COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM TO OPEN NEW EXHIBITION, ERIC CHURCH: COUNTRY HEART, RESTLESS SOUL
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On July 13, 2023, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will officially launch its newest exhibition, Eric Church: Country Heart, Restless Soul, presented by Gibson. A unique exploration of 10-time Grammy nominee and CMA Entertainer of the Year award-winner Eric Church's career and life, this exhibition will follow the star's journey to stardom, beginning with his days performing late-night gigs in bars and writing songs in Nashville, to his recognition as one of country music's most cherished and celebrated rule-breakers. This display, which will run through June 2024, is accessible to museum visitors upon the payment of admission.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
It is undeniable that Church has cemented a sound approach all his own. Over the course of two decades in Nashville, Church has earned a committed following and amassed a noteworthy list of awards and recognitions, such as 10 Billboard #1 country radio hits and a variety of gold, platinum, and multi-platinum certified albums. Not to mention, Church has crafted and composed the vast majority of his recorded and released tracks. Moreover, he continues to challenge his own musical prowess with each milestone that he accomplishes.
"Eric Church has done it his way completely," said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. "His integrity and genuine artistic identity have connected deeply with listeners, and he continues to serve as a motivating collaborator and groundbreaking example for country music artists of all ages."
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
The exhibit will showcase artifacts from Church's personal collection, such as musical instruments, song manuscripts, stage wear, tour memorabilia, awards, photographs, and much more. On display will be the Harmony H-303 three-quarter-size acoustic guitar from Church's childhood, the Ray-Ban Aviator Mirror sunglasses that Church wore onstage, the Von Dutch trucker hat purchased at a Mississippi truck stop in the late 2000s and used for performances, the Rogue two-tone leather jacket, John Varvatos shirt, and Diesel jeans from The Outsiders album cover and the 2013 CMA Awards, a sculpture shaped from different sized vinyl records representing the soundwave of Church's rendition of "Record Year" (featured in the 2016 music video), the Gibson Eric Church Hummingbird Dark guitar that Church collaborated on for the "Double Down Tour" (2019), and the Tom Ford purple suede jacket that Church wore at the Super Bowl LV National Anthem performance with Jazmine Sullivan.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
In honor of the opening of the exhibition, the museum will host Writers’ Round: The Songs of Eric Church, featuring Luke Laird, Jeremy Spillman, and other musicians, on Saturday, July 15 at 2:30 p.m. in the museum’s Ford Theater. These songwriters will share stories about the music they have made with Church and also perform these pieces. For additional information about the exhibit or to reserve tickets for the event, please visit the museum’s website.
Photo by Bob Delevante for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
