Day 170
Our first day in Nashville, we quickly found ourselves on a shuttle headed for the Country Music Hall of Fame. The shuttle was one of those quarter sized buses with eight rows of seats, when it arrived, the bus was pretty much full so we found ourselves standing in the isle as we did 100mph down the 155 state highway. After surviving our bus journey, we were dropped off directly in front of the Hall of Fame. We headed inside to find a massive lineup waiting to get in. We were not sure how things worked, so we quickly jumped into the line. As we waited, we overheard other visitors talking about needing to go a second line further down to purchase the entry tickets. Not wanting to leave this line only to come back to it, I quickly purchased two tickets online as we slowly moved forward. When we reached the front, the clerk scanned our tickets and we were on our way into the County Music Hall of Fame.
Once we were past the clerk we were loaded in groups of ten onto an elevator and sent to the third floor where the tour started. We worked our way down to the second floor before heading back to the lobby. The place was crowded and took a fair amount of time to slowly work our way through all the exhibits.
When we finished our tour we walked a few blocks over to the the Broadway Street. On this street a strip of bars going about four blocks on both sides of the street. Every bar had no windows and open to the street with a live bands playing in each. At any given spot on the street your ears were blasted with music from multiple bands and party trucks rolling up and down.
Nashville KOA
Downtown Nashville.
Lineup to get into the Hall of Fame.
Elvis Presley inducted in 1998.
Showcase: Wool jacket with velvet collar worn by Elvis in the 1950’s
1960 Cadillac Series 75 Fleetwood Limousine. Elvis had custom alterations to it that included 24 karat gold plated highlights, fourth coats of translucent mixture of crushed diamonds and fish scales called “diamond dust pearl” the passenger compartment was increased in height and included a telephone, refrigerator, refreshment bar, record player and gold plated television.
Hank Williams inducted in 1987.
Showcase: his custom made boots with his initials, guitar and musical-note motifs.
Randy Travis inducted in 2016.
Display: leather jacket, Academy of Country Music and Achievement awards.
Ray Charles inducted in 2022.
Showcase: jacket and music awards.
Hank Thompson inducted in 1989.
Showcase: leather jacket with fringe and rhinestones and custom boots.
Hockey-took singer Webb Pierce paid $20,000 to have his 1962 Pontiac Bonneville customized with outlandish features, such as: horseshoes on the gas and brake pedals, ornamental handguns mounted throughout the vehicle and more than a silver coins inlaid in the upholstery.
Shania Twain not inducted, but has been inducted in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Showcase: “That Don’t Impress Me Much” music video costume.
Reba McEntire inducted in 2011.
Showcase: dress customer made for one of her performances.
Brad Paisley not inducted.
Showcase: Brads first guitar given to him by his grandfather when he was eight years old.
The Judds inducted in 2022.
Showcase: Music awards, stage costumes, guitar used in 2000 tour and photo taken by Kenny Rogers.
Grand Ole Opry inducted in 1925.
Showcase: various items through the ages.
Freddy Fender not yet inducted.
Showcase: Performing costume and award (the hat is not his).
1980 Pontiac Trans Am T-top coupe used in Smokey and the Bandit II.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band not inducted.
Showcase: Custom boots and jacket (I missed who’s).
Tanya Tucker not inducted.
Showcase: Stage costume.
Kenny Rogers inducted in 2013.
Showcase: Bandana, vest, and walking stick worn by Kenny Roger in the movie The Gambler.
Alabama inducted in 2005
Showcase: two guitars are normally here, present is the base guitar of Teddy Gentry. Missing is Randy Owens guitar he used to perform and write songs, including the hit “Mountain Man”. Brad Paisley used the guitar to record “Old Alabama” as his tribute to the group.
Dolly Parton inducted in 1999.
Showcase: missed where this costume came from.
Hank Snow inducted in 1979.
Showcase: stage costume themed after him being a fisherman in North Atlantic.
Johnny Cash inducted in 1980.
Showcase: US Air Force with staff sergeants insignia worn by Johnny Cash in the early 1950’s
Little Jimmy Dickens inducted 1983.
Showcase: first country music stay to appear in the Grand Ole Opry in a custom outfit made by Nudie Cohn the American tailor.
Replicas of artist gold and platinum records.
Minnie Pearl inducted in 1975.
Showcase: one of the stage costume used with the trademark straw hat artificial flowers and price tag dangling from it. The price tag was actually an accident when she purchased a new hat for Hee Haw and forgot to remove the tag. She noticed it as she was going on stage and tucked it into the flowers on top, shortly into the show if fell down and a trend was born.
Earl Scruggs inducted in 1985.
Showcase: one of his banjos.
Broadway Street in downtown Nashville.
