Country Music Hall Of Fame To Offer Free Admission To Local Students

Pictured (L-R): Nashville Public Library’s Kent Oliver, Donna Nicely, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CEO Kyle Young, Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Chairman of the Board of Officers and Trustees Steve Turner (Photo by Carissa Riccardi)

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has launched Community Counts, a new initiative program that will increase museum access for youth and families in Davidson County and bordering counties, including Cheatham, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson.

Through Community Counts, children ages 18 and under who live in those counties will receive free walk-up admission outside of school hours, and up to two accompanying adults will receive a 25 percent discount on admission. The program also enables Davidson County residents of any age to visit the museum for free by checking out a Community Counts Passport from any Nashville Public Library. In addition, local families enrolled in public assistance programs may purchase an annual family membership for $5. 

“At its core, the museum is, and has always been, committed to education surrounding the historical importance of country music. Learning about the rich history of the genre and about those who helped shape it allows us not only to cultivate a sense of pride in our state, but also to understand the significance of Tennessee’s cultural contributions to American history,” said museum CEO Kyle Young. “In 2016, nearly 100,000 guests participated in over 1,000 programs led by our museum educators. Community Counts is an extension of our long-standing commitment to serve our locals and provide them with unforgettable experiences.”

A nonprofit that serves a global audience, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum last year served nearly 9,000 Davidson County students or roughly 10 percent of Metro Nashville Public School students. Through the Taylor Swift Education Center, the museum offers unique, hands-on experiences that include curriculum-connected activities for school groups, tailored programs for toddlers, weekend workshops for teens, and interactive experiences for all ages in the Dinah & Fred Gretsch Family Gallery. 

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

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