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In a spontaneous celebration of Black music's enduring power, 5-time Grammy Award-winning artist PJ Morton performed an intimate 90-minute piano concert at the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) on Monday, November 3, selling out the venue in less than 24 hours and announcing a major gift to support the museum's mission.
More than 500 attendees filled NMAAM's Main Concourse as Morton, alone with his piano, delivered what witnesses described as a "soul-stirring" performance featuring hits from his celebrated catalog. The pop-up show, organized with just one day's notice, exemplified the spontaneous magic that defines both Morton's artistry and Nashville's music community.
"Nashville and NMAAM truly showed up for me," said Morton. "I'm so happy that this was the space we made it happen in. The perfect backdrop to a truly authentic cultural moment. I understand the importance of what the museum preserves and any hand I can have in assisting with that I want to be a part of."
"When PJ toured our museum in February, he wasn't just a visitor—he was a curator," said Dexter Evans, Deputy Director of Strategy & Advancement at NMAAM. "He understood what we're preserving here. Last night, he demonstrated that understanding by investing in this institution's future."
Morton performed for 90 minutes, inviting Nashville-based singers from the audience to join him on featured vocals—a gesture that underscored Music City's collaborative spirit. The performance drew notable figures from Nashville's music community, including legendary songwriter Tommy Sims and artist Byron “Mr. Talkbox” Chambers.
At the conclusion of the evening, NMAAM announced that Morton had committed to donating half of the event's ticket proceeds to the museum as a major gift. Morton will be recognized with a gold plaque on a seat of his choosing in NMAAM's Roots Theater, joining other institutional benefactors who support the education, preservation, and celebration of Black music.
"Artists create the music. We preserve it, educate on it, and ensure its place in American culture," Evans told the crowd during the announcement. "PJ supporting us is him protecting his own legacy and the legacies of everyone who came before and everyone who will come after."
The event, emceed by Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist and resident DJ for the museum, DJ Smoke, kept attendees dancing in the museum's lobby until 10 PM—well after the scheduled closing time. Many audience members shared personal testimonials about how Morton's music had accompanied them through grief, challenging times, and moments of celebration.
Morton donated his handwritten setlist to the museum to support the development of a PJ Morton collection, furthering NMAAM's mission to document and preserve contemporary Black musical excellence.
The performance was fully captured by 353 Media and will be featured across NMAAM's digital platforms and incorporated into the museum curatorial and educational programming
"This is what the Home of Black Music looks like in action," said Bill Jeffries, Executive Director of NMAAM. "An artist of PJ's caliber choosing to invest his time, talent, and resources into this institution validates everything we're building here."
Morton, a New Orleans native and member of Maroon 5, has won five Grammy Awards and is known for his work as a solo artist, producer, and songwriter. He occasionally performs pop-up shows in cities where he's touring, creating intimate experiences for fans.
The November 3 performance marks one of the most significant spontaneous cultural moments in NMAAM's history and establishes a model for future artist partnerships that blend performance, philanthropy, and preservation.