In a 2015 Music Masters program hosted by the Museum’s Michael McCall, producer Garth Fundis traces his journey from a promising teen brass player and choir vocalist in Baldwin City, Kansas, to stints with rock bands from Kansas and Nebraska, then to Memphis, where he began to focus on working in...

Eddie Bayers—whose studio credits include classic hits by Rodney Crowell, The Judds, and George Strait—describes close calls and setbacks that he endured prior to becoming one of Nashville’s most prominent drummers.

Held on February 13, 2010, the program is part of the Country Music Hall of Fame...

Bob McDill shares memories from his lengthy career as a hit country songwriter and offers insights into classic hits he’s written for Alabama, Dan Seals, and Don Williams during this Poets and Prophets program, held March 1, 2008, at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Texas native McDill...

Country Music Hall of Fame member Don Schlitz discusses his songwriting career—encompassing more than fifty Top Ten country hits, including the Grammy and CMA Award-winning Kenny Rogers chart-topper “The Gambler”—during this 2011 interview, part of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Poet...

Jimmy Capps, a member of the Grand Ole Opry Band since 1967, discusses his experiences as a session player and demonstrates his technique during this Museum program, recorded on June 16, 2012, as part of the Nashville Cats series. Capps was known as “the master of smoothness” for the way he made ...

David Briggs revisits his session work as a pianist in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and in Nashville, during this interview illustrated with vintage photos, recordings, and film clips. He also recalls his recording sessions with Elvis Presley.

Recorded on March 26, 2011, the program is part of the Co...

Paul Franklin, one of the most-recorded pedal steel guitarists in country music history, talks with musician Bill Lloyd about his journey from teen prodigy to a career in Nashville that has included significant work with Country Music Hall of Fame members including Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Barba...

Steve Gibson—an accomplished studio session guitarist who, by his estimation, has contributed to more than 14,000 songs—discusses his Midwestern roots and Nashville’s 1970s creative community during this hour-plus program, held on June 28, 2014, as part of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museu...

Sharon Vaughn—whose songwriting credits include the Oak Ridge Boys’ “Y’All Come Back Saloon,” Reba McEntire’s “I’m Not That Lonely Yet,” the Lorrie Morgan-Keith Whitley duet “’Til a Tear Becomes a Rose,” Patty Loveless’s “Lonely Too Long,” and Randy Travis’s “Out of My Bones,” among many others—p...

During this panel discussion, Country Music Hall of Fame member Kenny Rogers reunites with four members of his former band, the First Edition, for a jovial and moving conversation that includes a surprise, show-ending performance.

The Museum’s Peter Cooper hosts the freewheeling talk with Rogers...

Celebrated arranger Bergen White—whose work can be heard on such classics as Jimmy Buffett’s “Come Monday,” Ronnie Milsap’s “Smoky Mountain Rain,” and Elvis Presley’s “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me”—reflects on his five-decade-long career during this eighty-minute program, part of the Country...

Patsy Cline’s family and friends gather at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum to remember her songs, life, and legacy during the 2012 panel discussion “I’ve Got Your Memory: Family And Friends Remember Patsy Cline.” Panelists include Cline’s husband, Charlie Dick; her daughter, Julie Fudge...

Roger Cook traces his life from austere beginnings in Bristol, England, to writing hits for Crystal Gayle, The Hollies, George Strait, and Don Williams, during this Poets and Prophets interview at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, held on October 5, 2013. Accompanying himself on ukulele,...

To mark the Academy of Country Music Awards’ fiftieth year, host Lisa Lee speaks to CEO Bob Romeo, “ACM Awards” executive producers “Rac” Clark and Barry Adelman, and country star Clint Black about their involvement with the show.

This September 6, 2014, program coincides with the release of “Th...

During this 2013 program, master guitarist and songwriter Mac Gayden reminisces about his influential career—which includes decades of laying down licks for countless pop, country, and R&B recordings, and co-writing multi-genre, multi-decade hit "Everlasting Love"—and performs a selection of song...

Four members of Buck Owens's band, the Buckaroos, join Owens's son Buddy Alan Owens and Owens biographer Randy Poe to reminisce about their role in the country legend's career at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum during this 2013 program.

Moderator Scott B. Bomar opens the event by intro...

Bonnie Bramlett, Charlie Daniels, publicist Mike Hyland, and Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Ed King reflect on the rise of the Southern rock movement in the 1970s. Held on October 29, 2011, at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the panel discussion marks the fortieth anniversary of the death of...

Jerry Carrigan, one of Nashville’s most-recorded drummers, remembers his major country music sessions and his time in the primary rhythm section at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, during this interview at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, held February 21, 2009, as part of the Na...

Drummer D.J. Fontana—who played with Elvis Presley from 1955 to 1968—traces his long career in music during this interview at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, from playing in the Louisiana Hayride house band and working at clubs in his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana, to joining guita...

Pedal steel guitar great Weldon Myrick visits the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for an in-depth interview, as part of the ongoing Nashville Cats series honoring influential musicians from Nashville’s early country music scene.

Myrick’s masterful musicianship can be heard on numerous coun...

Close friends of songwriter Guy Clark (1941-2015), including his biographer Tamara Saviano, offer insight into his life and career during a panel discussion at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, held January 14, 2017, and hosted by the Museum’s Peter Cooper. Frequent co-writers Shawn Camp...

Bill Walker, a formally trained musical arranger and conductor, traces his career from Australia to Nashville, where he helped artists such as Johnny Cash, Eddy Arnold, and the Statler Brothers sound their best on stage and in the studio. This interview, held at the Country Music Hall of Fame and...

Songwriter Gretchen Peters shares live songs and stories from her award-winning career during this January 2015 program at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, part of the ongoing Poets and Prophets series, which spotlights songwriters who’ve made significant contributions to the country mu...

Hit songwriter Paul Overstreet—who’s written hits for George Jones, Randy Travis, Keith Whitley, and many others—performs a selection of live songs and discusses his decades-long career during this 2016 program, part of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s ongoing Poets and Prophets series...