CMHOF Opens New Exhibit

A new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates contemporary works.

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This spring, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (CMHOF) opened its latest exhibit, “American Currents: The Music of 2018.”

During the opening celebration, CMHOF CEO Kyle Young described the exhibit as a “campus for musical democracy,” representing individuals from all aspects of the music industry.

From musicians to songwriters, broadcasters, and fashion designers, the exhibit showcases individuals who made 2018 an unforgettable year for country, bluegrass, and Americana music.

With this new collection, CMHOF visitors see firsthand the events and people paving the way in modern music. For CMHOF veteran Reba McEntire, one of her biggest accomplishments of 2018 was recognition at the Kennedy Center Honors. To help commemorate the event, McEntire donated the royal blue gown she wore to the awards, along with the medallion she received.

“Any time I am getting to be a part of the Hall of Fame, I am thrilled to pieces, and because it is the dress that I got to wear at the Kennedy Center Honors, it is even more special,” McEntire says.

Yet for contemporary songwriter Nicolle Galyon, this is her first feature in the CMHOF. After writing songs for artists like Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, and Kelsea Ballerini, Galyon expresses her gratitude for the CMHOF honoring songwriters.

“I’ll say that there’s a lot of little girls and a lot of little kids, girls and boys, that come to Nashville and go through the Hall of Fame,” Galyon says. “They might be from a small town like us and never even know that writing songs for other artists is a job you could ever have, so you just never knew what little kid is going to see that. It could plant a seed.”

“American Currents” is an annual exhibit honoring modern music and well-known people in the industry. This year’s exhibit will be featured until February 9, 2020 and includes artifacts from Jason Aldean, Bobby Bones, Dan + Shay, Carly Pearce, Tex Ritter, Shania Twain, and more of music’s biggest influencers. countrymusichalloffame.org