Ray Stevens performs and tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including “Guitarzan,” “Everything is Beautiful,” “Mr. Businessman,” and “The Streak,” during a 2014 Songwriter Session at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

The Country Music Hall of Fame member also performs sn...

Texas songwriter Billy Joe Shaver shares live songs and discusses his songwriting career during a 2014 Songwriter Session at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, in partnership with the Americana Music Association’s AmericanaFest.

Recalling his arrival in Nashville and being grouped into ...

Jim Lauderdale answers audience questions about songwriting (and conducts a brief comic mock-interview with himself) during this Songwriter Session at the Museum, held on September 24, 2016, during the annual AmericanaFest. Steel guitarist Tommy Detamore joins Lauderdale on three songs, and the p...

During a 2015 Songwriter Round at the Museum, country hit-makers Rhett Akins and Dallas Davidson perform songs they wrote for Luke Bryan, including “Play It Again,” “Huntin’, Fishin’, and Lovin’ Every Day,” “I Don’t Want This Night to End,” and “Country Girl Shake It For Me.”

The songwriters di...

Larry Gatlin delivers jokes, anecdotes, and classic songs in this solo acoustic set at the Museum, recorded August 15, 2015, as part of the Songwriter Sessions series. Along with talking about his early days as a songwriter in Nashville, he sings “Help Me,” “Broken Lady,” “I’ve Done Enough Dying ...

During a May 2014 Songwriter Round, Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby, and Jimmy Robbins perform a mix of Miranda Lambert hits—songs they’ve written with and for the country star—along with tracks they’ve had cut by other artists. Work by all three songwriters appears on Lambert's album "Platinum," r...

During a 2014 Songwriter Session at the Museum, Ashley Monroe performs a mix of songs live, and talks about her solo albums, co-writing hits with Miranda Lambert, forming the Pistol Annies, and more.

Monroe shares a selection of songs from her 2013 album “Like a Rose” (for which she co-wrote al...

Will Hoge shares live performances of his songs—including tracks from his 2015 album “Small Town Dreams”—and answers questions from members of the audience during this 2015 Songwriter Session at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Hoge opens off-mic with “Small Town Dreams” track “Growing...

During this songwriter’s round at the Museum, Casey Beathard, Jeff Hyde, Luke Laird, and Jeremy Spillman—who have all co-written hit singles and album cuts with and for Eric Church—share stories of co-writing with the platinum-selling country singer. An Eric Church observation all four share: He ...

Adam Wright shares stories, answers audience questions, and performs a mix of songs he’s written, including new compositions and cuts by his uncle Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Joe Nichols, Lee Ann Womack, and others.

The March 21, 2015, program, held at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum ...

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...

Mary Gauthier performs live and shares her difficult road to becoming a professional songwriter during a 2015 Songwriter Session at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, presented in partnership with the Americana Music Association.

Gauthier explains that she had trouble with drugs and alco...

Guitarist and hit songwriter Red Lane—who’s played with and written songs for country music legends including Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Conway Twitty, Dottie West, Keith Whitley, and George Strait, among others—joins the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum here for a Songwriter Session in...

During a Veterans Day Songwriter Session at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, songwriter Bob Regan introduces special guests and performers who have collaborated with Operation Song, a non-profit organization focused on empowering veterans, active military, and their families to relay th...

During a 2019 Musician Spotlight at the Museum, bluegrass mandolin master Roland White and his musical protégé, Americana singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale, perform a selection of bluegrass songs that span White's distinguished six-decade career. The two also reminisce about White's accomplishment...

Country singer Patsy Cline’s music and legacy are honored during "Sweet Dreams of You: A Musical Tribute to Patsy Cline," held at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in 2012. The concert features Emily West, Jessi Alexander, Striking Matches (a duo comprised of Sarah Zimmermann and Justin D...

Grammy-winning bluegrass group the Del McCoury Band and Americana singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah perform songs inspired by Dorothea Lange’s photography during a 2019 concert at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Kiah, of the supergroup Our Native Daughters, performs a carefully selected...

During a Musician Spotlight at the Museum, Justin Moses shows his skillful playing on mandolin, guitar, and Dobro, and brings out his wife, fellow multi-instrumentalist Sierra Hull, for more music and audience questions. Both Moses and Hull were recognized in the Museum’s annual exhibition “Ameri...

Shy Carter explains how he found common ground in the storytelling of R&B, soul, and country music, and performs hits he’s written for Kane Brown, Billy Currington, Sugarland, and pop star Charlie Puth during this Songwriter Session, recorded March 9, 2019, at the Country Music Hall of Fame and M...

Carlene Carter, Shawn Colvin, Amythyst Kiah, and Maria Muldaur share a conversation with NPR’s Ann Powers, highlighting women who inspire them as musicians and taking turns performing on stage at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Held on September 12, 2019 (during that year’s AmericanaF...

Chip Taylor explains how he discovered country music while growing up in Yonkers, New York, and performs familiar favorites (including “Angel of the Morning” and “Wild Thing”) as well as material from his new album, “Whiskey Salesman,” during this July 17, 2019, Songwriter Session at the Country ...

During this 2019 program, Nashville session musician Curtis McPeake and folk singer-songwriter Andy May share stories and perform old-time and bluegrass tunes including “Leather Britches” and “Sweet Sunny South,” as part of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Musician Spotlight series.

B...

Jeannie Seely reflects on the “tremendous honor” of having her songs recorded by so many Country Music Hall of Fame inductees during this Songwriter Session, held and recorded at the Museum on February 23, 2019. Joined by Tim Atwood on piano, the Grand Ole Opry stalwart offers six favorites and o...

Hit songwriter Liz Rose performs compositions she had recorded by Eli Young Band, Little Big Town, Taylor Swift, and Carrie Underwood, and two originals from her debut solo album, “Swimming Alone,” during this June 20, 2018, program, part of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Songwriter ...