Michael Rhodes—an accomplished bassist who has recorded with icons of country, pop, rock, and blues—speaks about his formative years, his move to Nashville, his approach to session work, and the gear he prefers in the studio during this interview at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, held...

Leon Rhodes shares memories of his time as an electric lead guitarist in Ernest Tubb’s band, the Texas Troubadours, playing in the Grand Ole Opry band, the “Hee Haw” house band, and on numerous recording sessions. Part of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Nashville Cats series, the inte...

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...

Steve Gibson, the first musical director for the Grand Ole Opry and a guitarist heard on more than 14,000 country recordings, offers insight into the life of a studio musician with fellow guitarist and longtime friend Mike Noble. Part of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Musician Spotli...

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,...

Rodney Clawson retraces his songwriting career from farming in Texas to placing songs with Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, and others, during this Songwriter Session at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, held on August 20, 2016. In addition to taking fan questions about songwriti...

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...

Jerry Bradley, who headed RCA Records’ Nashville office from 1973 to 1982, shares some of his best stories in this career-spanning interview held April 28, 2012, to coincide with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum exhibition "Chet Atkins: Certified Guitar Player."

During the program, Brad...

Jimmy Bowen, an outspoken former recording executive, discusses his long career in Nashville during this two-hour conversation, held at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on April 12, 2014. A producer for Reba McEntire and Hank Williams Jr., he shares his approach to studio work and as an ...

Author Silas House reads excerpts from his novel “Southernmost” alongside songwriter Matraca Berg, who performs five original compositions, during a Songwriter Session at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Together, they look at the portrayal of home through a Southern lens.

Berg opens t...

Buck dancer Thomas Maupin joins his grandson Daniel Rothwell, a champion banjo player, in this lively program held at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on July 15, 2018. In addition to taking questions, the two show how rhythmic steps can affect the energy, tone, and musical resonance of ...

John Hobbs surveys his career as a session pianist and producer in this thorough interview, held March 10, 2012, at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, as part of the Nashville Cats series. Among other topics, he discusses his decision to move from Los Angeles to Nashville and his work wit...

Recording artist Teddy Robb and hit songwriter J.T. Harding swap songs and answer audience questions during this Songwriter Session, held on June 8, 2019, at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, during the year’s CMA Music Festival. Along with Robb’s originals, Harding offers songs cut by K...

Author Randy Fox explores the history of Nashville blues label Excello Records and its partnership with WLAC-AM and Ernie’s Record Mart in the 1950s. Following a panel discussion, a concert celebrates the label’s soul, gospel, and R&B legacy.

The panelists for this program, held April 6, 2019, a...

Curly Putman—the writer or co-writer of hits including “D-I-V-O-R-C-E,” “Green, Green Grass of Home,” “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” and “My Elusive Dreams”—surveys his catalog of country classics during this live interview, held March 28, 2009, at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Par...

Sonny Garrish, a steel guitarist who played on countless Nashville sessions from the 1960s through the 1990s, reminisces during this Nashville Cats program about his early interest in the instrument and the country legends he’s worked with along the way. Held December 1, 2018, at the Country Musi...

Dallas Frazier, the country songwriter known for “Elvira,” “Beneath Still Waters,” and “There Goes My Everything,” speaks about his best-known compositions and explains his thirty-year sabbatical from writing during this Poets and Prophets program, recorded December 10, 2010, at the Country Music...

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 ...

Brooke Eden, Tara Thompson, Margo Price, Lauren Alaina, and Clare Dunn perform original songs in-the-round and share their songwriting process with CMT’s Leslie Fram during this CMT’s Next Women of Country program, filmed June 10, 2016, at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, during the CMA...

Five rising female artists share songs, personal histories, and career perspective in this CMT’s Next Women of Country program hosted by CMT executive Leslie Fram. Performers include RaeLynn, Angaleena Presley, Danielle Bradbery, Cam, and Kelsea Ballerini.

This June 11, 2015, program opens with...

Master guitarist Earl Klugh honors his friend and musical hero Chet Atkins (1924-2001) during a concert at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Along with sharing fond memories, Klugh invites a number of guitarists to join him.

Guests at this June 30, 2012, performance include Ben Hall, Jo...

Pianist and arranger Bill Pursell shares the stage with jazz vocalist Staci Griesbach for a Musician Spotlight at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, filmed on September 8, 2019. During the program, Pursell talks about recording his Top Ten 1963 instrumental single, “Our Winter Love,” and ...

Mandy Barnett discusses her tribute album “I Can’t Stop Loving You: The Songs of Don Gibson” and sings three of Gibson’s songs and two Christmas favorites at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Guitarist Harold Bradley joins Barnett for the conversation and performance, recorded December 2...

William Michael Morgan performs a mix of covers and songs from his debut album, “Vinyl,” on stage at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Filmed on June 8, 2017, the live event was planned in support of the Museum’s exhibition “American Currents: State of the Music” (which featured Morgan i...