The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is temporarily closed due to coronavirus concerns. The Museum will present two of its most popular programs starting this week. They will bring their weekly Songwriter Sessions and its flagship education program, Words & Music, to Instagram Live.
On Tuesday evenings, the museum will stream new Songwriter Sessions. On Thursday afternoons, the museum will host Words & Music, which provides insights for aspiring songwriters of all ages.
“Music is a powerful gift that unites us, stimulates creativity and provides relief while we stay home and implement social distancing,” said Lisa Purcell, the museum’s senior vice president, education, development and community engagement. “This is why the museum will take our most popular songwriting programs live online and invite the world to participate with us.”
Starting Tues., Apr.14, the museum will host weekly Songwriter Sessions, in which audiences interact with the talents behind country music’s biggest hits. Viewers will be encouraged to pose questions via Instagram. The Songwriter Sessions, presented by SunTrust, will start at 8 p.m. CT. Abi Tapia, the museum’s director of public programs, will host. The artists will perform while sheltered in place. The initial lineup is below.
April 14
Laura Veltz, whose compositions include “Bones” (Maren Morris), “Speechless” (Dan + Shay) and “What If I Never Get Over You” (Lady Antebellum).
April 21
Luke Laird, whose compositions include “Hard to Forget” (Sam Hunt), “American Kids” (Kenny Chesney) and “Space Cowboy” (Kacey Musgraves).
April 28
Caitlyn Smith, whose compositions include “Like I’m Gonna Lose You” (Meghan Trainor featuring John Legend), “You Can’t Make Old Friends” (Country Music Hall of Fame members Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers) and her own single “Long Time Coming.”
May 5
Eric Paslay, whose compositions include “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” (Jake Owen), “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” (Eli Young Band) and his own hit “Friday Night.”
May 12
Brandy Clark, whose compositions include her singles “Bigger Boat,” which features Randy Newman, “Hold My Hand” and “Who You Thought I Was.”
May 19
Charlie Worsham, whose compositions include “Love You To The Moon” (Kip Moore) and his own singles “Mississippi In July” and “Old Time’s Sake.”
Words & Music at Home, an extension of the education program Words & Music, begins at 2 p.m. CT Thurs., Apr. 16. Singer, songwriter and Sony/RCA recording artist Tenille Townes will perform and participate in a conversation about songwriting with host Adam Ollendorff, the museum’s outreach and music programs manager.
As with the original Words & Music, Words & Music at Home provides a variety of resources that offer insights into writing lyrics. The virtual program, for aspiring songwriters of all ages, includes:
- Words & Music at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Your Own Song Lyrics, available at any time on the museum’s website
- A live, weekly series, Words & Music at Home, featuring top professional songwriters, on Thurs. at 2 p.m. CT on the museum’s Instagram feed
Viewers can visit the museum’s website for more information and are encouraged to share their lyrics and completed songs on social media, using #WordsandMusicatHome.
In addition to these new Instagram Live programs, country music fans can explore past museum programs on our website, where they can hear interviews, great music and insightful commentary.
—Jennifer Swartvagher
Featured photo: negativespace via Pexels
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