2023 Annual Report - Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

FROM THE CEO

It is with great pride and, above all, gratitude that I can report 2023 was the best year yet for the Museum in terms of both attendance and revenue. 2023 surpassed a very successful 2022, as more than 1.6 million people visited the Museum, took in our exhibits and public programs, and attended free educational activities and paid special events. You’ll find the key numbers on our 2023 Financials pages toward the back of this report.

It’s essential, of course, to be on solid financial footing. It enables us not only to execute, but to dream. I’m reminded of “Dreaming My Dreams with You,” a gloriously introspective hit song for Waylon Jennings, in which Allen Reynolds wrote, “I hope that I find what I’m reaching for, the way that it is in my mind.”

In 2023, we dreamed big, and on a day-to-day basis we found what we were reaching for.

The Museum offered ambitious, in-depth exhibitions on Eric Church, Dick Curless, and Patty Loveless as well as a one-month Taylor Swift pop-up exhibit. We cemented a new publishing alliance with the University of Illinois Press, publishing five books—on Hall of Fame members DeFord Bailey, Patsy Cline, the Delmore Brothers, Jimmie Rodgers, and Bob Wills—with more to come in 2024.

Such successful endeavors reinforce the Museum’s reputation as a trusted authority, a reliable resource, and an abundant storehouse of precious memories. In turn, our longstanding presence has fostered a deep and strong bond with Nashville’s creative community.

Throughout the year, the creative community was manifestly present for the Museum as they gave of their time, talent, and treasure through several benefit concerts: All for the Hall, All for the Hall New York, Jelly Roll’s performance at the Nashville Bourbon Auction, the John Prine family’s You Got Gold concert in the CMA Theater, and Eric Church’s two Artist-inResidence performances. Many kind and creative souls participated, and we are immensely grateful for their generosity.

We marked the tenth anniversary of String City in 2023. This acclaimed puppetry program—a collaboration of the Museum and the Nashville Public Library—has now entertained (and educated) more than 50,000 people of all ages in its lively telling of country music’s evolving story.

Sadly, last year the Museum lost a steadfast friend in Judy Turner, beloved wife of our chairman emeritus Steve Turner and mother of board member Jay Turner. Judy and Steve were the visionaries who conceived and initially underwrote String City Her memory and her good works live on.

Thank you for your strong and generous support. Your abiding presence in our work sustains us and enables us to keep reaching and dreaming our dreams with you.

Sincerely,

Kyle Young

Country Music Hall of Fame member Vince Gill and Keith Urban embrace after co-hosting their eighth All for the Hall on December 5, 2023, which raised more than $900,000 for the Museum’s education programs.

John Shearer/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

PUBLIC TRUST

IS A CALLING AND A COMMITMENT

Ever since the Museum first welcomed the public in 1967, the mission has been to collect, preserve, and interpret country music and its history. Over the decades, we have amassed the finest and most complete collection of country music artifacts and archival items in the world.

The Museum acquired several noteworthy artifacts and significant collections through donations in 2023. One particularly prized item is Country Music Hall of Fame member Earl Scruggs’s 1930 RB-Granada Mastertone banjo, which the bluegrass virtuoso played on nearly all his recordings from 1949 until his death in 2012. The Scruggs family also generously donated an extensive collection of instruments, clothing, recordings, documents, and memorabilia. Similarly, John Prine’s family donated the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter’s classic 1935 Wurlitzer jukebox, complete with Prine’s favorite 78-rpm records that played on the jukebox. Also of note is the acquisition of Don Helms’s 1948 Gibson double-neck steel guitar, thanks to the Sage Foundation. Don played the instrument on classic recordings by Country Music Hall of Fame members Hank Williams and Patsy Cline.

The Museum continues to add to its mammoth collections of audio and video recordings. Through generous underwriting from the Tyson Family Foundation, the past year saw the acquisition of the British Archive of Country Music collection of approximately 50,000 sound recordings, encompassing 78- and 45-rpm singles, LPs, CDs, and tape reels. The addition of these items expands the Museum’s audio collection to nearly 300,000 recordings. The Museum also received a generous donation of historic photographs of, and interviews with, DeFord Bailey—a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the first Black star of the Grand Ole Opry—from Bailey’s biographer, David Morton. The Museum published a new edition of that biography in 2023.

photo: Instrument Collection Curator Jack Clutter places the famed and fundamental Earl Scruggs RB-Granada banjo into the Museum’s Precious Jewel exhibit following its landmark donation to the permanent collection on May 22, 2023. Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

EXHIBITIONS

CHRONICLE HISTORY AND CONVEY INSPIRATION

In 2023, the Museum opened three comprehensive exhibitions on artists who represent different eras of country music along with an exhibit spanning all the “eras” of a single, celebrated star.

Eric Church: Country Heart, Restless Soul, presented by Gibson, traces Church’s life and career from his North Carolina roots and his experience as a Nashville songwriter to his place as one of country music’s revered rule breakers. Patty Loveless: No Trouble with the Truth explores the Kentucky singer and Hall of Fame member’s influential career, talent for finding memorable songs, and her embrace of traditional influences. Dick Curless: Hard Traveling Man from Maine examines one of the most versatile and powerfully eloquent singers of the 1960s and 1970s whose career culminated in his acclaimed 1995 album, Traveling Through

On view for just the month of May was a pop-up exhibit coinciding with Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour, displaying stage outfits representing ten different eras of the artist’s career. Through Taylor Swift’s Eras was enormously popular, and the Museum sold out four days in a row (for the first time ever) during the weekend Swift played Nissan Stadium. The Museum also opened An American Masterwork: Thomas Hart Benton’s ‘Sources of Country Music’ at 50, which reveals how the Museum came to commission Benton’s last painting and displays the preliminary sketches that preceded the celebrated work of art, which hangs in the Museum’s Rotunda. In the Hands of the Fans: Fifty Years of the CMA Fest offered a photographic history of Fan Fair and the CMA Music Festival, coinciding with the celebration of the festival’s fiftieth anniversary. The annual exhibition American Currents: State of the Music surveyed the important artists and stories of 2022.

photo: Country Hall of Fame members Patty Loveless and Emmylou Harris reunite at the opening of the Museum’s feature exhibition Patty Loveless: No Trouble with the Truth on August 22, 2023.

Amiee Stubbs for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

CREATIVE COMMUNITY

RALLIES AROUND THE EDUCATIONAL MISSION

In 2023, the Museum’s educational programming served a record 236,739 people through in-person and online educational programming for school, family, and general audiences, the majority of which were offered at no cost.

Among highlights for teens and families, the Museum introduced Words & Music®: Journey of Song. This five-part docuseries follows the creative process of four teenaged students on their journey to write, record, and perform original songs with guidance from Museum educators and industry professionals, including songwriting mentors Tenille Townes, Shannon Sanders, Caitlyn Smith, and Cameron Bedell; producer Kevin Dailey; and music publisher Mike Molinar. The online series is accompanied by a guide that provides lyric writing instruction.

For general audiences, the Museum presented a variety of programs that celebrate the big tent of country music. From an interview and performance by Patty Loveless to Hank’s 100th: A Concert in Celebration of Hank Williams presented by Spotify, contributions of Country Music Hall of Fame members remained center stage. The Poets and Prophets series recognized songwriters, including contemporary hitmaker Luke Laird, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Mike Stoller, and country-rock hero JD Souther, while the Nashville Cats series highlighted Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section bassist David Hood, and first-call session guitarist and Brent Mason, and multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter Herb Pedersen. Radio and television host, producer, and writer Lorianne Crook was honored during the Louise Scruggs Memorial Forum, presented by Gibson Gives.

photo: Student-songwriter Jazmine Croom and her Grammy-winning songwriting mentor and BMI executive Shannon Sanders collaborate on her original song “Last Thing” during the second episode of Words & Music: Journey of a Song Amiee Stubbs for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Grammy-winning singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens performs during A Conversation with Rhiannon Giddens, a public program in support of the exhibition American Currents: State of the Music on August 12, 2023.

Amiee Stubbs for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Country Music Hall of Fame member Bobby Braddock, Vice President of Museum Services Michael Gray, and master songwriter Mike Stoller visit backstage at the Ford Theater on December 3, 2023, before the Museum’s signature Poets & Prophets program, honoring Stoller in a rare Nashville appearance. Amiee Stubbs for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

ARTIST GENEROSITY

STRENGTHENS AND SUSTAINS THE INSTITUTION

Whether they are donating belongings, money, or time and talents, artist support is vital to the continued success of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Throughout 2023, thirty-six artists hosted or participated in special events that benefited the Museum and its mission.

For the first time since the pandemic, All for the Hall benefit concerts returned to New York and Nashville. At Irving Plaza in September, board president Vince Gill and trustee emeritus Emmylou Harris co-hosted a guitar pull–style performance that also featured Ashley McBryde and Carly Pearce. In December, Keith Urban presented his eighth All for the Hall concert at Bridgestone Arena, with Gill co-hosting and Kelsea Ballerini, ERNEST, Riley Green, Mickey Guyton, HARDY, Old Dominion, The War And Treaty, Trisha Yearwood, and Country Music Hall of Fame members Brooks & Dunn, Brenda Lee, and Patty Loveless as special guests.

The Museum’s Artist-In-Residence program also returned in 2023, with Eric Church playing two sold-out concerts in the Museum’s CMA Theater at the end of August. The exhibition Eric Church: Country Heart, Restless Soul traces Church’s uncompromising path to stardom through personal effects. During his concerts, Church traced that same path through song.

In addition to these cornerstone events, October’s You Got Gold—Celebrating the Songs of John Prine concert in the CMA Theater, and November’s Nashville Bourbon Auction, featuring a performance from Jelly Roll, both also supported the Museum.

Donn Jones for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

photo: The Museum’s 2023 Artist-in-Residence, Eric Church, high-fives singer Whitney Coleman backstage at the Museum’s CMA Theater prior to his opening night performance in front of a sold-out crowd on August 29, 2023.

All for the Hall co-hosts Vince Gill and Keith Urban accompany an all-star lineup of artists at the fundraiser held at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena.

Amiee Stubbs for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Michael and Tanya Trotter of The War And Treaty bring down the house during their All for the Hall appearance in December.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Carly Pearce, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, and Ashley McBride gather onstage for the return of All for the Hall New York, September 12, 2023, at Irving Plaza. Jared Siskin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

HALL OF FAME MEMBERS

WELCOME THE FAMILY HOME

The Country Music Hall of Fame’s 2023 Medallion Ceremony celebrated, as Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum CEO Kyle Young said during the event, “three gifted people who came from small towns in the hinterlands [who have] left a deep and distinctive stamp on our music.” Acclaimed vocalist Patty Loveless, master songwriter Bob McDill, and performing powerhouse Tanya Tucker joined the Hall of Fame as its 150th, 151st, and 152nd members on Sunday, October 22, during the annual, invitationonly ceremony, held at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CMA Theater.

Friends and acolytes honored Loveless, McDill, and Tucker in both speech and song. Bob Seger, Sister Sadie, and Vince Gill all performed in tribute to Loveless, while Charley Crockett, Dean Dillon, and Jamey Johnson lauded McDill, and Brandi Carlile, Jessi Colter and Margo Price, and Wynonna Judd sang for Tucker. Hall of Fame members Gill, Brenda Lee, Don Schlitz, and Connie Smith helped welcome the new members with speeches and medallion presentations.

The ceremony concluded, as it traditionally does, with a performance of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” an audience singalong led in rousing, soulful style by Judd.

photo: During an electric moment at the Medallion Ceremony on October 22, 2023, Hall of Fame member Connie Smith prepares to present the ceremonial medallion to a triumphant Tanya Tucker, as Tucker is embraced by fellow member Brenda Lee.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Hall of Famer Dean Dillon performs “All the Good Ones Are Gone” as tribute to one of the newest members, Bob McDill, Dillon’s friend and the song’s co-writer. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

New inductee Patty Loveless, and presenter Vince Gill, react to the unveiling of her plaque. Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Brandi Carlile, friend and frequent collaborator with Tanya Tucker, sings a heartfelt rendition of “Two Sparrows in a Hurricane.” Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Kris Kristofferson enters the CMA Theater, alongside Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs, and other attending Hall of Fame members in ceremonial procession. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Country Music Hall of Fame member Wynonna celebrates the induction of Tanya Tucker with a memorable performance of “Delta Dawn,” Tucker’s first hit single. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Bob Seger sings “She Drew a Broken Heart” in tribute to Patty Loveless.

Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

2023 FINANCIALS

2023 OPERATING INCOME**

2023 OPERATING EXPENSE*

89% Museum Programs and Services

***Includes the Archival Permanent Endowment Fund, which is held by The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for the Museum’s benefit.

THE MUSEUM’S ECONOMIC IMPACT IN 2023

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum contributes significantly to Nashville’s prosperity, generating an economic impact of over $109 million in 2023, according to the Arts & Economic Prosperity VI Calculator. Additionally, 1,658 full-time equivalent jobs were supported by the Museum and its audiences, and $6.4 million in revenue was generated for local and state governments.

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Sustainable business practices are central to the Museum’s operations. The staff diverts waste from landfills through composting, recycling, and proper disposal of glass; provides compostable food and beverage containers, straws, and utensils for guests; donates surplus food from Museum restaurants and catered events to Nashville nonprofits who serve the food insecure; participates in regional and national sustainability programs; and uses environmentally friendly cleaning products. As a result, 93 tons of trash were diverted from landfills in 2023, while 9,961 meals were provided for food insecure Middle Tennesseans through food donations.

*The 2023 Income and Expense summary is not audited. The Museum’s audited financial statement and IRS form 990 will be publicly available on GivingMatters.com.

**Contributed revenue excludes funds raised for auxiliary activities.

2023 BY THE NUMBERS

1,612,309 PEOPLE visited the Museum.

20 EXHIBITIONS curated and presented, including 3 exhibits on the Museum’s website.

236,739 INDIVIDUALS participated in 1,275 in-person and virtual education programs.

31,523 STUDENTS engaged in 758 Museum programs for schools.

106,837 VISITORS toured Historic RCA Studio B.

6,329,825 VIRTUAL VISITORS participated in live/guided and on-demand content.

187,561 ARCHIVAL FILES available online, with 16,479 individuals accessing photographs, recordings, and documents at Digi.CountryMusicHallofFame.org.

1,259 EVENTS hosted at the Museum.

265,344 POSTERS printed in 855 custom jobs by Hatch Show Print.

12,386 NEWS STORIES featured the Museum and its programs, generating 27.3 billion impressions.

108 VOLUNTEERS contributed 3,558 hours of service, valued at $113,144.*

35 INTERNS continued their college education by working 7,026 hours within 10 Museum departments

9,961 MEALS provided for Middle Tennessee through donation of 11,953 lbs. of food.

93 TONS OF TRASH diverted from landfills using award-winning sustainability practices.

*According to Independent Sector research.

Rodney Crowell, Lyle Lovett, and Jeff Hanna, celebrated songwriters and Hank Williams devotees share a kindred moment backstage at the CMA Theater, prior to Hank’s 100th, A Concert in Celebration of Hank Williams, presented by Spotify.

Amiee Stubbs for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

2023 ARTIST SUPPORT

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is grateful for the support of these artists who committed to the 2023 Artist-in-Residence and All for the Hall concerts. Through these efforts, artists invest concert proceeds in the Museum’s ongoing work to preserve the legacy of country music.

Ashley McBryde

Billy Prine

Brenda Lee

Brit Taylor

Brooks & Dunn

Carlene Carter

Carly Pearce

Connie Smith

Emmylou Harris

Eric Church

ERNEST

HARDY

Hayes Carll

Jeff Hanna

Jelly Roll

Jim Rooney

Keith Sykes

Keith Urban

Kelsea Ballerini

Kelsey Waldon

Lukas Nelson

Matraca Berg

Maura O’Connell

Mickey Guyton

Mindy Smith

Morgxn

Old Dominion

Patty Loveless

Peytan Porter

Riley Green

Suzy Bogguss

The War And Treaty

Tommy Prine

Trisha Yearwood

Zac Brown

Vince Gill

PROGRAM FOUNDER

Eric Church performs in the CMA Theater during his personally curated artist residence.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

2023 ANNUAL FUND DONORS

$100,000+

Dierks Bentley

City National Bank

Loretta and Jeff Clarke

Country Music Association

Martha Rivers Ingram

Mike Curb Family Foundation

National Endowment for the Humanities

Tennessee Arts Commission

Tyson Family Foundation

Keith Urban

$25,000 – $99,999

American Airlines

Scott and Sandi Borchetta

Del and Carolyn Bryant

Ann and Frank Bumstead

CMA Foundation

Rick and Kit Crump

J. William Denny

Sally Friedman

Gibson Guitar Corporation

Mary Ann McCready and Pickslay Cheek Jr.

Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission

National Endowment for the Arts

Omni Nashville Hotel

PNC Foundation

Premier Global Production

Sage Foundation

Ruble and Brenda Sanderson

Karen and Chris Segal

Margaret and Chris Stewart

Jamie Tisch

$10,000 – $24,999

Mark Bloom

BMI

Kevin & Jennifer Butler

Marshall Chapman, in honor and memory of

Peter Cooper

Chet Atkins Music Education Fund*

City Winery Nashville

Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated

Corner Partnership, LLC

Creative Artists Agency

Robert and Susan Deaton

Mark and Sheryl Donnell

EventWorks

Debi Fleischer-Robin & Charles Robin

Joe Galante

GRAMMY Museum Foundation

The Harlan Family

The Hello In There Foundation

Martha Henderson

Deb and Bob Hulse

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Lee, Danner & Bass, Inc.

Ken Levitan and Gloria Dumas

Anne and Kurt Locher

Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation

Maverick

Reba McEntire

Milom Crow Kelley Beckett Shehan PLC

Nashville Tour Company

Palisades Hudson Financial Group

PickleJar

Please Be Seated

John Prine Family

Ken and Holly Rivera

David and Susana Ross

Mr. and Mrs. James C. Seabury III

Clarence and Ann Spalding

Spotify

Stage Call

The Law Offices of Christian A. Horsnell

Christi and Jay Turner

Steve Turner

Bobbie Watson

Jonathan and Elizabeth Weiswasser

Willard & Pat Walker Charitable Foundation

Williams Sonoma

$5,000 – $9,999

Academy of Country Music

Cyndae Arrendale and Gus Bussey

Gus Arrendale

Raymond L. Beck and Dr. Deborah Hatton (1952-2018)

Randy W. Bernard

George and Audra Briner

Tony Brown

Edwin M. Bulleit and Kelly Bulleit

Dr. Gerald Butters

C&B Hearn Foundation

Mr. John Carter Cash and Mrs. Ana Cristina Cash

The Charley Foundation

Duane Clark and Kristi Goodwin

Mitsy and Phillip Clendenin

David and Sallylou Cloyd

David and Karen Conrad

Cumulus Media

Lauren Daigle

Don Gibson American Music Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen H. Dugas

Kerri Edwards

Edwards Pharris Wealth Management Group at Morgan Stanley

Lauren Elifritz

Sondra and Bill Fondren

Friends of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Tonya Fuentes

Gallagher

Tracy Gershon and Steve Fishell

Bobbi Gibson

Al and Karen Giombetti

Ron Harman

Ken and Virginia Hass

Harris Haston and Carlene Lebous

Lon and Anne Helton

Bruce and Gale Hinton

Isermann Family Foundation

Sue and Tom Klein

Miranda Lambert

Les Paul Foundation

Lipman Brothers & R. S. Lipman Company

The Nail Family Foundation

Nashville Scene

National Music Publishers’ Association

John O’Connell

The Orbison Foundation

Outlaw State of Kind*

Mike and Taylor Pardun

Joseph and Lynn Pinto

The Price Fund*

Lisa and Jack Purcell

Mr. and Mrs. Colin Reed*

Allen Reynolds

Michael and Leslie Roth

Missy and Phil Russ

Sandra Schatten Foundation

Stacey and Don Schlitz

Seals Family Trust

David and Pamela Shymkus

Dr. Neil and Ruth Smith

Chris and Morgane Stapleton

Starstruck Management Group

Catherine C. Sullivan

Troy and Sylvia Tomlinson

Sarah Trahern and Wayne Flatt

Andrew & Callie Turner

Universal Music Group Nashville

Vint and Kristin Varner

Warner Music Nashville

Katherine Watkins

Ernie and Jerry Williams

Jay Williams

WME

Kyle Young and Sarah Sperling

$1,000 – $4,999

117 Entertainment Group

Gary Allan

Duane and Norah Lee Allen

Deanna Allman

Marlisa Jean Allman

PJ Allman and Angela Hannah

Chuck Aly & Shannon Finnegan

Chris and Meagan Anderson

Family of Lynn Anderson

The Ann and Jonathan Shayne Fund

Anthem Entertainment

Aqua Bella Day Spa & Hair Studio

Average Joes Entertainment

Averitt-On Tour Logistics

Grace and Carl Awh

Sallie B. Bailey

David and Wanda Baker

Melinda and Jeff Balser

William Bannister

Bobby Bare

Chris Barnes and Kayla Eaton

Randall and Kelly Bart

Jim and Rachel Beavers

Karen Bell

Earl and Janet Bentz

Big Loud Records

Bobby’s Idle Hour Tavern

Woody and Carol Bomar

Bobby Bones

Julie Boos

Borman Entertainment

Patsy Bradley

Philip Bredesen and Andrea Conte

Steve & Stephanie Brock - Martinsville, IN

Richard and Gloria Broming

Dave and Beth Brooks

Becky Brown

Dane Bryant and L. Lee Wilson

Steve Buchanan

Virginia and Julian Bunetta

Nina and Ray Burghard

Peggy Butler

David Byrnes

Jamie Callender

Terry, Sheri, Scot, Ryan Calonge

Walter Campbell & Emily Osborn

Buddy Cannon

Michele Capps

Carnival Music

Mary Chapin Carpenter

Walter and Christie Carter

Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal

Buzz Cason

John and Nancy Cason

The Charlie and Moll Anderson

Foundation

Carl and Robin Chavis

Jamie Cheek

Patricia Chesnut

Eugene and Alissa Choi

Becky & Johnny Clark

The Clayton Family Foundation

Chase Cole

Jeff & Carolyn Cole

Kim Corwin

Elvis Costello

George Couri

Creative Nation

Mr. and Mrs. David Crow

Douglas and Sondra Cruickshanks

Hazel Daniels and Charlie Daniels Jr.

Laura Sue D’Annunzio

David McCormick Fund

Robert and Mallory Davies

Lise Davis

Mr. and Mrs. Loic de Kertanguy

Mark DeLelys and Steve Tucker

Charles “Chip” Dick

Dean and Susie Dillon

Bob and Leslie DiPiero

Phil Disher

Gary and Debbie Doebler

Thomas S. Douglas

Chris and Shanna Dubois

Mike Dungan

Addison Ellis

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Esch

Gabe Escobar

John and Chantel Esposito

Bebe and Frank Evans

DJ and Kella Farris

Sheryl Feutz-Harter

Finding Faith at the Well

Sara J. Finley

Jenee Fleenor

Alix Franzblau and Ron Sherman

Jim and Ann Free

Lynn Friedrichs

Toni, Corey and Ryman Shafer Frizzell

Julia and Richard Fudge

Becky Gardenhire

Charles and Hilary Garland

Rusty and Kacie Gaston

David and Meredyth Gaynes

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Gibson

Mr. and Mrs. John P. Gober

Randy and Jennifer Goodman

Gorges Family

Grand Hyatt Nashville

Michael and Emily Gray

Karen Gray-Krehbiel and John Krehbiel Jr.

Drs. Anne Guyot and Rachel Shoemaker

Mickey Guyton

Tracy and Leslie Hackney

Ben and Hannah Hall

Hank & Ed Management

Terry Hardesty

Aubrey B. Harwell Jr.

Jackie Heatherly and Gary Merritt

Trent and Bethni Hemphill

Scott and Teri Hendricks

James Horner

Haley and Chris Houser

Doug and Linda Howard

Patrick Huber and Kate Drowne

Dann and Sherri Huff

Paula D. Hughey

John and Dawn Huie

Sam Hunt

David Israelite, National Music Publishers’Association

Deana Ivey

Joseph and Pamela Jeffries

Jody Williams Songs

Joanie and Mike Johnson

Mary Jo and Jelly Roll Johnson

Terri and Kurt Johnson

Douglas and Sue Joyce

Chris Kappy

Thomas and Sarah Karn

Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Kazimi, Kazimi Advised Fund*

Gina Keadle

Cassandra and Kevin Keeshan

Richard Kennelly

Mark C. Kiker

David Kim & Lacey Caplinger

TK and Laura Kimbrell

Paul and Peggy Kingsbury

Andrew Kintz

Dana Koenig

Marion Kraft

Alison Krauss

Beth and Luke Laird

Jeff and Shannon Lamarche

Steve & Sally Rose Lassiter

Dickey Lee

Joey Lee

Peter Leighton & Kim Novak

Jamie Leslie

Allan Levine

Jeff Lipscomb

Jon Loba

Ellen and Douglas Lowey

John and Lorie Lytte

Tomi Lunsford and Warren Denney

Peter and Margaret Macdonald

Susan and Harold Maddux

Mark Magnuson and Steve Westfield

Brent and Janel Maher

MAPCO

John Marks and Colleen Lelis

Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint

George Matthews

Katie McCartney

Cindy Mabe McCormick and Shane McCormick

Lisa McDonald EA

Jo Ellen and Chuck McDowell

Jim and Debi McVey

Chuck Mead and Brenda Colladay

Deborah Meissner

Rachael and Dirk Melton

Max and Mary Merrell

Dr. and Mrs. Howard Mertz

Averil Meyer and William J. Tyne, Jr.

Buddy and Julie Miller

Lee Thomas and Jana Miller

Rod and Mary Hettinger Millsap

Mike and Micki Milom

The MLC

Amanda and Mike Molinar

Monkeyville On Vine, Inc.

Alannah Moore

Jay and Robin Moore

Patrick and Catherine Moore

Stephanie Moore

Travis and Katie Cline Moore

Craig and Karen Morgan

Colleen Mullens and Jeff Goydan

NASHtoday

Nashville Predators Foundation

NewsChannel 5 Network

Donna and Gerald Nicely

Linda and Don Norman

Nikki Norman

Andy and Nancy Norton

Brenden Oliver

Kent and Dianne Oliver

Hilogene Oltman

Kerry O’Neil

Michael O’Neill

Josh and Toni Osborne

Gary and Jan Overton

Charles Parker

Carly Pearce

Ralph Peer II

Neal and Gina Pendergraft

Eric and Gina Peter

Pinnacle Financial Partners

Judy Piros

Robert and Laura Pittman

Dale Prax

Premiere Networks

Nick Pride and Jeffrey Leach

Rozene Pride

Norbert and Sheryl Putnam

Randy Rogers Band

Gary & Joanne Reamey

Red Light Management

Emily J. Reynolds

Jean-Claude and Andrea Rizk

Robert and Jill Coon Foundation

Delphine Roberts

Liz Rose

Mary Roskilly and Chuck Miller

Darius Rucker

Jeremy and Jude Ferrara Rush

Clyde and Lavona Russell

Steven and Joan Sampson

Cindy and Mark D. Sanders

Angie Serrett

Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP

Allen and Lori Shamblin

Leland E. and Carol L. Shoemaker

Amy and Sarah Shoumer

Bill and Carolyn Simmons

John A. and Mary Cook Singleton

Melanie Smith-Howard

Michael L. Smitherman and Rife S. Hughey

Lynn Smude

Sony Music Nashville

Starbucks

Mark and Tricia Steele

Jeff & Sandy Stevens

Mark and Lucy Stitzer

Mark & Kathy Streets

Cole Swindell

Tori Tarvin & Jevin Moore

Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe

Tennessee Brew Works

Tennessee Titans

Lee and Pat Tolley

Seab and Patti Tuck

Cheryl Tyler

Andrea and Alex Valentine

Stephanie Wagner and Christa Cruikshank

Steven F. and Lori L. Walker

Tina Wallace

Bayard and Rosemary Walters

Susan and Philip Warner

Nicky Weaver

Moshe and Libby Werthan

Rachel & Marcus Whitney

Chip and Krissy Williams

Jody and Karen Williams

Lainey Wilson

Tim Wipperman

Erwin and Linda Workman

Chris and Dan Zimmer

Andy Zupsic and Tricia Willett

$500 – $999

Adkins Entertainment & Publicity

American Songwriter

Paul Augustyniak

H. David and Deese Bearden

Blink Marketing

Gloria Boyd

Bradley

Jeanne and Courtney Connolly

Curb Records

Daddy’s Dogs

Essential Broadcast Media, LLC

Shary and Rod Essig

Farris, Self & Moore

FBMM Entertainment Business Management

First Horizon Bank

FirstBank

G7 Entertainment Marketing

Susan K. Gearhart

Heaven Hill Brands

Holman Cellars

Eric Kahn

Krissy Little

Mr. and Mrs. Wayne S. Miller, in memory of Ken Roberts

Nashville Predators

Karl Olsen

Radish Kitchen

Raising Cane’s

Regions Bank

Deborah Reiner

River House Artists

RWB Management

Donna Sabens

Safford|Motley PLC

Stan Shayer and Jeffrey Romano

Molly Shehan

SMACKSongs

Sony Music Publishing Nashville

Harvey and Catherine Sperling

S. Gary Spicer, Sr.

Geoff Sprung

Barni Renee Stokes and Cathy LeBlanc

Susan Taylor

Twelve6 Entertainment

Universal Music Publishing Group Nashville

Vector Management

Whiskey JYPSI

Kathi Whitley and Kelsey Waldon

Leigh Anne Wise and Thomas Slater

*A fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

BOARD OF OFFICERS AND TRUSTEES

Mary Ann McCready, Chair

Steve Turner, Chairman Emeritus

E.W. “Bud” Wendell, Chairman Emeritus

Vince Gill, President

Kyle Young, CEO

TRUSTEES

Mark Bloom

David Conrad

J. William Denny

Rod Essig

Al Giombetti, Executive Vice President

Ken Levitan

Mary Ann McCready, Chair

David Ross, Secretary

Ernie Williams, Treasurer

Jody Williams

OFFICERS

Earl Bentz

Vince Gill, President

Randy Goodman

Lon Helton

Gary Overton

Jim Seabury

Bill Simmons

Clarence Spalding

Chris Stewart

Troy Tomlinson

Jay Turner

Marcus Whitney

Tim Wipperman

Sarah Trahern, Ex-Officio

TRUSTEES EMERITI

Emmylou Harris

Bruce Hinton

Keel Hunt

LEGAL COUNSEL

Christian A. Horsnell

W. Michael Milom

Molly Shehan

CIRCLE GUARD

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Circle Guard unites and celebrates individuals who have given their time, talent, and treasure to safeguard the integrity of country music and make it accessible to a global audience through the Museum. Circle Guard honorees’ contributions help protect the legacies of the members of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the achievements of all who are part of the country music story.

Steve Turner, Founder

Kyle Young, Commander General

David Conrad

Bill Denny

Ken Levitan

SUPPORT

DONORS TO THE COLLECTION

Kelsea Ballerini

Noel Barrett

Belcourt Theatre

Dierks Bentley

Stacy Bible

Dan Bidlack

Bill Monroe’s Music Park & Campground

Billy Birdsong

Senator Marsha Blackburn

Brothers Osborne

John Carr

Rosanne Cash

Harry Chapman

Terry Chinnock

Susan Clarke

Jann Clary

Brenda Colladay

Luke Combs

Michael Croker

Patrick Cummins

James Duncan

Mark E. Durbin

Robert W. Embrey

Estate of Earl E. Scruggs

Estate of Nanci Griffith

Jenee Fleenor

Carol Fligiel

Gene Fowler

Cleve Francis

Joseph L. Frank

Frist Art Museum

Gellman Management

Clayton Gibeau

Patrick Goad

Cris Crouch Graham

Douglas B. Green

Jake Guralnick

Bill Harlan

Robert Henderson

Billy Ray Herrin

Deanna Hickman

Mike Higgins

Shirley Johnston

David Katzive

Brian Kelley

Russell Kman

Michael Kuss

Miranda Lambert

Sue Larson

Eric Lensing

Jim Lockhart

Anthony Lupo

Ashley McBryde

Jay McDowell

John Mathis, Jr.

Robert Mennen

Maren Morris

David Morton

Al Moss

CINDY WALKER SOCIETY

By including the Country Music

Sandy Conatser

David and Karen Conrad

Marj and George Aubrey Crump

Rick and Kit Crump

Mike and Linda Curb

Peggy Emmons

Susan K. Gearhart

Mrs. Don Gibson

Holly Gleason

Tom T. Hall

Bob Harlow

Bruce and Gale Hinton

Jim Horner

Rev. Nicholas W. Inman

Nan and Bob Kingsley

Michael and Mary Jo McElravy

Greg Oswald

50+ HOUR VOLUNTEERS

Mary Ann McCready

Mike Milom

Ken Roberts

Seab Tuck

Jerry B.Williams

Oh Boy Records

Carly Pearce

Beulah Poncin

Krista Roser

Cory Rowe

Mike Saalwaechter

Patricia Savarese

Joseph Oliver Self

Lisa Shaw

Larry L. Shear

Willie Smyth

Karen Staley

Stoker Family Trust

Lisa Sutton

Virginia Team

Molly Tuttle

Patricia VornDick

Barry Walsh

Sheila Wampole-Gates

Mike Weesner

Rhonda Wells

John White

Joanne Quartuccio Wilcox

Lainey Wilson

Jubal Lee Young

Jerry Zolten

Roger Zorn and Nicholas Gonzales

Don and Stacey Schlitz

Stephanie Wagner and Christa Cruikshank

Cindy Walker

Mac Wiseman

Kyle Young and Sarah Sperling

These volunteers generously gifted 50 or more hours of their time and talents in support of the Museum’s 2023 programs.

Joanna Blackwell

Woody Bomar

Carolyn Davis

Don Dixon

Tom Ekwurtzel

Linda Emerson

Bob Geistman

Our funders, volunteers, and donors help the Museum fulfill its mission. Join us in our work to share the enduring beauty of this music with a growing audience.

VOLUNTEER 615.760.6546 Volunteer@CountryMusicHallofFame.org

BECOME A MEMBER 615.416.2026 | Membership@CountryMusicHallofFame.org

Joe Haase

Larry Johnson

Carla Lahey

Bob Magidson

Elizabeth Mosley

Lynn Nolan

Buddy Norris

Bob Petersen

Anthony Priwer

Lindsey Read

Jody Shuba

Elaine Sledge

Kerry Skowronski

Lloyd Weaver

MAKE A DONATION 615.416.2008 | Giving@CountryMusicHallofFame.org

CONSIDER A PLANNED GIFT 615.416.2008 | MajorGifts@CountryMusicHallofFame.org

BECOME A CORPORATE PARTNER 615.416.2082 | Sponsorship@CountryMusicHallofFame.org

HOST AN EVENT 615.760.6500 Rental@CountryMusicHallofFame.org

DONATE TO THE COLLECTION 615.416.2009 Giving@CountryMusicHallofFame.org

Hall of Fame and Museum in their estate plans, the following donors help to preserve the history and traditions of country music for future generations.

Steve Turner E.W. “Bud” Wendell

Acclaimed visual artist Wayne White dances in front of his Stringbean puppet creation during the opening of his show “Language is a Trick” at the Museum’s Haley Gallery. Amiee Stubbs for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum