NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 7, 2011 - The Country Music Hall of Fame^® and Museum is celebrating the holiday season with a special spotlight exhibit of festive dresses from three of country music's biggest stars-Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire and Taylor Swift. Dress in Season: Dolly, Reba, and Taylor, located within the museum's permanent exhibit, is open now and will run through January 5, 2012.

     For many female country artists, November and December bring lots of occasions to don glamorous dresses. From the Country Music Association Awards in early November to Christmas TV specials, these women have a lot to celebrate.

            Dress in Season: Dolly, Reba, and Taylor features: 

• Parton's Tony Chase ensemble, worn on her 1990 ABC-TV special, Christmas at Home, and on the cover of her album Home for Christmas. The white velvet costume jacket features organic beadwork and white fur trim, a flowing skirt and vintage-style hat.

• McEntire's red sequined dress-from her 1993 CMA Awards performance-famous for its plunging neckline. The dress was designed by Sandy Spika. 

• Swift's red floor-length Monique Lhuillier gown, worn during her red-carpet arrival at the 2010 CMA Awards.

     Spotlight exhibits are narratives that supplement themes or aspects of the museum's core exhibition, Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music. These short-term, informal displays provide a closer look at a particular person, group or aspect of country music, or they spotlight recently donated items or special anniversaries. Rotated often, spotlight exhibits also offer a glimpse into the museum's unique collection, which includes recorded discs, historical photographs, films and videotapes; thousands of posters, books, songbooks, periodicals and sheet music; personal artifacts such as performers' instruments, costumes and accessories; and more. 

     Other current spotlight exhibits focus on the Academy of Country Music Awards, Bobby Braddock, Nudie Cohn, Bill Monroe, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Jean Shepard, Carrie Underwood, Porter Wagoner and Hank Williams Jr.

     Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Country Music Hall of Fame^® and Museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964. The Museum's mission is the preservation of the history of country and related vernacular music rooted in southern culture. With the same educational mission, the Foundation also operates CMF Records, the Museum's Frist Library and Archive, CMF Press, Historic RCA Studio B, and Hatch Show Print^®.

     More information about the Country Music Hall of Fame^® and Museum is available at www.countrymusichalloffame.org or by calling (615) 416-2001.

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