins fronts an ace band and hosts this concert special, originally recorded for television in Nashville. Guest performers include the Everly Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Mark Knopfler, Michael McDonald, Willie Nelson, and others. 60 Minutes. Free.  Made Possible by Iron Mountain Film and Sound Archives.  Presented in support of the exhibit Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, made possible by the Gretsch Company.

Musician Mark Horn presents the history of the banjo in this instrument demonstration. Horn played drums in the honky-tonk band the Derailers and is part of the duo Mark & Mike. He is featured on the recent Grammy-nominated release I Love: Tom T. Hall's Songs of Fox Hollow.  See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program. 

Dave Pahanish wrote "American Ride" (Toby Keith); "Without You" (Keith Urban); "Do You Believe Me Now" (Jimmy Wayne); and songs recorded by Sarah Marince and Tim McGraw.  Bruce Wallace wrote "Best Song Ever" (Katie Armiger);  "Gonna Die Young" (Dierks Bentley); "So Called Life" (Montgomery Gentry); and songs recorded by Trace Adkins, "One More Girl," and others.  See new Program Pass guidelines for admission to this program.