Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is everything a music lover could want. Practically every artist who has ties to country music or Nashville is featured in this spot. The galleries are constantly rotating so I can't even promise you'll be able to see what we're showing you on these pages. One of my first observations was straightforward: There's a lot of guitars here. That seems to be THE country music instrument. But there's also a few cars to check out. Really. Partner that with some retro fashions and you're basically in a time warp.
This is a place you certainly need to slow down and take your time. There's so much to see, read and hear that for the full experience you need to ease up a bit. I eventually returned when we had some downtime so I could further explore the displays and truly appreciate the music experience.
What's fun about the hall of fame is that while it showcases the history of country music, it isn't limited to decades or generations ago. History, in this case, literally means years ago. When the pandemic all but crippled the concert scene and artists had to perform Zoom concerts from home, it made for some remarkable memories and moments to document in a museum. I guess it's only a matter of time before other museums pinpoint how the world changed thanks to the virus.
If you didn't think country music was also about the fashion, you're dead wrong. I have a new appreciation for the costumes that performers wear on stage. Oftentimes we think they look cool in the moment but sometimes when you see them on display you wonder why the hell they made certain choices! Nevertheless, there are some memorable outfits you probably saw during concerts or on awards shows or in music videos.
Taylor Swift started out in country music and it seems that her heart is still in the genre. And she's now part of the museum with an interactive exhibit where people can make music. I asked how often she pops in or surprises guests -- thinking it would be never -- but was told she has made an appearance once or twice before.
Did I mention there's a lot of guitars in the museum? Had I known beforehand I would've started counting. But my guess is easily 200 guitars on display during my visit.
Across the street from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a Walk of Fame of sorts. You've seen the stars on the sidewalk in Hollywood, well, Nashville has its own version. The legends of country are celebrated outside in Music City.
