There’s a cool museum in Nashville with exhibits and memorabilia from the life of the Man in Black, Johnny Cash. Oh, and a bunch of other people, too. The Country Music Hall of Fame is worth a visit no matter how much (or how little) you enjoy country music. They even have part of the set from Hee Haw!
I’m not what you would call a diehard country music fan, but I definitely love the classic artists – Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Kenny Rogers, Reba McEntire – and a number of modern acts as well, like Alison Krauss, Taylor Swift and Blake Shelton.
Back on my cross-country road trip in 2009, I had hoped to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, but as I was on a restrictive $5/day spending limit, the museum’s $20 admission price wasn’t in my budget.
This time around, I wasn’t going to miss out, and thanks to Visit Music City, I was able to see both the museum and RCA Studio B, a legendary recording studio that offers a separate tour which can be purchased at the museum. More on the studio tour later this month.
Sights from the Country Music Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame welcomes non-flash photography, so I’m able to share with you a number of the sights from this hallowed institution. This place is huge – bigger than the Grammy Museum and bigger than just about every music facility I’ve been to except for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
That thing in the middle that looks like a dinner plate is actually a 78 speed vinyl record from 1946 of a Patsy Montana song.
A collection of Chet Atkins records in a special temporary exhibit dedicated to the 14-time Grammy winner.
This is very cool – a pair of blue suede shoes worn by Carl Perkins, who had a hit with that iconic song. Next to the shoes is a very old short worn by rock & roll icon Jerry Lee Lewis, who was also honored at Sun Studio in Memphis.
The museum houses a “gold Cadillac” and a “gold piano,” both from Elvis Presley. The Cadillac has gold plate highlights and was painted in a mixture of crushed diamonds and fish scales called “diamond dust pearl.” The interior had a record player and a tv, which were almost unheard of back then.
I love this display of old-timey instruments like The Whomper!, which appears to be the world’s largest banjo, and a triple-necked stringed instrument.
The cornfield set from Hee Haw, live and in-person. Bonus points to everyone who remembers that show.
Smaller exhibits focus on current artists like Taylor Swift.
Another exhibit includes the handwritten lyrics to Miranda Lambert’s “White Liar.” Her writing is so girly!
Personal, handwritten items are one of the coolest things any music museum can display. The Hall of Fame also has Merle Haggard handwritten lyrics. I wish they had even more of these original lyric sheets because they’re fascinating to see.
Here’s my favorite handwritten item in the museum – a set list to a 1994 Johnny Cash concert written by the Man in Black himself.
Here’s eleven Grammy Awards in one place, all won by Roger Miller in 1964 and 1965.
The massive wall of gold records is a fun sight.
On the other side of the gold records wall is another endless collection of records.
For some reason, I was really happy to see this poster of Eddie Rabbitt alongside other ‘80s and ’90s hitmakers like Lee Greenwood and Billy Ray Cyrus. Go Eddie! I love a rainy night!
Clothing from legends Tammy Wynette and George Jones inside a display case.
I went through the entire Hall wondering why the inductees didn’t seem to have their own busts, like most museums. It turns out the individual plaques are in the final room.
About the only thing missing from the museum was a listening station where you could hear music by the inducted artists. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has those, and I’ve literally spent hours there standing and enjoying artists’ entire catalogs of work. The Country Music Hall should really incorporate something like that, so we can actually listen to the music of the people who are being honored.
Otherwise, I thought the Country Music Hall of Fame was an outstanding facility with great memorabilia and lots of memories.
I was a guest of Visit Music City at the Country Music Hall of Fame.
I love seeing the handwritten lyrics sheets. It’s amazing to see where they’ve changed lyrics and see what they’ve scribbled out.
John recently posted..Stepping Off the Boardwalk in Venice Beach, California
I find that part fascinating, especially on iconic songs like John Lennon’s “Imagine,” which I saw at the Grammy Museum.
I would have lost myself in that museum for hours and hours. Yes, the handwritten sheet music is something very special.
inka recently posted..Istanbul – Madonna, Orhan Pamuk and my friends
I was there for a couple hours myself.
Just seeing the set of Hee Haw is worth the price of admission (lol)! Actually, I remember that show; it was incredibly corny, but I guess that was part of its charm.
Incidentally, Scott, I agree the $20 admission is steep — but I’d say it’s always worth contacting a place’s PR person in advance and telling them you plan to write about it on your website (and including links to your blog or other published stuff). The more savvy ones know the value of social media and will comp you; and if not, it was worth asking anyway. Yeah, they’ll always be some PR people who look down on bloggers, but as long as you’re not afraid of rejection, it’s worth a shot.
glen recently posted..Friday Photo – Smoky Mountain Sunset
Yes, luckily I was a guest of Visit Music City on this trip so it worked out. I just wanted to make sure my readers were aware of the admission cost
It turns out the Hall of Fame has enough memorabilia (like Hee Haw!) to justify its price.
I would love to visit the hall of fame. I love country music…not all but most…which includes the artists spotlighted here. I am surprised to see that there wasn’t a listening room of sorts… seems anticlimatic.
Renee King recently posted..TRAVEL PHOTO THURSDAY
I hope you get to visit there someday
Hey, you’re down in my neck of the woods! I live in Nashville. I’m ashamed to admit I have not yet been to the Country Music Hall of Fame. (Mostly because I’m not much of a country music fan.) However, I can see for those who are this would be amazing. Great pics!
Courtney Mroch recently posted..Review of “Jim Harold’s Campfire: True Ghost Stories”
Ah, I wish I had known you were in Nashville, we could’ve said hi
I really enjoyed the city!
I’m not a country music fan either, but think a trip to Nashville would be really interesting. Of course, a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame would be a must.
Michael Figueiredo recently posted..Offbeat Attractions: The Madonna Inn
Yes, it would be odd to visit Nashville and not see the Hall of Fame.
Those visuals are great, especially the clothing items. It’s interesting to see how styles change. Not a country music fan, but I love pop culture history and this place seems to have a lot of it!
Michaela recently posted..Ultimate Beach Breaks From London
Good point, that’s why I like seeing museums even if I’m not a huge fan of the subject matter. Evolution of any culture is a fascinating thing.
Funny I should be reading this now, I’m listening to Darius Rucker right now! LOL I’m not a country fan either but wouldn’t miss this if I was in Nashville. What do I get for my bonus point? Not only do I remember Hee Haw I loved it! Roy Clark and Buck Owens are fantastic. That Roy can pluck that banjo . . . Yee Haw!
Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista recently posted..Oh La La, La Seine!
I love Nashville. I’m hoping to make it to the Country Music Hall of Fame when I am out that way this summer. Great post.
The Time-Crunched Traveler (Ellen) recently posted..Brewery of the Month: Berkshire Brewing Company
How fun that you got to be a guest of Visit Music City, and the museum looks like a lot of fun too. This city is on the “I almost made it here on my US trip, but maybe next time” list. An addition of music would probably make it much, much more fun, but it I would visit either way if I was in town. Love the hand-written texts.
Ayelet – All Colores recently posted..On the Way to Jerusalem’s Ice Festival: Retroshalaim, a Retro Art Fair
Interesting! I love the handwritten lyric sheets. They seem to make the artists so so real. I guess it’s because something they had truly created. They seem to me more part of the artists than their costumes or plaques. BTW, nice to meet you. Just stumbled on your blog though Technosyncratic Travel.
Marisol@TravelingSolemates recently posted..Peru: The Lares Valley Trek
Thanks for reading
I find the personal touch of the handwritten items very appealing as well.
What a great article Scott – love your photos and it really captures the spirit of Nashville, especially the Johnny note
Thanks Zoe, the museum had so much to capture. I can never get enough Johnny Cash memorabilia!
Great stuff….not a big country music fan, but great to see so much history…
D.J. – The World of Deej recently posted..Check Out Time – The Week in Travel
Thanks, the history is always cool.
Interesting piece. That is a big banjo.
robin recently posted..El Dolor
I love oversized things. They’re so strange.
Country Music for me is always soothing, the beat and the lyrics of course! This museum is fit for music advocates. I love those string instruments, i haven’t seen them yet.
Lyka Ricks recently posted..Benefits of Moldavite
I think they should bring back those giant stringed instruments in country music today. I’d like to see Taylor Swift play the Whomper.