Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Artefacts Coming to the Ryman

Rock Hall at the Ryman exhibit opens Nov 2

Would you like the opportunity to see some of the historical artefacts from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame without going all the way to Cleveland, Ohio? How about if you could see them at the Ryman in the heart of Nashville? One-of-a-kind objects associated with the likes of Elvis, Dolly, Clapton, Hank and more?  Well, starting in November, that’s exactly what you can do.

Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium announced its newest major exhibition Rock Hall at the Ryman will open on Wednesday, Nov. 2 as part of a multi-year partnership with Cleveland’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The interactive exhibit will be housed in the venue’s newly transformed 5th Avenue vestibule and will celebrate the Ryman’s mark on rock & roll history.

While the Ryman is known as the Mother Church of Country Music, Rock Hall at the Ryman honors the 100+ Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees who have performed on the Ryman’s hallowed stage throughout its 130-year history. Featured in the exhibit is a selection of Inductees including James Brown, The Byrds, Eric Clapton, Foo Fighters, Joan Jett and Dolly Parton in addition to country music icons like Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Hank Williams, who were early practitioners of what would become rock & roll music.

Some of the exhibit’s unique items include:

Eric Clapton’s “Blackie” model Fender Stratocaster guitar played on the Journeyman tour in the early 1990s and then again in 1995... Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkin’s outfit worn during performance to induct Rush at the 2013 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony... Joan Jett’s red latex halter bra top worn onstage at Vans Warped Tour ’06...Elvis Presley’s full-length belted suede coat worn c. 1970.. and more.

Earlier this year, the Ryman was designated as an official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Landmark and joined 11 other rock & roll institutions throughout the country including Austin City Limits and Whisky a Go Go, among others. Continuing the celebration of rock & roll, the Ryman will host a variety of shows featuring Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Members U2’s Bono (Nov. 9), Lynyrd Skynyrd (Nov. 13), Smokey Robinson (Dec. 16), and a three-night residency with John Mellencamp (May 8-10, 2023), with more to be announced.

Entry to Rock Hall at the Ryman is included in all daytime tour tickets at the Ryman, which also include a souvenir photo on stage, Soul of Nashville immersive theater experience and other star-studded exhibits.  More information about Rock Hall at the Ryman, daytime tours and upcoming shows can be found here. 

The Ryman Auditorium is designated a National Historic Landmark, a 13-time winner of the prestigious Pollstar Theatre of the Year award and is the most famous former home of the Grand Ole Opry (1943-1974). Follow the Ryman at Facebook, on Twitter and Instagram (@theryman). 

More about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame here or follow the Rock Hall on Facebook, Twitter (@rockhall), Instagram (@rockhall), TikTok (@RockHallFame), and YouTube (youtube.com/rockhall). Long Live Rock!