How the Country Music Hall of Fame compares to the Rock Hall
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville. Photos: Troy Smith/Axios
My recent trip to Nashville included a stop at the Country Music Hall of Fame, which has a new exhibit dedicated to the Queen of Country, Dolly Parton.
The showcase, highlighted by colorful dresses, instruments and awards from Parton's career, is just a small piece of the museum.
State of play: The building's main hall takes you through a timeline of country music's evolution, from the Carter Family to the rise of Nashville to Los Angeles' country rock scene.
- There are artifacts from legends like Johnny Cash and George Strait, as well as younger stars like Luke Combs and, of course, Taylor Swift.
Between the lines: The two most eye-popping attractions were the wall full of framed hit records and the Rotunda featuring plaques for every inductee.
Fun fact: John Sloboda, the Country Music Hall of Fame's executive director of exhibitions and curatorial services, is an alum of the Cleveland Institute of Art.
- He previously worked in the exhibitions departments for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland Museum of Natural History before moving to Nashville in 2022.
The other side: In comparing the Country Music Hall of Fame to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the latter gives you a taste of numerous genres, while the former is tailored to diehard country fans.
- There is crossover between inductees, including Parton, Cash and Chet Atkins. And both museums have vehicles driven by Elvis Presley on display.
