Country Music Hall Of Fame and Museum

This weekend, the Museum featured vocalist Wendy Moten for its in-depth interview series, "Nashville Cats." The series spotlights renowned musicians and session singers who have played important roles in support of artists in either the recording studio or on concert tours. The interview was moderated by Museum writer-editor Jon Freeman and illustrated with rare photos, film, and recordings. Moten’s voice has been both a steady support and the star of the show at different points in her career. A professional singer by 16, Moten signed with EMI to release her self-titled debut album in 1992. Her singles “Come in Out of the Rain” and “So Close to Love” charted in the United States and the United Kingdom. Moten continued work as a backup singer, first with Spanish star Julio Iglesias for 15 years, then for Faith Hill, Martina McBride, and Country Music Hall of Fame member-elect Tim McGraw. In recent years, she has served as a featured singer on Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill’s tours. In the early 2020s, she took a risk and tried out for the NBC singing competition “The Voice,” on which she was chosen to be part of coach Blake Shelton’s team and finished the season as the runner-up. Moten is one of the three 2026 "Nashville Cats" honorees chosen by the Museum. Jerry Douglas was featured on March 7, and the final program will feature John Jorgenson on August 8.

Support the Museum’s educational mission by becoming a school tour guide volunteer. You don't need to be an expert—just bring your enthusiasm and the team will provide the training. Volunteers facilitate engaging learning experiences for K–12 students, helping them connect country music to their lives. Interactive tours cover diverse topics and integrate the Museum’s collection with sound and video recordings, one-of-a-kind artifacts, music careers, and more. Accepting applications now through June 30. Click to apply or learn more: https://lnkd.in/e8nV3Npi

Last night, the Museum hosted its 47th annual celebration in honor of "Words & Music," the Museum’s flagship educational program. School-aged participants and their families gathered in the Museum’s Ford Theater, along with the evening’s host, Warner Records Nashville recording artist Avery Anna, to hear a selection of 14 songs written by students in Nashville and its surrounding areas. Anna closed the evening with a performance of her song, “Indigo.” The program was recorded and will be shared on the Museum’s website later this summer. Designed for grades 3-12, "Words & Music" allows students to tell their stories by writing original song lyrics, while developing language-arts skills. Through "Words & Music," students interact with a professional songwriter, paired with their class, in an engaging performance workshop that transforms students’ lyrics into finished songs. More than 180,000 students have participated in the "Words & Music" program since its inception in 1979. Learn more about school programs and “Words & Music”: https://lnkd.in/ga8SciEX

Over the weekend, author and Museum Writer-Editor Erin Osmon discussed her new book, "Won’t Back Down: Heartland Rock and the Fight for America," during a talk at the Museum. Acclaimed singer-songwriter Stephen Wilson Jr., who grew up in John Mellencamp's hometown, Seymour, Indiana, also performed. The conversation was led by the Museum’s Writer-Editor Allison Moorer. Osmon’s new book tells the story of the origins, chart-topping development, and tangled legacy of heartland rock, which remains instantly recognizable to millions. Her account of heartland rock’s glory days delves into the making of its classic albums and songs, such as Bob Seger’s "Against the Wind," Tom Petty’s "Full Moon Fever," and Bruce Springsteen’s numerous hits, as well as the centrality of often-overlooked women such as Melissa Etheridge and Bonnie Raitt.

The Museum has resources for students of all ages. In "Career Conversations," country music icons Bill Anderson, Patty Loveless, Martina McBride, Dolly Parton, and Lainey Wilson discuss their musical journeys. Discover more at the teacher resource portal. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e4M4FysZ

Over the weekend, the Museum hosted a program exploring Woody Guthrie’s home recordings and the recently released two-volume collection "Woody at Home." Museum Writer-Editor Erin Osmon led a discussion with Guthrie’s granddaughter, Anna Canoni, and Grammy-winning producer and engineer Steve Rosenthal, who discussed their work on the collection. Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jesse Welles—who’s often cited as a contemporary analog to Guthrie’s simple, honest, and steadfast singing and songwriting—performed near the end of the program.  Woody Guthrie was one of America’s most important and influential singer-songwriters and composers. An inspiration to numerous artists—including Country Music Hall of Fame member Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, and Bruce Springsteen—Guthrie authored more than 3,000 songs in his lifetime, many of which became American folk music standards.

Over the weekend, the Museum hosted a film screening of the new documentary “The Palomino,” which chronicles the story of the Palomino Club from its mid-century beginnings until its closure in 1995. Following the screening, Museum Writer-Editor Erin Osmon led a discussion with the filmmakers, Tony Booth, Rosie Flores, James Intveld, and country music historian Scott B. Bomar to discuss the club’s significance and legacy, as well as the making of the new film. The Palomino Club was once country music’s most important venue on the West Coast. Located in the North Hollywood neighborhood of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, the club showcased on its modest stage numerous country music luminaries.

Yesterday evening, the Museum celebrated the opening of its newest exhibition, "Clint Black: The Hard Way On Purpose." The exhibition traces Black’s story, from a working-class upstart to topping the charts on his own terms. Included with Museum admission, the exhibit is now open and runs until August 2027. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eaUvxFgJ

Happy National Volunteer Week to all Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum volunteers! From greeting visitors from around the world to connecting students with educational exhibitions, our volunteers are integral in sharing the ongoing story of country music. And it’s never too early to be a part of the team. Our Teen Team is a youth volunteer program (ages 14–17) created in partnership with high school students to be unique, fun, and flexible. Learn more about volunteering: https://lnkd.in/e8nV3Npi Learn more about Teen Team: https://lnkd.in/ewyN2DJG

Yesterday, comedians Henry Cho and Gary Mule Deer participated in a discussion at the Museum about the Grand Ole Opry’s practice of blending humor with musical performances, sharing their own career paths that led them to the world-famous country radio show. The conversation was led by the Museum’s Senior Director of Editorial Paul Kingsbury. The interview was offered in support of the Museum’s exhibition "Country’s Grandest Stage: The Opry at 100." The exhibit, running until March 2027, examines notable performers and key moments in the history of the show that has entertained and enthralled millions.