Jackson’s prized car and special museum programs mark the occasion

NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 19, 2014 – The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is gearing up for the forthcoming exhibit Alan Jackson: 25 Years of Keepin’ It Country, with an opening-weekend-only artifact on display and special, exhibit-related programs.

Country fans and car enthusiasts take note. From August 29 through September 1, Jackson’s 1955 Ford Thunderbird convertible will be on display in the museum’s Curb Conservatory.  Having saved his money since he was 12 years old, Jackson bought the car when he was 15. He restored it with his dad, Gene, and drove it throughout high school before selling it to put a down payment on his first home with wife Denise. Several years later Denise tracked down the car and gave it to Alan as a Christmas gift. The T-Bird served as inspiration for his 2002 song “First Love,” and, in 2008, the car (and Denise) appeared in Jackson’s music video “Good Time.”

In addition to the car display, the museum is offering a trio of exhibit-related programs for the opening weekend. On Saturday, August 30, Jim McBride, a frequent collaborator with Jackson, will participate in a Songwriter Session at 11:30 a.m. Later that day, at 1:00 p.m. families are invited to participate in a guided tour, When Daddy Let Me Drive: The Museum’s Cool Cars, highlighting the classic vehicles on display in the museum’s galleries. Finally, on Sunday, August 31, the museum will screen Alan Jackson: The Greatest Hits Collection (1995).

Further down the road, Alan Jackson will take the stage in the museum’s new 800-seat CMA Theater as its 2014 Artist-in-Residence on October 8 and 22. Both Wednesday night concerts start at 7:00 p.m. Tickets go on sale to the general public at NOON (CDT) on Monday, September 8, and can be purchased at countrymusichalloffame.org/artist-in-residence.

There is no charge to view Jackson’s T-Bird in the Curb Conservatory. All programs are included with museum admission and free to museum members.

Among the artifacts featured are:

• Monumental Mementos—items from some of Jackson’s milestone music videos, album covers and award show appearances—including the motorcycle from the cover of the album A Lot About Livin’ (and a Little ’Bout Love); water ski from the “Chattahoochee” music video; Hollywood Walk of Fame plaque; Grand Ole Opry member induction trophy and more.

• Industry Accolades—ACM Top New Male Vocalist (Jackson’s first award); 1995, 2002, and 2003 CMA Entertainer of the Year; ACM Milestone Award; Grammy for “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)”; CMA plaque celebrating 20 years in country music; 10- and 50-million sales plaques and more.
   
• Country Couture—Jackson’s first Stetson cowboy hat; the jacket Jackson wore when he signed his record deal; jacket from the cover of the album Here in the Real World; overalls worn in “Summertime Blues” music video.
   
• Poet’s Pen—lyrics for “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),” “Remember When,” “First Love,” “Drive,” and “A Woman’s Love.”

• Man Cave—personal items from Jackson’s home, including a repurposed Ford truck desk and Schwinn bicycle chairs, taxidermied fish, Houston Rodeo belt buckle display, toy and model car collection, first tricycle, childhood bike and scooter, Mayberry memorabilia from The Andy Griffith Show and more.

• Famous Friends—letters, notes and photos from country artists Roy Acuff, Merle Haggard, George Jones and Minnie Pearl.

For more information about the exhibit Alan Jackson: 25 Years of Keepin’ It Country, visit https://countrymusichalloffame.org/exhibits/exhibitdetail/alan-jackson-25-years-of-keepin-it-country.

Alan Jackson: 25 Years of Keepin’ It Country
Opening Weekend Programs

Saturday, August 30                                   11:30 a.m.
Songwriter Session: Jim McBride
Jim McBride’s long-time songwriting collaboration with Alan Jackson produced the hits “Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow,” “Chattahoochee,” “Someday,” “Who Says You Can’t Have It All” and many other songs. McBride also wrote “Bet Your Heart on Me” (Johnny Lee); “Rose in Paradise” (Waylon Jennings); “I’m a Survivor” (George Jones); and songs recorded by Trace Adkins, Tammy Cochran, Diamond Rio, Toby Keith and Keith Whitley. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members. Limited seating. Program pass required.

Saturday, August 30                                   1:00 p.m.
Family Program: When Daddy Let Me Drive: The Museum’s Cool Cars
Start your engines! This guided tour for youth ages 5 to 15 and accompanying adults will highlight the classic vehicles on exhibit in the museum, including Elvis Presley’s Sold Gold Cadillac, Keith Whitley’s motorcycle, the Bandit Pontiac Trans Am and—on display this weekend only—Alan Jackson’s first car, a 1955 Ford Thunderbird. Learn what makes these cars special, and get ideas to create a design for your own dream car. Meet in the Taylor Swift Education Center. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members. Children and up to two accompanying adults may attend the program and tour the museum at a discounted rate.

Sunday, August 31                                    2:00 p.m.
Film Screening: Alan Jackson: The Greatest Hits Collection (1995)
The faded color and tatter of his denim jeans may change over time, but Alan Jackson’s music has been consistently country for twenty-five years. In 1995, only six years into his career, Jackson had sold over 20 million albums and been named CMA Entertainer of the Year. Watch the videos of his biggest early hits, from “Blue Blooded Woman” (his first single, in 1989) to “Tall, Tall Trees.” Other videos in this collection include “Chattahoochee,” “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” and “Livin’ on Love.” 75 minutes. Included with museum admission. Free to museum members.

These programs are made possible, in part, by grants from the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission and by an agreement between the Tennessee Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts. 

Accredited by the American Alliance 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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