In recognition, celebration and admiration for his standing as one of country music’s greatest torchbearers and most enduring talents, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum has invited Marty Stuart to be its 16th artist-in-residence.
The artist-in-residence series is both an honor and a challenge. The museum offers its theaters as a blank canvas to artists of grand consequence with the understanding that the artist will curate shows, unlike any others. Stuart will produce and perform three shows, on September 11, 18 and 25, 2019, bringing with him his Fabulous Superlatives band and friends from his nearly half-century of music making.
Stuart joins a prestigious group of past honorees that includes nine members of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Cowboy Jack Clement opened the series in 2003, and other past honorees include Earl Scruggs, Tom T. Hall, Guy Clark, Kris Kristofferson, Jerry Douglas, Vince Gill, Buddy Miller, Connie Smith, Kenny Rogers, Ricky Skaggs, Alan Jackson, Rosanne Cash, Jason Isbell and 2018 artist-in-residence Miranda Lambert.
“Marty Stuart has made country music his life’s work, and I cannot imagine the music without him,” said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “He has preserved its history, photographed its legends and performed its music with integrity. Marty’s music reaches beyond traditional country, drawing influence from genres including Americana, southern gospel and hillbilly rock. Marty’s residency will no doubt deliver truly unique and memorable experiences.”
A five-time Grammy winner, platinum artist and recipient of numerous industry accolades including the Country Music Association’s prestigious Joe Talbot Award, Stuart began his musical career at age 12, when he joined the Sullivan Family Gospel Singers. After stints with bluegrass great Lester Flatt’s Nashville Grass and Johnny Cash’s backing band, he embarked on a solo career that resulted in hits including “Hillbilly Rock” and “Tempted.” Stuart has also enjoyed a successful collaboration with Travis Tritt as “No Hats” touring partners and hit-makers (“The Whiskey Ain’t Workin”).
In addition to Flatt, Cash and Tritt, Stuart has worked onstage or in the studio with Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Charley Pride, Mavis Staples, Porter Wagoner and hundreds of others. In the early 2000s, Stuart formed the aptly named Fabulous Superlatives, a band whose musical skills and sensibilities outshine the vibrancy of their Western suits. The Fabulous Superlatives issued their latest album, the critically acclaimed Way Out West, in 2017. The band includes guitar great Kenny Vaughan, famed drummer Harry Stinson and preternaturally talented multi-instrumentalist Chris Scruggs.
According to Stuart, “The ultimate destination in the world of country music is the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The Hall of Fame is our greatest treasure chest and a place that represents the heart and soul of our culture. Some of my most cherished memories are of events I’ve either witnessed or performed in at the Hall of Fame. It’s an honor to be the artist-in-residence this September. Hopefully, at the end of the run, the past, present and the future of country music will have been touched upon, leaving in its wake three nights of magic to be remembered at the Hall of Fame.”
Some early details of the shows planned exclusively by Stuart include:
September 11: The Pilgrim
Stuart will celebrate the rerelease of his landmark 10th studio album The Pilgrim during the September 11 show. The Pilgrim, which showcases Stuart’s songwriting and instrumental talents, tells the story of a man from Stuart’s hometown of Philadelphia, Mississippi. He will celebrate this 20-year milestone with a host of musical guests.
September 18: Psychedelic Jam-Bo-Ree
The 1960s introduced us to undeniable superstars and gave us unforgettable songs. Join Stuart for an evening celebrating country music of the 1960s, featuring a line-up of influential artists and musicians from one of the most important periods of country music history.
September 25: Songs That Tell a Story
Harlan Howard famously referred to country music as “three chords and the truth.” On September 25, Stuart will pay homage to country music’s musical stories with an acoustic show. This line-up will feature a number of Nashville’s most influential and revered storytellers.
Tickets for all three shows go on sale to the public Friday, April 19, 2019, at 10:00 AM, and can be purchased through CMATheater.com. Tickets for each show range from $39.50 to $85.50 (plus ticketing fees). Sales are limited to four tickets per transaction on a first-come, first served basis, and are non-refundable. Shows begin at 8:00 PM.
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Bethany Bowman is an entertainer writer from Nashville, TN. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
