Curator Exhibit Talk

A museum curator offers an introduction to the museum’s new exhibition Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.

Songwriter Session: Randy Goodrum

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.

The educational programs of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum are funded in part by grants from the Tennessee Art Commission and the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission, through an agreement with the Tennessee Art Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Music and memories of Chet Atkins: Ray Stevens, Steve Wariner, and Billy Edd Wheeler

To celebrate the opening of Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player, the museum hosts a special afternoon of conversation and music with close friends of Mr. Guitar. Ray Stevens met Atkins on his first trip to Nashville, at age seventeen. Atkins went on to hire Stevens for recording sessions, marking the beginning of a lifelong relationship. Steve Wariner is one of only four guitarists dubbed C.G.P (Certified Guitar Player) by Atkins. For Wariner, Atkins was not only an inspiration, but also a teacher and a stalwart advocate, affording him a career that yielded hits like “Highway,” “Lynda,” and “The Tips of My Fingers.” Atkins was a guiding force, golfing buddy, and co-writer with Billy Edd Wheeler. Together, they penned “I Still Write Your Name in the Snow,” among others. Wheeler’s catalog includes “Coward of the County” (Kenny Rogers), “Gimme Back My Blues” (Jerry Reed), and “Jackson” (Johnny Cash and June Carter), among others. The program will be streamed live at www.countrymusichalloffame.org. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.

Thumbstyle Guitar Demonstration: Ben Hall

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.

The educational programs of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum are funded in part by grants from the Tennessee Art Commission and the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission, through an agreement with the Tennessee Art Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Film Screening: Chet Atkins: A Life in Music (2000)

“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. Free.

Fingerstyle Guitar Demonstration: David Andersen

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.

The educational programs of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum are funded in part by grants from the Tennessee Art Commission and the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission, through an agreement with the Tennessee Art Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Film Screening: Chet Atkins Rare Performances 1955-1975

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. Free.

Concert: Salute to Chet Atkins by Tommy Emmanuel, C.G.P.

Enjoy an intimate performance by guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel, one of Australia’s most respected and popular musicians. Revered today for his command of fingerstyle technique, Emmanuel became a child prodigy after picking up the guitar at age four. His playing took a new direction when he heard Chet Atkins’ recordings. Decades later, Atkins himself became one of Emmanuel’s biggest fans, and eventually bestowed him with C.G.P. (Certified Guitar Player) status. The program will be streamed live on www.countrymusichalloffame.org. After the program, Emmanuel will sign autographs in the Museum Store. Offered as part of the special exhibition Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.

Fingerstyle Guitar Demonstration: John Knowles C.G.P.

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.

The educational programs of the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum are funded in part by grants from the Tennessee Art Commission and the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission, through an agreement with the Tennessee Art Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Film Screening: The Porter Wagoner Show with special guest Chet Atkins (1974, 1975)

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. Free.