Get Ready to Swing: The Country Music Hall of Fame Explores the Electrifying Legacy of Western Swing!

Nashville, TN – The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is thrilled to announce its next major exhibition, a captivating journey into the vibrant and groundbreaking world of Western Swing. Titled 'Western Swing: Hot Jazz From the Texas Plains,' this immersive experience is set to open its doors in September 2025, promising to transport visitors to the dance halls and recording studios where this iconic American art form first took flight.

Western Swing, a dazzling fusion of country, jazz, blues, and pop, burst onto the music scene in the 1930s, revolutionizing the soundscape and laying crucial groundwork for genres to come, including rock & roll.

This exhibition will meticulously explore the genre's origins, its unique instrumentation – featuring fiddles, steel guitars, and horns alongside traditional country instruments – and its pioneering artists who dared to defy musical boundaries.

Visitors will delve into the lives and legacies of foundational figures such as Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies, and Spade Cooley.

These visionaries, alongside countless other talented musicians, crafted a sound that was both sophisticated and irresistibly danceable, challenging conventional notions of 'country' music and proving its boundless versatility.

The exhibition will showcase an extraordinary collection of artifacts, including rare instruments, dazzling stage costumes, handwritten lyrics, and never-before-seen photographs.

Interactive displays and archival film footage will further immerse guests, allowing them to experience the energy and innovation that defined Western Swing's golden era. From the dusty dance floors of Texas to the booming sound stages of Hollywood, the story of Western Swing is one of relentless creativity and profound cultural impact.

Beyond its toe-tapping rhythms, 'Western Swing: Hot Jazz From the Texas Plains' will illuminate the genre's significant influence on the broader tapestry of American popular music.

It will highlight how its improvisational spirit and sophisticated arrangements paved the way for future musical innovations, cementing its status as an essential chapter in the history of sound. Prepare to be enchanted by a genre that continues to resonate, reminding us of the power of musical synthesis and artistic daring.