NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opened its latest exhibition, “American Currents: State of Music,” Wednesday, celebrating rising stars and boundary-pushing artists of the previous year.
The exhibit features a broad cast of musicians. From mainstream country stars, to alternative artists who blend country elements with other genres like punk and indie, each featured musician has helped shaped the sound of country and Americana genres today, including Tyler Childers, Lainey Wilson, Waxahatchee, Billy Strings, MJ Lenderman, Wednesday, Jesse Welles, Morgan Wallen and many more.
Striking costumes, awards, and memorabilia from some of the rising stars pushing country forward. (Photo: WZTV)
As well as costumes and memorabilia, there is also a projection of footage that highlights significant performances and collaborations of the past year.
Surveying of the genre as a whole was the foundation for the exhibit.
“If we’re painting as broad of a picture of country music as we can, that’s really important to us here,” curator Angela Stefano Zimmer said.
Part of “American Currents” is an exhibit called “Unbroken Circle,” which brings together contemporary artists and those who inspired them or share their perspective, such as Ken Pomeroy and John Denver, who she has cited his songwriting as pivotal to her own, putting the past and future of country music in conversation.
When asked what her response would be to those who try and define what “real” country is, the curator said, “If we’re doing our job right, you’re going to come to leave this space and come up with a bunch of people you want to go listen to.”
With artists united by genre but spanning a wide range of lyrical style, influences and backgrounds, Zimmer said the heart of country is truly captured.
“Country music has meant a lot of different things to a lot of different people throughout history, the museum as a whole represents that,” Zimmer adds. “So it’s important that this exhibit does too.”
“American Currents” is open until January 2027. Tickets are available online.