Diamond Rio to Host CMHoF’s Words & Music Night

Diamond Rio will host the 33^rd Annual Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Words & Music Night on Tues., April 24. The event, held at the Hall of Fame’s Ford Theater, will feature original songs from Nashville-area students accompanied by professional songwriter volunteers.

The program begins at 6:00 p.m. and is open to performing students and their families. Students represent area schools including Battle Ground Academy, Ensworth, Glencliff Elementary, Joelton Elementary, Meigs Magnet Middle School, Mt. View Elementary, Oak Hill, Overbrook, Ruby Major Elementary, St. Joseph, Stanford Elementary and Woodland Middle.

“The Words & Music program allows students to express themselves creatively and to learn the craft of lyric writing,” said Ali Tonn, director of education and public programming. “The Words & Music Night recital showcases the breadth, depth and quality of those student compositions.”

The evening is a culmination of the year-long Words & Music program. More than 4,300 2nd through 8th grade students at 52 Tennessee schools completed a three-part, 15-lesson curriculum, developed by the museum. After students wrote or co-wrote lyrics in the classroom, the lyrics were given to professional songwriters. This year, 39 volunteers refined the students’ lyrics and added melodies.

The Words & Music program is made possible by the Country Music Association Endowment for Words & Music.