Blake Shelton performs at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

The Country Music Hall of Fame saw its share of artists throughout the week of CMA Music Festival with performances, interviews, and exhibit celebrations.

On Monday, June 6, the museum kicked off the week with a special interview and performance by Blake Shelton in support of the new exhibition Blake Shelton: Based on a True Story, supported by SunTrust.

Prior to an autograph signing at the museum on Thursday (June 9), Dierks Bentley made a surprise appearance in the exhibition Dierks Bentley: Every Mile a Memory.

That same day, singer/songwriter Cam surprised fans with an acoustic performance in the museum’s ACM Gallery, where her Opry debut dress is now on display.

Others appearing at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum throughout the week included Gary Allan, Bill Anderson, Brandy Clark, CMT’s Next Women of Country, Dan + Shay, Mickey Guyton, Brenda Lee, Scotty McCreery, Oak Ridge Boys, Charley Pride, RaeLynn, Aubrie Sellers and more.

All photos by Kelli Dirks, CK Photo and Rick Diamond, Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Participants in the CMT’s Next Women of Country pose for a photo backstage at the CMA Theater. Pictured (L-R): Tara Thompson, Lauren Alaina, CMT’s Leslie Fram, Brooke Eden, Clare Dunn, Margo Price, and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Abi Tapia.

RaeLynn performs at a songwriter session at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Abi Tapia backstage with Mickey Guyton before a songwriter session at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Dan+Shay pose at their autograph signing at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Scotty McCreery autographs a copy of his new book Go Big or Go Home: The Journey Toward the Dream for a fan at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Guy Clark

Musicians and friends of Guy Clark will honor the late singer-songwriter with a tribute concert at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Tuesday, Aug. 16, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Joe Ely, Vince Gill, Jack Ingram, Jerry Jeff Walker and others will perform in tribute to the legendary songwriter.

Texas-born Clark died on May 17 after a long illness.

Clark released more than 20 albums, and has had his compositions recorded by Jerry Jeff Walker, Jimmy Buffett, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, Rodney Crowell and more. In 2014, Clark earned a Grammy honor for Best Folk Album, for My Favorite Picture Of You. He is also a Nashville Songwriter Hall of Fame member and an ACM Poet’s Award honoree.

Proceeds from the event will go to charity; tickets will go on sale Friday, June 17 at noon via ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets, ryman.com, Ryman box office or by calling 800-745-3000.

Florida Georgia Line

Florida Georgia Line is back on the roster of Sweet Talk Publicity, the indie PR company headed by Jensen Sussman.

Sussman began representing the duo in 2012, prior to their signing to Republic Nashville, and was part of the launch team for their breakout single, “Cruise.”

Los Angeles-based True Public Relations announced their representation of the duo in June 2015.

The Sweet Talk Publicity artist roster also includes Kelsea Ballerini, Kristian Bush, Craig Campbell, Chris Carmack, Chris Lane and Dustin Lynch.

Shirley Caesar

Gospel legend Shirley Caesar will perform “Mother Emanuel” this weekend at a memorial for the shooting deaths of nine Charleston, South Carolina, church members on the one-year anniversary of that tragedy.

The song originated with Nashville songwriter Chip Davis, who wrote it with gospel notables Donnie McGuire and Reba Rambo McGuire. Caesar’s recording was crafted by Nashville producers Sanchez Harley and Jacqui Whittmon and released this month by Nashville’s eOne Records.

“This song is going to bring some healing,” Caesar has said.

“I wish I could be there for the memorial service,” said Davis. “But my first commitment is to my regular job, performing on the road with Alabama.”

“It is my hope that the nation and the world will embrace this piece…to speak out against hate,” added Harley.

The tragedy that inspired Davis and his co-writers occurred on June 17, 2015. Gunman Dylann Roof attended a Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston. The white supremacist shot and killed eight church members and their pastor, who was also a South Carolina state senator. Emanuel is one of the oldest African American churches in the U.S.

Roof said he committed the massacre in hopes of starting a race war. He has been indicted on 33 federal hate crime charges. He is also charged with nine counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. On June 9, he announced he did not want to be tried by a jury. If his request is granted, his verdict and sentencing will be decided by the presiding judge this fall.

The Nashville recording of “Mother Emanuel” incorporates President Obama’s recitation of the victim’s names. The ballad expresses forgiveness and healing. These qualities, sung as “the courage to forgive” in the lyrics, have characterized the church congregation’s response to the crimes. Caesar will join Rev. Bernice King and perform the song in Charleston during the Mother Emanuel Tree Dedication memorial on June 18.

“Mother Emanuel” is on Shirley Caesar’s new album, Fill This House, which debuted at No. 1 this week on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart. Caesar is a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame who has earned 11 Grammy Awards, 18 Dove Awards, 14 Stellar Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.