The Home Of Country: Visiting The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum In Nashville

For the Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, and John Denver fans out there, visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a must while in Nashville. Let the country roads take one home to the place country listeners belong: Tennessee.

Today, it ranks among the largest museums in the world and is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American vernacular music. They have many tours and exhibits, it is just the institution that the capital of country music deserves. While in Nashville, see here for 10 things to know while planning your trip.

About The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

As of 2021, there are 146 inductees in the hall of fame (counting groups as a single inductee). There are 14 solo female performers (including Dolly Parton but not Taylor Swift). Roy Rogers is unique as he was inducted twice - once in 1980 (as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers), and again in 1988 as a solo artist. The first inductees were Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, and Fred Rose.

The highest honor country singers can get is Membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame (an honor also extended to songwriters, broadcasters, and others). 1-12 new members have been inducted every year.

The Classic Joke: Thirty Years Ago We Had Steve Jobs, Johnny Cash, And Bob Hope. Today We Have No Jobs, No Cash, And No Hope. But We Have Kevin Bacon!

The purpose of the hall of fame and museum is to preserve, celebrate and share the contributions of country music. It is located in downtown Nashville and has been called the "Smithsonian of country music" according to their website.

The Museum was launched in 1967 and the museum opened in its current location in 2001. In 2014 it unveiled a $100 million expansion doubling its size.

Notable Collections

The Bod Pinson Recorded Sound Collection: Over 250,000 Recordings, And An Estimated 98% of All Pre WW2 Commerical Country Recordings
500,000: Photographic Prints, Negatives, Digital Images, and Transparencies
Moving Images: Over 30,000 Film, Video, And Digital Formats
Musical Instruments: Over 900
Iconic Vehicles: Elvis Presley's 1960 "Solid Gold" Cadillac Limousine, Jerry Reed's 1980 Pontiac Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit II, and More

Exhibits

The core exhibition is Sing Me Back Home: A Journey Through Country Music. This exhibit records and traces the origins, traditions, and honored architects of country music.

There are a number of supporting exhibits including American Currents: State of the Music, Martina McBride: The Power Of Her Voice, Outlaws & Armadillos: Country's Roading '70s, The Station Inn, Bluegrass Beacon, and Kacey Musgraves: All of The Colors. Additionally, they also have two online exhibits, Dylan, Cash, and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City And Suiting The Sound: The Rodeo Tailors Who Made Country Stars Shine Brighter.

Martina McBride: The Power Of Her Voice

What: See how the exhibition explores the music and legacy of this influential vocalist. See the music and legacy of this influential vocalist, trace her journey from performing in her family's band to becoming a chart-topping music artist who shifted perspectives.

Adult: $27.95
Youth: $17.95 (Aged 6 to 12)

Outlaws & Armadillos: Country's Roading '70s

What: See How Forty Years Ago They Started A Musical Revolution. See Untold Stories And Never-Seen Artifacts, See The Complicated Relationship Between Nashville and Austin

Adult: $27.95
Youth: $17.95 (Aged 6 to 12)
Open: May 25, 2018, to June 5, 2022:

Sing Me Back Home

What: A Self-Guided Tour Through Large Subjects Like "Country During the War Years", A Permanent Exhibit, That Tells The Story Of Country Music From its Pre-Commercial Roots To Today

Adult: $27.95
Youth: $17.95 (Aged 6 to 12)

To see their two current online exhibits, see their website.

Admission Tickets

Here are some of their admission ticket offerings and pricing. To see all of their available tickets, what's on, and any impact of the Covid-19 pandemic see their website.