Kitty Wells exhibit opens Aug 15 at Country Music Hall of Fame
Nashville, Tenn. — The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum will honor country music’s first female superstar, Kitty Wells, in Kitty Wells: Queen of Country Music, Presented by Great American Country Television Network, a biographical exhibit opening Friday, August 15, 2008, for a 10-month run in the Museum’s East Gallery. The exhibit will run through June 14, 2009.
Opening weekend festivities will include a 45-minute exhibit tour, guided by a Museum curator; an interview with Wells, hosted by 650 WSM announcer Eddie Stubbs and illustrated with photos, film footage and recordings from the Museum’s Frist Library and Archive; an autograph signing by Wells in the Museum Store; and a screening of the 1982 Showtime special A Tribute to Kitty Wells, hosted by Tammy Wynette. (A detailed schedule of grand opening activities is below.)
“Kitty Wells is, quite simply, a trailblazer,” said Museum Director Kyle Young. “Her many hits—including her signature song ‘It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels’—were sung from a woman’s point of view, something that was new to country music at that time. She was marketed as a solo performer in an industry where women previously had performed only as members of family groups. Her success in selling records and concert tickets led record companies to open their doors to women artists. Many of contemporary country music’s biggest stars are women,” he said, “but Kitty Wells is the prototype.
“We are grateful to both Kitty and her husband, country star Johnnie Wright, for opening up their lives and home to us and allowing us to tell their extraordinary story.”
Kitty Wells: Queen of Country Music,
Presented by Great American Country Television Network
Born Muriel Deason in Nashville, Tennessee, on August 30, 1919, Wells forged a groundbreaking career that spanned more than a half century. Her indelible contributions to American music were acknowledged formally in 1976 when she was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Employing a wealth of splendid stage costumes, vintage photos, awards, instruments, posters and advertisements, personal correspondence and career-spanning audio and video of both Wells and Wright, Kitty Wells: Queen of Country Music will explore how Wells, a soft-spoken, dignified mother of three, succeeded in tearing down country music’s gender barrier and became a role model for generations of female artists. The exhibit will also chronicle Johnnie Wright’s successful recording career—both with the duo Johnnie & Jack and as a solo artist—and his role in managing Wells’ career.
Among the notable artifacts included in the exhibit are:
- sheet music of the ballad “Kitty Wells,” from which Johnnie Wright chose his wife’s stage name
- songwriter J. D. Miller’s original manuscript of “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels”
- Wright’s 1947 Martin D-28 guitar with custom pick guard designed by Shot Jackson;
- Wells’ 1954 Gibson L-5 guitar
- a blue gingham stage costume worn by Wells in the 1950s;
- a gown worn by Wells to the 1976 CMA Awards, during which she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame
- Wells’ 1991 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
Selected audio and video clips will further expand the exhibition story.
Kitty Wells: Queen of Country Music, Presented by Great American Country Television Network Grand Opening Weekend Program Schedule
All programs August 15-17 are included with Museum admission and free to members.
Friday, August 15 — 11:00 a.m.
Curator’s Exhibit Talk
A Museum curator offers an introduction to Kitty Wells: Queen of Country Music.
Saturday, August 16 — 1:30 p.m.
Interview with Kitty Wells
650 WSM personality Eddie Stubbs will interview Wells in the Museum’s Ford Theater. The program will be illustrated with vintage photos, film footage and recordings culled from the Museum’s collection.
Saturday, August 16 — 3:00 p.m.
Autograph Signing
Wells will sign autographs in the Museum Store.
Sunday, August 17 — All Day
Film Loop: A Tribute to Kitty Wells
Hosted by Tammy Wynette, this 1982 Showtime special features performances by Wells and her family, as well as Roy Acuff, Tom T. Hall, Hank Williams Jr., Wynette and many others. It will air continuously throughout the day.
Kitty Wells: Queen of Country Music will be accompanied by an ongoing series of programs throughout the exhibit’s run.
These programs are made possible, in part, by grants from the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission and by an agreement between the Tennessee Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts.
Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is operated by the Country Music Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by the state of Tennessee in 1964. The Museum’s mission is the preservation of the history of country and related vernacular music rooted in southern culture. With the same educational mission, the Foundation also operates CMF Records, the Museum’s Frist Library and Archive, CMF Press, Historic RCA Studio B, and Hatch Show Print.
More information about the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is available at www.countrymusichalloffame.com or by calling (615) 416-2001.
No commentsBluegrass festival and events calendar - July 7
Colorado
July 10-13 — High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass Festival - Westcliffe, CO. Bluegrass Artists scheduled include: Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands, Bradley Walker, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Dan Paisley & Southern Grass, Alecia Nugent Band, Charlie Sizemore Band, Dry Branch Fire Squad and more. Single Day tickets run from $10 - $40 and 4 day festival passes are available for $80. The Festival also has an extensive variety of workshops scheduled.
Michigan
July 9 @ 8:00 P.M. — The Infamous Stringdusters - The Ark - Ann Arbor .MI
July 10 @ 8:00 P.M. — The Duhks - The Ark - Ann Arbor .MI
Ohio
July 10-12 — Bluegrass in the Hills July Festival - Hopedale, OH. Bluegrass artists scheduled include: James King Band, Melvin Goins, Appalachian Bluegrass, Lonesome Heart, Dailey & Vincent, Bluegrass Xpress and more. Single day tickets at the gate are $10 (Thurs) and $25 (Fri Sat) or $45 for a weekend pass which includes 4 days (Wed - Sun) of primitive camping included.
Tennessee
July 10 @ 7:30 P.M. — Bluegrass Night at the Ryman - Rhonda Vincent and The Rage, IIIrd Tyme Out and Dailey & Vincent - Nashville, TN. For ticket information visit the Ryman website.
Bluegrass Festival and Events Calendar - July 2
Indiana
July 4-5 — Cedar Valley Bluegrass Festival - Derby, IN. Bluegrass Artists scheduled to appear include: Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper, Bluegrass 101, David Parmley & Continental Divide, Tommy Brown & County Line Grass, Audie Blaylock and More. Single day tickets are $20 or a festival pass good for both days is $35.
Tennessee
July 4-5 — Smithville Fiddlers’ Jamboree - Smithville, TN. The official State and National Fiddlers Championship offering over $12,000 in cash prizes. Admission to the public is free.
No commentsBluegrass Festival and Events Calendar - July 1
Michigan
July 3-5 — Leslie Bluegrass Festival - Leslie, MI. Bluegrass artists scheduled to appear include: Luke McKight, Gary Brewer, Karl Shifflett & Big Country, Lorrain Jordan & Carolina Road, The Larkins, Melvin Goins, Cedar Creek Junction and more. Tickets at the gate are $15 (Thu) and $20 (Fri & Sat) or a weekend pass will set you back $50.
Missouri
July 3-5 — Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival - Conway, MO. Artists scheduled to appear include: Bobby Osborne & the Rocky Top X-Press, Larry Stephensen Band, Audie Blaylock & Redline, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Lonesome Road, Bull Harman & Bulls Eye and more. Single Day tickets are priced at $10 (Thu) and $15 (Fri & Sat) and a weekend pass is available for $35.00. Children under 12 are free and ages 12-16 are half off with a paid adult.
Pennsylvannia
July 3-6 Out Among The Stars Bluegrass Festival, Benton, PA. Bluegrass artists scheduled to play include: Karl Shifflett & Big Country, Pine Mountain Railroad, The Doerful Family, Lonesome River Band, Chris Jones & The Nightdrivers, James King, Newfound Road and more. A weekend pass at the gate will cost $70 and single day tickets run from $10 - $25 depending on day. Primitive camping is included free with a weekend pass.
Tennessee
July 3 — Vince Gill & The Steeldrivers Bluegrass Night at The Ryman, Nashville, TN. Show starts at 7:30 P.M. www.ryman.com for ticket information
Bluegrass Festival and Events Calendar - June 30
North Carolina
July 1-4 — Red White & Bluegrass Festival - Morganton, NC. Bluegrass Artists on the bill for this Free festival include: Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice, Grasstowne, Chris Jones & the Nightdrivers, Kenny & Amanda Smith, Mountain Heart, Heather Berry, The Grascals, IIIrd Tyme Out, J.D. Crowe & the New South, Cherryholmes and more. See our earlier story on this festival.
Oklahoma
July 1-6 — Arbuckle Mountain 4th of July Jam - Davis, OK. The park will feature Jammig, jamming and even more jamming during this multi-day event. 7 tents will be available for open jams through out the grounds. Visit Arbuckle Mountain online for more information.
Pennsylvania
July 2-5 — Mountain Top Bluegrass Festival - Tarentum, PA. Bluegrass Artists on the schedule include: Eddie and Martha Adcock, Audie Blaylock and Redline, Karl Shifflett and Big Country, Tim Graves and Cherokee, Dailey and Vincent, The Grascals, Roni Stonemen and more. 3 day passes at the gate are $70 and and single day tickets are $30. Children under 10 are free and ages 10-16 recieve a 50% discount with paid adult.
Tennessee
July 2 — Sarah Siskind @ 3rd and Lindsley - Nashville, Tenn. Sarah, whose song “Lovin’ You” was recorded by the Infamous Stringdusters on their latest offering, will perform a 7:00 P.M. show. Cover is $8.00. For more info visit www.3rdandlindsley.com or call 615-259-9891.
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